2015 K League Classic
The 2015 K League Classic was the 33rd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K-League and the third season in its current name, the K League Classic.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the defending champions, having won their third title in 2014.
Promotion and relegation
Teams relegated to 2015 K League ChallengeTeams promoted from the 2014 K League Challenge
- Daejeon Citizen
- Gwangju FC
Participating clubs
- K League Classic's principle of official statistics is that final club succeeds to predecessor club's history & records.
Club | City / Area | Manager | Joined | Owner / Sponsor |
Busan IPark | Busan | Yoon Sung-hyo | 1983 - | Owner : Hyundai Development Company |
Daejeon Citizen | Daejeon | Cho Jin-ho | 1997 - | Owners : Government of Daejeon, Citizen Stockholder |
Gwangju FC | Gwangju | Nam Ki-il | 2010 - | Owner : Government of Gwangju, Citizen Stockholder |
Incheon United | Incheon | Kim Do-hoon | 2004 - | Owners : Government of Incheon, Citizen Stockholder Sponsors : Shinhan Bank, Incheon International Airport |
Jeju United | Jeju | Jo Sung-hwan | 1983 - | Owner : SK Energy in SK Group |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk | Choi Kang-hee | 1995 - | Owner : Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group |
Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam | Roh Sang-rae | 1995 - | Owner : POSCO |
Pohang Steelers | Pohang, Gyeongbuk | Hwang Sun-hong | 1983 - | Owner : POSCO |
Seongnam FC | Seongnam, Gyeonggi | Kim Hak-bum | 1989 - | Owner : Government of Seongnam, Citizen Stockholder |
FC Seoul | Seoul | Choi Yong-soo | 1984 - | Owner : GS Group |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Suwon, Gyeonggi | Seo Jung-won | 1996 - | Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung Group Sponsors : Samsung Electronics |
Ulsan Hyundai | Ulsan | Yoon Jung-hwan | 1984 - | Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group |
Stadiums
- Primary venues used in the K League Classic:
Busan IPark | Daejeon Citizen | Gwangju FC | Incheon United | Jeju United | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Busan Asiad Stadium | Daejeon World Cup Stadium | Gwangju World Cup Stadium | Incheon Football Stadium | Jeju World Cup Stadium | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
Capacity: 53,864 | Capacity: 41,295 | Capacity: 44,118 | Capacity: 20,891 | Capacity: 35,657 | Capacity: 42,477 |
Jeonnam Dragons | Pohang Steelers | Seongnam FC | FC Seoul | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Ulsan Hyundai |
Gwangyang Football Stadium | Pohang Steel Yard | Tancheon Stadium | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Suwon World Cup Stadium | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
Capacity: 20,009 | Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 16,250 | Capacity: 66,704 | Capacity: 43,959 | Capacity: 44,474 |
Managerial changes
Foreign players
Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game including a least one player from the AFC country.Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Asian Player |
Busan IPark | Bill | Elias | Wesley | |
Daejeon Citizen | Niltinho | Rafinha | Wanderson | Álvaro Silva |
Gwangju FC | Cassiano | Daniel | Fábio Neves | |
Incheon United | Kevin Oris | Matej Jonjić | Tomoki Wada | |
Jeju United | Ciro | Fernando Karanga | Ricardo Lopes | Aleksandar Jovanović |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Leonardo | Luiz Henrique | Urko Vera | Alex Wilkinson |
Jeonnam Dragons | Leandrinho | Mislav Oršić | Stevica Ristić | |
Pohang Steelers | Tiago | Lazar Veselinović | ||
Seongnam FC | Lucas Pajeu | Javier Reina | ||
FC Seoul | Adriano | Mauricio Molina | Osmar Barba | Yojiro Takahagi |
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Santos | Iliyan Mitsanski | Kaio | |
Ulsan Hyundai | Everton Santos | Ivan Kovačec | Server Djeparov | Chikashi Masuda |
League table
Positions by matchday
Round 1–22
Round 23–38
Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38Results
Matches 1–22
Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away.Matches 23–33
Matches 34–38
After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.Top six
Bottom six
Promotion-relegation playoffs
The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2015 K League Challenge Playoff and the 11th-placed club of the 2015 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2016 K League Classic.First leg
Second leg
''Suwon FC secure promotion to the 2016 K League Classic season, 3:0 on aggregate.Statistics
Top scorers
Top assists
Attendance
Top 10 Season Attendances
Attendance | Round | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Weekday | Time of Day |
