2025 Season Review: Suwon FC

For Suwon FC, the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season ended in relegation via the playoffs, bringing an end to the Castle Park club's five-year stay back in the top flight. Kim Eun-jung had led Suwon to a fifth-place finish in 2024, but key departures from the playing staff meant the former striker always had a job on his hands and, despite a busy summer transfer window, was unable to steer the team away from the bottom three. Relegation was confirmed via a two-leg loss to Bucheon FC 1995 in Promotion-Relegation Playoff 2.

What Went Well

A promising young coach, Kim Eun-jung, was given the full season, given the benefit of the doubt, and the chance to turn things around in the summer by being backed in the transfer market. But for a side relegated to K League 2, it would be patronising to suggest much went well in 2025. Even finishing 10th and not 11th or 12th would have given the fans false hope. New recruit Pablo Sabbag ended the season as K League 1 top scorer with 17. 

What Didn't Go Well

Suwon lost 18 games, the same number as automatically relegated Daegu, while seven home wins from 19 matches represent a frustrating campaign for the supporters. Fifty-eight goals conceded was the second-highest in the league behind Daegu, and six clean sheets were the second-lowest. Simply put, defending was an issue for Suwon. They had the third-highest xGA (expected goals against) value of 57.7, gave away eight penalties - only Daegu gave away more - and ranked low for tackles and interceptions per match. 

Suwon may have had a busy summer transfer window, bringing players in, but the trend of their best players leaving continued. Anderson Oliveira, who remained as the team's top assist maker with six, even after leaving, departed for FC Seoul in what was another blow to Kim Eun-jung's plans. It might be argued that better results ought to have been earned with the players signed using the Anderson money, however.

Young Player of the Year

Lee Hyun-yong, centre back

Suwon may not have defended too well as a team, but the emergence of Lee Hyeon-yong was a bright spot. The 22-year-old was reliable and confident and looks to be in a similar mold to Kim Min-jae in terms of his build and style of play. Overall, Lee played 33 times, including the playoffs, scoring once, and Suwon earned eight of their 11 wins when he played. 

Team MVP

Pablo Sabbag, striker

It might be too easy or lazy to pick Pablo Sabbag because he won the Golden Boot, but without his 17 goals, Suwon may well have gone down automatically. Goals in tight games meant Suwon were 16 points better off. The now departed manager made some comments in the press after the playoff first leg about Sabbag's commitment, implying that the hunger had gone after the Golden Boot was confirmed, so being picked for team MVP comes with an asterisk. Luan Dias deserves a mention, while Andrigo, Willyan, and Ahn Hyun-beom in particular made an impact following their arrivals in the summer.

Most Disappointing Player

Ahn Jun-soo, goalkeeper

Six clean sheets and 45 goals conceded in 32 appearances doesn't appear to be too bad a season for goalkeeper Ahnn Jun-soo, but the 27-year-old made some uncharacteristic errors and didn't inspire confidence in his back four. He had the second-lowest save percentage in K League 1 with 66.2%, and was, statistically (according to Opta), at fault for four goals, which was also the second-worst record in the league. He performed slightly better with saves per 90, ranking eighth with 2.9, but it wasn't a good season for Ahn, who has since left to join Gimcheon for military service.

Most Important Decision of the Off-Season

Suwon FC's hierarchy have already made the most important decision of the off-season, and that was to part company with manager Kim Eun-jung and hire Park Kun-ha. What's left now is how they will approach recruitment in order to make an instant return to K League 1. Relegation will have been a bitter pill for all, but 2026 will see three promotion spots in K League 2, two automatic and one via the playoffs, potentially. If Suwon can work out how they will approach recruitment, will it be a win-now approach with experience, will it be a youth-focused team, hungry to prove itself, or will there be a lot of the current spine still in place?