View source for Cha Bum-kun

{{Short description|South Korean footballer}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Cha (Korean name)|Cha]]||lang=Korean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Cha Bum-kun
| image = Cha Bum Kun.jpg
| caption = Cha in 1979
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|5|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hwaseong, Gyeonggi|Hwaseong]], South Korea
| height = 1.79 m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kfa.or.kr/record/playeramatch.asp?Page=1&Query=Gender%3DM%26Name%3D%EC%B0%A8%EB%B2%94%EA%B7%BC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133433/http://www.kfa.or.kr/record/playeramatch.asp?Page=1&Query=Gender%3DM%26Name%3D%EC%B0%A8%EB%B2%94%EA%B7%BC |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-11-08 |title=Cha Bum-kun |language=ko |publisher=KFA |access-date=2016-11-08}}</ref>
| currentclub = 
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 1967–1968<ref name="Youth">{{cite web |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/08/14/2009081401048.html |title=Cha confessed that he had run away from school because he hadn't wanted to be beaten |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |language=ko |date=2009-08-14 |access-date=2020-12-31}}</ref>
| youthclubs1 = {{ill|Kyungshin Middle School|ko|경신중학교 축구부|display=1}}
| youthyears2 = 1969–1971
| youthclubs2 = {{ill|Kyungshin High School|ko|경신고등학교 축구부|display=1}}
| collegeyears1 = 1972–1975
| college1 = {{ill|Korea University|ko|고려대학교 축구부|display=1}}
| years1 = 1976
| clubs1 = {{ill|Korea Trust Bank|ko|한국신탁은행 축구단|display=1}}
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| years2 = 1976–1979
| clubs2 = [[Gimcheon Sangmu FC#History|ROK Air Force]] ([[Conscription in South Korea|draft]])
| caps2 = 
| goals2 = 
| years3 = 1978–1979
| clubs3 = [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1979–1983
| clubs4 = [[Eintracht Frankfurt]]
| caps4 = 122
| goals4 = 46
| years5 = 1983–1989
| clubs5 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| caps5 = 185
| goals5 = 52
| totalcaps = 308
| totalgoals = 98
| nationalyears1 = 1970–1972
| nationalteam1 = [[South Korea national under-20 football team|South Korea U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 1972–1986
| nationalteam2 = [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]
| nationalcaps2 = 136
| nationalgoals2 = 58
| manageryears1 = 1991–1994
| managerclubs1 = [[Ulsan HD FC|Hyundai Horang-i]]
| manageryears2 = 1997–1998
| managerclubs2 = [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]
| manageryears3 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs3 = [[Shenzhen F.C.|Shenzhen Ping'an]]
| manageryears4 = 2004–2010
| managerclubs4 = [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{KOR}} }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1978 Asian Games|1978 Bangkok]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition | [[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{MedalRU | [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972 Thailand]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[AFC U-19 Championship|AFC Youth Championship]]}}
{{MedalRU | [[1971 AFC Youth Championship|1971 Japan]]<ref name="1971Youth">{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1971031200329206006&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1971-03-12&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=7827&publishType=00020 |title=18 national players were determined for the AFC Youth Championship |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |language=ko |date=12 March 1971 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>|}}
{{MedalRU | [[1972 AFC Youth Championship|1972 Thailand]]<ref name="1972Youth">{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1972030900209208018&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1972-03-09&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=15516&publishType=00020 |title=18 national players were selected for the 14th AFC Youth Championship |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |language=ko |date=9 March 1972 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>|}}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name/auto|title=Korean name
| hangul = %차범근
| hanja = 車範根
}}

