Eninho leaves Jeonbuk Hyundai due to slump

Enio Oliveira Junior (Eninho), 34, nicknamed "Green Eagle" at Jeonbuk Hyundai in the K-League soccer has left the team. Jeonbuk said on Wednesday, “We mutually terminated contract with Eninho. Eninho seems to have felt mental burden due to his constantly sluggish performance in this season.” Eninho, whose contract with Jeonbuk will remain valid through the end of this year, offered to terminate contract to Coach Choi Kang-hee of Jeonbuk last month, but the coach was reportedly persuading him not to leave.

Eninho, a midfielder who joined Jeonbuk in 2009, helped the team win the regular season title twice (2009, 2011). He scored more than 10 goals each season in the regular league from 2009 to 2012, and became the second player ever to post ’60 goals–60 assists overall’ in the 2013. Eninho moved to Changchun Yatai in China after the end of the 2013 season, but returned to Jeonbuk ahead of this season, saying “I wish to enjoy the glory of championship once again.” However, failing to live up to expectations, the midfielder has been in a slump, only posting one goal and one assist this season. “Eninho, who tends to be sensitive in character, apparently chose to leave because he felt sorry for his team and burden from competition for a position in the team,” A source at Jeonbuk said. “Eninho will return to Brazil soon.”

Jeonbuk, who is making smooth sailing as No. 1 in the K-League Classic, is also agonizing over whether to renew contract with Lee Dong-guk, 36, or not. Lee, whose contract will terminate at the end of this year, is being reportedly sought after by, among others, the Chinese Super League. Jeonbuk is determined to retain Lee, who has continued to display stellar performance by scoring eight goals this season.

“Lee Dong-guk wishes to stay at Jeonbuk,” a Jeonbuk source said. “The club is holding discussions over renewal of contract with Lee.”