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Ahn Jung-hwan
Ahn Jung-Hwan in 2009.JPG
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)
Playing position Attacking midfielder, striker
Youth career
?–1990 Namseoul Middle School
1991–1993 Seoul Technical High School [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)
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
Silver 1997 Sicily Team
EAFF Championship
Gold 2003 Japan Team
East Asian Games
Gold 1997 Busan Team
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Ahn Jung-hwan
Hangul 안정환
Hanja 安貞桓
Revised Romanization An Jeonghwan
McCune–Reischauer An Chŏnghwan

Ahn Jung-hwan (Hangul: 안정환; RR: An Jeong-hwan, 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 a television host and a football commentator.

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.

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. 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

Ahn Jung-hwan
Ahn with MSV Duisburg in 2006

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.

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.

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.

Philanthropy

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

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Busan Daewoo Royals 1998 K League 17 5 0 0 16 8 33 13
1999 K League 24 14 1 0 10 7 35 21
2000 K League 13 8 0 0 7 2 20 10
Total 54 27 1 0 33 17 88 44
Perugia 2000–01 Serie A 15 4 1 0 16 4
2001–02 Serie A 15 1 2 0 17 1
Total 30 5 3 0 33 5
Shimizu S-Pulse 2002 J1 League 10 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 15 7
2003 J1 League 28 11 4 3 4 2 3 3 39 19
Total 38 14 7 5 5 2 4 5 54 26
Yokohama F. Marinos 2004 J1 League 25 12 1 1 1 0 4 3 31 16
2005 J1 League 9 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 12 7
Total 34 16 1 1 1 0 7 6 43 23
Metz 2005–06 Ligue 1 16 2 0 0 0 0 16 2
MSV Duisburg 2005–06 Bundesliga 12 2 12 2
2006–07 2. Bundesliga 0 0 0 0
Total 12 2 12 2
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2007 K League 15 0 1 0 10 5 26 5
Busan IPark 2008 K League 19 4 1 0 8 2 28 6
Dalian Shide 2009 Chinese Super League 26 6 26 6
2010 Chinese Super League 24 10 24 10
2011 Chinese Super League 15 2 0 0 15 2
Total 65 18 0 0 65 18
Career total 283 88 14 6 57 26 11 11 365 131

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
South Korea 1997 3 0
1999 4 1
2000 5 1
2001 4 0
2002 13 5
2003 7 2
2004 15 5
2005 6 1
2006 8 2
2008 3 0
2010 3 0
Career total 71 17

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 (aet) 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

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Note(s) Ref.
2013 Law of the Jungle in Himalayas Himself
2014 World Cup Special Drawing Dream Himself
2014–2015 Dad! Where Are We Going? Himself
2015 Cheongchun FC Hungry Eleven Himself
2015 Guide Himself
2015 The Human Condition Himself
2016 Future Diary Himself
2016–2019 Please Take Care of My Refrigerator Himself (host)
2016 Cook Representative Himself (host)
2016–2017 My Little Television Himself
2016–2018 Carefree Travellers Himself
2016–2017 Flower Crew Himself
2018 Creaking Heroes Himself
2018 1 Percent of Friendship Himself
2018–2019 Cool Kids Himself (host)
2019–2021 Let's Play Soccer Himself (host)
2020 4 Wheeled Restaurant Season 4 Himself
2020–present Buddies in the Wild Himself (host)
2021 Let's Play Basketball Himself
2021 National Bang Bang Cook Cook Himself
2021 Lanson Marketplace Himself (host)
2021 Anda Haeng Himself (host)
2021 Why Is Classical Season 2 Himself (host)
2021–present Let's Play Soccer 2 Himself (host)
2021 My Name Is Caddy Himself
2022 Legend Festival Himself (host)
2022 Brave Detectives Himself (host)
2022 Hole-in-one between Legends Himself
2022 Neighborhood Billiards Himself (host)
2022 IT Live from Today Himself (host)
2022–present Brave Detectives Season 2 Himself (host)
2022 Ahn Jung-hwan's Hidden Qatar Himself (host)
2023 Rural Police Returns Himself Season 1–2

Music video

Year Title Artist Ref.
1999 "Already Sad Love" Yada

Honours

Player

Busan Daewoo Royals

  • Korean League Cup: 1998

Yokohama F. Marinos

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

List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Ahn Jung-hwan
Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
SBS Entertainment Awards 2013 Best Challenge Award Law of the Jungle in Himalayas Won
2016 Excellence Award in Variety Show Flower Crew Nominated
MBC Entertainment Awards 2014 Special Award in a Variety Show Dad! Where Are We Going? Won
2019 Popularity Award in Variety Show Broadcasting By Your Side Won
Best Couple Award Nominated
2020 Excellence Award in Variety Show Buddies in the Wild Nominated
2021 Top Excellence Award in Variety Show Won
2022 Grand Prize Buddies in the Wild
Ahn Jung-hwan's Hidden Qatar
Nominated
Entertainer of the Year Award Won
Best Couple Award Ahn Jung-hwan's Hidden Qatar Nominated

See also

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