South Korea Soccer Legend Cha Bum-Kun was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit from the German government earlier today. The award was handed to him for his contribution to the relationship between Germany and South Korea.
Stephan Auer, German Ambassador to Seoul, presented the recognition from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a
ceremony at the German Embassy in Seoul.
Cha: South Korea Soccer Legend and Bundesliga Alumni
Cha played in the Bundesliga between 1978 and 1989. He was in Eintracht Frankfurt (1979-1983) and then Bayer Leverkusen (1983-1989).
Cha scored 98 goals in 308 matches. He is rated as one of the best Asian players to ever play in the top German league. And also won two UEFA Cups, one each with Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen.
He later managed South Korea at the 1998 World Cup. The South Korean also became the first soccer player to enter South Korea’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
