"I want to show that I've improved" - Gwangju FC's Ahn Young-kyu | OneFootball

Gwangju FC defender Ahn Young-kyu says that he aims to contribute even more this season, despite no longer being club captain.

After three years of dedication as captain, and being key figure in K League 2 title win in 2022 and ACL qualification the following year, Ahn Young-kyu has handed over the captaincy to Lee Min-ki. but his sense of responsibility remains unwavering.

Ahn, the team’s most senior player, is expecting his second child in July. Coupled with the regret of not contributing as much as he would have liked last season due to injuries, 2025 looks set to be a year of heavy responsibility for him.

Reflecting on last season, Ahn said: "There’s a lot of regret, both as a team and personally. As the captain, I should have set a better example, but I joined pre-season late due to injuries. I was frustrated with myself, thinking I wasn’t helping the team enough."

Determined to get back on track this season, Ahn added: "The first priority is to align with the manager’s football philosophy. It’s crucial to carry forward what we did well while embracing new challenges and adapting quickly. I also need to change and improve myself.”

As the captain for the past three years, Ahn led Gwangju to a K League 2 title and their first-ever AFC Champions League qualification, earning a place in the club’s history.

On relinquishing the captaincy, Ahn shared: "It’s bittersweet. There’s some regret, but also a sense of relief. As a captain, I’d say you need to set an example first for your words to carry weight," offering heartfelt advice to his successor, Lee Min-ki.

Now able to focus entirely on his performance, Ahn expressed his aspirations for the year: "I hope to manage myself physically and in all aspects to make significant contributions to the team. All the players are preparing diligently to deliver good performances on the pitch. We’ll do our best to repay the fans’ support with our efforts."

Q&A with Ahn Young-kyu

Q: How would you assess last season?A: Both as a team and personally, it was far from enough. There’s a lot of regret. I started the season with an injury during winter training, which affected me throughout the season.

Q: Did the captaincy add extra pressure?A: Yes, there was the pressure of setting an example and leading the team effectively. But since I re-joined the team late due to injuries and couldn’t contribute much, I felt very frustrated with myself. It was a deeply disappointing season.

Q: The team faced relegation concerns at one point.A: We weren’t at the level we wanted, and from an outside perspective, it might have seemed like we were at risk of relegation. However, the players were confident we wouldn’t be relegated, so we didn’t worry too much about that aspect.

Q: Despite the challenges, Gwangju exceeded expectations in the ACL.A: It was an enjoyable experience. Since other teams didn’t know us well initially, we caught them off guard. I think our opponents struggled to deal with us because of that.

Q: Was the ACL a stage where Gwangju could express their identity more clearly?A: In the K League, teams know us well and often defend deep, making it challenging for us. In the ACL, however, opponents tended to play more openly, which allowed us to showcase our style of football.

Q: Last season’s tight schedule seemed to take a toll on the players.A: Everyone was eager to perform well and win, but it was the first time many of us experienced such a packed schedule. Having gone through it once, I believe we’ll handle it better this year. The key is to avoid injuries, manage ourselves better, and contribute more to the team.

Q: You’re now the only player born in the 1980s on the team.A: Being the oldest comes with its own pressure and sense of responsibility. It motivates me to do better. While I’m the senior figure in our team, there are older players in other teams who inspire me.

Q: Do you have specific goals for personal improvement this season?A: The priority is to understand and adapt to the manager’s football philosophy. It’s important to retain what worked well while embracing new challenges and improving in line with the team’s evolution.

Q: With changes in the squad, team chemistry will also be important.A: New players need to adapt quickly to our style and football philosophy, and we’ll help them do so. At the same time, existing players must continue improving. Everyone is putting in the effort to lift the team’s league position and perform better than last year.

Q: You’ve stepped down as captain after three years. How do you feel?A: It’s bittersweet. There’s some regret, but I also feel a sense of relief. It’s like a heavy burden has been lifted, and now Min-ki will carry that weight (laughs). I’ll support him from the sidelines.

Q: Any advice for the new captain, Lee Min-ki?A: The weight of responsibility will feel very different from when he was vice-captain. He’ll experience the full extent of it as the season progresses. If he needs advice, I’ll always be there to help. The most important thing is to set an example, as that’s the foundation for earning the respect of the team.

Q: Any message for the fans ahead of the new season?A: The season is just around the corner, and we’re working hard to deliver good performances. It’s going to be cold when the season starts, but if you come out to support us, we’ll be motivated to perform even better. Your support means everything, and we’ll do our best to repay it with our efforts on the pitch.