What we can read into FC Anyang's start to 2025 | OneFootball

FC Anyang have made a positive start to life in K League 1. Ryu Byeong-hoon's men have taken three points from difficult away games and with a trip to Gwangju upcoming, they'll be looking to batten down the hatches again before the comforts of home await. But what can we glean from their debut campaign so far?

FC Anyang manager Ryu Byeong-hoon enjoys his moment in the sun against Seoul.

Two matches in is far too early to make any conclusions on how a club is performing, and we'll certainly be doing none of that here. Anyang made a dream start to life in K League 1 when new signing Bruno Mota's powerful header snatched an unlikely win in Munsu. They followed that with a narrow 2-1 loss in Sangam. Despite playing exceptionally well in the opening half, Anyang were hit with an early second half goal and faded noticeably as the game progressed.

They are sitting on three points from two away games, and with a goal difference of zero. Not too many sides will leave Ulsan and Seoul this year - especially teams likely to feature near the foot of the table - with three points and no damage to their goal difference. Anyang are in a good place before they visit Gwangju, but here a few talking points from their opening rounds.

1. No Country For Old Men

Anyang's veteran goalkeeper Kim Da-sol in action last season.

When the respective managers named their starting elevens for round 2 of the K League 1 season, it came as no surprise that Anyang's was the oldest in the division. The Violets also possessed one of the oldest teams in K League 2 and without significant recruitment over the winter, it was likely they would own the honor outright in 2025. The average age of Anyang's starting line up was 30.1 years, well clear of second-placed Pohang Steelers on 28.7 years. Gangwon FC, under new management, sent out a team with an average age of just 25.8 years, and not a single player in his 30's.

Anyang, on the other hand, lined up with six players over 30, and all of those are in key positions for how the team sets up. Goalkeeper Kim Da-sol is 36, and three of the back-four - Kim Dong-jin, Lee Tae-hee, and Lee Chang-yong - are 32, 32, and 34 respectively. Their midfield duo of Kim Jung-hyeon and Ri Yong-jik, meanwhile, are 31 and 34.

If we break down player ages into three categories, based on what future they have with the team, I think it would look like this;Category 1 is 22 years and under, category 2 is 23 to 29 (players in or approaching their prime), and category 3 is 30 and over. Anyang only selected four from category two. FC Seoul, Anyang's opponents last Saturday, picked seven from this category, the same number as Suwon FC. Leading the way were Daejeon Hana Citizen (8) and Gangwon with an incredible ten.

The benefit of having several players from this category is obvious. They should be your best, and fittest, players with plenty of experience and preferably the ability to play in several positions. Looking at the potential replacements, there aren't a lot of players in the wider squad who can expect significant minutes this season that fall into that second category. What impact - if any - this will have on the squad throughout the season remains to be seen, but added to the relative lack of top flight experience, it could become an issue as the dog days of summer roll in.

2. Where's all the experience?

Kim Dong-jin shows off his purple hair after the promotion party last autumn.

FC Anyang supporters absolutely adore this team. There are no stars, no egos, and, from what we can see, this is a team built around philosophies such as hard work, teamwork, and maximum effort. It is true that a number can't be added to these qualities to determinewhich team works harder, but there's plenty of evidence Anyang are no pushovers. Even in K League 2 last season this probably wasn't the best team or squad in the division, but they won the championship by three points. Bigger names, like Busan IPark and Suwon Samsung, were firmly in the rearview mirror all year.

The squad, on the whole, lacks top flight experience and international recognition. Only Kim Bo-kyoung, now in his mid-30s, possesses a glittering career in K League, the UK, and the national team. But Kim is well past his best and is unlikely to feature much this year. When the next Korean squad is announced for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Jordan, how many Anyang players do you expect to make the cut? The answer will be none.

