Seoul suffered yet another disappointing season in 2022. Here, we will take a month-by-month look at what went on this year and highlight the key moments from the season.
The off-season
This is perhaps where Seoul's issues began to manifest after a less than inspiring transfer window. A number of veteran players left the club including Park Chu-young, Kim Won-kyun and Yoo Sang-hoon, as well as a few who had only joined the side the year before, namely Gabriel Barbosa, Connor Chapman and Yeo Reum.
Despite clearing out some deadwood and freeing up extra funds, Seoul's recruitment was arguably not up to the standard required for us to be challenging for the title again, which showed as the season wore on.
Unknown centre-half Ricardo Silva was brought in, as well as Lim Min-hyuk, Ben Halloran, Hwang Sung-min, Cho Ji-hun and finally Lee Sang-min. Out of them all, only Lee Sang-min would go on to cement a place in the starting line-up whilst the rest would get only a handful of appearances between them.
Ki Sung-yueng was announced as captain of the side for the season, with Na Sang-ho and Yang Han-bin chosen as deputies.
February
Despite failing to add any real quality to the side in the pre-season, Seoul got off to a solid start with a 2-0 win away to Daegu on the opening day of the season. This was followed by the announcement of Cho Young-wook's contract extension, as well as the launch of Seoul's very own beer brand: 'Seoul 1983'.
Seoul's next game was a scrappy 1-1 draw away to Incheon, with Kim Jin-ya scoring against his former side.
W: 1 D: 1 L:0
March
The following game ended in another draw as Seoul failed to find the net in a 0-0 game at Seongnam. The cracks were already starting to appear as newly promoted Gimcheon Sangmu made light work of Seoul in a 3-1 away defeat as the capital club struggled to find consistency.
Seoul were beaten again on the road by Ulsan Hyundai after a controversial VAR decision awarded the home side a penalty in the dying minutes. Seoul finally played their first home game of the season in game week six (due to new turf being laid on the pitch) and were beaten once again, this time by Jeju United. The manager fielded a very young side for this clash due to a corona outbreak at the club, with the majority of the team making their first team debuts.
Despite poor results on the pitch, it seemed as if the backroom staff were finally earning their wages as the club announced that fans' favourite Han Seung-gyu would return to the club on a permanent deal.
W: 0 D: 1 L: 3
April
As spring came into full bloom in the capital, spirits were lifted slightly as Seoul managed to grind out a draw on the road at Pohang to end their 3 game losing streak. This was followed by the announcement of Korea national team star Hwang In-beom's arrival on loan, a move that sparked celebration and aroused a real optimism around the club, something that we hadn't seen for a while.
This optimism was short lasting, however, as a dismal first half display at home to Gangwon saw them 2-0 down at the break after some awful defensive errors by Seoul's backline. They did managed to claw themselves back into the game to finish 2-2, although it did little to lift the mood with Seoul then without a win since the opening day. To make things worse, it was revealed that Go Yo-han had ruptured his achilles tendon in the game, leaving him out for the remainder of the season.
The K-league announced that chanting was once again permitted at games after a two season hiatus due to the corona virus pandemic, just in time for the first Supermatch of the season at Sangam. Seoul managed to put in a solid performance to win 2-0 and relieve some pressure.
Seoul's final game in April was an away FA Cup tie with K3 side Changwon FC. Despite being an easy game on paper, the minnows took Seoul all the way to penalties after a spirited defensive display, with the visitors finally winning the shootout 4-3 to progress to the next round.
W: 2 D: 2 L: 0
May
The month began with Brazilian defender Ricardo Silva leaving the club due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition, after making just a single appearance for the club. This left Seoul criminally understaffed in the middle of the defence and heavily reliant on the veteran Osmar and inexperienced Lee Han-beom.
Despite this, Seoul continued their run of games without defeat with a respectable 1-1 draw away to Jeonbuk, followed by a tremendous 3-1 home win over Suwon FC.
Winger Park Jung-bin was released after failing to impress during his year long stretch with the club. Hwang In-beom made his long awaited debut in a 1-0 home win over pohang Steelers, with the midfielder playing an integral role in the victory. Seoul fans were beginning to believe again, something that we tend to shy away from these days knowing how volatile this side can be.
True to form, Seoul were soundly beaten by Gangwon away from home in the very next game, followed by another embarrassing home defeat to relegation favourites Seongnam FC. The fans began to grow restless once again, and were displeased with the manager's failure to decide on his best starting eleven and stick to it.
Seoul bounced back from these defeats with a comprehensive 3-1 home victory over Jeju in the FA Cup, which saw them progress to the quarter-finals. They couldn't carry this form over into the next game however, as they conceded in the dying moments to draw at home to Gimcheon. This clear lack of consistency would become a theme throughout the year for FC Seoul.
W: 3 D: 2 L: 2
June
After a prolonged international break, Seoul returned to action on June 20th with another win over Suwon Bluewings in the second Supermatch of the season. This was followed by a 2-1 home defeat to champions elect Ulsan Hyundai.
Ben Halloran had his contract terminated after failing to impress during his short stint with the club, before Seoul drew 1-1 with Incheon at home.
Seoul continued their run in the FA Cup with a 3-0 away victory over Busan Transport Corporation FC in their last game of the month.
W: 2 D: 1 L: 1
July
Hwang In-beom broke the fans' hearts by deciding not to extend his loan move and instead transfer to Greek side Olympiacos, before Seoul scraped a 2-2 draw away at Jeju.
The fans' discontent was worsened by a 1-0 defeat to Jeonbuk, with the performance more of a worry than the actual result.
