Cha Du-ri Appointed as the First Head Coach of Hwaseong FC Entering K League 2

"Will Delight Fans with a Good System and Performance"

Cha Du-ri, a former national team player, has been appointed as the head coach of Hwaseong FC, the professional football club from Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, which is entering the professional K League 2. Hwaseong is Coach Cha’s hometown.

Hwaseong FC announced on the 24th, "Coach Cha Du-ri, who has extensive experience as a football player in Europe and possesses an advanced coaching philosophy, was evaluated as the right person for Hwaseong’s entry into K League 2 and was appointed as head coach."

Cha Du-ri (left), the inaugural head coach of Hwaseong FC professional club, is pledging a successful K League 2 debut together with Jeong Myeong-geun, the mayor of Hwaseong and the club owner. Photo by Hwaseong City

After retiring from his playing career in 2015, Coach Cha systematically prepared to become a coach. Starting in 2016 as a performance analyst for the South Korean national team, he served as a national team coach, match analyst for the 2018 FIFA Russia World Cup, youth development director at FC Seoul, and technical advisor and coach for the national team. In 2019, he was appointed head coach of FC Seoul U-18 Osan High School team, dedicating himself to youth development.

Coach Cha said, "I want to delight football fans with a good system and performance," adding, "Please look forward to football that brings joy to viewers and conveys passionate energy."

Jung Myung-geun, mayor of Hwaseong City and owner of Hwaseong FC, said, "With the entry into K League 2 as an opportunity, we expect Hwaseong FC to grow into a club that receives affection and pride from the 1.03 million citizens of Hwaseong," and added, "I hope Coach Cha will lead the players well and guide Hwaseong FC successfully as its inaugural head coach."

Hwaseong FC’s entry into K League 2 is a project that Hwaseong City has been actively pursuing ahead of its launch as a special city next year, with only the final approval process remaining. On the 29th of last month, the Korea Professional Football League’s 5th board meeting held at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Hong Eun-dong, Seoul, approved the agenda for joining K League 2 next year. Accordingly, the league entry will be finally approved at the general assembly to be held after the payment of the K League entry fee in January next year.

Previously, the city carried out various activities to promote Hwaseong FC’s professionalization. To build public consensus, a 'Public-Private Joint Professional Promotion Committee' was organized, consisting of 36 expert members and 579 citizen members.

In cooperation with the Gyeonggi Hwaseong-Osan Office of Education, the city co-hosted the '1st Hwaseong FC Youth Soccer Festival,' which involved about 1,300 participants from 54 middle and high schools in the Hwaseong and Osan areas. Additionally, in collaboration with Jang An University, they held ▲ academic seminars on professional promotion ▲ resident briefing sessions ▲ school visit programs such as School Boom Up.

The city expects Hwaseong FC’s entry into K League 2 to serve as a focal point for establishing the identity of Hwaseong citizens, as well as contributing to the spread of sports viewing culture and the qualitative improvement of cultural welfare within the region.

Meanwhile, Hwaseong City is preparing to launch as the fifth special city nationwide next January, following Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, and Changwon, marking 22 years since its city status was elevated.