Anyang wins league title and promotion confirmed with draw against Bucheon
Return to the home stadium and have a red flame party
On the day when FC Anyang of the K-League 2 professional soccer team confirmed its championship and promotion for the first time in 11 years since its founding, fans and players hugged and cried with joy and heartbreaking stories.
Anyang recorded a 0-0 draw in the Hana Bank K League 2 round 38 away game against Bucheon FC held at Bucheon Stadium on the 2nd.
Anyang, the leader with 18 wins, 8 draws and 9 losses (62 points), widened the gap with 2nd place Asan, South Chungcheong (57 points) and 3rd place Seoul E-Land (55 points), which played one less game, to 5 and 7 points, respectively. Anyang confirmed winning the K-League 2 and direct promotion to K-League 1 regardless of the remaining games.
On the day Anyang confirmed promotion, Bucheon Stadium was dyed purple.
Approximately 2,000 Anyang away fans who visited the stadium using chartered buses chanted “Anyang promoted” instead of “Long live Anyang” even before the final whistle blew, and cheered loudly when the game ended 0-0 and promotion was confirmed. .
The players also ran in front of the fans and danced excitedly, enjoying the joy.
Goalkeeper Kim Seong-dong rode the goalkeeper Kim Da-sol’s horse, and Kim Dong-jin unfolded the muffler he received from fans. Some players were so moved that they even shed tears.
The players hung up placards congratulating the promotion amid cheers from fans and were greeted by Coach Byung-Hoon Yoo’s rinse.
It was a celebratory day, but there was also heartbreaking news. Director Yoo Byung-hoon’s wife and team manager Noh Sang-rae were diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Yoo Byeong-hoon’s wife visited the site to watch Anyang’s promotion that day despite being diagnosed the day before, and manager Noh Sang-rae was diagnosed two months ago, but postponed surgery to receive treatment after Anyang was promoted.
Coach Yoo Byeong-hoon said at a press conference, “I shared the stress. “I want to share the joy of this promotion
Anyang’s Kim Jeong-hyun said, “I knew about manager Noh Sang-rae’s illness. So, I wanted to confirm my promotion sooner (for a quick surgery), but I was sorry and upset that it didn’t work out. “I’m glad I’ve achieved my goal now,” he said.
Regarding director Yoo Byung-hoon’s wife’s illness, he said, “I had no idea. “I just found out,” he said in surprise, then bit his lip, saying, “I think the director didn’t make it obvious so that we wouldn’t be shaken.”
Kim Jung-hyun, a team veteran, also had a difficult time, suffering from facial paralysis due to the pressure of maintaining the lead at the end of the season.
Kim Jeong-hyeon said, “Personally, I was under a lot of stress and I was putting pressure on myself. However, after sharing my concerns with my colleagues on the playground, my condition improved and I was able to overcome it,” he said with a smile.
Meanwhile, the Anyang players and fans, who moved to Anyang after the away game, held a full-fledged party at Anyang Stadium, the home stadium.
The fans greeted the team bus with a burst of joy, and Anyang’s team once again enjoyed promotion with cheers in an exciting atmosphere.
Anyang plans to hold a promotion press conference on the 7th and hold an awards ceremony and victory ceremony after playing the final game of the season at home against Gyeongnam FC on the 9th.
Nd support the team during their successful campaign. This bittersweet moment highlighted the intense emotions surrounding the team’s achievement, blending joy with the challenges faced off the pitch.
FC Anyang’s fans, players, and coaches celebrated a historic milestone as they confirmed their promotion to K League 1 after a long wait of 11 years. The fanfare included jubilant expressions of joy, as supporters sang chants and cheered for their team, transforming Bucheon Stadium into a sea of purple.
Players demonstrated their excitement in various ways, including playful antics such as horse-riding on each other’s backs and showcasing scarves from devoted supporters. The atmosphere was electric, filled with camaraderie and collective triumph, despite the overshadowing news of personal struggles within the coaching staff.
Ultimately, FC Anyang’s successful season serves not only as a sporting achievement but as a testament to resilience—on and off the field. Their promotion is a fulfillment of a long-held dream and showcases the strong bond between the players, fans, and the community that rallied behind them throughout their journey in K League 2.