Back to Where He Made His Name

Marcão Vinícius Alves da Silva — better known simply as Marcão — is set for a sensational return to South Korean football, seven years after his record-breaking spell with Gyeongnam FC. The 31-year-old Brazilian forward has reportedly reached an agreement with reigning K League 1 champions Ulsan HD and is expected to arrive in Korea shortly to finalise the move.

According to Sports Chosun, the deal is all but sealed, with only final signatures remaining before an official announcement. Marcão is currently a free agent following his departure from Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia and had attracted interest from clubs across Europe, the Middle East, and multiple K League teams — but ultimately chose Ulsan's project.

A Proven Force in the K League

Marcão enjoyed one of the most remarkable individual runs in K League history between 2017 and 2018. After scoring 22 goals for Gyeongnam in K League 2, he powered them to the title and promotion, picking up the league’s MVP and top scorer awards. He followed that up by dominating the top flight in 2018 with 26 goals and five assists — once again winning both individual accolades and propelling Gyeongnam to a shock second-place finish.

He remains the only player to have ever won both MVP and Golden Boot awards in consecutive seasons across both divisions.

Ulsan’s Strategic Summer Move

Ulsan are overhauling their foreign contingent ahead of a crucial summer run-in. Having recently signed Polish defender Filip Trojak and retained Swedish midfielder Darijan Bojanić, the club parted ways with Brazilian winger Yago Cariello, who joined Zhejiang FC. Marcão is expected to step in as the foreign striker, with manager Kim Pan-gon prioritising attacking reinforcements.

Despite recent seasons in China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — where he consistently scored goals — Marcão was reportedly drawn back to Korea by Ulsan’s sincere approach and the opportunity to compete in the newly launched AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE). For the Brazilian, it’s a return to familiar territory and a club with serious title ambitions.

Power, Presence, and Still Plenty to Offer

Towering at 1.96m, Marcão combines physical dominance with technical ability and sharp instincts in front of goal. While he will need to rebuild match fitness, recent stints in Turkey have demonstrated that he remains a threat in the final third. During the second half of the 2023–24 season, he scored 7 goals in 14 appearances for Fatih Karagümrük in the Süper Lig, followed by 9 goals in 27 games for Kocaelispor in the TFF First League — solid returns that underline his enduring value.

If he can rediscover his rhythm in Ulsan’s system, Marcão could be the focal point they’ve been missing — and perhaps the catalyst to reignite their title charge.