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| HD Hyundai Heavy Industries / K League1 / Ulsan HDFC / Recruitment Player Official / Ulsan Malkong / Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| HD Hyundai Heavy Industries / K League1 / Ulsan HDFC / Recruitment Player Official / Ulsan Malkong / Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| Grand Hilton Hotel/ KEB Hana Bank KLEAGUE AWARDS 2018/ K-League Awards/ Awards/ K-League1/ MVP/ Gyeongnam Malkong/ Photo by Kwak Dong-hyuk |
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Ulsan HD embraced Malkong (31), the K-League's 'mythical existence'.
Ulsan announced the recruitment of Malkong on the 18th. Malkong returned to the domestic stage for the first time in seven years. The Brazilian took over both the second and first K-League divisions in two seasons. He became the top scorer in 2017 with 22 goals (three assists) for Gyeongnam FC in K League 2. Gyeongnam won the K League 2 with Malkong at the forefront and was promoted to the first division. Malkon also won the K League 2 MVP (Best Player Award).
The momentum continued in the first part. The 2018 K League 1 was also a world of horses. He scored 26 goals (five assists) and won the top scorer and MVP title at the same time. South Gyeongsang Province caused a great rebellion in the second place in the regular league in its first year of promotion. Malkong is the only player who won the MVP and the top scorer for two consecutive years in the K League's first and second divisions. Gyeongnam was relegated to the second division in 2019 when Malkong left, and is still caught in the trap.
He proved his true value on the international stage as well. Malkong, who left for the Chinese stage after giving Gyeongnam a considerable transfer fee, played in Wuhan Sanjeon after Hebei FC. In 2022, he scored 27 goals in Wuhan and became the top scorer in the Chinese Super League. The East Asian stage was narrow.
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| Changwon Football Center/ K League1/ Gyeongnam FC vs. FC Seoul/ Gyeongnam Malkong/ Victory Ceremony/ Photo by Kim Jae-hoon |
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Malkung nestled in Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in 2023. But fate was cruel. With Firmino from Liverpool joining, Malkon's position has narrowed. In addition to his former team, Wuhan, he lived on loan in Fatih Karagumluk, Turkiye, and Kozaelispor. Fatih Karagumluk, who spent the second half of the 2023-2024 season, scored seven goals in 14 games. Kozaelispor showed off his strong performance with nine goals in 27 matches.
Ulsan, which participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, reorganized its foreign player Jin Yong in the summer transfer market. He held 1m 91st defender Trojac in his arms. Re-signing midfielder Boyanich. Yago was sent to Zhejiang FC in China. Malkong takes Yago's place.
Ulsan has been crying due to a goal drought this season. Manager Kim Pan-gon has been asking the club for blood transfusions of front-line strikers even before the opening. Malkon will take on the role.
Malkon is truly a K-League striker with no flaws in his decision, shooting, header, physicality, flexibility and speed. In addition, if given the opportunity, they will achieve their team's goals such as personal records, promotion, and championship. With the addition of Malkong, Ulsan fired a signal of a rebound in the second half
In addition, Eric, an active striker from Brazil of the same nationality, Bojanic, who will provide high-quality passes and playmaking, and Ko Seung-beom and Malkong's synergy that will reduce the burden of activities also raise expectations for Ulsan and K-League fans.
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| HD Hyundai Heavy Industries / K League1 / Ulsan HDFC / Recruitment Player Official / Ulsan Malkong / Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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After last season, domestic and foreign teams called for Malkong, who was released as an FA. Europe and the Middle East, as well as multiple K-League teams, wanted a horse. Among them, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the most active. The conditions were good, too.
However, he turned his mind to Ulsan's sincerity. Ulsan persuaded Malkong by explaining the vision through a video meeting. After much consideration, he decided to go to Korea, which gave him enormous wealth and fame. It was also attractive that he could play the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) and that he was a team that could win the championship.
"A football player is happiest when he or she plays soccer with ease. Korea is such a place for me, and Ulsan guaranteed me the conditions to play soccer comfortably. I could feel Ulsan's sincerity in several meetings and suggestions, and I was able to have confidence that I could do well on the stage that came back. It's a natural choice for me."
Ulsan will play FC Seoul in the 22nd round of 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025' at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on the 20th. There is a possibility that he will make a surprise appearance against Seoul as early as possible.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
