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Pohang Steelers

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Pohang Steelers
Full nameFootball Club Pohang Steelers
포항 스틸러스 프로축구단
Founded1 April 1973; 51 years ago (1 April 1973)
(as POSCO FC)
GroundPohang Steel Yard
Capacity17,443
OwnerPOSCO
ChairmanShin Young-gwon
ManagerPark Tae-ha
LeagueK League 1
2023K League 1, 2nd of 12
Websitehttps://www.steelers.co.kr/

The Pohang Steelers (Hangul: 포항 스틸러스) are a South Korean professional football club based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province that compete in the K League 1, the top flight of South Korean football. The Steelers were founded on 1 April 1973 as POSCO FC, named after the steel company POSCO, which still owns the club today.[1] They are one of South Korea's most successful teams, having won the K League five times and the AFC Champions League three times.[2]

History

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The club was founded on 1 April 1973 as Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC, or simply POSCO FC.[1][3] Initially a semi-professional club, they turned professional in the 1984 season and changed its name to POSCO Dolphins. A year later they renamed as the POSCO Atoms.[4] In 1986 they won their first Championship, and enjoyed a great spell of domination in the league; between 1985 and 1998 they were continuously in the top four of the K League.

In 1995 the club was renamed again, becoming the Pohang Atoms. This name change was an attempt to further strengthen local ties with the region, and in 1997 they adopted their current name, the Pohang Steelers. The team won the Asian Champions Cup in 1997 and 1998.[5]

In the 2000s, the club struggled near the bottom of the table, but bounced back to the forefront of South Korean football by winning the first stage of the 2004 K League Championship. The club qualified for the final Championship match of the 2004 season, but lost 4–3 on penalties to Suwon Samsung Bluewings.[6]

In 2007, the club won the Championship play-off by beating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who finished in first place in the regular season of the K League. Pohang won the first leg 3–1 at home, and then traveled to Seongnam for the second leg game, recording a 1–0 victory to seal a 4–1 aggregate triumph. The Steelers had ended the K League season in fifth place, but then defeated Gyeongnam FC, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and finally Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the play-offs to win the championship.[7]

Pohang again made the play-offs in the 2008 season by finishing the season in fifth place, but were knocked out in their play-off game by Ulsan Hyundai after the penalty shoot-out. However, the club fared much better in the 2008 Korean FA Cup. After beating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the quarter-finals, Pohang knocked out Daegu FC in the semi-finals and then defeated Gyeongnam FC in the final to ensure qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League.[8]

In the 2009 AFC Champions League, the Steelers defeated Umm-Salal of Qatar 4–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to advance to their first ever AFC Champions League final.[9] The Steelers defeated Saudi club Al-Ittihad 2–1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan to claim the title.[10] For the 2009 K League season, Pohang once again qualified for the play-off phase of the league by finishing the regular season in second place, equal with FC Seoul on points, but ahead on goal difference. The Steelers had a bye to the semi-finals, but lost to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.[11] Nonetheless, their regular season placing saw them qualify for the 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage.

Following the conclusion of the 2009 K League season, at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in December, the Steelers finished in third place after defeating Mexican side Atlante 4–3 on penalties.[12]

Kits

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In 1994, POSCO Atoms wore a green kit and a white kit with a multicoloured sun in the middle. In 1997, Pohang Steelers wore a white shirt with black stripes on the shoulders and black shorts. In 2000, the first kit consisted of a sky blue shirt and white shorts, while the away kit was a black and red hooped shirt with black shorts (similar to the current kit). In 2002 the kit was red with a black "V" on the chest.

Kit suppliers

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Kit supplier Period
Adidas 1984–1987, 1990–1992
Prospecs 1987–1989, 1993–1995
Adidas 1996–2001
Diadora 2002
Puma 2003–2005
Kappa 2006–2012
Atemi 2013–2014
Hummel 2015–2016
Astore 2017–2020
Puma 2021–present

