Ulsan HD and Coach Kim Pan-gon Part Ways After One Year Amid Performance Slump
Ulsan HD ends contract with Kim Pan-gon by mutual agreement following disappointing results Team seeks rapid leadership change to rejuvenate after series of defeats and cup exits
K League 1 side Ulsan HD has parted ways with head coach Kim Pan-gon just a year after his appointment, following a series of disappointing performances. The club officially announced on the 1st that Head Coach Kim had offered his resignation, taking responsibility for recent results, and that both parties had mutually agreed to terminate his contract. Ulsan HD stated their intention to swiftly appoint a new manager in hopes of revitalizing team morale.
Kim Pan-gon became Ulsan's twelfth head coach in July 2024, following the departure of Hong Myung-bo to the national team. Upon his appointment on July 28 last year, Kim quickly etched his name in club history, leading Ulsan to a third consecutive league title (2022–2024) and the club's fifth championship overall.
Having been part of Ulsan's inaugural league-winning squad as a player in 1996, Kim became the first former Ulsan player to return as head coach and lift the trophy. However, the quest for a fourth straight title this season proved far more challenging. Despite turning around an opening defeat with three consecutive wins, the team soon found itself in a downward spiral.
This year, Ulsan suffered three straight losses in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and crashed out of the Korea Cup in the quarterfinals after a 0–1 defeat to Gwangju FC. The club also remains winless in their last six K League 1 matches (three draws and three losses), enduring a particularly bleak period with just three draws and seven losses in their past ten official games.
Inevitable changes at the helm followed, bringing Kim Pan-gon's tenure to a close after about a year. Kim’s final match in charge is expected to be the rescheduled K League 1 Round 20 clash against Suwon FC at Ulsan Munsu Stadium on August 2.
In a related move, CEO Kim Kwang-guk has also decided to step down, accepting responsibility for the club’s recent struggles. Attention now turns to how the simultaneous change in coaching and executive leadership will impact Ulsan's prospects and shaken team spirit.
Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”
Photo=Yonhap News, MHN DB