Ahn Jung-hwan

Ahn Jung-hwan (Hangul: 안정환; Hanja: 安貞桓; Korean pronunciation: [an.dʑʌŋ.ɦwan] or [an] [tɕʌŋ.ɦwan]; born 27 January 1976) is a South Korean former football player and television personality. 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 an entertainer and a football commentator.[3]

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
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
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Ajou University
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)
National team
1994 South Korea U20 4 (2)
1997 South Korea B
1997–2010 South Korea 71 (17)
Honours
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
Summer Universiade
1997 Sicily Team[1]
EAFF Championship
2003 Japan Team
East Asian Games
1997 Busan Team[2]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Ahn Jung-hwan
Hangul
안정환
Hanja
安貞桓
Revised RomanizationAn Jeonghwan
McCune–ReischauerAn Chŏnghwan
In this Korean name, the family name is Ahn.

Early life

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.[1]

Playing career

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] He made 30 appearances (including 13 starts) and five goals for two Serie A seasons in a racist environment.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10] A number of European clubs were interested in Ahn, but gave up on him due to his conflict with Perugia. Finally, FIFA raised 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.[11]

MSV Duisburg
Ahn with MSV Duisburg in 2006

After successful spell in Japan, Ahn returned to Europe to play for a 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.[12]

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.[13]

Ahn was selected for the South Korean squad for the 2006 World Cup. He scored the winning goal, after coming off the bench during second half in South Korean opening match, where they won 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 by 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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16][17]

Personal life

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.[18]

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.[19]

Ahn was one of the carriers of the Olympic flame at the opening of the 2018 Winter Olympics.[20]

On 15 November 2021, Ahn founded the Matched Project (MCP) agency with Kim Young-man, Kim Sung-joo, and Jung Hyung-don.[21]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Busan Daewoo Royals1998K League175001683313
1999K League2414101073521
2000K League1380072—2010
Total54271033178844
Perugia2000–01Serie A15410——164
2001–02Serie A15120——171
Total30530——335
Shimizu S-Pulse2002J1 League103321012157
2003J1 League28114342333919
Total38147552455426
Yokohama F. Marinos2004J1 League25121110433116
2005J1 League94000033127
Total34161110764323
Metz2005–06Ligue 11620000—162
MSV Duisburg2005–06Bundesliga122———122
2006–072. Bundesliga00———00
Total122———122
Suwon Samsung Bluewings2007K League15010105—265
Busan IPark2008K League1941082—286
Dalian Shide2009Chinese Super League266———266
2010Chinese Super League2410———2410
2011Chinese Super League15200——152
Total651800——6518
Career total 2838814657261111365131

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[22]
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea 199730
199941
200051
200140
2002135
200372
2004155
200561
200682
200830
201030
Career total7117

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Ahn Jung-hwan
No.DateVenue CapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1
12 June 1999Seoul, South Korea 5 Mexico1–11–11999 Korea Cup
2
20 December 2000Tokyo, Japan 12 Japan1–01–1Friendly
3 16 May 2002 Busan, South Korea 20  Scotland 2–0 4–1 Friendly
4
4–1
5
10 June 2002Daegu, South Korea 23 United States1–11–12002 FIFA World Cup
6
18 June 2002Daejeon, South Korea 25 Italy2–12–1 (a.e.t.)2002 FIFA World Cup
7
20 November 2002Seoul, South Korea 29 Brazil2–12–3Friendly
8
31 May 2003Tokyo, Japan 32 Japan1–01–0Friendly
9
4 December 2003Tokyo, Japan 34 Hong Kong3–13–12003 EAFF Championship
10 14 February 2004 Ulsan South Korea 37  Oman 3–0 5–0 Friendly
11
4–0
12
9 June 2004Daejeon, South Korea 43 Vietnam1–02–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
13
23 July 2004Jinan, China 46 United Arab Emirates2–02–02004 AFC Asian Cup
14
27 July 2004Jinan, China 47 Kuwait4–04–02004 AFC Asian Cup
15
12 November 2005Seoul, South Korea 56 Sweden1–02–2Friendly
16
13 June 2006Frankfurt, Germany 62 Togo2–12–12006 FIFA World Cup
17
16 August 2006Taipei, Republic of China 65 Chinese Taipei1–03–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Filmography

