Ahn Jung-Hwan

Ahn played for South Korea as a second striker and scored a total of three goals in two FIFA World Cups, including a golden goal against Italy. After his retirement as a footballer, he became a television host and a football commentator.

Ahn Jung-hwan

Ahn with Dalian Shide in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Ahn Jung-hwan
Date of birth	(1976-01-27) 27 January 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Paju, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, striker
Youth career
?–1990	Namseoul Middle School
1991–1993	Seoul Technical High School [ko]
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1997	Ajou University [ko]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2002	Busan Daewoo Royals	54	(27)
2000–2002	→ Perugia (loan)	30	(5)
2002–2003	Shimizu S-Pulse	38	(14)
2004–2005	Yokohama F. Marinos	34	(16)
2005–2006	Metz	16	(2)
2006	MSV Duisburg	12	(2)
2007	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	15	(0)
2008	Busan IPark	19	(4)
2009–2011	Dalian Shide	65	(18)
Total		283	(88)
International career
1994	South Korea U20	4	(2)
1997	South Korea B
1997–2010	South Korea	71	(17)
Medal record Representing  South Korea Men's football Summer Universiade 1997 Sicily Team EAFF Championship 2003 Japan Team East Asian Games 1997 Busan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ahn was selected for South Korean under-20 team for the 1994 AFC Youth Championship. Three years later, he also played the 1997 Summer Universiade for South Korean Universiade team, winning a silver medal.

Busan Daewoo Royals

In 1998, Ahn started his professional career in a K League club Busan Daewoo Royals. He was selected as one of the K League Best XI in that year after showing great performance as soon as he went there. The next year, in 1999, he was named the K League Most Valuable Player by leading his team to finish as a runner-up in the K League.

Loan to Perugia

In 2000, Ahn joined Perugia on loan, becoming the first South Korean footballer to play in Italy's Serie A. However, he was ostracised by the team's captain Marco Materazzi and teammates. He made 30 appearances (including 13 starts) and five goals for two Serie A seasons in a racist environment. Afterwards, he was named in South Korean squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosted by his country.

In a group match against the United States, Ahn imitated a speed skater during his goal celebration after scoring the equaliser in order to protest the controversial disqualification of Korean short track speed skater Kim Dong-sung in the 1500 metres at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which allowed American Apolo Ohno to win the gold medal. During the round of 16 against Italy, Ahn missed a penalty, but later scored a golden goal in extra-time from a header that sent the South Koreans through to the quarter-finals.

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" due to the fact of the controversial and arguable win of the South Korean side. 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 Daewoo Royals also claimed that they had not been paid by Perugia. A number of European clubs were interested in Ahn, but gave up on him due to his conflict with Perugia. Finally, FIFA forced Perugia's hand by concluding Ahn had to pay Perugia $3.5 million to compensate for their damage in the transfer market, and so he contracted with a Japanese entertainment company, the Professional Management (PM), to pay off his debts. He spent his important period as a J1 League player and an entertainer for three years.

MSV Duisburg

 

After a successful spell in Japan, Ahn returned to Europe to play for French Ligue 1 team Metz in July 2005 and scored two goals in 16 outings. In January 2006, Ahn was invited to train with Blackburn Rovers but twice failed to show up, one of the dates being his birthday. In February, he secured a 17-month deal with a Bundesliga club MSV Duisburg to adapt to the environment of Germany, the host of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Ahn scored two goals in 12 outings, and his club was relegated from the Bundesliga. He was interested in a move to Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premier League, but it fell through.

Ahn was selected for the South Korean squad for the 2006 World Cup. He scored the winning goal after coming off the bench during the second half of the South Korean opening match, where they beat Togo 2–1. Thus, he became the Asian all-time scoring leader at the World Cup with three goals. He was released by Duisburg after the World Cup, and returned to South Korea, joining Suwon Samsung Bluewings on a one-year deal in January 2007.

Retirement

Ahn scored a hat-trick in a game of the 2007 Korean League Cup against Daejeon Citizen. However, his poor performance became longer, and he was left out of the national team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

In 2008, Ahn returned to Busan IPark, formerly Busan Daewoo Royals. 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, Ahn 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, though J2 League club Oita Trinita had an intention to sign him. He was promoted to Dalian's captain in the 2010 season.

Ahn officially announced his retirement on 30 January 2012.

A quick and energetic player. Ahn was used as a second second striker, but was able to play as an attacking midfielder, winger or single striker. His one of the strongest abilities was very good positioning in the penalty box and could score goals by his head, despite of average height. His good and diverse technical skills allowed him to create goal opportunities. Ahn was also a combative player and he was picking quite often yellow cards. During his whole career, the Korean player was known as a super-sub.

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 her 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.

On 15 November 2021, Ahn founded the Matched Project (MCP) agency with Kim Young-man, Kim Sung-joo, and Jung Hyung-don.

On February 22, 2023, Ahn donated 100 million won from YouTube to Save the Children.

Club

International

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Ahn Jung-hwan

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 June 1999	Seoul, South Korea	5	Mexico	1–1	1–1	1999 Korea Cup
2	20 December 2000	Tokyo, Japan	12	Japan	1–0	1–1	Friendly
3	16 May 2002	Busan, South Korea	20	Scotland	2–0	4–1	Friendly
4					4–1
5	10 June 2002	Daegu, South Korea	23	United States	1–1	1–1	2002 FIFA World Cup
6	18 June 2002	Daejeon, South Korea	25	Italy	2–1	2–1 (a.e.t.)	2002 FIFA World Cup
7	20 November 2002	Seoul, South Korea	29	Brazil	2–1	2–3	Friendly
8	31 May 2003	Tokyo, Japan	32	Japan	1–0	1–0	Friendly
9	4 December 2003	Tokyo, Japan	34	Hong Kong	3–1	3–1	2003 EAFF Championship
10	14 February 2004	Ulsan South Korea	37	Oman	3–0	5–0	Friendly
11					4–0
12	9 June 2004	Daejeon, South Korea	43	Vietnam	1–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
13	23 July 2004	Jinan, China	46	United Arab Emirates	2–0	2–0	2004 AFC Asian Cup
14	27 July 2004	Jinan, China	47	Kuwait	4–0	4–0	2004 AFC Asian Cup
15	12 November 2005	Seoul, South Korea	56	Sweden	1–0	2–2	Friendly
16	13 June 2006	Frankfurt, Germany	62	Togo	2–1	2–1	2006 FIFA World Cup
17	16 August 2006	Taipei, Republic of China	65	Chinese Taipei	1–0	3–0	2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Television

Music video

Player

Busan Daewoo Royals

• Korean League Cup: 1998

Yokohama F. Marinos

• J1 League: 2004

South Korea B

• Summer Universiade silver medal: 1997
• East Asian Games: 1997

South Korea

• EAFF Championship: 2003

Individual

• K League 1 Best XI: 1998, 1999
• K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 1999
• Korean FA Fans' Player of the Year: 2003

Television personality