Gangwon FC and the Importance of Utility

By definition, a utility player in football is someone who “has the ability to play in several different positions.” In Gangwon FC manager’s Yoon Jong-hwan’s case, though, his interpretation of the term can occasionally mean dramatic shifts in a player’s role to either allow them to fit a gap needing to be plugged, or unearth a side of someone’s game previously unseen. Here, columnist Nathan Sartain spotlights six of the Bears’ standout performers who have changed positions, whether permanently or otherwise, over the past 12 months.

Hwang Mun-ki

Perhaps the most notable of Gangwon’s utility players, Hwang Mun-ki found himself unexpectedly moved to right back at the tail-end of 2023, despite previously plying his trade as either a winger, or attacking midfielder. But the experiment quickly worked, and the 27-year-old was trusted further in his new role for the 2024 season.

Now, Hwang Mun-ki is one of the Bears’ standout performers. A major creative asset whether on the overlap or via a charging solo run, he averages (per 90) 2.4 crosses, 2.73 dribbles, 2.29 progressive runs, 2.55 passes to the penalty area, 3.28 passes to the final third, and 0.51 shot assists. Defensively things are solid for Hwang too, given his per 90 averages of 3.64 interceptions, 8.19 recoveries, and 7.43 defensive duels (61.3% of which are won). At this point in time, it’d be hard to imagine Yoon Jong-hwan’s favoured right back anywhere else on the pitch.

After signing for Gangwon ahead of the 2023 season, Yu In-soo came into the squad as a versatile wing-back. However, since Yoon Jong-hwan took over as manager, he has opted to play the 29-year-old higher up the pitch, often deploying him on the left wing. It’s a positional refresh Yu has relished, though, and he has become a dependable forward who offers both attacking and defensive qualities wherever necessary.

In addition to his two goals and two assists this year, Yu In-soo averages (per 90) 1.35 progressive runs, an xG of 0.21, 1.93 touches in the opposition box, 1.93 passes to the final third, as well as 4.14 interceptions, 5.2 recoveries (2.2 of which are in the opposition half), and six successful duels. This helps highlight the well-balanced performances the winger has been putting in, and explains why in the midst of some more prolific forward options, he still finds ways to stand out and break into the first team.

Initially, Lee You-hyeon struggled for game time at Gangwon. Although generally a right back, the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors loanee couldn’t oust Hwang Mun-ki from his position, and subsequently would find himself playing a role coming off the bench. Yet when Lee You-hyeon was given a chance to move into the centre of midfield, following the injury of Kim Dae-woo, everything seemed to click.

Energetic, and with the stamina to operate in a box-to-box role, the 27-year-old has found a new lease of life in Gangwon’s spine, a point emphasised not long ago when Lee put in a player of the match performance in a 2-0 win over Gwangju FC. There, he won eight of his 16 duels, made six interceptions, 10 recoveries, two clearances, and two accurate passes to the final third to help his side maintain a solid defensive structure in the face of tough opposition.

In round one against Jeju United, many would have been shocked to see Lee Gi-hyuk line up for Gangwon at the heart of their defence. Similarly, most would have been unable to predict just how well the 24-year-old could play in that unfamiliar role, or that he would quickly become vital to how the Bears would build from the back. With his strong range of passing (per 90 he averages 7.26 long passes, 4.95 passes to the final third, 0.33 through passes, and 21.25 forward passes), Lee Gi-hyuk was inarguably part of the reason Yoon Jong-hwan’snew tactical system began to work.

Since returning from injury, though, Lee Gi-hyuk has been more commonly tasked with playing at left back. Surprisingly, this has actually led to a bit of a deduction in the defender’s expectation to be central to the team’s build-up, and the 24-year-old is now able to play with a bit more freedom. Defensively sound, in Gangwon’s recent 4-2 win against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Lee Gi-hyuk made nine recoveries, four interceptions, won three of his four offensive duels, and all three of his aerial duels. With the ability to assist in central midfield too, there’s no question that Gangwon have a player here who is seamlessly versatile.

A more traditional type of utility player, and one who hasn’t needed to change much of his overall game, Song Jun-seok has been called upon to fit in wherever necessary on the left-hand side in recent months. More commonly deployed as a left back, the 23-year-old has raised his defensive levels, while also gaining the confidence to get into forward areas with regularity. And, while Song mightn’t be as creatively potent as his full-back partner Hwang Mun-ki, there are signs he could be a long-term option for Gangwon in Yoon Jong-hwan’s tactical system when considering his (per 90) averages of 1.78 crosses, 7.22 passes to the final third, and 0.24 shot assists.

Lee Sang-heon

Although far less dramatically than most of this list, Lee Sang-heon is also someone who has adapted his game during 2024. At the beginning of the year, the 26-year-old played exclusively up front, partnering with Yago Cariello and utilising his high work rate to carve out chances for both himself, and his teammates. Scoring seven times across the first six games, it certainly looked as though Lee had settled into the role chosen for him, and that he would be an early contender for the league’s top scorer.

However, things would change. As Yago Cariello hit a purple patch of goalscoring form, Lee Sang-heon would more often than not take on the role of the creator, which at times meant a shift from Yoon Jong-hwan’s 4-4-2 system into something resembling more of a 4-2-3-1, where he would fill the role of a #10. This has required Lee to drop deeper into midfield to pick up the ball, where he can drive at defences, pick out a pass, or fashion himself a shot on goal. And, given the 26-year-old has got seven assists from his last nine outings, this tweaked role has clearly been working.

The Benefit

Although quite obvious, one real benefit of having so many versatile options is that squad depth can be utilised in numerous different ways. When Kim Dae-woo got injured, joining regular starter Kim Yi-seok on the sidelines, it can be a relief to know a player such as Lee You-hyeon can immediately step up to the plate, understand a fresh role, and rapidly adapt to ensure minimal drop-off in the team’s regular way of playing. Given Gangwon are a team far from having the largest budget in the division as well, such positional fluidity can also mean less of a need to dip into the transfer market, which in turn allows for a tighter focus on necessary additions.

Furthermore, it also creates added value and usage for players with obvious ability - like Hwang Mun-ki - who just weren’t able to force their way into the starting eleven in their previously favoured positions. Finding new roles for talented fringe options, no matter how drastically different they are from what came before, reduces the risk of someone being stuck in a rut, and can instead completely revitalise a career. A real win-win, Yoon Jong-hwan utilising alternative positions for his squad will help both the club and player in the short and long term, while showing a potential pathway into the starting eleven for those with opportunities currently limited.