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Pak Doo-ik
Personal information
Date of birth (1936-12-17) 17 December 1936 (age 88)
Place of birth Pyongyang, Korea, Empire of Japan
(now Pyongyang, North Korea)
Height 1.71 m
Playing position Striker
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966 North Korea 5 (2)
Teams managed
Years Team
1976 North Korea

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 1, 2003
Pak Doo-ik
Hangul
박두익
Hanja
Revised Romanization Bak Du-ik
McCune–Reischauer Pak Tu-ik

Pak Doo-ik (born 17 December 1936) is a former footballer from North Korea. He played as a forward. He is most famous for scoring the goal that helped his team knock out Italy from the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Pak Doo-ik's Football Journey

Pak Doo-ik was born in Pyongyang, which is now the capital of North Korea. He played for the North Korean national team in the 1966 FIFA World Cup held in England. This was a huge moment for North Korea, as it was their first time playing in the World Cup.

The Famous Goal Against Italy

During the tournament, North Korea was in a group with strong teams like Italy, Chile, and the USSR. Most people thought Italy, who had won the World Cup twice before, would easily beat North Korea.

The North Korean team played their matches in Middlesbrough, a town in England. After losing to the USSR, they showed great spirit in a 1–1 draw against Chile. This made the local people in Middlesbrough start to like them. Then came the big surprise! Pak Doo-ik scored the winning goal in their 1–0 victory over Italy at Ayresome Park stadium. This win is still seen as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Pak Doo-ik later said about that day: "It was the day I learned football is not all about winning. I learned that playing football can improve diplomatic relations and promote peace."

After the Big Win

After scoring the famous goal, Pak Doo-ik, who was a corporal in the North Korean army at the time, was promoted to sergeant. An original ticket from that match is now on display at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich.

Even though North Korea later lost 3–5 to Portugal in the quarter-finals, they had a lot of support. About 3,000 fans from Middlesbrough traveled 150 miles to cheer them on! Pak Doo-ik and his teammates truly made a lasting impression on the town and became part of World Cup history.

Life After Football

After the 1966 World Cup, Pak Doo-ik left the military and stopped playing professional football. He became a gymnastics instructor.

To remember his famous goal, there are special cast-iron football boot marks placed in the front garden of a house built where Ayresome Park stadium used to be. These marks show the exact spot where Pak Doo-ik stood when he scored against Italy. In 2008, Pak Doo-ik was chosen to be the first person to carry the Olympic torch in Pyongyang during the 2008 Olympic torch relay.

International Goals

Scores and results list North Korea's goal tally first.

No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 21 November 1965 Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia  Australia 1–0 6–1 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 19 July 1966 Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, England  Italy 1–0 1–0 1966 FIFA World Cup

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pak Doo-ik para niños

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