1. Overview
Kim Sang-ho (김상호Gim SanghoKorean) is a South Korean former professional footballer and current coach of the Calvin University football team. His extensive career encompasses significant periods as a player for prominent South Korean clubs like Pohang Steelers and Chunnam Dragons, where he achieved multiple domestic titles. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching, undertaking various roles at both club and national youth team levels, including stints as head coach for Gangwon FC, Shanghai Shenxin in China, and the South Korea national under-20 football team.
2. Early life
2.1. Birth and background
Kim Sang-ho was born on October 5, 1964, in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea.
3. Playing career
Kim Sang-ho enjoyed a successful playing career primarily as a midfielder, spending over a decade in the K League before transitioning into coaching.
3.1. Club career
He began his professional club career in 1987 and played for two major South Korean clubs, Pohang Steelers and Chunnam Dragons.
3.1.1. Pohang Steelers
Kim Sang-ho joined POSCO Atoms (now Pohang Steelers) in 1987. He made his K League debut on March 28, 1987, in a match against Hyundai Horangi. He scored his first K League goal on April 19, 1987, against Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso. During his tenure until 1994, he played in 149 league games and scored 10 goals. His contributions were recognized in 1988 when he was selected for the K-League Best XI. With Pohang, he won the K League championship twice in 1988 and 1992, was a K League runner-up in 1987, and secured the K League Cup in 1993.
3.1.2. Chunnam Dragons
In 1995, Kim Sang-ho moved to the newly formed Chunnam Dragons (now Jeonnam Dragons). He played 66 league games for Chunnam, scoring 3 goals. During his time with the club, Chunnam Dragons finished as K League runner-up in 1997 and won the Korean FA Cup in the same year. They were also K League Cup runner-up in 1997. He retired as a player after his period with Chunnam Dragons.
3.2. International career
Kim Sang-ho also represented the South Korea national football team. He was part of the squad that won a bronze medal at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China. During the tournament, he scored two goals in a 7-0 victory against the Pakistan national football team on September 25, 1990.
3.3. Honors
Kim Sang-ho achieved several honors during his playing career with his clubs and individually.
- Club
- POSCO Atoms
- K League champions: 1988, 1992
- K League runner-up: 1987
- K League Cup champion: 1993
- Chunnam Dragons
- K League runner-up: 1997
- Korean FA Cup champion: 1997
- K League Cup runner-up: 1997
- Individual
- K-League Best XI: 1988 (Midfielder)
- K-League All-Star Game: 1991
- POSCO Atoms
3.4. Career statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 1987 | POSCO Atoms | K League | 29 | 3 | - | - | - | 29 | 3 | |||
| 1988 | 15 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 0 | |||||
| 1989 | 14 | 0 | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | |||||
| 1990 | 22 | 2 | - | - | - | 22 | 2 | |||||
| 1991 | 36 | 5 | - | - | - | 36 | 5 | |||||
| 1992 | 9 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 1993 | 14 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | ||||
| 1994 | 10 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 1995 | Chunnam Dragons | 25 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 25 | 1 | |||
| 1996 | 27 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | - | |||||
| 1997 | 12 | 1 | ? | ? | 15 | 2 | - | |||||
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | 4 | 1 | ? | ? | ||||
| Total | South Korea | 213 | 12 | 19 | 3 | |||||||
| Career total | 213 | 12 | 19 | 3 | ||||||||
4. Coaching career
Following his retirement as a player, Kim Sang-ho embarked on a coaching career, leading various club and national youth teams.
4.1. Coaching education and early roles
After ending his playing career, Kim Sang-ho committed to developing his coaching skills. He traveled to England in 1998, where he successfully obtained the FA coaching "B" license. During this period, he also underwent training at Wimbledon Football Club. Upon his return to South Korea, he coached several teams for a number of years in early roles.
4.2. Club coaching
Kim Sang-ho has held head coaching positions at professional clubs in both South Korea and China, contributing to their competitive performance.
4.2.1. Gangwon FC
He served as the head coach of Gangwon FC in the K League from 2011 to 2012. During this period, he succeeded Choi Soon-ho and was subsequently followed by Kim Hak-bum as the club's manager.
4.2.2. Shanghai Shenxin
On December 5, 2015, Kim Sang-ho signed a contract to become the head coach of Shanghai Shenxin, a club in the China League One. He was joined by Michael Kim as chief coach and Kim Bong-ju as goalkeeper coach. However, due to poor performance, he was dismissed from his position in May 2016. He had succeeded Liu Junwei and was later replaced by Gary White.
4.2.3. Calvin University
Currently, Kim Sang-ho is the head coach of the Calvin University football team.
4.3. National team coaching
Beyond club football, Kim Sang-ho has also contributed to the development of young talent through his roles with the South Korea youth national teams.
4.3.1. South Korea U-20 National Team
Kim Sang-ho was appointed head coach of the South Korea U-19 national team (which typically transitions to U-20 for major tournaments) from September 2013 to October 2014. Under his leadership, the team, which included promising players such as Seo Myeong-won, Kim Young-gyu, and Paik Seung-ho, participated in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship. They started strongly with a 6-0 victory against Vietnam, but then drew 0-0 with China and suffered a 1-2 defeat to Japan. This performance resulted in a record of one win, one draw, and one loss, placing them third in their group. Consequently, the team experienced an early exit from the group stage, marking the first time in 14 years that the South Korea U-19 team failed to advance past the preliminary rounds of the tournament. He succeeded Lee Kwang-jong and was succeeded by Ahn Ik-soo in this role.
5. Evaluation and legacy
Kim Sang-ho's career as both a player and a coach has left a notable impact on South Korean football, characterized by periods of significant achievement and also challenges in coaching roles.
5.1. Positive assessment
As a player, Kim Sang-ho was a consistent and valuable midfielder, evidenced by his selection to the K-League Best XI in 1988 and his participation in the K-League All-Star Game in 1991. His instrumental role in Pohang Steelers' two K League championships (1988, 1992) and a K League Cup title (1993), as well as Chunnam Dragons' Korean FA Cup victory in 1997, highlights his success and contribution to top-tier club football. His dedication to the sport extended beyond his playing days, as demonstrated by his pursuit of coaching licenses and training in England, indicating a commitment to professional development. His subsequent coaching roles at various levels, including a K League club like Gangwon FC and the national youth team, showcased his continued involvement in the sport's development.
5.2. Criticism and controversies
Despite his positive contributions, Kim Sang-ho's coaching career faced criticism, particularly concerning team performance. His tenure as head coach of Shanghai Shenxin in China was relatively brief, ending in May 2016 due to the team's poor performance, which led to his dismissal. Similarly, his period with the South Korea national under-20 football team concluded with the team's disappointing early exit from the group stage of the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship. This marked a significant setback for the team, as it was the first time in 14 years they failed to advance from the group stage in that competition, drawing criticism regarding the team's results under his leadership.