Photo: Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 - negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 930-5808 / CC BY-SA 3.0 nl (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Cha Bum-kun is, to me, one of the most important footballers Asia has ever produced. Nicknamed Cha Boom in Germany for his thunderous strikes, he tore through European defenses at a time when Asian players were rarely taken seriously on that stage. His explosive pace and finishing made him a genuine pioneer, not just a curiosity, and the 2019 Cross of the Order of Merit underlines how deeply Germany still respects him. What I appreciate most is that he carried that excellence into coaching, paying it forward to the next generation. He opened a door, and I think the modern Asian game still walks through it.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cha Bum-kun
- Name (Japanese)
- 車範根
- Reading
- 不明
- Born
- May 22, 1953 (age 73)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Snake
- Origin
- Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 179 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- association football player / association football coach
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Korea University
Awards & achievements
- 2019 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BB%8A%E7%AF%84%E6%A0%B9
Frequently asked questions
When was Cha Bum-kun born?
Born May 22, 1953 (age 73).
Where is Cha Bum-kun from?
Cha Bum-kun is from Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
What does Cha Bum-kun do?
Cha Bum-kun works as association football player, association football coach.
How tall is Cha Bum-kun?
Cha Bum-kun is 179 cm.
Association football player — see all → · Association football coach — see all → · More people from South Korea →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.