Player Profile

The veteran striker heads to his third World Cup having been recalled earlier this year after an 18-month absence. Still enormously popular in Korea, largely due to his heroics at the 2002 tournament, he is in the twilight of his career, playing his club football in China.

However, coach Huh Jung-moo is confident he can raise his game in South Africa. “Ahn Jung-hwan has the experience and ability we need and performed well in the past two World Cups. I think he’s capable of making an impact for the team even if he plays for a short period of time on the pitch,” he said.

Ahn made his comeback in the win against the Ivory Coast in March and eventually claimed a place in the squad ahead of Lee Keun-ho, who featured regularly in qualifying but lost form this year. Ahn scored at both the 2002 and 2006 tournaments but is best remembered for his golden goal against Italy eight years ago.

Ahn was playing for Italian side Perugia at that point. The club chairman, Luciano Gaucci, wanted to get rid of him, saying “I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian soccer”. Gaucci subsequently had a change of heart but Ahn had had enough and headed instead to Japan to join Shimizu S-Pulse.

He is known as ‘The Lord of the Ring’, since he often celebrates goals by mimicking kissing a wedding ring.

After leaving Shimizu S-Pulse he joined fellow J-League side Yokohama F-Marinos before returning to Europe with Metz and Duisburg. He headed back to Korea in 2007 but was not a prolific scorer with either Suwon Bluewings or Busan. He joined Chinese side Dalian Shide in 2009.