TheIncheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women's Football Club (Korean:인천 현대제철 레드엔젤스 WFC) is a South Koreanwomen's football team based inIncheon. The club was founded in 1993.
They are South Korea's most successful club with eleven consecutiveWK League titles won from 2013 to 2023.
In the 1990s, theHyundai Group established and invested in various sports teams to improve the company's image followingChung Ju-yung's unsuccessful campaign in the1992 presidential election, as well as to boost employees' morale and loyalty.[2] Hyundai's women's football club was formally established on 3 December 1993, becoming the first women'sworks football team in South Korea.[3]Byun Byung-joo was appointed as manager and the squad initially consisted of fifteen players, including five former hockey players.[4] With no other works teams to compete with, they initially played against university and high school teams.[5]
Hyundai Steel were one of the founding members of theWK League when it was launched in 2009.[6] In theinaugural edition, the club finished in second place in the league to reach the championship final, where it lost toDaekyo Kangaroos and finished the season as runners-up.[7] In the following three seasons, Incheon again faced disappointment on the final day of the season as they made it to the final but lost on aggregate each time.[8]
The Red Angels finally won their first league title in2013, beatingSeoul City 4–2 on aggregate after recording a draw in the first leg of the final.[9] This began an era of WK League dominance for the club, as they went on to win eleven consecutive titles.[10] In 2018, their league title earned them a place in the2019 AFC Women's Club Championship, a pilot competition for theAFC Women's Champions League.[11] The competition was held inYongin, South Korea and Incheon finished in third among four teams in theround-robin tournament.[12]
Following Incheon's2022 WK League title, they qualified for the2023 AFC Women's Club Championship, an expanded version of the pilot competition with eight teams from across the region participating. The Red Angels won Group B to advance to the final againstUrawa Red Diamonds, ultimately finishing as runners-up.[13]
Incheon Hyudai Steel Red Angels players lifting the 2022 WK League trophy.
The club's WK League winning streak came to an end in2024 when Incheon finished in fourth place in the league, failing to qualify for the championship playoff for the first time in league history.[14] Despite disappointing results in the league, as defending champions Incheon were also competing in the2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League, winning Group A in October 2024.[15][16]
Under new manager Hur Jung-jae, Incheon had a slow start to the2025 WK League season, with several matches postponed due to their continental fixtures.[17] In the Champions League, the club hostedBam Khatoon in the quarter-finals in March, beating the Iranian team 1–0.[18] The semi-finals and final took place inWuhan, China, and Incheon travelled to the final stage of the tournament with high hopes of overall victory.[19] However, their Champions League title hopes were brought to a dramatic end in the semi-final in which they were beaten byMelbourne City, with the only goal of the match scored in second-half injury time.[20] In the domestic league, Incheon finished the season in third place but were absent from the championship final for the second consecutive year as they failed to beat Seoul City in the playoff.[21]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Park, Geon-man (4 May 1994)."국내 스포츠계에 "現代 돌풍"" [Hyundai making a splash in domestic sports].Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). p. 18. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Joo, Gil-chi (3 December 1993)."인천제철 女축구단 오늘 출범" [Today: Incheon Steel launches women's football team].Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). p. 19. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Lee, Hong (5 December 1993)."여자축구 전망은 "맑은" 출발 늦었지만" [A late start but bright future for women's football].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). p. 23. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^"축구 인천제철 - 경희大 쟁패" [Football: Incheon Steel crushed by Kyunghee University].Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 4 May 1995. p. 27. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Hwang, Min-guk (8 October 2008)."WK리그, 여자축구 신기원 연다" [WK League, a new hope for women's football].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved20 November 2025.
^Park, Rin (16 November 2009)."대교, WK리그 초대 챔피언 등극" [Daekyo ascend to throne as first WK League champions].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved20 November 2025.
^Jung, Sung-ho (29 October 2012)."고양대교, 현대제철 꺾고 WK리그 2연패…통산 3회 우승" [Goyang Daekyo beat Hyundai Steel for second consecutive WK League title... three victories in total].The Asia Business Daily (in Korean). Retrieved20 November 2025.
