Challengers League

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Challengers League
Country South Korea Korea Republic
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Founded 2007 (2007)
Number of teams 18
Levels on pyramid 4
Domestic cup(s) Korean FA Cup
League cup(s) Challengers Cup
Current champions FC Pocheon
(2012)
Most championships Gyeongju Citizen
Pocheon FC
(2 titles)
2013 Challengers League
Challengers League
Hangul 챌린저스리그
Revised Romanization Chaellinjeoseu Rigeu
McCune–Reischauer Ch'aellinjŏsŭ Rigŭ

The Challengers League is a top amateur football competition in South Korea. Created in 2007, it is considered the fourth tier of South Korean football league system.

History

2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League, and ten teams competed in the competition.

The season operated a two-stage system, with each side playing each other once in each stage for a combined total of eighteen matches (nine in each stage). The winners of both stages, Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics FC and Seoul United respectively, plus the two teams with the best overall record from both stages, Cheonan FC and Yong-in FC, entered the championship playoffs. Seoul United emerged victorious in the championship playoffs, defeating Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics FC 3–0 on aggregate. The four playoff teams earned a spot in the 2008 FA Cup competition.

Seven new clubs registered ahead of the 2008 season with just one of the founder members, Daegu Korea Powertrain, withdrawing from the league set-up.

After the first stage of the 2008 season, Changwon United was withdrawn the league due to financial problem. At the end of the 2008 season, Seoul Pabal FC was closed because some players of Seoul Pabal FC were implicated in the K3 League match fixing scandal.

From the 2009 season, 17 clubs competed the league due to three new clubs registered.

On December 1, 2009, Korea Football Association announced that Seoul Yangcheon FC, Yeonggwang FC and Chuncheon Citizen FC would join the league for the 2010. And, KFA has also announced that an undergraduate never play the league game from the 2012 season and top nine teams of league earned a spot in next year FA Cup competition. On January 15, 2010, KFA announced the league schedule in the 2010 season. Seoul Yangcheon FC is postponed joining the league to the 2011 season. And, Jeonju Ongoeul FC is defunct from the 2010 season.

K3 League was renamed as the Challengers League prior to the start of the 2011 season.

Competition Format

In 2008 season, it operates its season in two stages, with the winners of each stage and the two runners-up advancing to the post-season championship playoffs. If in the event of the same team winning both stages, there will be no playoff.

In 2009 season, championship playoff was abolished. Each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 32 games.

The 2010 season runs from March 13 through October 30. The 16 teams in the league are divided into the Group A and Group B — eight in the Group A, eight in the Group B. Each team competes against the other team in same group twice, home and away, the other group's team once, home or away, for a total of 22 games. The two group winners and two runners-up qualify to the Championship playoff.

Members for 2013 season

The following 18 clubs will compete in the Challengers League during the 2013 season.

Team City Stadium Founded Joined Head Coach
Group A
Chuncheon FC Chuncheon, Gangwon Chuncheon Stadium 2010 2010 Ham Cheol-Kwon
Gwangju Gwangsan FC Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Honam University ground 2008 2008 Hwang Young-Woo
Gimpo Citizen Gimpo, Gyeonggi Gimpo City Stadium 2013 2013
Icheon Citizen Icheon, Gyeonggi Icheon City Stadium 2009 2009 Lee Hyun-Chang
Jeonju EM Jeonju, Jeonbuk Jeonju University ground 2007 2007 Oh In-Eui
Jeonnam Yeonggwang FC Yeonggwang, Jeonnam Yeonggwang Sportium 2010 2010 Kim Han-Bong
Jungnang Chorus Mustang Jungnang-gu, Seoul Jungnang Public Ground 2012 2012 Kim Sang-Hwa
FC Pocheon Pocheon, Gyeonggi Pocheon Stadium 2008 2008 Lee Su-Sik
Seoul FC Martyrs Gangbuk-gu, Seoul Gangbuk Stadium 2009 2009 Yoo Bong-Ki
Group B
Asan United Asan, Chungnam Yi Sun-sin Sports Complex Stadium 2005 2007 Choi Jong-Duk
Cheonan FC Cheonan, Chungnam Cheonan Football Center 2004 2007 Park Yoon-Ki
Cheongju Jikji FC Cheongju, Chungbuk Cheongju Stadium 2008 2009 Kim Jong-Hyun
Goyang Citizen Goyang, Gyeonggi Goyang Stadium 2008 2008 Kim Jin-Ok
Gyeongju Citizen Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Gyeongju Civic Stadium 2008 2008 Kim Jin-Hyung
Paju Citizen Paju, Gyeonggi Paju Public Stadium 2012 2012 Cho Deok-Jeung
Seoul United Nowon-gu, Seoul Madeul Stadium 2004 2007 Bae Hyung-Ryul
Yangju Citizen Yangju, Gyeonggi Godeok Artificial turf ground 2007 2007 Kim Jong-Boo
Hwaseong FC Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Hwaseong Stadium 2013 2013

Former clubs

Club From To Current League
Daegu Korea Powertrain 2007 2007 Defunct
Changwon United 2007 2008 (1st stage) Defunct
Seoul Pabal FC 2007 2008 Defunct
Jeonju Ongoeul FC 2008 2009 Defunct
Samcheok Shinwoo Electronics 2007 2010 Defunct
Yongin Citizen 2007 2010 Defunct
Bucheon FC 1995 2008 2012 K League
Namyangju United 2008 2012 Defunct

Previous winners

Titles By Season

Season Winners Runners-up
2007 Seoul United Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics
2008 Yangju FC Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics
2009 Pocheon FC Gwangju Gwangsan FC
2010 Gyeongju Citizen Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics
2011 Gyeongju Citizen Yangju FC
2012 Pocheon FC Chuncheon FC

Titles By Club

Club Winners Runners-up
Pocheon FC 2 (2009, 2012)
Gyeongju Citizen 2 (2010, 2011)
Yangju FC 1 (2008) 1 (2011)
Seoul United 1 (2007)
Hwasung Shinwoo Electronics 3 (2007, 2008, 2010)
Gwangju Gwangsan FC 1 (2009)
Chuncheon FC 1 (2012)

Notable players

League Sponsor

  • 2007: None
  • 2008-: Daum

Crest

  • 2007-10

  • 2011-

See also

External links

2013 Clubs
Group A
Group B
Former Clubs
League Seasons
League Cup Seasons
National teams
League competitions
Cup competitions
Reserves & Academy
Defunct Comp.
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