FC Anyang

Football in Anyang

Following the implementation of the K League decentralization policy in 1995, the three Seoul-based teams had to relocate to other regions. In 1996, LG Cheetahs relocated to Anyang City to become Anyang LG Cheetahs.

After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea, Seoul's World Cup Stadium stood empty, except for occasional international matches. The Seoul Metropolitan Government sought to offset construction and maintenance cost by creating a new team in Seoul.

Unable to find a company to establish a new team, the city of Seoul proposed bringing an existing team to the capital. In 2004, it was announced that the Anyang LG Cheetahs would be the new occupants of the World Cup Stadium, and now become known as FC Seoul.

LG Cheetahs did not leave Anyang and the fans on good terms. These events helped to shape the FC Anyang supporters' identity and explains the basis for their dislike of FC Seoul.

Foundation of FC Anyang

With the creation of the K League 2, the city of Anyang saw the opportunity to bring football back. Despite opposition from within the city council, an ordinance was passed on 10 October 2012 to establish a professional football team in Anyang City. The public was invited to vote and on 27 December 2012, the chosen name was confirmed as FC Anyang. The club was officially founded on 2 February 2013.

FC Anyang played their first game on 17 March 2013 against Goyang Hi at Anyang Stadium. The match ended 1–1, with Ka Sol-hyun scoring the club's first ever goal. The club recorded its first win on 7 April against Chungju Hummel.

In 2024, the club won their first piece of silverware by winning the 2024 K League 2, earning direct promotion to the top flight K League 1 for the first time in the club's history.