Of Saturday's starting 11, only three players have accumulated more K League 1 appearances than K League 2, and one of those players comes with an asterisks. That player is new signing Thomas Oude Kotte. The Dutchman was signed this winter, starting both of Anyang's games. The other two are fullback Lee Tae-hee and another new signing, Kang Ji-hoon. Right back Kim Dong-jin, who dyed his hair purple to celebrate promotion last autumn, has accumulated 225 K League 2 appearances, to go with just 47 in the top division.

Even those players with K League 1 experience have rarely played for any of the bigger clubs. Gwangju FC, Suwon FC, Seongnam (when they were in K League 1), and Gangwon FC are some of the destinations, and most of the experience gathered was pre-Covid. So what can we conclude from all this? Well, Anyang are an incredibly hardworking but limited squad, with most of their key men now past their prime. Survival is going to be monumentally difficult, but if they can show that fighting spirit we've seen thus far, they stand a very good chance.

3. The case for pace

Yago César on the scoresheet last season.

Kang Ji-hoon was an interesting winter signing from Busan IPark. Following their promotion, Anyang kept their business to a minimum. Bruno Mota was the headline capture, but the other recent recruits were brought in to add depth. The starting XI that lost to Seoul featured eight players who achieved promotion last year. Kang is one of the squad members to have played more football in the top flight than K League 2 but his signing came under the radar.

Yet, manager Ryu has started the former Gangwon player on the left wing for both of Anyang's games, despite being a right footed player with virtually no experience on the left flank. Kang made 17 appearances last term, 16 of which were at right back or right wing. His signing makes sense when Anyang are playing away; his natural defensive instincts will help out Kim Dong-jin but Kang isn't a particularly quick player. In fact, no-one in the starting 11 against Seoul has blistering pace.

This move has pushed 20-year-old star Chae Hyun-woo from his natural position on the left to the right flank. Understandably, the young winger has struggled to cope, and this was an area Ulsan directly targeted in round 1. But it is part of a wider problem that Anyang lack pace. Without game-changing pace means the only real outlet to ease pressure on the battered defense is to find Bruno Mota, heroically heading on balls into space for 90 minutes.

One player with pace is Yago César. The Brazilian has been used off the bench in both games so far. He doesn't always have an end product to go with his pace, and perhaps his defensive work isn't as disciplined as Kang's, but Anyang will need to start Yago soon. He can beat men, has excellent control, and, crucially, offers another avenue for Anyang to relieve the pressure. I don't think he'll start against Gwangju as Ryu will again look to contain his hosts. But Gimcheon Sangmu at home in round 4 will be the ideal time to give the talented winger a start.

Choi Sung-beom is another player who could get a start soon, but only if Anyang decide to break up the Kim Jung-hyeon/Ri Yong-jik partnership. Choi showed good speed and awareness to get on a loose pass and score Anyang's consolation in Sangam. Having some pace in a wide area is really beneficial; without it, Anyang's opponents will play a high line, nullifying Mota's threats.

4. How good is Bruno Mota?

Bruno Mota celebrates his dramatic late winner in Munsu.

K League 2's top goal scorer has made the transition to the top flight look very easy. The big striker scored 16 times and provided five assists as Cheonan City struggled near the basement. He scored on his Anyang debut and came close to scoring again, against Seoul, after a brilliant chested take down followed by a first-time volley. Mota is going to a handful all season.

Last year, Matheus Oliveira, perhaps sensing the Anyang faithful were getting fed up with striker Nicholas, spoke at length about what his Brazilian teammate brought to the team. To lead the line for Anyang, you have to be good at chasing lost causes all day long and scoring goals. Nicholas held up his end of the bargain for the former; he ran and ran and ran. But after signing in the summer, he failed to score a single goal. Bruno Mota is a massive step up.

So how did Mota stay with Cheonan for two years? Suwon Bluewings went shopping in Cheonan last summer as their playoff hopes were getting back on track following a disastrous May. They left with attacking midfielder Paulinho but Mota was the man they should have thrown the cheque book at. It was clear, at that point, Fejsal Mulić was not going to score the goals to get Suwon promoted. But Mota might have. He was the perfect fit. But Suwon's loss is Anyang's gain.