Football legend Cha receives German order of merit

South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun received the Federal Cross of Merit from the German government Friday for his contribution to the relationship between the two countries. German Ambassador to Seoul Stephan Auer delivered the decoration from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a ceremony at the German Embassy in Seoul. Cha played in the Bundesliga in Germany from 1978 to 1989. Scoring 98 goals in 308 matches, he was rated as one of the best Asian players in the top German league.He

Nov. 22, 2019

Tottenham Hotspur appoint Jose Mourinho as manager

LONDON (AFP) -- Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Jose Mourinho as their new head coach after sacking Mauricio Pochettino, the club said on Wednesday. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager has signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2022/23 season, the north London club said in an online statement.Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy said: "In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room." (AFP)

Nov. 20, 2019

S. Korea schooled by Brazil in football friendly loss

ABU DHABI -- South Korea played a supporting role in an entertaining football show put on by Brazil in their men's football friendly match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, while getting a closer look at the kind of football they should aspire to.Brazil enjoyed a convincing, 3-0 victory at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, performing with the kind of offensive efficiency and flair that continues to define Brazilian football.The first goal, scored on a diving header by Lucas Paqueta, was the result of a textboo

Nov. 20, 2019

S. Korean football attackers hold themselves accountable for 2nd straight 0-0 draw

BEIRUT -- South Korean attacking aces Son Heung-min and Hwang Ui-jo took the blame for their team's second straight scoreless draw in the World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday. South Korea couldn't get one past Lebanon as they ended up in a 0-0 draw in Group H action in the second round of the Asian qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Beirut. The match at Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut was played behind closed doors for security concerns, arising from nationwide protests

Nov. 15, 2019

S. Korea looking to end World Cup qualifying for 2019 on winning note vs. Lebanon

ABU DHABI -- South Korea will try to close out their World Cup qualifying campaign for 2019 with an away win against pesky opponents.Coached by Paulo Bento, South Korea will visit Lebanon in Beirut on Thursday for the teams' Group H match in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The kickoff is 3 p.m. local time, and 10 p.m. in Seoul.It will be the last Group H contest for South Korea in 2019.Their next match will be against Turkmenistan at home on March 26, 202

Nov. 13, 2019

S. Korea fall to Mexico in quarterfinals at FIFA U-17 World Cup

South Korea's surprising run at the FIFA U-17 World Cup has ended after the second knockout match.South Korea lost to Mexico 1-0 in the quarterfinals at Estadio Kleber Andrade in Vitoria on Sunday (local time), on a goal by Ali Avila in the 77th minute.This was South Korea's fourth trip to the quarterfinals of this youth tournament, and head coach Kim Jung-soo's team was trying to become the first South Korean squad to make it to the semifinals.Choi Min-seo hit the crossbar in the 14th minute fo

Nov. 11, 2019

S. Korean coach Park Hang-seo signs extension with Vietnamese soccer

South Korean coach Park Hang-seo has signed a lucrative extension with the Vietnamese men's national football team.    Park signed his new contract at a press conference with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) here on Thursday. He'll continue to coach both the men's senior and under-23 national teams. The new contract will have two guaranteed years with an option for a third year.    Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Park has been making US$240,000

Nov. 7, 2019

S. Korean coach Park Hang-seo signs extension with Vietnamese football

South Korean coach Park Hang-seo has signed a lucrative extension with the Vietnamese men's national football team.Park signed his new contract at a press conference with the Vietnam Football Federation here on Thursday. He'll continue to coach both the men's senior and under-23 national teams. The new contract will have two guaranteed years with an option for a third year.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Park has been making $240,000 per year on his current deal, which was to exp

Nov. 7, 2019

[Newsmaker] Tottenham's Son Heung-min becomes all-time S. Korean scoring leader in Europe

Son Heung-min now stands alone at the top of the South Korean scoring list in European club football history.The attacking ace for Tottenham Hotspur netted two goals in the Premier League club's 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their Group B match of the UEFA Champions League at Red Star Stadium in Belgrade on Wednesday (local time). Son now has 123 goals in his European career, breaking a tie with former Bundesliga star Cha Bum-kun's mark of 121 for most by a South Korean player on the con

Nov. 7, 2019

S. Korea fall to N. Korea in women‘s youth football tournament

North Korea beat South Korea 3-1 to reach the championship final of a regional women‘s football tournament in Thailand on Wednesday.　Kim Kyoung-yong scored twice and Pak Il-gyong added another, as North Korea cruised to the victory in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-19 Women’s Championship at Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand. Kang Ji-woo was the lone scorer for South Korea.　In the final scheduled for Saturday, North Korea will meet the winner of the other s

