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Pohang Steelers
Pohang Steelers emblem (5 stars).svg
Full name Football Club Pohang Steelers
포항 스틸러스 프로축구단
Founded 1 April 1973; 51 years ago (1 April 1973)
(as POSCO FC)
Ground Pohang Steel Yard
Ground Capacity 17,443
Owner POSCO
Chairman Shin Young-gwon
Manager Park Tae-ha
League K League 1
2023 K League 1, 2nd of 12

The Pohang Steelers (Hangul: 포항 스틸러스) 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 Steelers were founded on 1 April 1973 as POSCO 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.

History

The club was founded on 1 April 1973 as Pohang Iron & Steel Company FC, or simply POSCO FC. Initially a semi-professional club, they turned professional in the 1984 season and changed its name to POSCO Dolphins. A year later they renamed as the POSCO Atoms. In 1986 they won their first Championship, and enjoyed a great 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 adopted their current name, the Pohang Steelers. The team won the Asian Champions Cup in 1997 and 1998.

In the 2000s, the club struggled near the bottom of the table, but bounced back to the forefront of South 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 first place in the regular season of the K League. Pohang won the first leg 3–1 at home, 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 fifth place, but then defeated Gyeongnam FC, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, 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 in fifth place, but were knocked out in their play-off game by Ulsan Hyundai after the penalty shoot-out. However, the club fared much better in the 2008 Korean FA Cup. After beating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the quarter-finals, Pohang knocked out Daegu FC in the semi-finals and then defeated Gyeongnam FC in the final to ensure qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League.

In the 2009 AFC Champions League, the Steelers defeated Umm-Salal of Qatar 4–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to advance to their first ever AFC Champions League final. The Steelers defeated Saudi club Al-Ittihad 2–1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan to claim the title. For the 2009 K League season, Pohang once again qualified for the play-off phase of the league by finishing the regular season in second 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. 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 Mexican side Atlante 4–3 on penalties.

Kits

In 1994, POSCO Atoms wore a green kit and a white kit with a multicoloured sun in the middle. In 1997, Pohang Steelers wore a white shirt with black stripes on the shoulders and black shorts. 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 with black shorts (similar to the current kit). In 2002 the kit was red with a black "V" on the chest.

Kit suppliers

Kit supplier Period
Adidas 1984–1987, 1990–1992
Prospecs 1987–1989, 1993–1995
Adidas 1996–2001
Diadora 2002
Puma 2003–2005
Kappa 2006–2012
Atemi 2013–2014
Hummel 2015–2016
Astore 2017–2020
Puma 2021–present

Current squad

No. Position Player
1 South Korea GK Yoon Pyeong-gook
2 South Korea DF Eo Jeong-won
3 South Korea DF Lee Dong-hee
4 South Korea DF Jeon Min-gwang
5 Australia DF Jonathan Aspropotamitis
6 South Korea MF Kim Jong-woo
7 South Korea FW Kim In-sung
8 Brazil MF Oberdan
9 Brazil FW Jorge Luiz
10 South Korea FW Baek Sung-dong
11 South Korea MF Jo Seong-joon
12 South Korea DF Kim Ryun-seong
13 South Korea MF Yun Suk-ju
14 South Korea FW Heo Yong-joon (vice-captain)
15 South Korea MF Lee Kyu-min
16 South Korea MF Han Chan-hee (vice-captain)
17 South Korea MF Shin Kwang-hoon
18 South Korea FW Kang Hyeon-je
19 South Korea MF Yun Min-ho
20 South Korea DF Park Chan-yong
No. Position Player
21 South Korea GK Hwang In-jae
22 South Korea MF Kim Gyu-hyeong
23 South Korea MF Lee Dong-hyeop
27 South Korea FW Jeong Jae-hee
28 South Korea MF Kim Jung-hyun
29 South Korea FW Park Hyeong-woo
30 South Korea FW Yoon Jae-woon
32 South Korea GK Lee Seung-hwan
33 South Korea FW Lee Ho-jae
34 South Korea DF Lee Gyu-baeg
37 South Korea MF Hong Yun-sang
41 South Korea GK Kang Seong-hyeok
55 South Korea DF Choi Hyeon-woong
66 South Korea MF Kim Jun-ho
70 South Korea MF Hwang Seo-woong
77 Brazil FW Wanderson (captain)
88 South Korea MF Kim Dong-jin
89 South Korea FW Kim Myung-jun
90 South Korea MF Kim Dong-min

Out on loan

No. Position Player
South Korea GK Kang Hyeon-mu (to Gimcheon Sangmu for military service)
No. Position Player
South Korea MF Cho Jae-hoon (to Jeonnam Dragons)

Honours

2009 AFC Champions League Final - Pohang Steelers celebrate
Pohang Steelers celebrating their third AFC Champions League title in 2009.

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

  • FA Cup
    • Winners (5): 1996, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2023
    • Runners-up (3): 2001, 2002, 2007
  • League Cup
    • Winners (2): 1993, 2009
    • Runners-up (2): 1996, 1997s
  • National Football Championship
    • Runners-up (2): 1977, 1985
  • 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

Season-by-season records

Domestic record

Season Division Tms. Pos. FA Cup
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
1998 1 10 3 Semi-final
1999 1 10 5 Round of 16
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
2009 1 15 3 Quarter-final
2010 1 15 9 Round of 16
2011 1 16 3 Semi-final
2012 1 16 3 Winners
2013 1 14 1 Winners
2014 1 12 4 Round of 16
2015 1 12 3 Quarter-final
2016 1 12 9 Round of 32
2017 1 12 7 Round of 32
2018 1 12 4 Round of 32
2019 1 12 4 Round of 32
2020 1 12 3 Semi-final
2021 1 12 9 Quarter-final
2022 1 12 3 Quarter-final
2023 1 12 2 Winners
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league

Continental record

All results list Pohang's goal tally first.

