Seongnam FC General Manager Kim Hae-woon, 52, has become the second South Korean goalkeeper-turned-manager in K League history.

Seongnam announced today (August 11) that it has appointed General Manager Kim as its new manager.

Previously, Seongnam terminated its contract with manager Jeon Kyung-jun, who had led the team for nearly two years, on the 4th of this month after the club fell to 12th place out of 17 teams with 20 points (4 wins, 8 draws, 6 losses), and had been searching for a new head coach.

Kim is the second South Korean former goalkeeper to take charge of a K League club as manager, following the late Manager Ham Heung-chul, who led the Hallelujah Football Club when South Korean professional football was launched in 1982.

In between, former Suwon Samsung coach Cho Min-hyuk at Bucheon FC in 2018 and Manager Kim Hae-woon himself at Seongnam in 2024 served brief stints as caretaker managers.

Among foreign managers, Senol Gunes of Turkey, who previously led FC Seoul, played as a goalkeeper during his playing career.

Manager Kim is a "one-club man" who debuted professionally in 1996 with Seongnam Ilhwa (then Cheonan Ilhwa), the predecessor of Seongnam FC, and played exclusively for Seongnam for 13 seasons until 2008.

He guarded Seongnam's goal in a total of 201 matches, including 140 K League matches, playoffs, and league cups.

After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career in 2010 as a goalkeeper coach at Jeonju Yeongsaeng High School, and has since coached goalkeepers at Henan Jianye (China), Gyeongnam FC, Seongnam, Bucheon, and Jeju United (now Jeju SK).

He also served as a goalkeeper coach for the South Korea under-20 (U-20) national team, the senior national team, and the Indonesia national team under Manager Shin Tae-yong, with whom he played alongside at Seongnam.

Ahead of the 2024 season, he joined Seongnam as head of the talent reinforcement department before being appointed general manager in September of last year.

The Seongnam club stated that the core value behind Kim's appointment lies in "pride and loyalty to the club."

The club explained, "This reflects our judgment that to overcome the current situation and meet the expectations of our fans, we need someone who understands the club's history and identity more deeply than anyone else, and possesses a commitment and sense of responsibility toward Seongnam's emblem."

According to Seongnam, Kim initially declined offers for the managerial position in order to continue the club's vision as an administrator, but ultimately accepted the role with difficulty.

Through the club, Manager Kim stated, "Seongnam FC is the entirety of my football life and my greatest pride," adding, "I could not turn a blind eye to the difficult situation facing the team, and I stand in this position with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility."

(Photo provided by Seongnam FC, Yonhap News)