Nam Tae-hee


Nam Tae-hee is a South Korean footballer currently playing for Qatari side Al-Sadd and the South Korea national team.
He is a versatile midfielder and can play as attacking midfielder or central midfielder. He is known for his honed technique, smooth movement, and dribbling.

Club career

Nam played in the Reading's Youth Academy through :ko:대한축구협회 우수선수 해외유학 프로젝트|KFA Youth Project. In July 2009, his first professional contract signed in France with Valenciennes FC. He played his debut on 8 August 2009 against AS Nancy and is currently the youngest Asian player to play in the Ligue 1 at age 18.
In the winter break of the 2011–12 season, Nam agreed to leave Ligue 1 for Qatar Stars League giant Lekhwiya SC on 26 December 2011.

Lekhwiya

Nam made his debut on 1 January 2012 against Al Kharitiyath. He scored his first league goal from a free kick on 19 January 2012.
He made his AFC Champions League debut on 7 March 2012, scoring the only goal against Saudi Al Ahli, thereby scoring the first ever goal for Lekhwiya in any regional competition.

Al Sadd

On 8 February 2019, Al Sadd SC announced that they acquired Nam from fellow Qatari club Al-Duhail SC. Under their agreement, Nam will join Al Sadd in the 2019–20 season and will play for them for three years.

International career

Nam has represented South Korea at U-13, U-15 and U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. He made his debut for the Korean senior team on 9 February 2011 in a friendly against Turkey.
Nam represented South Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He appeared as a substitute as Korea beat Japan in the bronze medal match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
On 22 December 2014, Nam was named in South Korea's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup held in Australia. In the team's second group match, Nam scored the only goal as Korea defeated Kuwait 1–0 to ensure qualification to the knockout stage. On 20 November 2018, it was announced that Nam would miss the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE after being ruled out for six months because of a knee injury.

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 March 2020.



International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.10 October 2014Cheonan Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea2–02–0Friendly
2.13 January 2015Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia1–01–02015 AFC Asian Cup
3.12 November 2015Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea4–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.15 November 2016Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea1–12–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.7 September 2018Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea2–02–0Friendly
6.20 November 2018QSAC, Brisbane, Australia1–04–0Friendly

Honours

Lekhwiya
Al-Sadd
South Korea U23
South Korea
Individual
Nam is hailed as the 'Korean Messi' by Valenciennes fans and has also been touted as a 'magician' and 'wonderkid'. He was Most Valuable Player three times in his youth career in the National Championships in South Korea. Nam became the youngest Korean footballer to play in a professional league in Europe as a result of this game. He is known for his very energetic playing style.