AFC Champions League

Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2008 Group E Australia Adelaide United 0–2 0–1 3rd
Vietnam Becamex Binh Duong 0–0 4–1
China Changchun Yatai 2–2 0–1
2009 Group H Australia Central Coast Mariners 3–2 0–0 1st
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 1–1 2–0
China Tianjin TEDA 1–0 0–0
Round of 16 Australia Newcastle Jets 6–0 N/A N/A
Quarter-final Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 4–1 (aet) 1–3 5–4
Semi-final Qatar Umm-Salal 2–0 2–1 4–1
Final Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2–1 N/A
2010 Group H Australia Adelaide United 0–0 0–1 2nd
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–1 3–4
China Shandong Luneng 1–0 2–1
Round of 16 Japan Kashima Antlers N/A 1–0 N/A
Quarter-final Iran Zob Ahan 1–1 1–2 2–3
2012 Play-off Thailand Chonburi 2–0 N/A N/A
Group E Japan Gamba Osaka 2–0 3–0 3rd
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 0–2 0–1
Australia Adelaide United 1–0 0–1
2013 Group G China Beijing Guoan 0–0 0–2 3rd
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 1–1 2–2
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–1 1–0
2014 Group E Japan Cerezo Osaka 1–1 2–0 1st
Thailand Buriram United 0–0 2–1
China Shandong Luneng 2–2 4–2
Round of 16 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 2–1 3–1
Quarter-final South Korea FC Seoul 0–0 0–0 (aet) 0–0
(0–3 p)
2016 Play-off Vietnam Hanoi FC 3–0 N/A N/A
Group H China Guangzhou Evergrande 0–2 0–0 4th
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 1–1
Australia Sydney FC 0–1 0–1
2021 Group G Thailand Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 2–0 0–0 2nd
Japan Nagoya Grampus 1–1 0–3
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 4–1 2–0
Round of 16 Japan Cerezo Osaka N/A 1–0 N/A
Quarter-final Japan Nagoya Grampus 3–0 N/A
Semi-final South Korea Ulsan Hyundai 1–1 (aet)
(5–4 p)		 N/A
Final Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal N/A 0–2 N/A
2023–24 Group J Vietnam Hanoi FC 2–0 4–2 1st
China Wuhan Three Towns 3–1 1–1
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1 2–0
Round of 16 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–1 0–2 1–3

AFC Champions League Elite

Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2024–25 League stage China Shanghai Shenhua N/A 1–4
China Shanghai Port 3–0 N/A
Thailand Buriram United N/A 0–1
China Shandong Taishan 4–2 N/A
Japan Yokohama F. Marinos N/A
Japan Vissel Kobe N/A
Japan Kawasaki Frontale N/A
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim N/A

Managers

No. Manager Period Honours
1 South Korea Hong-ki, HanHan Hong-ki 2 May 1973 – 29 November 1984
2 South Korea Eun-taek, ChoiChoi Eun-taek 29 November 1984 – 16 December 1986 1986 K League
3 South Korea Hoe-taik, LeeLee Hoe-taik 16 December 1986 – 31 December 1992 1988 K League, 1992 K League
C South Korea Soon-ki, KimKim Soon-ki
South Korea Chul-soo, KimKim Chul-soo		 1989
C South Korea Yoon-ok, ChoCho Yoon-ok 1989–1990
4 South Korea Jung-moo, HuhHuh Jung-moo 1993 – 25 November 1995 1993 League Cup
C South Korea Soon-ki, KimKim Soon-ki 1994
5 South Korea Sung-hwa, ParkPark Sung-hwa 12 December 1995 – 31 July 2000 1996 FA Cup, 1996–97 Asian Club Championship, 1997–98 Asian Club Championship
6 South Korea Soon-ho, ChoiChoi Soon-ho 1 August 2000 – 5 December 2004
7 Brazil Farias, SérgioSérgio Farias 6 January 2005 – 20 December 2009 2007 K League, 2008 FA Cup, 2009 League Cup, 2009 AFC Champions League
8 Brazil Lemos, WaldemarWaldemar Lemos 8 January – 10 May 2010
C South Korea Chang-hyun, ParkPark Chang-hyun 11 May – 7 November 2010
9 South Korea Sun-hong, HwangHwang Sun-hong 13 December 2010 – 29 November 2015 2012 FA Cup, 2013 FA Cup, 2013 K League
10 South Korea Jin-cheul, ChoiChoi Jin-cheul 28 December 2015 – 24 September 2016
11 South Korea Soon-ho, ChoiChoi Soon-ho 26 September 2016 – 22 April 2019
12 South Korea Gi-dong, KimKim Gi-dong 23 April 2019 – 14 December 2023 2023 FA Cup
13 South Korea Tae-ha, ParkPark Tae-ha 15 December 2023 – present
  • Names in italics indicates interim or caretaker manager

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Football Club Pohang Steelers para niños

  • List of football clubs in South Korea
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