Midfielder Jung Won-jin moved to Busan after being deemed surplus to requirements after returning from Gimcheon Sangmu.
Suwon FC staged a dramatic fightback to earn a late 4-3 win over Seoul following a defensive collapse from the capital side. Manager Ahn Ik-soo started to come under intense scrutiny as it became more apparent that Seoul would more likely be facing a relegation battle than a push for top four once again this season.
The board moved to add some quality to the side and subside the voices of discontent by signing Stanislav Iljutcenko from Jeonbuk. This was met by great excitement from the fans, as it appeared that the club had finally solved our striking problem. Seoul also signed Japanese midfielder Keijiro Ogawa, filling their Asian quota in the squad.
Despite the signings, FC Seoul fan groups marched to greet the team bus before their home game with Daegu, deciding that berating the team was having an adverse effect rather than buoying their spirits. The fans chanted and cheered on the players as they got off the bus.
Iljutcenko announced himself in spectacular fashion with a match winning injury-time goal in the 2-1 win, sending the fans into raptures and relieving some pressure on the manager in the process. 'Ilju' was integral once again as he grabbed himself an assist in a 2-1 away victory over Pohang.
W:2 D: 1 L: 2
August
Iljutcenko continued his blistering start to life at Seoul with a goal in the 1-1 draw away to Ulsan. He was powerless, however, to prevent a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Jeju, despite Seoul controlling the majority of possession.
It was beginning to become difficult to ignore the fact that the manager was unable to utilise any sort of 'plan b' in games, while most teams looked to have figured out exactly how Seoul would play and were able to capitalise on it.
In a bizarre turn of events, the management announced that there would be a shake up to the captaincy roles at the club, with Ki Sung-yueng inexplicably being removed from the position. Na Sang-ho was announced as the new captain, with Lee Sang-min, Yoon Jeong-gyu, Kim Jin-ya and Cho Young-wook all being named as vice captains.
Palocevic put in a man of the match performance in Seoul's 2-1 away victory at Gimcheon, assisting one and scoring a goal of the season contender himself. Iljutcenko wasn't going to let his ex-Pohang teammate outdo him though, scoring a brace in Seoul's next game, a 2-0 home win over Seongnam.
The joy was short lived, however, as Incheon brought Seoul crashing back to earth in a crushing 2-0 away defeat at the hands of their local rivals. This was followed by the news that Lee Han-beom would miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his ACL, leaving Seoul with a depleted back line heading into September.
W: 2 D: 1 L: 2
September
The atmosphere around the club was reaching boiling point and began to simmer over after Seoul were soundly beaten 3-1 by fierce rivals Suwon Bluewings at Sangam. Seoul hadn't lost to Suwon at home since 2014 prior to that.
Seoul put a better performance in the following game away to Jeonbuk, but were still unable to get a win after holding out for a 0-0 draw.
Kim Ju-sung and Jeong Hyun-chul returned from military duty at Gimcheon, providing some much needed defensive cover as the season began to draw to a close.
Suwon FC scored an equaliser with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 at Sangam, before Cho Young-wook relieved some pressure as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory at home to Gangwon.
In the final game before the league split into two, Seoul were thrashed 3-0 away from home by fellow strugglers Daegu, with the fans now furious that the manager was still allowed to remain in a job.
W: 1 D: 2 L: 2
October
Seoul's first game in the bottom half of the split saw them once again take on Daegu in what would be the second of three consecutive games against the 'Sky Blues'. The game ended in another defeat as Seoul put in probably their worst performance of the season losing 3-2, with the scoreline flattering to deceive.
Ki Sung-yueng was involved in ugly scenes after the final whistle as the midfielder took exception to comments by some of the angry fans after the game. The N-block called for Ahn Ik-soo to come forward and explain himself, with the coach eventually using a microphone to apologise to the irate supporters.
Na Sang-ho managed to lift some of the gloom around the club as he scored a winning goal in the last minute of extra-time of their 1-0 away victory in the FA Cup semi-final in Daegu. This saw Seoul book their place in the FA Cup final for the first time since winning the competition back in 2015.
A 0-0 bore draw followed away to Suwon in the final Supermatch of the year, before Gimcheon came from behind to get a 1-1 draw at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Seoul knew that a win would see them safe from a relegation play-off spot as they faced Seongnam at home.
Seoul were beaten by the already relegated and bottom placed side 1-0, leaving their safety in the top flight in real jeopardy. Angry fans swarmed the team bus after the game, blocking them from leaving the stadium and demanding answers from the players and management. Ahn Ik-soo and Na Sang-ho eventually appeared asking for yet more patience from the fans and offered another apology.
This seemed to have a positive effect on the team as they secured their safety on the last day of the season with a 2-0 away win at Suwon FC. Seoul ended the season in 9th position, way below what was expected of them considering the strength of their squad.
Seoul still had the FA Cup final to contend with, and secured a respectable 2-2 home draw in the first leg at Sangam. Jeonbuk took control in the second leg, however, and powered to a 3-1 win to collect the trophy and leave Seoul empty handed once again.
W: 2 D: 2 L: 3
It was an utterly disappointing end to what was an already miserable season at FC Seoul. Seoul boasts of one of the best squads in the league and has an abundance of up-and-coming young players at their disposal. For one reason or another, they were unable to galvanise a real team identity and style of play that suited their needs.
Changes are needed both on and off the field in the off-season if Seoul are to have any chance of getting back to where they want to be next season. Whatever transpires over the coming months, the fans will continue to follow their club up and down the country week in, week out. They deserve a lot better than what they saw this season.
