What will happen to Seoul's veterans?

(From FC Seoul's FB Page)

The off-season is nearing, which means the transfer window is upon us.  After Saturday's magnificent win to secure another year of Asian Champion's League football it made me begin to think about next year.  With only three games left and so much already decided, Choi might give some players who have been on the bench a run out to see where they will fit in next year.  Likewise, some players who have not played as much this year might get some games in to see where they are at.  Of course, I hope that won't be the case for


I said in my FA Cup review that I expect that there will be a lot of flux in the off-season, so let's take a quick look at the some of the Seoul veterans first and then tomorrow or next week, the foreign contingent.

The Old School

(from www.portabelloartsclub.com)

Cha Du-ri is retiring at the end of the season, so that opens up a spot at right back.  Most likely, Ko Kwang-min will fill his spot, which means Sim Sang-min will probably become the starter at left back.

Which leads me to ask, who will back those two players up?  I suppose Go Yo-han can play in either position and he was the right back in 2012 when Seoul won the league.  Yet, what about Kim Chi-woo?

At age 31, he still has a few good years in him.  Kim Chi-woo has not played since the end of July though.  What is his status?  Is he injured?  Would he want to stay at Seoul as a back -up?
Having been supplanted as the number one by Yu Sang-hun, I cannot imagine Kim Yong-dae wanting to stay around.  At 36 years of age, he still has a few good years left in him.  Unlike an outfield player, 36 is not that old for a keeper.  Hell, 1980's Action Movie Villain/mullet super hero Kim Byung-ji is 45 and still a number one keeper in the league.

Kim Byung-ji grows the goatee out in the off-season (from screenkickermovies.com)

Kim Jin-kyu is only 30 and he too probably feels that he has several good years of football left.  It is not a stretch to say that he has had a tough year.  He was eviscerated by Jong Tae-se in the April Super Match and then suffered an injury against Gwangju the next week.  Since Seoul lost 3-0 to Jeonbuk in September, he has not played, having been replaced by Park Yong-woo in the middle of the three CBs.

I still rate him pretty highly as a passer and I think he needs to be surrounded by another CB with speed to be really effective.  So, does Kim Jin-kyu stay and fight for his place?  Should Seoul let him go?

So, there are four core members who are over 30.  One, Cha Du-ri, is retiring.  I have not heard whether or not the other three have given an indication as to what they will do.  Nonetheless, between Kim Chi-woo, Kim Yong-dae, and Kim Jin-kyu, they almost average seven years of experience having played for Seoul.  That is a lot of experience to have to replace.

I do not know how much that matters and I do not think something like that is quantifiable anyways.  However, I am sure it will have some impact on the team next year depending on how many of the veterans leave.