When I arrived at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the beginning of the season, I knew exactly what kind of club I was joining. Jeonbuk is not just another team: it is an institution with history, a winning culture, and high standards that force you to perform at your best every day. But I also knew that football, no matter how prestigious it may be, never gives you anything for free. What we have achieved this year — becoming K League 1 champions with five games to go and a 16-point lead over the second-placed team — is not the result of fate or chance. It is the direct consequence of the commitment, unity and mentality of an extraordinary group of people.
From the very first day, we set out to build a solid, recognisable and competitive team. It wasn’t just about winning games, but about doing so with a clear identity, with courageous football, with pressure, pace and intensity. There were moments, especially in the early stages, where we had to adjust many things, but the important thing was that we learned and never lost sight of our dream.
Consistency has been our best ally. Staying focused in every game was key. In such a competitive league, anyone can make life difficult for you if you relax. That’s why, beyond the goals, the statistics or the winning streaks, what stands out for me is the collective mentality we have built. Every training session was an opportunity to improve. Every mistake, a lesson. And every victory, an incentive to keep going.
I also want to highlight the strength of the team we have built. I’m not just talking about the starting players, but everyone: those who contributed from the bench, the young players who earned minutes through hard work, and the veterans who provided balance in difficult moments. In a long championship, with travel, injuries and fatigue, you need a united dressing room, where everyone understands their role and works for the common good. And that is exactly what we had.
The coaching staff deserves special recognition. No one sees the hours we spend analysing opponents, adjusting training sessions or looking for solutions to unforeseen events. Their professionalism, energy and commitment were fundamental in keeping us on track. The same goes for all the club staff: the physiotherapists, doctors, fitness coaches… They are all an essential part of this title.
And, of course, our fans. Jeonbuk fans are the soul of the team. Seeing them fill the stadium, feeling their support even when we played away, hearing their chants when we needed them most… all of that pushed us to believe that nothing was impossible. This championship is theirs too. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their trust, for always being there, for making us feel like we were playing with twelve players.
Becoming champions with five games to go is not something that happens every year. It is an achievement that speaks to the competitive level the team has reached, to its ability to maintain its ambition even when the goal seemed distant. But it also reminds us of something important: in football, nothing ever stops. We are enjoying this moment, yes, but we are also thinking about the new challenges that lie ahead with the responsibility of continuing to honour the Jeonbuk shirt with humility and hard work.
I am proud, not only of the title, but of how we achieved it: together, with discipline, with joy, with respect for the game and for our opponents. This championship is a reward for our collective effort. A reward for believing when few others do, for getting back up when things don’t go our way. For looking at our teammates and knowing that we are all pulling in the same direction.
Thank you, Jeonbuk. Thank you, players. Thank you, fans. This championship is not mine, it is ours. And hopefully it is just the beginning of an even brighter era for this great club.