Breaking News: Daejeon Citizen Appoint New Manager and CEO

Daejeon Citizen have appointed former Suwon Bluewings midfielder Lee Kibeom as new manager with their 73-year-old former boss and ex-Korean National Team manager Kim Ho (pictured above in 2009) confirmed as the club's new CEO.

(Picture Credit: wjddudry Blog)


Lee Kibeom has been appointed as new Daejeon Citizen Manager by former boss and new CEO Kim Ho.

Following the departure of Lee Youngik as manager of Daejeon Citizen at the end of August, first team coach Kim Jonghyun was placed in charge of first team affairs until the end of the season.

But, with the 2017 K League Challenge season concluded last weekend, it was announced in the Korean media on Wednesday 1st November that former Ulsan Hyundai and Suwon Bluewings midfielder Lee Kibeom would be appointed as new manager.

New Daejeon Citizen manager Lee Kibeom

(Picture Credit: Football Journal)

Including caretakers, Lee is Daejeon's seventh manager in five years but arrives at Purple Arena without any senior management experience.

Having retired from professional football in 2000, Lee has managed Tongyeong Middle School (South Gyeongsang) in 2013, Tongyeong High School in 2014 (South Gyeongsang), Hyeopsung High School (Daegu, North Gyeongsang) before joining his most recent employers, Shingal High School (Yongin, Gyeonggi) in 2016 where he worked with Daejeon's new CEO Kim Ho.

During his playing days, Lee began his career with Cheonan Ilhwa where he made 118 appearances over five years before joining Ulsan Hyundai in 1999 where the 47-year-old made 27 appearances and scoring one goal.

Lee finished his playing career with Suwon Bluewings, retiring in 2000.

The appointment comes after a working relationship between Lee Kibeom and former Citizen gaffer Kim Ho where the pair worked together as part of a group of youth teams for which Kim was the general manager.

Kim Ho oversaw Yongin Football Centre, a group of youth teams that was made up of, amongst others, Shingal High School, Lee's previous employers.

New Citizen CEO Kim Ho has himself also occupied the hotseat at Daejeon having managed the team between 2007 and 2009 when Citizen finished 6th, 13th and 9th during his time at the helm.

Kim Ho enjoyed a successful spell as the the Korean National Team Manager in the early 90s before moving Suwon Bluewings in 1995 where he became the club`s first ever manager.  Kim spent eight years in charge of the Bluewings where he won two K League titles, three Adidas Cups, one FA Cup, two Korean Super Cups and two Asian Champions Cups (Asian Champions League) and two Asian Super Cups.