Pohang Steelers

[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.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Pohang supporters in the safe standing section at the Steel Yard during an AFC Champions League Elite match in 2024
Fans at the Pohang Steel Yard , the first football-specific stadium in South Korea
Young Korean men wearing black T-shirts with 'Pohang' in white lettering enter the stands of a small football stadium lit by floodlights. One of them carries a very large flag with a stylised image of a man wearing a hat and the initials 'UL'.
Members of the Pohang supporters group Ultras Levante enter the stadium ahead of an away match against Gwangju FC
Pohang Steelers celebrating their third AFC Champions League title in 2009.