Pohang Steelers: A glorious Asian history revisited

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

Pohang Steelers: A glorious Asian history revisited

Kuala Lumpur: When Pohang Steelers meet Al Hilal SFC in the 2021 AFC Champions League Final in Riyadh on Tuesday, the game will see the sides battle it out to win Asia’s biggest club competition for an unprecedented fourth time.

For Pohang Steelers, it marks a return to the continent’s most prestigious club game for the first time since winning the 2009 AFC Champions League as the current edition has brought back memories of glorious years gone by. 

While Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan Hyundai have achieved notable success on the continent over the past decade, no Korean team can match the triumphs of Pohang, who also claimed back-to-back Asian Club Championships in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Ahead of the 2021 showpiece event, the-AFC.com looks back at their proud history. 

2021 AFC Champions League Final - The Venue: King Fahd International Stadium

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Final - The Venue: King Fahd International Stadium

Riyadh: One of Asia’s most iconic stadiums, the King Fahd International Stadium, is set to host the spectacle of the 2021 AFC Champions League final on Tuesday.

Facing Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers, home side Al Hilal SFC will be contesting their eighth continental final at the stadium across all AFC competitions, while the Koreans have also played at King Fahd International Stadium, losing to the same opponents in the 1997 Asian Super Cup first leg with Sami Al Jaber scoring the only goal of the game back then.

Five Classic Saudi Arabia-Korea Republic AFC Champions League clashes

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

Five Classic Saudi Arabia-Korea Republic AFC Champions League clashes

Riyadh: Tuesday’s 2021 AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal SFC and Pohang Steelers revives a long history of thrilling continental footballing battles between clubs from Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic. 

While Al Hilal and Pohang Steelers are the two most successful club sides with two Asian Club Championship titles to add to their AFC Champions League triumphs in 2019 and 2009 respectively, their countries also hold the record for most appearances in the final of the competition, with Korean sides making 18 appearances and their Saudi counterparts following closely with 14.
 
The-AFC.com looks at five of the most exciting AFC Champions League encounters between clubs from the two countries.

AFC Champions League Final to be played with full fan capacity

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

AFC Champions League Final to be played with full fan capacity

Kuala Lumpur: The 2021 AFC Champions League final between Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia and Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic will be hosted with a 100% capacity at the 68,000-seat King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)  approved the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)’s decision to hold the match with 100% attendance, while maintaining full compliance with the COVID-19 protocols set out by the AFC and the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia.

Pohang Steelers vow to make fans proud

Thu, 18 Nov, 2021

Pohang Steelers vow to make fans proud

Seoul: Pohang Steelers are determined to fulfil the dreams of their fans by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Back in the competition for the first time since 2016 - coincidentally the last time a Korea Republic club lifted the continental trophy - head coach  Kim Gi-dong said Pohang Steelers will be on a mission to make their fans and league proud when they face Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC in the final next Tuesday.

Vote for your AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Player of the Week!

Thu, 18 Nov, 2021

Vote for your AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Player of the Week!

Kuala Lumpur: The heat is on as Asia’s best continue to vie for FIFA World Cup qualification on the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, and the cream is rising to the top.

Continental giants like Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia used the November window to edge closer to a place at Qatar 2022, but there were superb individual displays from around the continent as all 12 teams battled to keep their hopes alive.

We’ve picked out eight of the standout individual performers from the week that was. Study our list of contenders and don’t forget to cast your vote.