^Jeon, Young-ji (14 October 2013)."'4전5기'현대제철,서울시청 꺾고 창단 첫우승" ['Fall down four times, get up five' Hyundai Steel beat Seoul City for first title].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved20 November 2025.
^Lee, Jun-ho (25 November 2023).인천 현대제철, WK리그 통합 11연패... 손화연 해트트릭 [Incheon Hyundai Steel seal 11th consecutive championship... Son Hwa-yeon hat-trick] (in Korean). The Munhwa Ilbo. Retrieved20 November 2025.
^Kim, Young-jun (15 May 2025)."허정재 현대제철 감독 "여자 ACL 반드시 우승"" [Hyundai Steel manager Hur Jeong-jae: "We'll win the AWCL no matter what"].Gyeongin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved20 November 2025 – via Daum.
^선수소개.redangels.hyundai-steel.com (in Korean). Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. Retrieved27 August 2025.
^"코칭스텝" [Coaching staff].redangels.hyundai-steel.com (in Korean). Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. Retrieved28 February 2025.
^Joo, Chan-woo (30 September 2005)."2005 피크컵 전국여자축구선수권" [2005 Peace Cup national women's football tournament].Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Park, Byung-soo (4 May 1996)."울산전문대 현대여고 우승 여왕기축구선수권" [Queen's Cup football tournament: Ulsan Technical College and Hyundai High School are champions].The Hankyoreh (in Korean). p. 19. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^"기록실" [Scores].The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 3 May 1997. p. 18. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^"여왕기축구: 인천제철, 대회 첫 우승" [Queen's Cup football: Incheon Steel, first tournament victory].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 1 May 1998. Retrieved5 March 2025.
^abcUm, Hong-bin (30 March 1999)."인천제철 女축구 대통령배 2연패" [Incheon Steel women's football win President's Cup for second year in a row].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved6 March 2025.
^abcPark, Sung-jin (22 September 1999)."인천제철 3연패" [Incheon Steel: three titles in a row].Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). p. 39. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Um, Hong-bin (1 May 1999)."인천제철 2년연속 '축구여왕'" [Incheon Steel 'queens of football' for second year in a row].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved6 March 2025.
^"인천제철 우승" [Incheon Steel victorious].The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 22 July 1999. p. 31. Retrieved5 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Um, Hong-bin (20 April 2000)."인천제철 女축구 3연패 '무적'" ['Invincible' Incheon Hyundai women's football take third consecutive title].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved6 March 2025.
^ab"인천제철 우승 전국여자축구대회" [Incheon Steel take the title at National Women's Football Tournament].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). 18 May 2000. Retrieved6 March 2025.
^Lee, In-soo (19 March 2003)."춘계여자축구 INI 스틸 실업부 우승" [Spring Women's Football Tournament: INI Steel win works team division].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved6 March 2025.
^"통일대기 여자축구: 첫날 69개 골잔치" [Unification Cup women's football: a 69-goal party on the first day].Gangwon News (in Korean). 2 July 2003. Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"INI스틸, 춘계여자축구연맹전 우승" [INI Steel victorious in Spring Women's Football Championship].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). 1 April 2005. Retrieved6 March 2025.
^"여자축구 대교, 통일대기 일반부 우승" [Women's football: Daekyo win senior division of Unification Cup].KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Kim, Ji-hwan (17 April 2008)."인천 현대제철, 女축구 춘계연맹전 준우승" [Incheon Hyundai Steel runners-up in Spring Women's Football Championship].Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved6 March 2025.
