Pohang Steelers — The Club Forged in a Steel City

Pohang Steelers, South Korean football, K League history and one of Asia’s great club traditions are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.

Chris Horwedel traces Pohang’s story from its 1973 creation by steel giant POSCO to becoming one of the defining institutions of Korean football. Built alongside the rise of the industrial city itself, the club evolved from a company team into a true civic symbol, with red-and-black stripes, the famous Steel Yard and generations of supporters making Pohang their own.

The episode explores Pohang’s remarkable record of player development, from Choi Soon-ho and Hong Myung-bo to Lee Dong-gook and Hwang Hee-chan, plus the academy structure that made producing talent part of the club’s identity.

It also covers Pohang’s three Asian championships, including the dramatic 2009 AFC Champions League run, and the unforgettable 2013 domestic double completed with Kim Won-il’s 95th-minute title-winning goal against Ulsan. That moment became one of the defining chapters in the fierce East Coast Derby.

Pohang Steelers are a story of corporate origins becoming community identity: the company built the team, but the city gave it a life.

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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.

If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered

The Underdog Football Show

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