Variety show
Year Title Role Ref.
2013 Law of the Jungle in Himalayas Cast member
2014 World Cup Special Drawing Dream Cast member
2014–2015 Dad! Where Are We Going? Cast member
2015 Cheongchun FC Hungry Eleven Cast member
2015 Guide Cast member
2015 The Human Condition Cast member
2016 Future Diary Cast member
2016–2019 Please Take Care of My Refrigerator Host
2016 Cook Representative Host
2016–2017 My Little Television Cast member
2016–2018 Carefree Travellers Cast member
2016–2017 Flower Crew Cast member
2018 Creaking Heroes Cast member
2018 1 Percent of Friendship Cast member
2018–2019 Cool Kids Host
2020 4 Wheeled Restaurant (Season 4) Cast member
2019–2021 Let's Play Soccer Host
2021 Let's Play Basketball Cast member [23]
2021 National Bang Bang Cook Cook Cast member [24]
2021 Lanson Marketplace Host [25]
2021 Anda Haeng Host [26]
2021 Why Is Classical (Season2) Host [27]
2021–present Let's Play Soccer 2 Host [28]
2021 My Name Is Caddy Cast member [29]
2022 Legend Festival Host [30]
2022 Brave Detectives (Season 1–2) Host [31]
2022 Hole-in-one between Legends Cast member [32]
2022 Neighborhood Billiards Host [33]
2022 IT Live from Today Host [34]
2022 Ahn Jung-hwan's Hidden Qatar Host [35]

Honours

Player

Busan Daewoo Royals

  • Korean League Cup: 1998[36]

Yokohama F. Marinos

South Korea B

  • Summer Universiade silver medal: 1997[1]
  • East Asian Games: 1997[2][38]

South Korea

Individual

  • K League 1 Best XI: 1998, 1999[4][5]
  • K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 1999[5]
  • Korean FA Fans' Player of the Year: 2003[41]

Entertainer
Award ceremonyYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
SBS Entertainment Awards 2013 Best Challenge Award Law of the Jungle in Himalayas Won [42]
MBC Entertainment Awards 2014 Special Award in a Variety Show Dad! Where Are We Going? Won [43]

