Korean hero to be sacked by Italian club Posted: Wednesday June 19, 2002 12:49 PM DAEJEON, South Korea (AP) -- Ahn Jung-hwan's winning header in sudden-death extra time sunk Italy's World Cup ambitions and might have cost the South Korean forward his job in the Serie A. Hours after the co-hosts rallied to upset the Italians 2-1 at Daejeon's World Cup Stadium on Tuesday, officials at Italian club Perugia revealed Ahn's contract was on the line. With his permanent wave hair and model looks, Ahn is a huge celebrity in South Korea. Married to a former Miss Korea, Lee Hye-won, the 26-year-old forward is the closest thing the Koreans have to England's David Beckham. But he's not particularly popular in Italy at the moment. Perugia coach Serse Cosmi told an Internet Web site that he didn't hold a grudge against Ahn for ending Italy's World Cup run, but there were too many forwards at the club and he'd prefer to retain an Italian. Alessandro Gaucci, Perugia's chief executive, said contract decisions would be made before June 30, the date of the World Cup final in Yokohama. Ahn didn't comment on his contract at Perugia following a light training run Wednesday, preferring to concentrate on Saturday's quarterfinal against Spain. In Italy, Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci has threatened to fire him, according to several Italian papers. "Enough! That guy will never again set foot in Perugia!" Gaucci said, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I am not going to pay the salary of a guy who has been the ruin of Italian soccer," it quoted him as saying. The club's offices were closed and officials could not be reached for comment. Ahn has been on loan to the Italian club from K-League club Busan since the start of the 2000-2001 season, but has rarely made the starting 11 in two seasons. His golden-goal winner in the 117th minute against the three-time champion Italians atoned for a missed penalty in the fourth minute and two other failed shots on goal. "Let him go back to Korea and earn 100 lire (5 cents) per month!" Gaucci was quoted as saying in Il Messaggero, a Rome daily. A payrise isn't on his mind, although Ahn remained positive that his role in South Korea's unprecedented World Cup campaign would give his club career a boost. "I haven't given up the dream of becoming a world-class star, and am always on the ground looking forward to that day," he said. Guus Hiddink, who guided the Netherlands to the semifinals at the World Cup in France four years and held the top jobs at PSV Eindhoven and Spanish giant Real Madrid, saw Ahn's potential when he took control of the Korean squad last year, but decided the young striker needed work on his fitness. Hiddink cut Ahn from the national roster for a while and then welcomed him back in March, receiving a fitter and more dedicated forward. Ahn "understood very well my message a few months ago and I was tough on him at the time -- now he has strong stamina," Hiddink said. The villain-turned-hero said he'd been too numb to speak after the win over Italy. "When I missed a penalty at the start of the game, I was crying inside ... it felt like the sky was crumbling down on me," Ahn said. "I thank the coach the most for letting me in the game." After the goal, "I couldn't hear anything. I was just still for a few seconds, I couldn't speak." To top it off, he said his experience in the Italian domestic league had prepared him for the big occasion at the World Cup. "Although we won on my goal, I think I should thank Italy," he said. "I didn't play much, (but) I've learned a lot and had tough times during my two years in Italy. I think that has helped me play good matches in this World Cup."
Hey, at least they didn't kill the guy as has happened in other player and non-player related events over the years of World Cup soccer competition. This year alone I've heard of a guy dying trying to raise his defeated country's flag and a guy that shot his wife because she tried to change the channel while he was watching the soccer game. I can see it already.... WORLD CUP SOCCER! I'LL KILL FOR THIS GAME!!
Apparently two South Korean fans died from a heart attack when they scored the equaliser in the 88th minute.
A couple years ago, the Italians lost in the finals of the Euro Cup to France. I'm sure all of you guys know of the jersey trading tradition after games -- well, the Italians decided to put a twist on that tradition. They took off their shirts, wiped the sweat of their balls with them, and then tried to trade them with the French players (jokingly). That's class.
hmmm... in the same light perhaps the NHL should have kicked candian players out for beating them in the gold medal olympic game???? capitalism vs. nationalism... you'd think capitalism would ALWAYS win... but i guess not so in Italy
Apparently there was widespread cases of Spaniards having heartattacks during the Spain v Ireland game.
The worst were some of the Dutch guys. After they won (they had one goal because of an unjustified penalty) in the finals of the Euro world cup 1988 against Germany, they changed the jerseys with the Germans and then their former captain Ronald Koeman took his German opponent's jersey and ostentatively wiped his fat ass with it to the crowd. That was one of the most disgusting unsportsmanlike conduct I have ever seen - rivaled only by the actions of fellow Dutch player Frank Rijkard, who spit into Rudi Völler's face at the world cup 1990.
From what I've heard, Ahn wasn't highly regarded by many at Perugia and they had decided to let him go before the World Cup. Perugia are trying to sign Mathis and Beasley from MLS.
