Korean Legends: Cha Bum-Kun

DokebiTeam — 2007년 11월 05일 — Cha Bum-Kun
DoB: May 22, 1953
Birthplace: Hwaseong, South Korea
Position: CF/AM
Clubs: Apps/Gls
Korea National 121/55
SV Darmstadt 1/0
Eintracht Frankfurt 122/46
Bayer Leverkusen 185/52

Cha Bum-Kun is a Korean football legend, nicknamed "Brauner Bomber" because of his incredible goal scoring ability, Cha was given the title Asia's best player of the century by the IFFHS. So far no other Asian players have made up to the level of Cha's caliber yet.

Cha's professional football career started when he made debut for the Korean National team in 1972 at the age of 19. Cha made his name known at Munchen World Cup qualifiers against Israel. He scored a dramatic goal at the extra time, thus marking the beginning of Cha's legacy. In 1978 Cha made an impressive appearance at Park's Cup and Japan Cup, which caught the eyes of European coaches like Borussia's Simonsen and Frankfurt's Schulte. After '78 Bangkok Asian Game finals against N.Korea, Cha flew to West Germany and signed with Darmstadt.However, after a short spell Cha had to return to Korea because of his complicated problems with military duty. Fullfilling his military duties in the following year, Cha makes another attempt to play at the Bundesliga.

Bundesliga at that time was considered the best league in the world. Such notable players like Bayern Munchen's Paul Breitner, Hamburger SV's Magath, Borussia MG's Matthaeus, FC Koln's Schumacher, Stuttgart's Hansi Muller, were all playing in the Bundesliga.

Arriving West Germany, Cha tries out for Bremen. Impressed by his performance, Bremen's manager Rudi Assauer desides to sign him. Upon hearing Cha's negotiation news, Frankfurt's Schulte immediately contacts Cha not to sign with Bremen. He urged Cha to join his side knowing that Bremen were trying to sign Cha at a cheap price. Finally Cha signed with Frankfurt for 25k Marks and was given number 11. In his first season he played 31 games out of 34 and scored 12 goals. Also in that same year Cha helped Frankfurt win the UEFA Cup by assisting crucial winning goal against Borussia MG in the 2nd leg. During '81 season in the game against Leverkusen, Cha suffered a crack in his spine by Gelsdorf's deliberate tackle. After recovering from an almost career ending injury, he came back following season and scored 11 goals in 31 games. In '82-'83 Cha became leading scorer for Frankfurt with 15 goals.

Due to financial problems, however, Frankfurt failed to keep Cha. In that summer of '83 Cha was offered contracts from teams like Napoli and AC Milan, but he decides to stay in Bundesliga and join Bayer Leverkusen. In '85 season he became the MVP in Bundesliga and in '86 he became the first player for Leverkusen to play in the WC. In '88 Cha was selected in "Kick AIDS88World All Star" along players such as Beckenbauer, Platini, and George Best, but due to personal matters he did not attend. Also in that same year Cha won second UEFA Cup by scoring a dramatic equalizer against RCD Espanyol; which, Leverkusen went on to win on penalties. Cha became the first player at that time to win two UEFA Cup titles with different teams.

Cha Bum-Kun retired in 1989 after a 10 year long Bundesliga career. He has played in 308 games and scored 98 goals. Also during his entire career he has recieved only one yellow card. A poem by Eckhard Henscheid can best summerize his career:

"Kenntnisreicher Künstler am schwarweißen Balle!
Der Mann aus Korea allein hat die Präzision deines
Abspiels. Trocken schlägst du die Pässe, den
Kurzpaß sowie auch den raumgreifenden Vetter, den
Steilpaß. Nicht fremd ist dir der
Fallrückzieher, wir sahen's. Du zeigtest, daß
Auch in Asia, dem fernen, bekannt ist der Trick
Mit dem kunstreichen Haken - doch mehr noch
Erstaunen den Gegner die nicht-orthodoxen, die
Tricks, die im Lande noch unbekannt. Freilich,
Nie ähneln sie je doch der Tücke des Panthers,
Nie schielet Verschlagenheit Asiens durch -
Fair play ist Bum Kun Chas Religion!"

Currently he is coaching Suwon Bluewings in K-League.

P.S: By the way guess who that boy is at the end of the clip :)