Current squad

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As of 22 February 2024[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Korea KOR Yoon Pyeong-gook
2 DF South Korea KOR Eo Jeong-won
3 DF South Korea KOR Lee Dong-hee
4 DF South Korea KOR Jeon Min-gwang
5 DF Australia AUS Jonathan Aspropotamitis
6 MF South Korea KOR Kim Jong-woo
7 FW South Korea KOR Kim In-sung
8 MF Brazil BRA Oberdan
9 FW Brazil BRA Jorge Luiz
10 FW South Korea KOR Baek Sung-dong
11 MF South Korea KOR Jo Seong-joon
12 DF South Korea KOR Kim Ryun-seong
13 MF South Korea KOR Yun Suk-ju
14 FW South Korea KOR Heo Yong-joon (vice-captain)
15 MF South Korea KOR Lee Kyu-min
16 MF South Korea KOR Han Chan-hee (vice-captain)
17 MF South Korea KOR Shin Kwang-hoon
18 FW South Korea KOR Kang Hyeon-je
19 MF South Korea KOR Yun Min-ho
20 DF South Korea KOR Park Chan-yong
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 GK South Korea KOR Hwang In-jae
22 MF South Korea KOR Kim Gyu-hyeong
23 MF South Korea KOR Lee Dong-hyeop
27 FW South Korea KOR Jeong Jae-hee
28 MF South Korea KOR Kim Jung-hyun
29 FW South Korea KOR Park Hyeong-woo
30 FW South Korea KOR Yoon Jae-woon
32 GK South Korea KOR Lee Seung-hwan
33 FW South Korea KOR Lee Ho-jae
34 DF South Korea KOR Lee Gyu-baeg
37 MF South Korea KOR Hong Yun-sang
41 GK South Korea KOR Kang Seong-hyeok
55 DF South Korea KOR Choi Hyeon-woong
66 MF South Korea KOR Kim Jun-ho
70 MF South Korea KOR Hwang Seo-woong
77 FW Brazil BRA Wanderson (captain)
88 MF South Korea KOR Kim Dong-jin
89 FW South Korea KOR Kim Myung-jun
90 MF South Korea KOR Kim Dong-min

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK South Korea KOR Kang Hyeon-mu (to Gimcheon Sangmu for military service)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF South Korea KOR Cho Jae-hoon (to Jeonnam Dragons)

Honours

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Pohang Steelers celebrating their third AFC Champions League title in 2009.

Domestic

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League

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Cups

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International

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Continental

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Worldwide

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Invitational

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Season-by-season records

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Domestic record

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Season Division Tms. Pos. FA Cup
1983 1 5 4
1984 1 8 5
1985 1 8 2
1986 1 6 1
1987 1 5 2
1988 1 5 1
1989 1 6 4
1990 1 6 3
1991 1 6 3
1992 1 6 1
1993 1 6 4
1994 1 7 3
1995 1 8 2
1996 1 9 3 Winners
1997 1 10 4 Semi-final
1998 1 10 3 Semi-final
1999 1 10 5 Round of 16
2000 1 10 9 Quarter-final
2001 1 10 5 Runners-up
2002 1 10 6 Runners-up
2003 1 12 7 Quarter-final
2004 1 13 2 Round of 32
2005 1 13 5 Quarter-final
2006 1 14 3 Round of 16
2007 1 14 1 Runners-up
2008 1 14 5 Winners
2009 1 15 3 Quarter-final
2010 1 15 9 Round of 16
2011 1 16 3 Semi-final
2012 1 16 3 Winners
2013 1 14 1 Winners
2014 1 12 4 Round of 16
2015 1 12 3 Quarter-final
2016 1 12 9 Round of 32
2017 1 12 7 Round of 32
2018 1 12 4 Round of 32
2019 1 12 4 Round of 32
2020 1 12 3 Semi-final
2021 1 12 9 Quarter-final
2022 1 12 3 Quarter-final
2023 1 12 2 Winners
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league

Continental record

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All results list Pohang's goal tally first.

