Back at 'home': Ulsan HD FC head coach Kim Pan-gon (left) with striker Kim Min-jun during a press conference in Johor. - Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Kim Pan-gon was all smiles on his return to Malaysia after four months.
The former national coach is in Johor to lead K-League 1 champions Ulsan HD against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the fourth match of the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) East Zone at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Tuesday (Nov 4).
For Pan-gon, the match will surely invoke many fond memories, as he was loved by the Malaysian crowd and worked with the majority of the JDT players who played for the national team during his time as Harimau Malaya coach from 2022 to 2024.
But he is focused on getting his team notch their first win in the competition.
"I"m excited to be back here and meet all the national players, whom I love. But I'm here with a mission and my team will be competitive to provide an exciting game for everyone. We will not step back," said Pan-gon.
"I know very well how strong JDT are at home. It is their fortress, it is not easy for any teams who come here. We are aware of how tough it can be."
Ulsan Hyundai are the K-League 1 champions for the third straight time and will go for the domestic double when they take on Pohang Steelers in the Korean FA Cup on Nov 30.
But in the ACLE, they could not find their roar as they lost their first three matches against Kawasaki Frontale (1-0), Yokohama F Marinos (4-0) and Vissel Kobe (2-0).