39,328 | 18 | 27 June 2015 | FC Seoul | 0 – 0 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
32,516 | 2 | 14 March 2015 | FC Seoul | 1 – 2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
31,192 | 23 | 26 July 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 – 1 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | Sunday | Evening |
30,410 | 9 | 2 May 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 – 0 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
29,046 | 31 | 19 September 2015 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0 – 3 | FC Seoul | Suwon World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
28,460 | 37 | 21 November 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1 – 1 | Seongnam FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
26,433 | 30 | 12 September 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3 – 0 | FC Seoul | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
26,250 | 7 | 18 April 2015 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5 – 1 | FC Seoul | Suwon World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
24,262 | 35 | 25 October 2015 | FC Seoul | 0 – 0 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Sunday | Afternoon |
23,810 | 1 | 7 March 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 – 0 | Seongnam FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | Saturday | Afternoon |
Awards
Most Valuable Player of The Round
MVP | Club | |
1 | Edu | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
2 | Kim Ho-nam | Gwangju FC |
3 | Kim Seung-dae | Pohang Steelers |
4 | Kim Do-heon | Seongnam FC |
5 | Han Kyo-won | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
6 | Son Jun-ho | Pohang Steelers |
7 | Jong Tae-se | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
8 | Adriano | Daejeon Citizen |
9 | Edu | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
10 | Jung Hoon | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
11 | Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
12 | Kang Su-il | Jeju United FC |
13 | Hwang Ui-jo | Seongnam FC |
14 | Yoon Bit-garam | Jeju United FC |
15 | Go Moo-yul | Pohang Steelers |
16 | Santos | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
17 | Santos | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
18 | Mislav Oršić | Jeonnam Dragons |
19 | Éverton Santos | FC Seoul |
MVP | Club | |
20 | Lee Dong-gook | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
21 | Ricardo Lopes | Jeju United FC |
22 | Stevica Ristić | Jeonnam Dragons |
23 | Lee Jae-sung | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
24 | Park Chu-young | FC Seoul |
25 | Cho Chan-ho | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
26 | Adriano | FC Seoul |
27 | Kwon Chang-hoon | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
28 | Kwon Sun-tae | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
29 | Ricardo Lopes | Jeju United FC |
30 | Fernando Karanga | Jeju United FC |
31 | Adriano | FC Seoul |
32 | Kwon Chang-hoon | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
33 | Ricardo Lopes | Jeju United FC |
34 | Kim Ho-jun | Jeju United FC |
35 | Ivan Kovačec | Ulsan Hyundai |
36 | Yun Ju-tae | FC Seoul |
37 | Kwon Chang-hoon | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
38 | Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Manager of the Month
Season Awards
The 2015 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2015.K League Most Valuable Player
- The K League Most Valuable Player award was won by Lee Dong-gook.
K League Young Player
- The K League Young Player award was won by Lee Jae-sung.
K League Top Scorer
- The K League Top Scorer award was won by Kim Shin-wook.
K League Top Assistor
- The K League Top Assistor award was won by Yeom Ki-hun.
K League Best XI
K League Best XI |
Position | Player | Club |
Goalkeeper | Kwon Sun-tae | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Defender | Hong Chul | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Defender | Matej Jonjić | Incheon United |
Defender | Kim Kee-hee | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Defender | Cha Du-ri | FC Seoul |
Midfielder | Yeom Ki-hun | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Midfielder | Lee Jae-sung | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Midfielder | Kwon Chang-hoon | Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Midfielder | Song Jin-hyung | Jeju United |
Forward | Lee Dong-gook | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Forward | Adriano | FC Seoul |
K League Manager of the Year
- The K League Manager of the Year award was won by Choi Kang-Hee.
K League Special Award
- The K League Special Award was won by Osmar Barba and Shin Hwa-yong.
'FAN'tastic Player
- The K League 'FAN'tastic Player was won by Lee Dong-gook.