[5] In the 2000s, the club struggled near the bottom of the table, but bounced back to the forefront of South Korean football by winning the first stage of the 2004 K League Championship.

[6] In 2007, the club won the Championship play-off by beating Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who finished in first place in the regular season of the K League.

The Steelers had ended the K League season in fifth place, but then defeated Gyeongnam FC, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and finally Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the play-offs to win the championship.

Following the conclusion of the 2009 K League season, at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in December, the Steelers finished in third place after defeating Mexican side Atlante 4–3 on penalties.

[12] Pohang saw further success on the pitch under new manager Hwang Sun-hong with a unique playstyle dubbed 'Steel Taka', winning the 2012 and 2013 editions of the Korean FA Cup, and also the 2013 K League season.

The club made a strong run in the 2021 AFC Champions League, reaching the final but finishing as runners-up after losing to continental rivals Al Hilal.

[15] After Kim Gi-dong left for FC Seoul in December 2023, Pohang appointed Park Tae-ha as the new manager.

[20] Steelers fans have friendly relations with the supporters of Suwon Samsung Bluewings in a friendship dubbed the Supo Alliance (수포동맹).

Suwon's Frente Tricolor supporters group raised money for the city of Pohang in the aftermath of Typhoon Hinnamnor.

Kim Won-il scored the winning goal for Pohang late in injury time for the club's fifth K League title.

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