For Park Tae-ha (56), Pohang is a place to live.
Born in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, Park has been living in Pohang for 30 years. He dedicated his youth to the Pohang Steelers. Park started his professional career in 1991 and played in Pohang until 2001. The K-League’s overall record is 46 goals and 37 assists in 263 matches.
Park could have played longer. Park still showed off his skills by scoring one goal and six assists in 25 league matches during the 2001 season. There was a team that wanted Park with more experience at the time. However, Park retired as he chose “Pohang One Club Man.”
After his retirement, Park Tae-ha took the leadership path.
Park Tae-ha became a coach for the Korean national soccer team and FC Seoul. Since then, he served as a coach for Yanbian Fudder of China and the women’s team B and U-19 of China. After returning to Korea from China, he played in the K-League as technical chairman of the Korea Professional Football Association.
Park Tae-ha returned as the coach of the team that dedicated his young days in December 2023.
Park Tae-ha ranked sixth in the K-League (Final A) and won the Korea Cup in the 2024 season. “I am a very happy person,” Park says. This is what “Pohang Man” coach Park Tae-ha said.
‘Pohang Man’ Park Tae-ha, who returned to Pohang, said, “It’s a great honor to take the helm of this team.”
Q. It was the first season for Pohang ‘One Club Man’ Park Tae-ha to return as a coach. How did you feel when you first received the coach’s offer at Pohang.
Pohang is a special team for me. You spent Park Tae-ha’s youth in Pohang. When I received the coach’s proposal from Pohang, I thought, “This is fate.” I didn’t think too much about it because it was Pohang. It’s not easy to become a coach of a team that gave up my youth. In particular, I started my career in Pohang and even retired.
It was a great honor for me to take the helm of Pohang. I started my career as a coach of Pohang with the determination of “Let’s give everything for this team.”
Q: We didn’t have enough time to wear our own color. Were there any difficulties.
It wasn’t easy. After the 2023 season, many things have changed. After joining the team, I got more and more worried. A team doesn’t form in a single day. It was true that we needed time, but we had to adjust to the situation. We started the new season on February 14 as a face-off against Jeonbuk Hyundai in the first round of the AFC Champions League round.
Q. It was a fairly fast debut match for Pohang coach. What do you remember.
“I was very worried. I was especially worried about ‘what if I have too many goals lost?'” The team lost 0-2 in the first match. In the second round of the ALC round of 16, it was a 1-1 draw with Jeonbuk. I was not satisfied with the result, but I saw hope. The players showed great willingness to work hard. When I see how the players perform on the field when there is a big change in the team, I can feel it.
Q. What do you think?
“When I see the players playing, I know. It feels like, ‘It’s worth a try this season,’ or, ‘It might be a little difficult this season.’ After two matches in the round of 16 teams in the ACL, I felt that Pohang was definitely a prestigious city. The players were professional. Everyone on the field did their best. I think I gained confidence because I made sure that it was a natural team to pour everything out for the fans.” 안전놀이터
By the way, I always say this. Senior players play a significant role in Pohang’s ability to maintain its unique color and culture. It was a year when changes were greater than ever before. There was also a big crisis. However, we overcame all these to add the trophy at the end. I think it was the result of seniors keeping the center of the game well, both on and off the ground. It was a year where all the players united around the seniors.
Director Park Tae-ha said, “I was very touched by the fans who did ‘welcome the bus’ rather than ‘blocking the bus’ when the team was in the most difficult time.”