WK League News

Gangjin Swans this week announced the appointment of Go Hyunho as their new manager following the departure of Kwon Youngin. Go will lead Gangjin in their first WK League season as the Swans, since the relocation of the former Changnyeong WFC to Jeonnam’s Gangjin county. He has signed an initial two-year contract with the club.

45-year-old Go played football at youth level and was briefly on the books at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the early 2000s, but eventually found his calling in coaching instead. He returned to his own alma mater, Jung-dong High School, to coach the U-18 academy side for three years, after which he took up his first managerial post at Jung-dong Middle School U-15.

In 2018, Go was appointed manager of the elite women’s football academy at Korea University. In an interview at the time with Sport KU, the university’s sports news blog, Go described himself as a coach who prefers to be gentle and patient, but can be firm when required to ensure that players clearly understand what is required of them. As for his tactical approach, he said at that time that he admired Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and hoped to implement a similar high-pressing style of football.

As well as leading the women’s team at Korea University for several years, Go led the South Korean women’s team at the 2023 Denso Cup, an annual exhibition match between teams of university students from Japan and Korea. These years of experience in women’s football will help and inform him as he takes up his first WK League post. According to football news site Queensfield, upon his appointment, Go said that he will aim to lead the Swans in a fresh start, breaking away from the club’s past and becoming a team that the people of Gangjin can be proud of.

Go will be assisted by coach Jeon Hyungchan, goalkeeping coach Yeo Myungyong, physical coach Maeng Changyoon and trainer Kim Sooha.