AFC Champions League

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Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2008 Group E Australia Adelaide United 0–2 0–1 3rd
Vietnam Becamex Binh Duong 0–0 4–1
China Changchun Yatai 2–2 0–1
2009 Group H Australia Central Coast Mariners 3–2 0–0 1st
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 1–1 2–0
China Tianjin TEDA 1–0 0–0
Round of 16 Australia Newcastle Jets 6–0
Quarter-final Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 4–1 (a.e.t.) 1–3 5–4
Semi-final Qatar Umm-Salal 2–0 2–1 4–1
Final Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2–1[a]
2010 Group H Australia Adelaide United 0–0 0–1 2nd
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–1 3–4
China Shandong Luneng 1–0 2–1
Round of 16 Japan Kashima Antlers 1–0
Quarter-final Iran Zob Ahan 1–1 1–2 2–3
2012 Play-off Thailand Chonburi 2–0
Group E Japan Gamba Osaka 2–0 3–0 3rd
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 0–2 0–1
Australia Adelaide United 1–0 0–1
2013 Group G China Beijing Guoan 0–0 0–2 3rd
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 1–1 2–2
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–1 1–0
2014 Group E Japan Cerezo Osaka 1–1 2–0 1st
Thailand Buriram United 0–0 2–1
China Shandong Luneng 2–2 4–2
Round of 16 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 2–1 3–1
Quarter-final South Korea FC Seoul 0–0 0–0 (a.e.t.) 0–0
(0–3 p)
2016 Play-off Vietnam Hanoi FC 3–0
Group H China Guangzhou Evergrande 0–2 0–0 4th
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 1–1
Australia Sydney FC 0–1 0–1
2021 Group G Thailand Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 2–0[a] 0–0[a] 2nd
Japan Nagoya Grampus 1–1[a] 0–3[a]
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 4–1[a] 2–0[a]
Round of 16 Japan Cerezo Osaka 1–0
Quarter-final Japan Nagoya Grampus 3–0[a]
Semi-final South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)[a]
Final Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–2
2023–24 Group J Vietnam Hanoi FC 2–0 4–2 1st
China Wuhan Three Towns 3–1 1–1
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1 2–0
Round of 16 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–1 0–2 1–3

AFC Champions League Elite

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Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2024–25 League stage China Shanghai Shenhua 1–4
China Shanghai Port 3–0
Thailand Buriram United 0–1
China Shandong Taishan
Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
Japan Vissel Kobe
Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Played at a neutral venue.

Managers

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No. Manager Period Honours
1 South Korea Han Hong-ki 2 May 1973 – 29 November 1984
2 South Korea Choi Eun-taek 29 November 1984 – 16 December 1986 1986 K League
3 South Korea Lee Hoe-taik 16 December 1986 – 31 December 1992 1988 K League, 1992 K League
C South Korea Kim Soon-ki
South Korea Kim Chul-soo
1989
C South Korea Cho Yoon-ok 1989–1990
4 South Korea Huh Jung-moo 1993 – 25 November 1995 1993 League Cup
C South Korea Kim Soon-ki 1994
5 South Korea Park Sung-hwa 12 December 1995 – 31 July 2000 1996 FA Cup, 1996–97 Asian Club Championship, 1997–98 Asian Club Championship
6 South Korea Choi Soon-ho 1 August 2000 – 5 December 2004
7 Brazil Sérgio Farias 6 January 2005 – 20 December 2009 2007 K League, 2008 FA Cup, 2009 League Cup, 2009 AFC Champions League
8 Brazil Waldemar Lemos 8 January – 10 May 2010
C South Korea Park Chang-hyun 11 May – 7 November 2010
9 South Korea Hwang Sun-hong 13 December 2010 – 29 November 2015 2012 FA Cup, 2013 FA Cup, 2013 K League
10 South Korea Choi Jin-cheul 28 December 2015 – 24 September 2016
11 South Korea Choi Soon-ho 26 September 2016 – 22 April 2019
12 South Korea Kim Gi-dong 23 April 2019 – 14 December 2023 2023 FA Cup
13 South Korea Park Tae-ha 15 December 2023 – present
  • Names in italics indicates interim or caretaker manager

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Pohang Steelers: 50 Years of Footballing Heritage". the-afc.com. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  2. ^ "포항스틸러스, AFC 예선 히로시마전 아쉬운 무승부". nocutnews.co.kr. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ^ "South Korea – Foundation Dates of Clubs". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ^ 역대 클럽 엠블렘 & 마스코트 변천사. Steelyard.net (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Asian Champions' Cup". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. ^ "South Korea 2004". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. ^ "South Korea 2007". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ^ "South Korea 2008". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ^ "East to meet West in AFC final". FIFA.com. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  10. ^ "Pohang book UAE berth". FIFA.com. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Asian champions Pohang go down to Seongnam". the-afc.com (AFC). 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Pohang penalty joy". ESPN Soccernet. 19 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  13. ^ "STEELERS PLAYER – ALL" (in Korean). Pohang Steelers. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e Football Club Pohang Steelers was founded as a semi-professional team in 1973, and turned into a professional team in 1984. Even after the club turned professional, Pohang managed a separate, semi-professional reserves team that participated in the Korean National Semi-Professional Football League until the formation of R League.
  15. ^ "India – D.C.M. Trophy". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  16. ^ Morrison, Neil. "D.C.M. Trophy – List of Finals (1988)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
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