Huh Jung-moo

Huh Jung-moo is a former South Korean football player and manager.

Playing career

Huh was one of the best South Korean college footballers before starting his semi-professional career. He was often compared with Korea University's Cha Bum-kun while playing for Yonsei University. After his graduation, he joined Korea Electric Power FC, and simultaneously enlisted in Marine Corps and Navy FC to do mandatory military service.
When Huh was discharged from the military service, European clubs were interested in Asian players due to Cha Bum-kun's performance in the Bundesliga. Motivated by Cha, Huh also wanted to play for a European club, joining Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven in August 1980. He mainly played as a defensive midfielder and showed impressive form for three years. Johan Cruyff, who was tired from Huh's active marking, broke Huh's nose with his arm, and Willem van Hanegem showed a hysteria to Huh with the racist gesture "Slant-eye".
Huh went back to South Korea after the 1982–83 season. His wife felt homesick, and he also didn't feel the need to continue his life abroad after hearing the news that a professional league was founded in his country. Huh joined Hyundai Horang-i as a founding member in 1984, and played for it for three years.
Huh was on the South Korea national team from 1974 to 1986, and won two gold medals in the Asian Games. He was also a member of Korean squad in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In a group match against Argentina, he left a famous photo that he appeared to be kicking Diego Maradona whose face twisted with pain. Afterwards, he scored a goal against Italy.

Style of play

Huh was a versatile player, and could play in multiple positions. He was capable of playing as a striker, winger, attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, or full-back. He covered great distance by utilising his competitive spirit and stamina. Because of his tough and energetic playing style, he was nicknamed "Jindogae", the hunter dog breed originated from his hometown Jindo Island. He was also adept at man marking and often duelled with Johan Cruyff in De Topper. He didn't have rapid pace, but he could dribble the ball with intelligent movement.

Managerial career

Huh won the 1993 Korean League Cup with POSCO Atoms and the 1997 Korean FA Cup with Jeonnam Dragons before becoming permanent manager of South Korea national team in 1998.
At the national team, Huh picked some nameless young players and gave them important positions instead of established stars. His team was eliminated in the Asian Games quarter-finals and the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage. His decision was not followed by good results at major competitions, inviting harsh criticism. After finishing third at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, he was replaced by Guus Hiddink.
Since Hiddink's incredible success in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Korea Football Association began hiring foreign managers, including Humberto Coelho, Jo Bonfrere, Dick Advocaat, and Pim Verbeek, but they failed to match Hiddink's success. Meanwhile, the nameless players picked by Huh became key players at the national team, especially Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo who settled at the Premier League. The success of Huh's former apprentices in addition to his two victories with Jeonnam Dragons at the Korean FA Cup made him revalued as a candidate for the national team manager. Huh was appointed for the second time in December 2007 after leading candidates Mick McCarthy and Gérard Houllier both rejected the job. Huh got the team qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup without a loss at the qualifiers. In November 2009, he was named the AFC Coach of the Year after leading the national team to a 27-match unbeaten run. His team also advanced to the knockout stage at the 2010 World Cup.
In March 2013, Huh was appointed KFA's vice-president by president Chung Mong-gyu. On 10 July 2014, due to the national team's poor performance without a win at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he resigned from the association along with national team manager Hong Myung-bo.
After working as chairman of Daejeon Hana Citizen from 2020 to 2023, Huh ran for KFA president in November 2024. He was one of three candidates along with existing president Chung Mong-gyu and another challenger Shin Moon-seon, and lost to Chung in the election in February 2025.

Career statistics

International

Competition	Apps	Goals
Friendlies	11	5
Minor competitions	33	14
Asian Games	12	1
AFC Asian Cup qualification	10	2
AFC Asian Cup	4	0
Summer Olympics qualification	12	2
FIFA World Cup qualification	19	5
FIFA World Cup	3	1
Total	104	30

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	20 December 1974	Bangkok, Thailand	4		3–1	3–1	1974 King's Cup
2	22 May 1975	Seoul, South Korea	10		1–0	1–0	1975 Korea Cup
3	4 November 1976	Tokyo, Japan	20		1–1	2–1	Japan–South Korea regular match
4	14 February 1977	Singapore	23		3–0	4–0	Friendly
5	18 February 1977	Manama, Bahrain	24		1–0	4–1	Friendly
6	18 February 1977	Manama, Bahrain	24		4–1	4–1	Friendly
7	20 February 1977	Manama, Bahrain	25		1–0	1–1	Friendly
8	17 July 1977	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	33		1–0	4–0	1977 Pestabola Merdeka
9	17 July 1977	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	33		3–0	4–0	1977 Pestabola Merdeka
10	17 July 1977	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	33		4–0	4–0	1977 Pestabola Merdeka
11	26 July 1977	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	36		1–0	1–1	1977 Pestabola Merdeka
12	3 September 1977	Seoul, South Korea	40		4–0	5–1	1977 Korea Cup
13	3 September 1977	Seoul, South Korea	40		5–0	5–1	1977 Korea Cup
14	4 December 1977	Busan, South Korea	46		2–0	5–2	1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	13 September 1978	Daegu, South Korea	55		1–1	3–1	1978 Korea Cup
16	12 December 1978	Bangkok, Thailand	57		2–0	2–0	1978 Asian Games
17	25 December 1978	Manila, Philippines	63		1–0	4–1	1980 AFC Asian Cup qualification
18	29 December 1978	Manila, Philippines	65		1–0	1–0	1980 AFC Asian Cup qualification
19	8 September 1979	Seoul, South Korea	68		4–0	8–0	1979 Korea Cup
20	12 September 1979	Daegu, South Korea	69		1–0	6–0	1979 Korea Cup
21	16 September 1979	Incheon, South Korea	71		1–0	9–0	1979 Korea Cup
22	16 September 1979	Incheon, South Korea	71		5–0	9–0	1979 Korea Cup
23	16 September 1979	Incheon, South Korea	71		7–0	9–0	1979 Korea Cup
24	22 March 1980	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	74		1–0	3–1	[1980 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournaments\|1980 Football at the Summer Olympics\|Summer Olympics qualification]
25	27 March 1980	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	76		8–0	8–0	1980 Summer Olympics qualification
26	6 April 1985	Seoul, South Korea	91		1–0	4–0	1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
27	6 April 1985	Seoul, South Korea	91		4–0	4–0	1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
28	30 July 1985	Jakarta, Indonesia	94		3–0	4–1	1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
29	3 November 1985	Seoul, South Korea	95		1–0	1–0	1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
30	10 June 1986	Puebla, Mexico	99		2–3	2–3	1986 FIFA World Cup