Ulsan Hyundai has signed a new contract with Lee Cheong-yong, the 2022 K-League 1 MVP and captain who led the team to victory.
In 2020, Lee Cheong-yong wore Ulsan’s blue uniform as the club’s best treatment. Lee Chung-yong, who gave Ulsan its second 2020 AFC Champions League championship cup from the first year of his joining, played in 35 league games last year and led Ulsan’s first league championship in 17 years. In addition, Lee Chung-yong served as Ulsan’s mental support and ace by wearing the captain’s armband for the past two seasons. Lee Cheong-yong, who has earned the love of fans and the trust of colleagues for three years, will remain in Ulsan and continue to run for higher goals. 안전놀이터
Lee Chung-yong made his professional debut at FC Seoul in 2006 and started to make his name widely known in earnest by participating in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada in 2007. The following year, Chung-yong Lee, who participated in the Beijing Olympics and was selected as one of the best 11 in the K-League, moved to Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League at the age of 21.
He showed off his skills as an ace by playing in 176 matches in the Premier League and the Championship (second division), recording 17 goals and 33 assists while playing for six seasons at Bolton. Afterwards, through Crystal Palace, he moved to VfL Bochum in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga (2nd division) in 2018, where he worked for one and a half seasons, and returned to the K-League by transferring to Ulsan in 2020. Lee Chung-yong showed off his strength by lifting the league MVP and championship trophy three years after his return.
He participated in two World Cups, and scored two goals in the first World Cup, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, becoming the first-class contributor to Korea’s first ever advance to the round of 16.
At the championship press conference held after winning a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Gangwon FC in October of last year, “I will use this championship as an opportunity to help (Ulsan) lift more trophies. Every day in Ulsan is special and life in Ulsan is happy.” Lee Chung-yong, who said, “will remain as the blue dragon of Ulsan for two years until 2024.
Lee Cheong-yong, who agreed to renew the contract with Ulsan, said, “I am happy to be able to deliver the news that many people have been waiting for. I think it’s a promise I made with the fans. I’ll wear the blue uniform and do my best to keep my promise. I hope you continue to send a lot of support to the team.”