Former national team soccer star–turned–entertainer Jung-hwan Ahn opened up about the extreme backlash he faced after the 2002 Korea–Japan World Cup and shared his unfiltered thoughts on becoming a head coach.
Appearing on the April 15 episode of the tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block, Ahn looked back on life after his golden goal against Italy, widely considered the most dramatic moment of his playing career.
Ahn said, "I gained a lot from that one goal, but I also lost a lot," referencing how he was effectively pushed out by his club at the time, Serie A side Perugia. He recalled, "Back then, Serie A was the best league in the world, and Italian players rarely left for other leagues. It was a place with immense pride, and I think there was huge resentment over losing to Korea."
He shocked viewers as he described the atmosphere at the time: "There were even reports in the Italian press saying 'the Mafia wants to kill me,'" he revealed, adding, "That’s why even now I feel burdened about visiting Italy."
His career afterward wasn’t smooth. A move to English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers was in the works, but Perugia claimed ownership and took the matter to FIFA, scuttling the transfer. As a result, Ahn went through a stretch without a team. "All I did was play for my country, and yet I had to go through this—it felt so unfair," he lamented.
He later restarted in Japan, where a Japanese agency reportedly covered a penalty fee of about 3.8 billion KRW on his behalf in exchange for him joining a team—an amount he said he fully repaid through commercials and TV work. Reflecting on his World Cup jersey, he said, "It brought me angelic glory, but at the same time, it inflicted devilish pain."
After retiring and earning his coaching badges, Ahn also discussed the head coach role. "I get steady offers, but being a manager is a job you stake your life on," he said. "The pressure of having to put down everything and commit is huge." He added, "Football is what I’ve done my whole life, so even small mistakes are unforgivable. One wrong move and you can fall straight into the abyss—that’s why I can’t decide lightly."
Starting his pro career in Busan in 1998, Ahn went on to play for clubs in Italy, Japan, France, Germany, and China. After retiring, he transitioned to broadcasting and has been active on shows like JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.