Pohang Steelers
Pohang Steelers (Hangul: 포항 스틸러스) is a South Korean professional football club based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. They were originally called Pohang Steelworks, after the Pohang Iron and Steel Company that owned it. The club was founded in 1973 and is one of Korean football's most successful sides.
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| Full name | Football Club Pohang Steelers 포항 스틸러스 프로축구단 | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Pohang Steelers | |||
| Short name | PSFC | |||
| Founded | 1973, as Pohang Steelworks FC | |||
| Ground | Pohang Steel Yard | |||
| Capacity | 17,443 | |||
| Owner | POSCO | |||
| Chairman | Shin Young-gwon | |||
| Manager | Kim Gi-dong | |||
| League | K League 1 | |||
| 2019 | K League 1, 4th of 12 | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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They are the joint-most successful team in Asia with three AFC Champions League titles.[1]
History
Founded as a semi-professional football club, as the Pohang Steelworks Football Club in 1973, the club turned professional from the 1984 season and changed its name to Pohang Steelworks Dolphins. A further name changed occurred for the 1985 season, during which they were called the Pohang Steelworks Atoms. 1986 saw them win their first Championship, and they enjoyed a great spell of domination in the league; between 1985 and 1998 they were continuously in the top four of the K-League.
The club achieved a Korean football 'first' at the end of 1990 with the opening of their purpose-built 20,000 seater Steelyard Stadium.
1995 saw yet another name change, when the club became 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 side scaled Asian football heights, winning the Asian Champions Cup in 1997 and 1998 to establish themselves as one of Asia's top teams.
Unfortunately, the club suffered something of a fall from grace in the 2000s, struggling near the foot of the table, but bounced back to the forefront of 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.
In 2007, the club won the Championship play-off by beating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who finished in 1st place in the regular season of the K-League. Pohang won the first leg play-off game at home 3–1, 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 5th place, but then defeated Daejeon Citizen, Gyeongnam, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and finally Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the play-offs to win the championship.
Pohang again made the play-offs in the 2008 season by finishing the season 5th in the league, but were knocked out in their play-off game by Ulsan Hyundai in a penalty shoot-out. However, the club fared much better in the Korean FA Cup. After defeating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the quarter-final with a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw after regular and extra time, Pohang knocked out Daegu FC in the semi-final, and then Gyeongnam FC in the final to ensure qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League by virtue of winning the 2008 Korean FA Cup.
The Steelers then enjoyed a dream run in the Champions League, which saw the club defeat Umm-Salal of Qatar 2–1 (4–1 agg.) to advance to their first ever AFC Champions League final.[2] The Steelers defeated Saudi club Al-Ittihad 2–1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan to claim the title.[3]
For the 2009 K-League season, Pohang once again qualified for the play-off phase of the league by finishing the regular season in 2nd 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.[4] 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 Atlante 4–3 on penalties.[5]
Crests and mascots
Kits
In 1994, Pohang Steelworks Atoms wore a green kit and a white kit with a multicolored sun in the center, in 1997 Pohang Steelers wore a white shirt with black shoulders stripes and black shorts, while 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 and black shorts (similar to the current kit). In 2002 the kit was red with a black V in the chest.
Honours
Domestic competitions
League
- Winners (5): 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013
- Runners-up (4): 1985, 1987, 1995, 2004
- Winners (5): 1975 Spring, 1981 Fall, 1982, 1986 Fall, 1988 Fall
- Runners-up (2): 1977, 1989 Spring
International competitions
Doubles
- Domestic double
- K League and FA Cup Champions (1): 2013
- Continental double
- Champions League and League Cup Champions (1): 2009
Season-by-season records
| Season | Division | Tms. | Pos. | FA Cup | AFC CL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Winners |
| 1998 | 1 | 10 | 3 | Semi-final | Winners |
| 1999 | 1 | 10 | 5 | Round of 16 | Quarter-final |
| 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 | Group stage |
| 2009 | 1 | 15 | 3 | Quarter-final | Winners |
| 2010 | 1 | 15 | 9 | Round of 16 | Quarter-final |
| 2011 | 1 | 16 | 3 | Semi-final | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 16 | 3 | Winners | Group stage |
| 2013 | 1 | 14 | 1 | Winners | Group stage |
| 2014 | 1 | 12 | 4 | Round of 16 | Quarter-final |
| 2015 | 1 | 12 | 3 | Quarter-final | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 12 | 9 | Round of 32 | Group stage |
| 2017 | 1 | 12 | 7 | Round of 32 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 12 | 4 | Round of 32 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 12 | 4 | Round of 32 | — |
- Key
- Tms. = Number of teams
- Pos. = Position in league
Current squad
- As of 12 February 2020
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club official
Coaching staff
- Manager:
- 1st Team Coach:
- Physical Coach:
- Goalkeeper Coach:
- Trainer:
- Interpreter:
Youth Club Staff
- U-18 Manager:
- U-18 Coach:
- U-15 Manager:
- U-15 Coach:
- U-12 Manager:
- U-12 Coach:
- Goalkeeper Coach:
- Youth Academy Coach (North):
- Youth Academy Coach (South):
- Youth Academy Officer:
Managers
As of end of season. Only K-League matches are counted.
| Manager | P | W | D | L | % | Period | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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44 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 36.36 | May 2, 1973 – November 29, 1984 | |
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57 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 35.09 | November 29, 1984 – December 16, 1986 | 1986 K-League |
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206 | 75 | 70 | 61 | 36.41 | December 16, 1986 – December 31, 1992 | 1988 K-League, 1992 K-League |
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1989 | ||||||
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1989 | ||||||
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106 | 42 | 40 | 24 | 39.62 | 1993 – November 25, 1995 | |
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1994 | ||||||
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182 | 76 | 47 | 59 | 41.76 | December 12, 1995 – July 31, 2000 | 1996 FA Cup, 1996–97 Asian Club Championship, 1997–98 Asian Club Championship |
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163 | 57 | 47 | 59 | 34.97 | August 1, 2000 – December 5, 2004 | |
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181 | 83 | 55 | 43 | 45.86 | January 6, 2005 – December 20, 2009 | 2007 K-League, 2008 FA Cup, 2009 AFC Champions League |
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11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 18.18 | January 8, 2010 – May 10, 2010 | |
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21 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 33.33 | May 11, 2010 – November 8, 2010 | |
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37 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 56.76 | December 13, 2010 – November 29, 2015 | 2013 K League, 2012 FA Cup, 2013 FA Cup |
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32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 31.25 | November 29, 2015 – September 25, 2016 | |
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37 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 56.76 | September 26, 2016 – | |
- Italics denotes manager was there for interim period
References
- "포항스틸러스, AFC 예선 히로시마전 아쉬운 무승부".
- "East to meet West in AFC final". FIFA.com. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- "Pohang book UAE berth". FIFA.com. 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- "Asian champions Pohang go down to Seongnam". the-afc.com (AFC). 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
- "Pohang penalty joy". ESPN Soccernet. 2009-12-19. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- Upon its formation in 1983, the K League became the top tier of Korean football; the Korea Football League (officially, the Korean National Semi-Professional Football League) then became the second tier. The Korea Football League is now known as the National League.
- 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 League until the formation of R League.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pohang Steelers. |
- Pohang Steelers official website (in Korean and English)
| Asian Club Championship |
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| AFC Champions League |
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