Under coach Shin Tae-yong’s leadership, Ulsan Hyundai were relegated from defending champions to the relegation group of the Korean National Championship (K.League 1) in just a few months.
Ulsan Hyundai suffered a 0-3 defeat to Gimcheon Sangmu, dropping to 10th place in the standings (a total of 12 teams).
This position, in a group that requires a relegation playoff, was unimaginable for many before the start of the season. Last season, Ulsan Hyundai won the K.League 1 title. Despite their decline this season, they remain at the top of the standings.
In August, Ulsan Hyundai fired coach Kim Pan-gon and appointed Shin Tae-yong as his replacement. However, after two months, the former Indonesian coach was unable to save the reigning Korean champions.
Many Korean fans even considered Shin Tae-yong to be worse than his predecessor. Ulsan Hyundai won only three of 11 matches under Shin Tae-yong, with five losses and three draws.
Coach Shin Tae-yong’s poor performance in the group stage has pushed Ulsan Hyundai into the relegation zone. The possibility of Ulsan Hyundai firing Shin Tae-yong is growing.
The Korean club’s board of directors may even make a decision on Shin Tae-yong’s future just before next month’s relegation playoffs. Ulsan Hyundai’s board of directors wants to avoid the possibility of the club being relegated, the craziest and most improbable scenario in Korean football history.