In a significant announcement made on Wednesday, FC Seoul revealed that Jesse Lingard has been named club captain for the upcoming 2025 K League 1 season.
The talented England midfielder will be at the forefront of the capital club, accompanied by vice-captain Kim Jin-su in this new leadership role.
Lingard previously wore the captain’s armband in the second half of last season, a position he earned after being elevated to the captaincy in June.
This year marks Lingard’s second campaign with FC Seoul, having initially signed a two-year contract with an option for a further year in February last year.
Despite a rocky start in Seoul, where he faced criticism from coach Kim Gi-dong—who once said, “Fame doesn’t win football matches.” If that were the case, I would have signed a famous retired player”—Lingard showed resilience and adaptability as the season progressed.
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In June, Lingard not only secured the captaincy but also celebrated his first goal with the club against Gangwon FC on June 26. He concluded his debut season in the K League with an impressive tally of six goals and three assists in 26 appearances.
Lingard’s impact extended beyond the pitch, significantly boosting FC Seoul’s attendance figures. Its home debut match on March 10 attracted a record 51,670 fans, surpassing the previous record of 47,899 set in a 2016 match against Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
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Lingard’s captaincy will begin with FC Seoul’s first match of the 2025 season against Jeju SK in Jeju on February 15. After that, the team will return to the capital for their first home match on February 22, where they will face newly promoted FC Anyang.
Last season, FC Seoul finished in fourth place in the 12-team league, but the club is still in the hunt for trophies, a quest that has lasted since their league victory in 2016.
The 2025 K League season will extend until November, concluding with promotion-relegation playoffs after the regular campaign.
