"Hot Guy" director Lee Jung-hyo, who heated up December with "transfer rumors," decided to stay in Gwangju.

Director Lee Jung-hyo was confirmed to have conveyed his intention to "remain on the team" at a meeting with Gwangju CEO Noh Dong-il in Gwangju at around 5 p.m. on the 22nd.
According to a soccer official, the Gwangju club accepted Lee's demands on salary and player composition to some extent, so the negotiations could reach a conclusion. Manager Lee also chose "Loyalty" by shaking off many transfer rumors. 메이저놀이터

Coach Lee took the helm of Gwangju in 2022 to lead promotion to the first division for the first time in a year, and the following year, he ranked third in K League 1, the highest in the club's history, and presented the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) ticket to the club. He earned the nickname "K-League Mourinho" for his brilliant attack tactics and eloquence.

Although he ranked ninth in the league during the 2024 season, he created a whirlwind by winning three consecutive games in the Asian Champions League, contributing to promoting the Gwangju club, a small and medium-sized civic club in the K-League, to the whole of Asia. "Coach Lee Jung-hyo" went viral among Japanese J-League officials. Some teams showed interest in him.

After an eventful season, including poor league, ACL propaganda, and turf controversy, Lee received attention from Jeonbuk in the K League 1 and Incheon in the K League 2, which are vacant after the season. Lee, who has been to England to study soccer, has never opened his mouth publicly, but rumors have been biting his tail. Reports have emerged that Jeonbuk has appointed Lee, and there have been rumors that it has been found somewhere in Seoul that it has planned a senior press conference.

Lee's final choice, which was struggling with his future, was to stay in Gwangju. Although Gwangju is on the verge of a budget cut next year due to financial problems, it is rumored that Gwangju accepted the club's offer to renew the contract with the determination to make a new round in Gwangju.

In Gwangju, major players such as Heo Yul and Lee Hee-kyun moved to other teams one after another, or Kim Cheon Sangmu was confirmed to join the military. The front desk and head coach Lee will put their heads together from the 23rd to form the optimal squad under difficult conditions.

After the winter break, Gwangju will go on a winter training trip to Thailand with Lee Jung-hyo on January 3 next year.