Sangju Sangmu Phoenix

Sangju Sangmu Phoenix (Korean: 상주 상무 피닉스), is a professional football club that participates in the K-League. The club is based in Sangju, South Korea. Sangmu (상무, 尙武) is the sports division of the Military of South Korea. The club's mascot is the Bulsajo, which is translates to phoenix in English. The club's hometown was moved from Gwangju to Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do after Gwangju founded new professional club Gwangju FC In 2011.

History

Origin - Army FC, Navy FC, Air Force FC era (?-1983)

There are Army FC, Navy FC, Air Force FC until 1983 in Korea. Marine Corps FC became Navy FC in 1973. 3 military fooball clubs were consolidated into one, football side of Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps in january 1984.

Founding and Sangmu Semi-professional FC era (1984–2002)

Sangmu FC was founded on 11 January 1984, as the football side of Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps. ^[1][2] Although Sangmu squad was composed of professional players from K-League club, Sangmu FC was competed in the Semi-professional league (present Korea National League). In 1985 Sangmu joined the K-League for the 1985 season, but spent only one year in the league before dropping out.

Sangmu's playing staff is made up of young Korean professional footballers serving their compulsory two year military duty. Fifteen players join up at the start of every season and spend two years with the side before returning to their previous professional club. Sangmu are not allowed to sign any foreign players because of their military status. The military nature of the club means that the overwhelming majority of the players are in their early 20's, and thus lack the playing experience of the opponents. As a consequence, the club has historically been underachievers in the K-League.

The reserve side, Sangmu B, competed in the K2 League from 2003 to 2005 before joining the K-League reserve league. It finished runners-up in the 2003 K2 League season, and was based in Icheon for the three years it competed at K2 level.

Gwangju Sangmu era (2003–2010)

After establishing a home base in Gwangju, the club rejoined the K-League at the start of the 2003 season as Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo. Since 2008, the club has been known as Gwangju Sangmu FC.

Sangju Sangmu Phoenix era (2011–present)

Once Gwangju FC was established, Gwangju Sangmu FC moved to Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. So since 2011 season, the club has been known as Sangju Sangmu Phoenix FC.^[3] Club official name was fixed as Sangju Sangmu Phoenix FC in 2010.01.10^[4]

Becasue Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps move to Mungyeong, near Sangju.

Club honours

Reserve team

• National League Runners-up: 1

2003

Amateur

• Korean President's Cup National Football Tournament Champions: 1

1984

• Korean National Football Championship Champions: 1

1996

Players

Current squad

As of 13 December 2011

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Managers

Season record

K-League

R-League

Korea National League

Crests

Kit Supplier

• 2006–07: Hummel
• 2008: Jako
• 2009–10: Uhlsport
• 2011: Jako

See also

• Busan Sangmu
• National Police Agency FC

External links

• (Korean) Sangju Sangmu Phoenix Official Website

References

1. ^ "군경기단체 국군체육부대로 통합 팀 명칭 상무, 마스코트는 불사조로(Korean)". Dong-a Ilbo. 1984-01-11. http://dna.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1984011100209208007&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1984-01-11&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=19160&publishType=00020. 
2. ^ "육,해,공 3군통합 스포츠팀 상무 창단(Korean)". Maeil Business Newspaper. 1984-01-12. http://dna.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1984011200099211011&editNo=1&printCount=1&publishDate=1984-01-12&officeId=00009&pageNo=11&printNo=5494&publishType=00020. 
3. ^ ""경북 상주로" 상무, 연고지 변경해 내년 K리그 참가" (in Korean). The Daily Sports Seoul. 2010-12-10. http://sports.media.daum.net/soccer/news/k_league/breaking/view.html?cateid=1171&newsid=20101210110537058&p=SpoSeoul. 
4. ^ "상주상무피닉스축구단 운영방침 및 사업계획" (in Korean). Sangju City Hall. 2011-01-10. http://www.sangju.go.kr/main/main.jsp?groupingField=ALL&home_url=sangju&board_url=board_read.jsp&code=CITIZEN_NEWS_1&write_seq=3545.