Rebuilding and Redesigning: A Winter of Change for FC Seoul Ahead Of a Pivotal Year
For the first time in K-League history, a team are invincible.
It was on Matchday 28 of 38 that Matheus’ FC Seoul confirmed they would win back-to-back championships. And it was last night’s 4–1 win over Daegu FC that printed their sections in the history books, as the only team in Korea to finish a season unbeaten.
For two years, FC Seoul have dominated the K-League with their possession-heavy style of football. An expressive and clinical attacking trio; a technical and hard-working midfield three; all supported by a composed backline — these are the ingredients of what we have now come to know as a Matheus team.
But, the success of this season doesn’t mean that we can, or should, expect the same next year. There are a number of problems that the club will need to solve in the upcoming break, if they are to be ready to challenge once more at home and abroad.
The need for a wholescale rebuild
In his two years at the helm of the club, Matheus has relied heavily on 33-year-old Stanislav Iljutcenko (28G, 10A in all competitions) and 35-year-old midfielder Go Yo Han. Iljutcenko’s incredible goalscoring record since arriving in Seoul in July 2022 speaks for itself, while Go Yo Han’s influence will be sorely missed at the club he has served for 20 years.
Meanwhile, the latest rounds of Korean military conscription have resulted in callups for Lee Tae Suk (21, LB), Lee Han Beom (21, CB) and Han Seung Gyu (27, CM). The loss of Suk and Beom will be a body-blow. Both men have been integral to FC Seoul under Matheus; they have provided defensive stability and developed into potential Korean national team players in the progress. Meanwhile, Gyu has worked hard whenever he has been called upon — contributing a number of key goals and assists. Throw in a number of other players, who are either choosing to let their contracts expire, such as 35-year-old central defender Osmar (who has never looked the same since breaking his skull last season) and wantaway playmaker Aleksandar Paločević), as well as continued interest from foreign shores in the likes of Na Sang Ho (17G, 3A in all competitions) — and the need for a significant squad rebuild becomes apparent.
Work will have already started at the club, looking to fill the gaps with what is needed. FC Seoul’s recruitment in the last few years has been fairly good: a mix of Korean prospects at lower-teams; experienced domestic players and international talent such as André Gomes. They’ll also have the option of promoting players from the U18s, as well as a handful of players who will be returning from their two-year military duties.
A tactical revamp: FC Seoul’s potential transition to a back three
While we have already referred to the characteristics of Matheus’ team, the shape that they form has been fairly fluid. More often than not, they start games in either a 4–3–3 or a 4–2–3–1, before switching between a number of different formations, dependent on the ebb and flow of the game. Interestingly though, in the second half of last season, Matheus moved away from a back four. Is this something we could see more of next season?
“Our shape is situational,” Matheus said in a post-match interview a few weeks ago. “It is an important part of our gameplan for any given game, but we are not wedded to one shape, one structure. We need to be many things if we are to achieve our goals.”
On the occasions that they did move into this shape, it gave ample opportunity for FC Seoul to break down teams who were content to sit deep and hope to get them on the counter. The back three was built from the two central defenders and either of the defensive midfielders (Jeong Hyun Cheol and Han Seok Jong). This perhaps demonstrates the logic of this move: it is not a defensive one; instead, Matheus is hoping to create the attacking output of his wingbacks and central midfielders, by giving them the freedom to push up the pitch.
The future of the Magic Man himself
If you had to appraise Matheus’ managerial career so far, it would be almost universally positive.
In just two years, he has taken an underperforming, mid-table squad and turned them into invincible champions. He has worked with a group of attacking talent — young and old — and made them one of the most profilic groups in world football. Kang Seong Jin, following his record deal of $7,000,000 to Southampton, thanked Matheus for the role he had played in helping him “find the best version of himself, both technically and personally.” (Since that move in August, Kang has been one of the standout players in the EFL Championship, and may move again very soon.)
So, realistically, how much longer can FC Seoul keep Matheus? He downplayed any discussion of a move at the end of this season, insisting that his focus would be on a third successive K-League title, as well as progression in the AFC Champions League. This makes complete sense. But, his CV as both a player, and now as a manager, is exceptional. You feel that a number of European clubs will be watching his progress in early 2024, and may be tempted to see if they can convince him to leave halfway through next season…
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