Ahn Jung-hwan


Ahn Jung-hwan is a South Korean former football player and television personality. A former second striker, he played for South Korea and scored three goals in two FIFA World Cup, including the golden goal against Italy which led his team to the quarter-finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After his retirement as a football player, he became a television show host and a football commentator.

Playing career

Early career

Ahn was selected for the South Korea under-20 for the 1994 AFC Youth Championship, but South Korea failed to advance to the semi-finals. Three years later, he was selected for the South Korea Universiade team for the 1997 Summer Universiade and won a silver medal in the tournament. In 1998, Ahn started his professional career with K League's Busan Daewoo Royals. He showed great performance in his club and he was selected as one of the 1998 K League Best XI. The next year, in 1999, he was named the K League Most Valuable Player by leading Busan's runners-up in the K League. In 2000, Ahn joined A.C. Perugia on loan and became the first South Korean player who played in Italian Serie A. However, he was ostracized at the club, and bullied by his captain, Marco Materazzi. He appeared 30 games, including 13 starts, and scored five goals for two seasons in the Serie A. He was named in South Korea's squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

2002 World Cup

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup on home soil, Ahn tied the game against the United States, and during his goal celebration he imitated a speed skater in reference to the controversial disqualification of Korean short track speed skater Kim Dong-sung in the 1500 metres at the 2002 Winter Olympics, allowing American Apolo Ohno to win the gold medal. Ahn missed a penalty, but later scored a golden goal in extra-time from a header in the round of 16 against Italy that sent the South Koreans through to the quarter-finals.

Conflict with Perugia

The next day, Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci cancelled his contract and was quoted as saying, "I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football." Gaucci stated that his decision was not due to the goal, alleging comments by Ahn about the Italian nation. However, Gaucci later took back what he had said, and approved the £1.2 million option to sign Ahn on a permanent basis. Ahn rejected the offer of a three-year contract and refused to turn up for pre-season training despite Perugia claiming ownership of his registration, saying "I will no longer discuss my transfer to Perugia, who attacked my character instead of congratulating me for a goal in the World Cup." Busan also claimed that they had not been paid by Perugia. A number of European clubs were interested in Ahn, but withdrew due to their conflict, and FIFA raised Perugia's hand by delivering a judgment that Ahn has to pay Perugia $3.5 million to compensate for their damage in the transfer market, so he contracted with PM, a Japanese entertainment company, to pay off his debts. He spent his career as a J1 League player and an entertainer for three years.

Return to Europe

After successful spell in Japan, Ahn returned to Europe to play for a French Ligue 1 team FC Metz in July 2005. He scored two goals in 16 outings. On 16 January 2006, Ahn was invited to train with Blackburn Rovers but twice failed to show up, one of the dates being on his birthday. In February, he secured a 17-month deal with a Bundesliga club MSV Duisburg to adapt to the environment of Germany, the 2006 FIFA World Cup host. He scored two goals in 12 outings and his club was relegated from the Bundesliga, as Ahn saw a move to Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premier League fall through. On 31 August 2006, he was released by Duisburg, and returned to South Korea in January 2007, joining Suwon Samsung Bluewings on a one-year deal. Previously, Ahn was selected for South Korea's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad in Germany, and came off the bench to score the winner in Korea's 2–1 opening match win over Togo, after coming from a goal down at halftime. Thus, he became Asian football career leader in goals scored in the World Cup, with three.

Retirement

On 14 March 2007, Ahn scored his first goal of the season against Daejeon Citizen, with a first-half pass from Lee Kwan-woo. He went on to score a hat-trick in the 4–0 win, in only his third game of the season. However, his poor performance became longer and he was left out of the national team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. In 2008, he returned to the Busan Daewoo Royals, now renamed Busan IPark. He steadily improved his game and overall performances and, for the first time in 22 months, was recalled to the national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifications match against Jordan. In March 2009, he signed a three-month contract with Chinese Super League side Dalian Shide. He became the key player in the club and extended his contract to December 2010 with Dalian Shide in June, despite that J2 League club Oita Trinita had an intention to sign him. He was promoted to team captain in the 2010 season. Ahn officially announced his retirement on 30 January 2012.

Personal life

Ahn is sometimes called "The Lord of the Ring" by Korean fans. He married former Miss Korea Lee Hye-won in 2001 and got this nickname by kissing his wedding ring after every goal he scores.
Other than football, Ahn is noted for his model-like looks and has appeared in numerous make-up ads. The Korean media often states the similar facial appearance between the footballer and actor Cha In-pyo. Both view the statement as a compliment.
Ahn was one of the carriers of the Olympic flame at the opening of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Career statistics

Club

International

Source:

International goals

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1
12 June 1999Seoul1 goal1–11999 Korea Cup
2
20 December 2000Tokyo1 goal1–1Friendly match
4
16 May 2002Busan2 goals4–1Friendly match
5
10 June 2002Daegu1 goal1–12002 FIFA World Cup
6
18 June 2002Daejeon1 goal2–1 2002 FIFA World Cup
7
20 November 2002Seoul1 goal2–3Friendly match
8
31 May 2003Tokyo1 goal1–0Friendly match
9
4 December 2003Tokyo1 goal3–12003 East Asian Cup
11
14 February 2004Ulsan2 goals5–0Friendly match
12
9 June 2004Daejeon1 goal2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
13
23 July 2004Jinan1 goal2–02004 AFC Asian Cup
14
27 July 2004Jinan1 goal4–02004 AFC Asian Cup
15
12 November 2005Seoul1 goal2–2Friendly match
16
13 June 2006Frankfurt1 goal2–12006 FIFA World Cup
17
16 August 2006Taipei1 goal3–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Filmography

Television

Honours

Player

Busan Daewoo Royals
Yokohama F. Marinos
South Korea U23
South Korea Universiade
South Korea
Individual
Source:
YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
20137th SBS Entertainment AwardsBest Challenge AwardLaw of the Jungle in Himalayas
201414th MBC Entertainment AwardsSpecial Award in a Variety ShowDad! Where Are We Going?