References
  1. "Universiade 1997". RSSSF. 9 October 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  2. 한국 선수단 명단. Naver.com. Dong-A Ilbo. 30 April 1997. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  3. Jung, Duk-hyun (28 February 2016). 안정환, 예능 대세가 된 데에는 그만한 이유가 있다 (in Korean). EnterMedia.
  4. 고종수 MVP 베스트11 뽑혀'겹경사'이동국은 신인왕. Naver.com (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 8 January 1999.
  5. 안정환 시즌 MVP. Naver.com (in Korean). Dong-A Ilbo. 10 November 1999.
  6. "South Korea World Cup hero Ahn Jung-Hwan recalls racist slurs during time with Perugia in Italy". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  7. "Ahn Jung-hwan". FBref. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  8. Carter, Jon (26 May 2010). "First XI: World Cup celebrations". ESPN. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010.
  9. Bandini, Paolo (1 June 2014). "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No21: Italy lose to South Korea in 2002". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  10. Snow, Mat, ed. (September 2002). "The Saga of Ahn Jung Hwan". FourFourTwo. Teddington: Haymarket Magazines (97): 21. ISSN 1355-0276.
  11. Kim, Hyeon-hoe (30 January 2012). 안정환, 화려함 뒤에 가려진 슬픈 이야기 (in Korean). Sports-G. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  12. '마리텔' 안정환, 독일 뒤스부르크 원래 가기 싫었다…왜?. Zum.com (in Korean). Sports Seoul. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  13. "Jung-Hwan set to wait for Hearts". BBC Sport. 16 May 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  14. '안정환 해트트릭' 수원, 4골로 대전 '초토화' (in Korean). Osen. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  15. 안정환, 21개월만에 대표팀 승선. Daum.net (in Korean). OSEN. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009.
  16. "徐弘带队欢迎安贞焕加盟 实德先租三个月" (in Chinese). Tencent Sports. 20 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  17. "South Korean World Cup legend Ahn Jung-Hwan bids emotional farewell after announcing his retirement". Goal. 31 January 2012.
  18. "Ahn Jung-Hwan: I Want To Stay In China". Goal. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  19. 태극전사 vs 연예인, 닮은꼴 월드컵…"싱크로율 100% 누구?" (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  20. [올림픽] 이탈리아 언론, 안정환 성화 봉송에 관심 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  21. Ko Jae-wan (15 November 2021). "[공식] 김용만·김성주·안정환·정형돈 손잡고 콘텐츠 기획사 '뭉친프로젝트' 출발" [[Official] Kim Yong-man, Kim Seong-joo, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Jeong Hyeong-don join hands to launch 'United Project', a content management company] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved 16 November 2021 – via Naver.
  22. "Ahn Jung-hwan at Korea Football Association" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  23. [뭉쳐야 쏜다] 출연진 소개 (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  24. Sun, Jin-ah (10 March 2021). 차태현·장혁·이상엽·현주엽·안정환·김태균, '전국방방쿡쿡' 출연 확정(공식). Naver.com (in Korean). MK Sports. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  25. Jeon, Hyo-jin (28 April 2021). 랜선장터’ 장윤정·안정환·홍현희·김동현, MC 발탁…6월 첫방송 [공식]. Naver.com (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  26. Han, Hae-sun (17 May 2021). 안다행' 안정환 "제작진 입수, '이거 되겠다' 생각. Daum.net (in Korean). Starnews. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  27. Nam, Jung-hyun (28 May 2021). LG유플러스 채널 '더라이프', 1주년 기념 예능 3개 편성. Naver.com (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  28. Kim, Hye-jeong (12 July 2021). 뭉찬2’ 안정환, 비인기 종목 축구 천재 발굴. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  29. Ko, Young-jun (10 November 2021). 김성주·이승철·안정환, ‘내 이름은 캐디’ 파이팅 [DA포토]. Naver.com (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  30. Moon, Ji-yeon (12 January 2022). [SC리뷰] 연예부가 최약체? 김재환·이이경 반전 활약('전설체전'). Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  31. Kim, Na-yul (3 March 2022). 용감한 형사들' 송은이X안정환X이이경, 막강 MC 라인업[공식]. Naver.com (in Korean). Herald POP. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  32. Lee, Yu-na (7 June 2022). 新골프 예능 '전설끼리 홀인원' 론칭..."안정환X허재 섭외 든든해. Naver.com (in Korean). YTN. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  33. Ha, Ji-won (5 July 2022). 절친' 김용만→정형돈, '동네 당구'로 뭉쳤다…8일 첫방. Naver.com (in Korean). Xportsnews. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  34. Kim, Ye-eun (14 July 2022). 이경규·안정환·박세리…'오늘부터 잇생', 디지털 문맹 탈출 도전 [Lee Kyung-gyu, Ahn Jung-hwan, Park Se-ri… 'It Saeng From Today', a challenge to escape from digital illiteracy]. Naver.com (in Korean). Xportsnews. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  35. Yang, Yu-jin (11 October 2022). MBC, '예능 단독' 카타르 월드컵 현장 담은 '히든 카타르' 론칭 [공식] [MBC launches 'Hidden Qatar' featuring the Qatar World Cup in 'Entertainment Exclusive' [Official]]. Naver.com (in Korean). Mydaily. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  36. Lee, Seung-soo; Trevena, Mark (8 April 2020). "South Korea - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  37. Schöggl, Hans (5 March 2020). "Japan - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  38. Morrison, Neil (20 December 2019). "East Asian Games". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  39. "2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ™ - Matches - Korea Republic-Turkey". FIFA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  40. Stokkermans, Karel (20 December 2019). "East Asian Championship". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  41. 안정환 팬투표 ‘올해의 선수’. Naver.com (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 21 December 2013.
  42. [SBS연예대상] 오종혁-안정환, 베스트챌린지상 “정글 식구들 감사” (in Korean). SBS. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  43. Bae, Seon-yeong (29 December 2014). 안정환 홍은희, MBC 방송연예대상 특별상 수상 (in Korean). Tenasia.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ahn Jung-hwan.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.