'''Cha Bum-kun''' ({{korean|차범근}}; {{IPA|ko|tɕʰɐbʌmɡɯn}} or {{IPA|ko|tɕʰɐ|}} {{IPA|ko|pʌmɡɯn|}}; born 22 May 1953) is a South Korean former [[association football|football]] manager and player. A [[Forward (association football)|forward]], he was nicknamed '''Tscha Bum''' or "Cha Boom" in Germany because of his name and thunderous ball striking ability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/in-dit-rijtje-aziatische-toppers-mag-son-zich-scharen~a8758776/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ |title=Son can join in this list of the top Asian players |language=nl |publisher=Algemeen Dagblad |date=8 May 2019 |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> He showed explosive pace and powerful shots.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gStcPd2C9L4&t=220s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/gStcPd2C9L4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=SBS Documentary - A lot of German citizens remembering Cha Bum-kun |language=ko |website=YouTube.com |publisher=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]] |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=21 July 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/03/21/2019032100326.html |script-title=ko:Cha Bum-kun - Park Ji-sung - Son Heung-min, who is the best? |language=ko |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=18 March 2019 |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.<ref name="IFFHS">{{cite web |url=https://iffhs.de/iffhs-history-asia-player-of-the-century-1900-1999/ |title=IFFHS HISTORY : ASIA – PLAYER OF THE CENTURY (1900–1999) |publisher=IFFHS |date=10 October 2017 |access-date=28 October 2019 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052443/https://iffhs.de/iffhs-history-asia-player-of-the-century-1900-1999/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ESPN">{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/153/post/2231928/headline |title=Countdown: The Top 10 Asian footballers of all time |publisher=ESPN |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=28 October 2019 |first=John |last=Duerden}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/the-greatest-asian-footballers-of-all-time-ranked |title=The greatest Asian footballers of all time - ranked |publisher=90min |date=2021-03-03 |access-date=2021-11-17}}</ref>

In 1972, Cha had been capped for the [[South Korea national football team|South Korea national team]] as the youngest player of the time at the age of 18. He is the youngest player to ever reach [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|100 international caps]] in the world at 24 years and 35 days,{{refn|group=note|name=100caps|In 2013, when Cha's 121 international caps was being recognised,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/114378-youngest-player-to-win-100-international-football-caps |title=Youngest player to win 100 international football caps |publisher=Guinness World Records |access-date=2025-10-11}}</ref> [[FIFA]] introduced him as the youngest player to accumulate 100 caps at 24 years and 139 days (vs. [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]], 9 October 1977).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/records-and-milestones-the-road-brazil-2049873 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103040717/https://www.fifa.com/news/records-and-milestones-the-road-brazil-2049873 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2019 |title=Records and milestones on the road to Brazil |publisher=FIFA |date=27 March 2013 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> Afterwards, his record was shortened to 24 years and 35 days (vs. [[Hong Kong national football team|Hong Kong]], 26 June 1977) according to the list of his 136 caps updated recently,<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cha-intl.html |title=Bum-Kun Cha - Century of International Appearances |first1=Roberto |last1=Mamrud |first2=Eric |last2=Villante |date=8 July 2020 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref> and can be seen as 24 years and 65 days (vs. [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]], 26 July 1977) when excluding six Olympic qualifiers by the rule of FIFA.<ref name="fifa"/>}} and the all-time leading goalscorer of the South Korean national team with 58 goals. After dominating Asian competitions including the [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]], he left for [[West Germany]] and played for [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] and [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]. He scored a total of 121 goals in two [[Bundesliga]] clubs, and won the [[UEFA Cup]] with each team.<ref name="Statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe41474/beom-geun-cha/club-matches/ |title=Beom-geun Cha » Club matches |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref>

After his retirement, he opened a football academy to develop youth players in South Korea, and managed the national team for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]].

==Early life==
Cha was born in [[Hwaseong City|Hwaseong]], [[Gyeonggi Province|Gyeonggi]]. He originally joined Yeongdo Middle School to learn football, but the school's football club was dissolved as soon as he joined there. He started his football career by transferring to Kyungshin Middle School after playing [[field hockey]] for Yeongdo for one and a half years. In his high school days, he tried to leave school due to older students' violence, but continued to play football with the manager [[Chang Woon-soo]]'s help.<ref name="Youth"/> He became a notable player of Kyungshin High School, and was selected for the [[South Korea national under-20 football team|South Korean under-20 team]] in 1970.

