2017 K League Challenge


The 2017 K League Challenge was the fifth season of the K League Challenge, the second tier South Korean professional league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2013. The top-ranked team and the winner of the promotion play-offs among three clubs ranked between 2nd and 4th got promoted to the K League 1 after the regular season ended.

Teams

, the second-placed team of the 2016 K League Challenge, and Gangwon FC, the promotion series winner, were promoted to the 2017 K League Classic. Suwon FC and Seongnam FC were relegated from the top tier. A total of 10 teams contested in the league.
TeamCityManagerHome venueCapacity
Ansan GreenersAnsan Lee Heung-silAnsan Wa~ Stadium
FC AnyangAnyang Kim Jong-pilAnyang Stadium
Asan MugunghwaAsan Song Sun-hoYi Sun-sin Stadium
Bucheon FC 1995Bucheon Jeong Gab-seokBucheon Stadium
Busan IParkBusan Cho Jin-hoBusan Gudeok Stadium
Daejeon CitizenDaejeon Lee Young-ikDaejeon World Cup Stadium
Gyeongnam FCChangwon Kim Jong-booChangwon Football Center
Seongnam FCSeongnam Park Kyung-hoonTancheon Stadium
Seoul E-LandSeoul Kim Byung-sooSeoul Olympic Stadium
Suwon FCSuwon Cho Duck-jeSuwon Sports Complex

Stadiums

Primary venues used in the K League Challenge:
Ansan GreenersFC AnyangAsan MugunghwaBucheon FC 1995Busan IPark
Ansan Wa~ StadiumAnyang StadiumYi Sun-sin StadiumBucheon StadiumBusan Gudeok Stadium
Capacity: 35,000Capacity: 17,143Capacity: 19,283Capacity: 34,545Capacity: 12,349
Daejeon CitizenGyeongnam FCSeongnam FCSeoul E-LandSuwon FC
Daejeon World Cup StadiumChangwon Football CenterTancheon StadiumSeoul Olympic StadiumSuwon Sports Complex
Capacity: 40,535Capacity: 15,500Capacity: 16,146Capacity: 69,950Capacity: 11,808

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagersKit Manufacturer1Main sponsor1
Ansan GreenersKelmeAnsan Government
FC AnyangAstoreAnyang Government
Asan MugunghwaPumaAsan Government
Bucheon FC 1995AstoreBucheon Government
Busan IParkAdidasHyundai Development Company
Daejeon CitizenAstoreDaejeon Government
Gyeongnam FCHummelGyeongnam Government
Seongnam FCUmbroSeongnam Government
Seoul E-LandNew BalanceE-Land
Suwon FCHummelSuwon Government

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.
As of 28 July 2017.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Asian Player
Ansan Greeners FC Luka Rotković Raúl Tarragona Bahodir Nasimov
FC Anyang Jô Lukian Aubin Kouakou
Bucheon FC 1995 Nilson Júnior Waguininho Rodrigo Paraná Bakhodir Pardayev
Busan IPark Danny Morais Rômulo Léo Mineiro Michihiro Yasuda
Daejeon Citizen Bruno Cantanhede Levan Shengelia Cristian Dănălache
Gyeongnam FC Alex Bruno Marcão Ivan Herceg
Seongnam FC Dário Marin Oršulić Filip Hlohovský
Seoul E-Land FC Alex Daniel Lovinho Tomoki Wada Atsuki Wada
Suwon FC Bruce Djite Pedro Carmona Vladan Adžić Adrian Leijer

League table

Positions by matchday

Round 1-18

Round 19-36

Results

Matches 1–18

Matches 19–36

Promotion-Relegation Playoffs

Promotion and relegation playoffs was held between 2nd~4th clubs of 2017 K League Challenge and 11th club of 2017 K League Classic. If scores are tied after regular time at Semi-Playoff and Playoff, the higher placed team advances to the next phase. The same conditions do not apply to Promotion-Relegation Playoffs.

Semi-Playoff

Playoff

Promotion-Relegation Playoffs

First leg

Second leg

''Sangju Sangmu retained its 2018 K League 1 spot, 5:4 on penalties.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top assists

Attendance

Awards

Most Valuable Player of The Round

MVPClub
1 Lee Jung-hyupBusan IPark
2 Heo Beom-sanBusan IPark
3 Kim Eun-sunAsan Mugunghwa
4 Cho Seok-jaeFC Anyang
5 Kim Min-kyunFC Anyang
6 Lee Jung-hyupBusan IPark
7 Jeong Jae-heeFC Anyang
8 Kim Min-kyunFC Anyang
9 Lee Seung-hyunSuwon FC
10 Kim Min-kyunFC Anyang
11 Raúl TarragonaAnsan Greeners
12 MarcãoGyeongnam FC
13 MarcãoGyeongnam FC
14 Lim Sang-hyubBusan IPark
15 Lee Kyu-seongBusan IPark
16 Cristian DănălacheDaejeon Citizen
17 Kim ShinBucheon FC 1995
18 Danny MoraisBusan IPark

MVPClub
19 Baek Sung-dongSuwon FC
20 Lee Seung-hyunSuwon FC
21 Go Myeong-seokBucheon FC 1995
22 Kim Dong-chanSeongnam FC
23 Hwang In-beomDaejeon Citizen
24 Jung Won-jinGyeongnam FC
25 MarcãoGyeongnam FC
26 Choi Oh-baekSeoul E-Land FC
27 Choi Oh-baekSeoul E-Land FC
28 Ko Kyung-minBusan IPark
29 Kim Chan-heeDaejeon Citizen
30 Kim HyunAsan Mugunghwa
31 MarcãoGyeongnam FC
32 Kim Kyeong-minBusan IPark
33 MarcãoGyeongnam FC
34 Ryu Won-wooBucheon FC 1995
35 Jeong Hyeon-cheolGyeongnam FC
36 Baek Sung-dongSuwon FC

Manager of the Month

Season Awards

The 2016 K League Awards was held on 20 November 2017.

K League Challenge Most Valuable Player

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Lee Bum-sooGyeongnam FC
Defender Choi Jae-sooGyeongnam FC
Defender Park Ji-sooGyeongnam FC
Defender Ivan HercegGyeongnam FC
Defender Woo Joo-sungGyeongnam FC
Midfielder Jung Won-jinGyeongnam FC
Midfielder Hwang In-beomDaejeon Citizen
Midfielder Moon Ki-hanBucheon FC 1995
Midfielder Bae Ki-jongGyeongnam FC
Forward MarcãoGyeongnam FC
Forward Lee Jeong-hyeopBusan IPark

K League Challenge Manager of the Year