Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: Runners-up - K-League 2011
Established 1983
Nickname Horangi (Tiger)
Home stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium (43,122)
Website www.uhfc.tv
Club Honours
K-League champions 2 - 1996, 2005
K-League Cup winners 4- 1995, 98, 2007, 11
Previous ACL appearances
2006 - Semi-finals
2009 - Group stage
Ulsan began their 2011 K-League campaign in less than impressive fashion, with six losses in their first 10 games. But a strong finish, which saw them go unbeaten in their final eight matches, helped them to grab the final spot in the league's championship play-offs.
They carried their momentum into the post-season and battled their way through to the final with away wins against FC Seoul, Suwon Bluewings and Pohang Steelers. However, they ultimately came up short against a rampant Jeonbuk Motors in the championship match, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
Although the Horangi have qualified for the K-League play-offs in four of the six seasons since they last won the championship in 2005, the club have been missing a real creative spark since the departure of the mercurial Lee Chun-soo five years ago.
But their excellent late run in 2011 and the off-season capture of striker Lee Keun-ho and winger Kim Seung-yong from Gamba Osaka should inspire confidence that Kim Ho-gon's side could emulate the Ulsan team of 2006 which reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.
Expectations
After bowing out during the group stage in 2009, Ulsan should fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 this time around. However, the Korean side must heed the lessons of their last campaign when they had to play catch-up after losses to Nagoya Grampus and Newcastle Jets in their first two games. A good start is essential this time around and they cannot afford to drop points in their home opener against Beijing Guoan.
Coach
Kim Ho-gon
A former Korea Republic international defender, Kim Ho-gon appears to have Ulsan back on the right track after a successful 2011 season that saw the side win the K-League Cup and reach the final of the league's championship play-off. The 60-year-old brings a wealth of coaching experience to the team including a spell in charge of Korea Republic U-23 side at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
Did you know?
Ulsan played only two games during the group stage in 2006 after the disqualification of Indonesia's Arema Malang and Thailand's Tobacco Monopoly saw their section reduced to two teams. They duly beat Tokyo Verdy 2-0 away and 1-0 at home to qualify for the knockout stage. They eventually reached the semi-finals but lost 6-4 on aggregate to K-League rivals Jeonbuk in the first ever clash between two teams from the same country in the AFC Champions League.
Key Player
Lee Keun-ho
Ulsan made a huge splash in the transfer market during the off-season when they signed Korea Republic international Lee Keun-ho. The pacey and prolific 26-year-old is returning to Korea after three years in Japan with Jubilo Iwata and Gamba Osaka, where he emerged as the J.League's third highest scorer last season with 15 goals.