== Club career ==
=== Career in South Korea ===
Cha entered [[Korea University]] in 1972, and won the [[Korean National Football Championship|Korean National Championship]] in 1974, the predecessor of the [[Korean FA Cup]].<ref name="1974Cha">{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1974120200329208004&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1974-12-02&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=8981&publishType=00020 |title=Korea University won the National Football Championship for the first time in 3 years |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |language=ko |date=2 December 1974 |access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref> After his graduation, he started his senior career with Korea Trust Bank FC in 1976. He led his team to the title and was named the best player in the spring season of the [[Korean National Semi-Professional Football League|Korean Semi-professional League]].<ref name="1976Cha">{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1976053100329206024&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-05-31&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=9437&publishType=00020 |title=Exchange Bank and Trust Bank shared the league title |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |language=ko |date=31 May 1976 |access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref> In October 1976, he joined [[Sangju Sangmu FC#History|Air Force FC]] to serve his [[Conscription in South Korea|mandatory military service]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1976090300329206017&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-09-03&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=9519&publishType=00020 |title=Cha Bum-kun will enlist in early October |website=[[Naver]] |language=ko |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=3 September 1976 |access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> Cha originally had a plan to enlist in the Navy FC, but the [[Republic of Korea Air Force|ROK Air Force]] persuaded him that it would move his discharge up by six months.<ref name="Entry">{{cite web |url=https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=12241385&memberNo=36977025 |title=Cha Bum-kun's road to West Germany |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=Sports-G |first=Hyeon-hoe |last=Kim |language=ko |date=19 January 2018 |access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref>

=== Darmstadt 98 ===
While playing for the national team in the [[1978 President's Cup Football Tournament|1978 Korea Cup]], Cha attracted the attention of an [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] coach {{ill|Dieter Schulte (footballer)|lt=Dieter Schulte|de|Dieter Schulte (Fußballtrainer)}}, who had received an invitation to serve as an scout/observer at that tournament. In November 1978, Schulte sent a letter to the [[Korea Football Association|KFA]] (Korea Football Association), suggesting Cha's tryout in [[West Germany]], who would be discharged from the ROK Air Force in January 1979.<ref name="Entry"/> Cha had taken time off to leave for [[Frankfurt]] after the [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]] in December and succeeded to contract with another [[Bundesliga]] club [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]] by signing a six-month deal.<ref name="Entry"/> However, he spent just less than a month in [[Darmstadt]]. The ROK Air Force didn't follow the contract with Cha, and ordered his return. After his debut match against [[VfL Bochum]] on 30 December, Cha returned to South Korea due to his complicated issue about military service on 5 January. He eventually spent the remainder of the duration of his military service until 31 May, and so could not play for Darmstadt.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1979010800209204006&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1979-01-08&officeId=00020&pageNo=4&printNo=17616&publishType=00020 |title=Cha Bum-kun and the issue of military service |website=[[Naver]] |language=ko |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=8 January 1979}}</ref>

