Pohang Steelers, originally called POSCO after the Pohang Iron and Steel Company that owned it, was a founding member of the K-League in 1983 and is one of Korean football's most successful sides.
The club professionalized for the 1984 season and changed its name to POSCO Dolphins, but by the 1985 season they had changed yet again to POSCO Atoms. 1986 saw them win their first Championship, and they enjoyed a great spell of domination in the league - between the years of 1985 and 1998 they were continually in the top 4 of the League.
The club achieved a Korean football 'first' at the end 1990 with the opening of their purpose-built 20,000 seater Steelyard Stadium, still the only football specific stadium constructed by a Korean football club.
1995 saw yet another name change, becoming Pohang Atoms to further strengthen local ties, and in 1997 adopted the name Pohang Steelers which they still use today. The side scaled Asian football heights, winning the Asian Champions Cup in 1997 and 1998 to establish themselves as one of Asia's top teams.
Unfortunately the club suffered something of a fall from grace in the 2000s struggling near the foot of the table, but bounced back to the forefront of Korean football by winning the first stage of the 2004 K-League championship. The club qualified for the final Championship match of the 2004 season, but lost 4-3 on penalties to Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
[edit] Club honors
- Champions: 1986, 1988, 1992
- FA Cup: 1996
- Adidas Cup: 1993
- Asian Champions Cup: 1997, 1998
- Asian Super Cup: 1998
|
