FC Pohang Steelers
Squad
- Moon Chang-jin2012current
Ki Sung-yueng2025current
Lee Hoe-taik1973–1978- Park Chang-sun1977–1982
Cho Kwang-rae1978–1979- Park Sung-hwa1978–1979
Choi Soon-ho1980–1982
Choi Kang-hee1983–1983- Choi Soon-ho1983–1987
- Park Kyung-hoon1984–1992
- Chung Jong-son1985–1985
- Lee Heung-sil1985–1992
- Park Sung-hwa1986–1987
- Cho Byung-deuk1987–1990
Kim Jong-boo1988–1989
Choi Moon-sik1989–1998- Choi Soon-ho1991–1991
Hong Myung-bo1992–1997- Rade Bogdanović1992–1996
Hwang Sun-hong1993–1998
Cho Jin-ho1994–1999
An Ik-soo1996–1998
Ko Jeong-woon1998–2001
Lee Dong-gook1998–2006- Cristian Dulca1999–1999
- Chong Yong-de2001–2001
- Ha Seok-ju2001–2003
Kim Byung-ji2001–2005- Hong Myung-bo2002–2002
Jung Sung-ryong2003–2007
Lee Min-sung2003–2004
Oh Beom-seok2003–2007- Park Won-jae2003–2008
- Mamadou Diallo2004–2004
Cho Sung-hwan2005–2008
Choi Tae-uk2006–2007- Schwenck2007–2007
Denilson Martins Nascimento2008–2009- Kim Hyung-il2008–2014
Kim Jae-sung2008–2014
Stevica Ristić2008–2009- Kazunari Okayama2009–2010
Seol Ki-hyeon2010–2010
Lee Myung-joo2012–2014
Kim Eun-jung2013–2013- André Moritz2014–2014
Son Jun-ho2014–2017- André Moritz2015–2016
- Tiago Alves2015–2015
Song Min-kyu2018–2021
Kim Hyun-sung2021–2021
Baek Sung-dong2023–2025
The Pohang Steelers are one of South Korea's most successful football clubs, based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
They compete in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football.
Founded on April 1, 1973, the club was initially named Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC, after its owner POSCO.
Biography
Formation
The Pohang Steelers, a prominent South Korean professional football club, was established on April 1, 1973, originally named Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC, reflecting its ownership by the steel company POSCO. The club began with a modest roster of 13 players, including notable South Korean international Lee Hoe-taik, and was managed by Han Hong-ki. Their inaugural season saw them clinch their first trophy by defeating Sungkyunkwan University in the President's Cup final.
Early Success and Evolution
In the years following their formation, the Steelers quickly made a name for themselves in South Korean football. They joined the Korean National Semi-professional Football League and secured their first league title in 1975. The club underwent several name changes, becoming the Pohang Iron & Steel Dolphins and later the Pohang Iron & Steel Atoms, as they transitioned from a semi-professional to a fully professional team by 1984. Their competitive spirit led them to dominate the league, finishing in the top four consistently from 1985 to 1998.
Achievements and Legacy
The Pohang Steelers are celebrated for their impressive record, having won the K League 1 title five times and the AFC Champions League three times. Their domestic success includes multiple Korean Cup victories and a strong presence in international competitions, including a third-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2009. The club's legacy is marked by its commitment to excellence and its role in popularizing football in South Korea, making it one of the most successful teams in the nation’s history.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
The club was founded on 1 April 1973 as Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC. Upon its establishment, the team consisted of 13 players, including South Korea international Lee Hoe-taik, and was led by manager Han Hong-ki. The following year, Pohang Steel won their first trophy, beating Sungkyunkwan University 2–1 in the final of the President's Cup. The club also joined the Korean National Semi-professional Football League and won their first title in the spring league of 1975. Their second title came in the autumn league of 1981, and when the competition was re-organised as an all-year league in 1982, Pohang lifted the trophy once again. Renamed as the Pohang Iron & Steel Dolphins, the club was one of the founding members of the Korean Super League in 1983. The same year, Pohang became the first team in the league to field foreign players, signing midfielder Sergio and forward Jose, who had previously been playing for the football team of a Brazilian steelmaking company. Initially competing as a semi-professional club, the Dolphins turned professional in the 1984 season, and rebranded again a year later, this time as the Pohang Iron & Steel Atoms. In 1986 they won their first championship, and enjoyed a 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…
- League
- K League 1
Legacy
Domestic
League
K League 1 Winners (5): 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013 Runners-up (5): 1985, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2023 Korean National Semi-Professional Football League Winners (5): 1975 Spring, 1981 Fall, 1982, 1986 Fall, 1988 Fall Runners-up (2): 1977, 1989 Spring
Cups
Korean Cup Winners (6): 1996, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2023, 2024 Runners-up (3): 2001, 2002, 2007 Korean League Cup Winners (2): 1993, 2009 Runners-up (2): 1996, 1997s Korean National Football Championship Runners-up (2): 1977, 1985 Korean President's Cup Winners (1): 1974 Runners-up (1): 1989
International
Continental
AFC Champions League Winners (3): 1996–97, 1997–98, 2009 Runners-up (1): 2021 Asian Super Cup Runners-up (2): 1997, 1998 A3 Champions Cup Runners-up (1): 2005
Worldwide
FIFA Club World Cup Third place (1): 2009 Afro-Asian Club Championship Runners-up (2): 1997, 1998
Invitational
DCM Trophy Winners (1): 1988 Runners-up (1): 1989 King's Cup Runners-up (1): 1987
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
The Pohang Steelers 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 club was founded on 1 April 1973 as Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC, named after the steel company POSCO, which still owns the club today. They are one of South Korea's most successful teams, having won the K League five times and the AFC Champions League three times.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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