=== Eintracht Frankfurt ===
After being discharged from the military service completely, Cha still wanted to play in Bundesliga, and joined Eintracht Frankfurt at age 26 in July 1979. He scored in three consecutive games from third to fifth matchday of the Bundesliga, making an immediate impact early in his new club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe41474/beom-geun-cha/ |title=Beom-geun Cha » Bundesliga 1979/1980 |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> After the first half of his first season in Germany, he was classified as world class in the {{ill|kicker-Rangliste|de|Rangliste des deutschen Fußballs}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historical-lineups.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ranking-Order-of-German-Football-Players-A-to-Z-1955-to-2015-2.pdf |title=Ranking Order of German Football Players A to Z 1955 to 2015 |website=Historical-Lineups.com |access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref> He was also acclaimed by showing great performances helping Eintracht to win its first-ever [[1979–80 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] title. He was evaluated as the "unstoppable player" by Sir [[Alex Ferguson]] ([[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]'s manager at the time),<ref name="ESPN"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/general/news/read.nhn?oid=436&aid=0000003528 |title=Frankfurt's Cha Bum-kun was Ferguson's biggest trouble |date=20 September 2013 |access-date=9 March 2019 |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=Footballist |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="MBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QezBtpB8YXw |title=Germany's Korean Tscha Bum |website=YouTube.com |language=ko |publisher=MBCdocumentary |access-date=29 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> and "one of the best attackers in the world" by [[Lothar Matthäus]] (an opponent player at the [[1980 UEFA Cup final|UEFA Cup final]] and the Bundesliga).<ref name="ESPN"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/german-bundesliga/10/blog/post/2567435/matthaus-on-germanys-special-relationship-with-asia |title=Matthaus on Germany's close ties with Asia and Maradona vs. Messi |publisher=ESPN |date=18 August 2015 |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> In addition to a UEFA Cup title, he was named along with [[Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]] and [[Kevin Keegan]] in the Bundesliga Team of the Season by ''[[Kicker (magazine)|kicker]]''.<ref name="kicker80">{{cite web |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197980/startseite.html |title=Bundesliga Historie 1979/80 |language=de |publisher=kicker |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324154412/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197980/startseite.html |archive-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> On 23 August 1980, Cha's spine had been cracked by [[Jürgen Gelsdorf]], who had tackled him from behind, but came back to the stadium after a month.<ref name="MBC"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ardmediathek.de/daserste/player/Y3JpZDovL3dkci5kZS9CZWl0cmFnLThiYTZmNzBiLWJkYmMtNDI3ZC1iZTIzLTA3ZTU5ZTMyNDlmYQ/ |title=History - Death threats after a foul |publisher=ARD Mediathek |language=de |date=3 May 2019 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref> Afterwards, he scored six goals in six matches of the [[1980–81 DFB-Pokal]], leading Eintracht to the title. He became Eintracht's top goalscorer for three consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/eintracht-frankfurt/europa-league-2019-2020/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028114642/https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/eintracht-frankfurt/europa-league-2019-2020/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2019 |title=Eintracht Frankfurt » Appearances |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref>

=== Bayer Leverkusen ===
However, Cha transferred to [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] due to a financial difficulty of Frankfurt in 1983.<ref name="MBC"/> In the [[1985–86 Bundesliga]], he scored his most goals in a single Bundesliga season with 17 goals, and Leverkusen qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time as the sixth-placed team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/bayer-leverkusen/champions-league-2019-2020/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028140240/https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/bayer-leverkusen/champions-league-2019-2020/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2019 |title=Bayer Leverkusen » Appearances |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> The magazine ''kicker'' once again selected him for the Team of the Season,<ref name="kicker86">{{cite web |url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/198586/startseite.html |title=Bundesliga Historie 1985/86 |language=de |publisher=kicker |access-date=28 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324155856/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/198586/startseite.html |archive-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> and the ''{{ill|Abendpost-Nachtausgabe|de|Abendpost/Nachtausgabe}}'' gave him the Player of the Season award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hi2twcAij4&t=225s |title=Cha Bum-Kun: An Asian football pioneer |website=YouTube |publisher=FIFA |date=2017-09-07 |access-date=2025-02-15}}</ref> In the [[1988 UEFA Cup final]], he scored a dramatic equaliser against [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] to tie the game 3–3. Leverkusen eventually went on to win the game on penalties, holding its first European title.<ref name="MBC"/>

Cha retired in 1989 after playing 308 Bundesliga games as a fair player. During his Bundesliga career, he scored 98 goals without a penalty, and received only one yellow card.<ref name="Statistics"/> On 31 October 1987, he scored his 93rd Bundesliga goal, becoming the top foreign goalscorer by surpassing [[Willi Lippens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe41474/beom-geun-cha/ |title=Beom-geun Cha » Bundesliga 1987/1988 |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> His scoring record wasn't broken for eleven years until [[Stéphane Chapuisat]] scored more goals than him.<ref name="Foreigners">{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/aubameyang-lewandowski-pizarro-top-10-foreign-goal-scorers-471440.jsp |title=The top 10 foreign goalscorers in Bundesliga history |publisher=Bundesliga |date=25 October 2018 |access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> As of 2024, Cha is ranked ninth along with [[Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang]] in the Bundesliga's foreign goalscorer standings.<ref name="Foreigners"/>