^Kim, Do-yong (9 November 2024)."수원FC위민, 14년 만에 WK리그 정상... 통산 2번째 우승" [Suwon FC Women WK League champions for first time in 14 years, second title].News 1 (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Yoon, Tae-seok (30 September 2011)."고양대교 '우리가 사커퀸'" [Goyang Daekyo 'We are the queens of soccer'].Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2011년" [Past records: 2011].Korea Women's Football Federation. Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"WK리그 대교, 첫판 뒤집고 '침프 2연패'" [WK League: Daekyo turn things around to win second championship in a row].KBS News (in Korean). 29 October 2012. Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2012년" [Past records: 2012].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^abcdefghijkHwang, Seon-hak (25 November 2023)."인천 현대제철, 드라마 같은 11연속 女축구 통합 챔프" [Incheon Hyundai Steel dramatically become 11-time consecutive women's football champions].Gyeonggi Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2013년" [Past records: 2013].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2014년" [Past records: 2014].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2015년" [Past records: 2015].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2016년" [Past records: 2016].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2017년" [Past records: 2017].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2018년" [Past records: 2018].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2019년" [Past records: 2019].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Jung, Min-su (6 July 2020)."제101회 전국체전 등 올해 종합체육대회 모두 안연다" [101st National Sports Festival among cancelled sports events].Gyeonggi Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Jeon, Woo-yong."2021 전국체전 취소 안한다...고등부만 개최" [National Sports Festival not cancelled... Only high school events to go ahead] (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역: 2021년" [Past records: 2021].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역: 2022년" [Past records: 2022].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역: 2023년" [Past records: 2023].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"WK리그 인천 현대제철, 여자 亞챔스리그 8강 진출" [WK League's Incheon Hyundai Steel progress to quarter-finals of AFC Women's Champions League].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 10 October 2024. Retrieved5 March 2025.
^"역대 시상내역 2024년" [Past records: 2024].Korea Women's Football Federation (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Choi, Doo-won (16 October 2024)."[제105회 전국체전] 대회 폐막 하루 앞두고도 계속되는 金 행진" [105th National Sports Festival: The battle for gold continues as the end of the festival draws near].Gangwon News (in Korean). Retrieved5 March 2025.
^Joo, Gil-cha (3 December 1993)."인천제철 女축구단 오늘 출범" [Incheon Steel WFC launched today].Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). p. 19. Retrieved7 March 2025 – via Naver News Library.
^Min, Hak-soo (21 June 1998)."김평석은 누구" [Who is Kim Pyung-seok?].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Park, Min-young (1 June 2006)."현대제철" [Hyundai Steel].Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Jung, Jae-hoon (6 January 2010)."여자축구 현대제철 새 사령탑 수비수 출신 이문석 코치 선임" [Women's football: Hyundai Steel appoint former defender Lee Moon-seok as new manager].Gyeonggi Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Choi, Young-min (15 November 2011)."2012 시즌 신인 드래프트 열려... 35명 새롭게 실업입단" [2012 new players draft.. 35 new players join works teams].STN Sports (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Seo, Jung-hwan (3 June 2021)."前인천현대제철 정성천 감독, 베트남 하노이 여자축구단 감독 선임" [Former Incheon Hyundai Steel manager Jung Sung-chun appointed as manager of Vietnam's Hanoi WFC].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Jang, Bo-in (25 March 2021)."WK리그 현대제철, 정성천 감독과 결별... 김은숙 감독대행 체제로" [WK League's Hyundai Steel part ways with manager Jung Sung-chun... Kim Eun-sook serving as caretaker manager].Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Seo, Yoo-deok (1 April 2024)."울산과학대 여자축구부 1기 출신 감독 3인방 '모교 나들이'" [Three Ulsan Technical College women's football first-gen alumni-turned-managers pay visit to their alma mater].Ulsan Jeil Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
^Jeon, Yeong-ji (27 November 2024)."허정재 전 女U-20대표팀감독,'여축명가'인천 현대제철 신임감독 선임" [Former national women's U-20 manager Hur Jeong-jae appointed as manager of women's football heavyweights Hyundai Steel].Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved7 March 2025.
Hur Jeong-jae
Melbourne Victory
Nippon TV Beleza
Jiangsu Suning
FC Nasaf
Bam Khatoon
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