2025 K League 1 Awards: MVP, Manager of the Year, Young Player of the Year Awards announced | OneFootball

Lee Dong-gyeong has been named as the 2025 K League 1 MVP, while Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Gus Poyet is Manager of the Year, and Gangwon FC midfielder Lee Seung-won won Young Plyaer of the Year.

MVP - Lee Dong-gyeong

The brightest star of the 2025 K League 1 season was Lee Dong-gyeong. The Ulsan midfielder, who spent the majority of the 2025 season on military service with Gimcheon Sangmu, received five votes from managers, eight from captains, and 71 from the media to beat strong contenders such as Jeonbuk’s Park Jin-seop and Suwon FC’s Pablo Sabbag to the MVP award.

A product of Ulsan’s youth system, Lee made his professional debut for the club in 2018 before going on loan to FC Anyang. He returned to Ulsan in 2019 and steadily established himself as a developing talent.

After playing in Germany for Schalke 04 and Hansa Rostock in the 2022 season, he returned to Ulsan in the summer of 2023 and contributed to the club’s league title.

This season, Lee delivered the best campaign of his career, recording 13 goals and 12 assists in 36 matches for Gimcheon and Ulsan combined, finishing top of the K League 1 in total attacking contributions.

He also topped major attacking metrics, including 115 shots (1st) and 71 key passes (1st). Recognised as one of the league’s most dangerous attackers and finishers, he was named Round MVP twice, included in the Best XI 12 times, and earned 12 Man of the Match awards, underscoring his influence and consistency throughout the season.

Demonstrating his versatility across both attacking and midfield roles, Lee was selected as a forward in the K League 1 Best XI.

Ulsan have now produced the K League MVP for four consecutive seasons: Lee Chung-yong (2022), Kim Young-gwon (2023), Jo Hyeon-woo (2024), and Lee Dong-gyeong (2025).

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk captain Park Jin-seop, who played a key role in the club’s title win, finished second in the MVP race with a converted score of 35.71 points, having earned five manager votes, two captain votes, and 61 media votes. Suwon FC’s standout performer, Sabbag, came third with 10.6 points.

Manager of the Year - Gus Poyet

Gus Poyet, who led Jeonbuk to the league title in his first season, has been honoured with the K League 1 Manager of the Year Award for 2025.

Under Poyet’s outstanding leadership, Jeonbuk recorded 22 wins, 10 draws, and just five losses from 38 matches, securing the title with five games remaining.

Poyet received overwhelming backing from his peers, earning nine votes from fellow managers, along with eight from captains and 111 from the media.

Jeonbuk went on a 22-match unbeaten run from Round 5 to Round 26, including a six-match winning streak from Round 21 to Round 26, demonstrating dominant form throughout the campaign. As a result, they held the top spot from Round 16 onwards and clinched an early title — the club’s 10th league championship. Poyet also became the 11th manager in K League 1 history to win the title in his debut season.

Young Player of the Year - Lee Seung-won

Gangwon FC rising star Lee Seung-won has been named the K League 1 Young Player of the Year for the 2025 season, earning broad support from across the voting groups, including 10 votes from managers, six from team captains, and 90 from the media.

Born in 2003, midfielder Lee Seung-won made his debut for Gangwon in the 2023 season, making 14 appearances and leaving a strong first impression. Last season, after joining Gimcheon Sangmu for his military service in March, he played right matches and scored once. This season, he became a key starter for Gimcheon, featuring in 32 games with one goal and six assists. Since returning to Gangwon after completing his service, he appeared in three matches.

As a midfielder, Lee has shown excellent vision and precise passing. He was named in the Round Best XI five times and earned four Man of the Match awards. He also displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season, winning the “Young Player of the Month” award in June, August, and September — given to the most outstanding young player in K League 1.

Meanwhile, Gangwon achieved the notable milestone of producing the K League 1 Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, following Yang Min-hyeok’s award last year.