Daejeon Citizen One-season Wonders

Player turnover can be quite high in K League, certainly for the clubs which are looking for an instant change in fortunes after falling short the year before. Players come and go, some are forgotten but some leave a lasting impression, even if it was for just a season. Daejeon Citizen columnist Paul Neat has put together an XI of "one-season wonders", a team of players who shone at Daejeon but left after one campaign.

Goalkeeper

Park Jun-hyuk (2018)

Daejeon have had some good goalkeepers over the years, some not so much. Park Jun-hyuk was one of the better ones but only stayed for half a season. In 2017, regular goalkeeper Park Ju-won had left for military service but his replacement Kim Jin-young suffered an ACL injury and was out for the season. Others were brought in such as Lim Min-hyeok from Jeonnam who did a good job but Park Jun-hyuk was an instant hit. He arrived in the summer of 2018 and became first choice immediately, kept six clean sheets in 18 appearances as the Purples made it to the playoff semis. He joined Jeonnam Dragons before the 2019 season and remains in Gwangyang.

Apps: 18
Clean sheets: 6

Left back

Lee Dong-su (2016)

Lee Dong-su spent time in midfield but, during his only season at Purple Arena in 2016, was mostly used as a left back. He was solid, never spectacular but seldom put a foot wrong. Although, two goals and two assists from left back was extremely respectable. Lee joined Jeju United in 2017 and is currently on military service with Gimcheon Sangju. 

Apps: 36
Goals: 2
Assists: 2

Right back

Rim Chang-woo (2014)

Rim Chang-woo joined Daejeon on loan from Ulsan Hyundai for the 2014 season and was first choice right back throughout the Purples' K League Challenge title winning season. During his time with Daejeon, Rim famously scored the winning goal in the Asian Games final, riffling the ball home from close range in the 119th minute against North Korea. Rim returned to Ulsan but then left Korea for the Middle East with Al-Wahda where he won the Presidents Cup, two UAE League Cups and two Super Cups. Ahead of the 2021 season he joined Gangwon FC.

Apps: 28
Goals: 2

Centre back

Jean-Claude Bozga (2016)

A commanding centre back who even donned the captain's armband on occasion for the Purples, Jean-Claude Bozga was a key player for Daejeon in the 2016 season and formed a good partnership with Alvaro Silva. He appeared in 37 matches, scored twice and even laid on an assist. It was well documented that Bozga didn't want to leave Daejeon but since his one-year stint in K League he spent three years with HB Köge before moving to Ishöj IF in Denmark's top tier.

Apps: 37
Goals: 2
Assists: 1

Centre back

Ko Myeong-seok (2018)

After an impressive first year as a professional with Bucheon in 2017, Daejeon swooped for Ko Myeong-seok for their tilt at promotion in 2018. Ko proved to be a dependable centre back who was comfortable on the ball and calm under pressure. His performances caught the eye of clubs in K League 1 and he was snapped up by Suwon Samsung Bluewings and won the FA Cup in 2019. Ko is now with Gimcheon Sangmu for military service.

Apps: 34
Goals: 1

Left midfield

Kim Hyeong-beom (2012)

A winger who had it in his locker to score from a free-kick. While he is better known for his spell with Jeonbuk, Kim Hyeong-beom turned out for Daejeon in 2012, appearing 33 times and scoring five goals for the club. In 2013, he joined Gyeongnam before a final season with Buriram United in 2014. Whilst with Jeonbuk, Kim was named in the 2008 K League Best XI.

Apps: 33
Goals: 5

Right midfield

João Paulo (2013)

Pint-sized winger João Paulo joined Daejeon in 2013 on loan from Gwangju following the Yellows' relegation to the first ever K League Challenge. With quick feet and ample pace, João Paulo was a nuisance for defenders and had the ability to shoot quickly. He scored six goals in 34 appearances and very nearly helped keep the Purples in the top flight that year. The Brazilian is on his fifth club since leaving Daejeon and is playing in the Europa League for Ordabasy Shymkent in Kazakhstan after spells with Incheon, with Botev Plovdiv and Ludogorets in Bulgaria, and his native Brazil.

Apps: 34
Goals: 6
Assists: 1

Central midfield

Kim Sun-min (2016)

A combative and energetic midfielder who added a lot of ferocity do the centre of the park, Kim Sun-min was a regular for the Purples during the 2016 season. Kim joined Ulsan Hyundai after spending the 2015 season on loan at FC Anyang. But, after impressing for the Purples, Kim joined Daegu FC a year later. The Suwon native went on military service with Asan Mugunghwa in 2018 and 2019 but returned to Daegu and was a regular for the Sky Blues. However, ahead of the 2021 season, Kim made the surprise move to K League 2 side Seoul E-Land.

Apps: 32
Goals: 4
Assists: 3

Central midfield

André Luis (2020)

There will perhaps be an element of shoe-horning here by putting André Luis in centre midfield but the 23-year-old can be given something of a free role in this team. The Brazilian was was one of the highest paid players in K League in 2020, the third best paid foreigner in fact. André may have tailed off towards the end but he had an instant impact after scoring on his debut against eventual playoff winners Suwon FC and was Daejeon's top scorer with 14, 13 in the league. Despite reports from Brazil suggesting he had signed with the Purples on a permanent basis, André has returned to his parent club Corinthians. 

Apps: 28
Goals: 14
Assists: 3

Striker

Kevin Oris (2012)

Kevin Oris arrived in 2012 and spent that year being the focal point in a Purples team which finished 13th out of 16 teams in the top flight. On an individual basis that season, though, Oris was fifth top scorer with 16 league goals, the same as Daejeon legend Kim Eun-jung who was at the time turning out for Gangwon. Oris was a target man but had an eye for goal and his good form in a purple shirt was enough to attract the attention of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors where he moved in 2013. He was also on Incheon's books in 2016 and is still playing in his native Belgium.

Apps: 40
Goals: 19

Striker

Kim Dong-chan (2016)

Kim Dong-chan had the best season of his career whilst at Daejeon in 2016. Kim arrived from Jeonbuk on a free transfer and scored 20 goals, laid on eight assists and went on to be named as K League Challenge MVP. But, after his one-year deal expired, Kim headed to Thailand before returning six months later with Seongnam. His form was never the same as during his spell with the Purples and actually hung up his boots after the 2020 season. His final year was spent with third tier Gimpo Citizen and has opened his own football school for children. Since his departure, no Daejeon player as scored as many goals in a single season.

Apps: 40
Goals: 20
Assists: 8

Lineup