1. Overview
Lee Chang-Yong (이창용Lee Chang-YongKorean; born August 27, 1990) is a South Korean footballer who plays primarily as a defender, and also as a midfielder, for FC Anyang in K League 2. His career spans several prominent South Korean clubs, where he has been noted for his versatility, leadership, and significant contributions to team successes, including promotions and deep runs in cup competitions. This article details his early life, extensive club career, team achievements, and overall impact on the sport.
2. Early Life and Education
Lee Chang-Yong was born on August 27, 1990, in Gwangju, South Korea. He began his football journey upon entering Sangil Middle School. Demonstrating exceptional dedication and effort, he advanced to Jeonju Technical High School, a renowned football high school in the Honam region. In his second year, 2007, he transferred to Unnam High School, another nationally recognized football powerhouse, further honing his skills before embarking on his professional career.
3. Club Career
Lee Chang-Yong's professional football career began in 2013, following his graduation from Yongin University. Over the years, he has played for several clubs, including Gangwon FC, Ulsan Hyundai FC (in two separate stints), Asan Mugunghwa FC for his military service, Seongnam FC, and currently FC Anyang. His journey has been marked by key performances, transfers, and significant contributions to his teams' achievements.
3.1. Gangwon FC
Lee Chang-Yong signed with Gangwon FC as a free agent on December 7, 2012, ahead of the 2013 season. He made his professional debut goal in the 26th round of the 2014 K League 2 against Chungju Hummel FC. Over two seasons, he became a key player for the team, participating in 39 official matches, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist. His contributions helped Gangwon FC reach the K League 2 semi-playoffs in 2014, though they narrowly missed promotion to K League 1 after a 0-1 defeat to his hometown team, Gwangju FC.
3.2. Ulsan Hyundai FC
Lee Chang-Yong had two distinct periods with Ulsan Hyundai FC. His first tenure began before the 2015 K League 1 season. In his first year, he competed for a starting position with players like Ha Sung-min, Masuda Chikashi, and Koo Bon-sang, seemingly securing a regular spot. However, in the 2016 K League 1 season, he often came on as a substitute, facing increased competition from established defensive midfielders. Despite this, he scored in two consecutive 2016 Korean FA Cup matches: in the Round of 32 against Daejeon Korail FC and in the Round of 16 against Gwangju FC. His starting position was eventually taken over by Kim Sung-hwan upon his return in the autumn, leading to frequent exclusions from the squad list. Following the 33rd round of the 2016 K League 1 against Incheon United FC, Lee Chang-Yong opted for military enlistment.
After completing his military service, Lee Chang-Yong returned to Ulsan Hyundai in the summer of the 2018 K League 1 season. He marked his return by scoring his first K League 1 goal in the final match of the 2018 season against Pohang Steelers, contributing to Ulsan's third-place finish in the league and qualification for the 2019 AFC Champions League playoffs. He also started in the 2018 Korean FA Cup final against Daegu FC, helping the team secure a runner-up finish for the second time in the club's history.
3.3. Asan Mugunghwa FC
Lee Chang-Yong began his mandatory military service by joining Asan Mugunghwa FC on October 6, 2016, the day after the conclusion of the 39th round of the 2016 K League 2 season. During the 2017 K League 2 season, he was appointed as the second captain in Asan Mugunghwa's history, leading the team to the playoffs. However, their hopes for promotion were dashed after a 0-3 defeat to Busan IPark in the playoff match. In the 2018 K League 2 season, his second year of service, he played his 100th K League match and played a crucial role as a centre-back, contributing to the team's winning streak and their ascent to the top of the league. He concluded his 1 year and 9 months of military service after the 17th round of the 2018 K League 2 season against Gwangju FC, having played 44 official matches and scoring 2 goals for Asan Mugunghwa.
3.4. Seongnam FC
Following the conclusion of the 2018 season, Lee Chang-Yong transferred to Seongnam FC in a cash trade involving Yoon Young-sun. He faced an injury early in the 2019 K League 1 season, delaying his debut for the club. He eventually made his Seongnam debut on April 13, 2019, coming on as a substitute in the 7th round K League 1 home match against Pohang Steelers. In the 2019 season, he played 26 official matches, scoring 2 goals. The 2020 K League 1 season saw him participate in 22 official matches, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist, playing a vital role in the team's second consecutive K League 1 survival and their advancement to the 2020 Korean FA Cup semi-finals, a feat achieved for the first time in six years. In the 2021 K League 1 season, he recorded 1 assist in 27 official matches, helping Seongnam secure K League 1 status for a third consecutive year. Over his three seasons with Seongnam FC, Lee Chang-Yong set a personal career best, appearing in 75 official matches with 5 goals and 2 assists.
3.5. FC Anyang
After his contract with Seongnam FC expired at the end of the 2021 season, Lee Chang-Yong joined FC Anyang in the K League 2 as a free agent. In the 2022 K League 2 season, he maintained consistent performance, leading Anyang to their first-ever K League promotion playoffs. In the first leg of the playoff against Suwon Samsung Bluewings, held at home, he delivered a strong defensive performance, effectively neutralizing opposing strikers Oh Hyun-gyu and Ahn Byung-jun, resulting in a 0-0 draw. However, in the away second leg, despite a solid individual showing, Anyang conceded a crucial goal to Oh Hyun-gyu, narrowly missing their first K League 1 promotion in club history.
In the 2024 K League 2 season, Lee Chang-Yong was appointed team captain. Under his leadership, FC Anyang achieved their first K League 2 championship in the club's 11-year history, securing direct promotion to 2025 K League 1 and marking Lee Chang-Yong's return to K League 1 after seven years.
4. Competition Results
Lee Chang-Yong has been an integral part of several teams that achieved notable results in various leagues and cup competitions throughout his career.
4.1. Gangwon FC
During Lee Chang-Yong's time with Gangwon FC, the team achieved the following notable league standing:
- K League 2: 4th place (2014)
4.2. Ulsan Hyundai FC
Lee Chang-Yong contributed to the following results during his tenures with Ulsan Hyundai FC:
- K League 1: 3rd place (2018)
- Korean FA Cup: Runner-up (2018)
4.3. Asan Mugunghwa FC
While serving his military duty with Asan Mugunghwa FC, the team's performance included:
- K League 2: 3rd place (2017)
4.4. Seongnam FC
Lee Chang-Yong's tenure at Seongnam FC saw the team reach the following cup stage:
- Korean FA Cup: Semi-finals (2020)
4.5. FC Anyang
As a key player and captain for FC Anyang, Lee Chang-Yong was part of the following significant achievements:
- K League 2: Champions (2024), 3rd place (2022)
5. Personal Life
Details regarding Lee Chang-Yong's personal life, such as family or hobbies, are not extensively publicized in the available sources. His public profile primarily focuses on his professional football career.
6. Evaluation and Impact
Lee Chang-Yong is known for his versatility, capable of playing effectively as both a defender and a midfielder. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, notably serving as captain for both Asan Mugunghwa FC and FC Anyang. His contributions have been crucial to his teams' successes, including leading Asan Mugunghwa to the K League 2 playoffs, helping Seongnam FC maintain their K League 1 status for multiple seasons and reach the FA Cup semi-finals, and most significantly, captaining FC Anyang to their first-ever K League 2 championship and subsequent promotion to K League 1. His consistent performance, adaptability, and leadership have made him a valuable asset to every club he has represented, leaving a notable impact on their respective league and cup campaigns.