Nov. 6, 2019

S. Korea reach quarterfinals at FIFA U-17 World Cup

South Korea have advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 10 years.Forward Choi Min-seo netted the lone goal as South Korea defeated Angola 1-0 in the round of 16 match at Estadio Olimpico in Goiania, Brazil, on Tuesday (local time).Coached by Kim Jung-soo, South Korea will face either Mexico or Japan in Sunday's quarterfinals. Mexico and Japan will meet in the round of 16 on Wednesday at Estadio Bezerrao in Gama. This is South Korea's third trip to the quar

Nov. 6, 2019

S. Korean coach Park Hang-seo signs extension with Vietnamese nat'l football team

Park Hang-seo, South Korean coach for the Vietnamese men's national football team, has signed a lucrative extension to stay with the upstart program, Park's agency said Tuesday.DJ Management said financial details of the deal, reportedly the largest handed out to a Vietnam men's national football boss, will be announced during a press conference with the Vietnam Football Federation on Thursday.Park's current deal was to expire in January 2020. Vietnamese media reported that Park will stay on for

Nov. 5, 2019

S. Korea nat'l football coach looking to help inconsolable Son Heung-min after injury-causing foul

That Son Heung-min was called up on Monday for South Korea's two international matches in November isn't a surprise at all. Whether he'll be in the proper mindset for them is another matter.Son, forward for Tottenham Hotspur, was inconsolable after being sent off for his late tackle on Everton midfielder Andre Gomes during their Premier League contest in Liverpool on Sunday. Gomes was later diagnosed with a broken right ankle, and Son, according to his Tottenham teammates, was crying so much he

Nov. 4, 2019

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min nominated for 2019 Ballon d‘Or

　South Korean soccer sensation Son Heung-min has been shortlisted for the 2019 Ballon d’Or award.　France Football announced the 30 candidates, which include Lionel Messi, Cristian Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk but not Neymar. The awards ceremony will take place on Dec. 2 in Paris.　Son is the third Korean to be named on the list, following Seol Ki-hyeon (2002) and Park Ji-sung (2005). Seol and Park were among lists of 50 nominees. The French magazine cut down the number to 30 in 2008.

Oct. 23, 2019

Son Heung-min equals S. Korean scoring mark in Europe

With a pair of goals in a key victory, Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has equaled the South Korean scoring mark in European football.Son netted two goals in Tottenham's 5-0 rout of Red Star Belgrade in their Group B match of the UEFA Champions League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Tuesday (local time).Son's goals in the 16th and the 44th minute were his 120th and 121st of his European career, putting him on a level with former Bundesliga star Cha Bum-kun.The 27-year-old made his to

Oct. 23, 2019

Son Heung-min nominated for 2019 Ballon d'Or

South Korean football star Son Heung-min has been nominated for the world's top player award for 2019.Son was the only Asian player on the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or Award, presented by "France Football" magazine to recognize the top footballer each year. The list was announced in Paris on Monday (local time). Son scored some key goals to lift Tottenham Hotspur to their first UEFA Champions League final this year, and he ranked second on the team behind Harry Kane with 12

Oct. 22, 2019

KBS cancels plan to broadcast footage of inter-Korean football match

South Korean public broadcaster KBS said Thursday it canceled a plan to broadcast a prerecorded video of this week's inter-Korean World Cup qualifier football match in Pyongyang after its arrival from the North earlier in the day.KBS had earlier said it would consider airing the football footage at 5 p.m. Thursday on KBS 2TV after obtaining a North Korea-produced DVD delivered by the South Korean football squad that returned from Pyongyang early in the day.South Korea and North Korea played to a

Oct. 17, 2019

Son Heung-min: S. Korea lucky to escape unscathed from World Cup qualifier vs. N. Korea

The biggest takeaway for Son Heung-min from South Korea's World Cup qualifying match against North Korea was how physical his opponents played.South Korea and North Korea played to a scoreless draw in Pyongyang on Tuesday, part of Group H action in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.There were no fans or journalists at the match, and it wasn't broadcast live in South Korea. Other than that four yellow cards were issued, little had been known about the contest

Oct. 17, 2019

Swedish diplomat offers glimpse into crowdless 'Korean Derby' in World Cup qualifying

If you were dying to find out more about the World Cup qualifying match between the two Koreas Tuesday evening that didn't have a live broadcast, the Twitter page for Joachim Bergstrom would have quenched your thirst.Bergstrom, Sweden's ambassador to Pyongyang, uploaded photos and videos from the scoreless draw at Kim Il-sung Stadium in the North Korean capital, played as part of Group H play in the second Asian qualifying round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.While there were no paying spectators i

Oct. 16, 2019

S. Korea held scoreless by N. Korea in chippy World Cup qualifier

South Korea were held to a scoreless draw by North Korea in their World Cup qualifying match in Pyongyang on Tuesday, a much-anticipated showdown that left fans both in and out of the communist country in the dark.The Koreas drew blank before an empty Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang in Group H action in the second round of the Asian qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The two teams traded four yellow cards in their fourth scoreless draw in the past seven meetings.South Korea still lead Nort

Oct. 15, 2019