== International career ==
[[File:Corea del Sur 1970.jpg|thumb|right|Cha with [[Park Lee-chun]] and [[Kim Jae-han]] playing for [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] in the early 1970s.]]
Cha generally played the Bundesliga games as a [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]], but he had originally been a [[Forward (association football)#Winger|winger]] in South Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1974052100329208009&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1974-05-21&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=8814&publishType=00020 |title=Korean football which participated in the Korea Cup has various methods of attack, but its defense is unstable |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=21 May 1974 |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref> He became a [[South Korea national under-20 football team|South Korean under-20]] international in 1970, and took part in the [[AFC U-20 Asian Cup|AFC Youth Championship]] in [[1971 AFC Youth Championship|1971]] and [[1972 AFC Youth Championship|1972]].<ref name="1971Youth"/><ref name="1972Youth"/> In the [[1972 AFC Asian Cup]], he made his senior international debut against [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]], and scored his first international goal against [[Cambodia national football team|Khmer Republic]].<ref name="KFA"/> He was named in the [[KFA Awards|Korean FA Best XI]] for seven consecutive years, and was selected as the Korean FA Player of the Year in 1973.<ref name="MVPCha">{{cite web |url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1973122200329208006&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1973-12-22&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=8690&publishType=00020 |title=The best XI was selected by the press corps, and the best player is Cha Bum-kun |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=22 December 1973 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>

Cha usually played for the national team in the [[Korea Cup]], [[Merdeka Tournament]] and [[King's Cup (Thailand)]], which were annually contested between Asian nations and the invited clubs at the time. He won a total of ten trophies and also left memorable games in three competitions.<ref name="KFA"/> In the 1975 Merdeka Tournament, he scored his first international hat-trick against [[Japan national football team|Japan]].<ref name="KFA"/> In the [[1976 President's Cup Football Tournament|1976 Korea Cup]], he scored a hat-trick against [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] during five minutes from 83rd to 88th minute, leading South Korea to a dramatic 4–4 draw.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1976091300329206001&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-09-13&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=9526&publishType=00020 |title=B team defeated Indonesia 2–0 |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=13 September 1976 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>

In the [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification]], he played all of South Korea's twelve matches, and recorded five goals and two assists,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1977032100329203012&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-03-21&officeId=00032&pageNo=3&printNo=9685&publishType=00020 |title=Outstanding goal-getter Cha Bum-kun scored the opening goal in the second World Cup qualifier |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=21 March 1977 |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1977120500209208011&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-12-05&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=17284&publishType=00020 |title=Kim Jae-han's nonstop shot |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=5 December 1977 |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> although his knee got a boil during the competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1977120700209208004&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-12-07&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=17286&publishType=00020 |title=The "Golden legs" Cha Bum-kun will soon have an operation to remove a boil of knee |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=7 December 1977 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> However, South Korea failed to qualify for the World Cup by finishing the qualification as runners-up despite his struggle.

In the [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]], he scored two goals and provided two assists, contributing to team's gold medal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1978121400209208017&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1978-12-14&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=17598&publishType=00020 |title=South Korea got second victory against Kuwait |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=14 December 1978 |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1978121600209208016&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1978-12-16&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=17600&publishType=00020 |title=South Korea won their third straight victory against Japan |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=16 December 1978 |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> However, he showed lethargic plays to prepare tryouts for Bundesliga clubs, and received criticisms.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1978122100329208012&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1978-12-21&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=10224&publishType=00020 |title=Cha Bum-kun's poor performance is receiving criticisms |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=21 December 1978 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> After the 1978 Asian Games, he left for the Bundesliga and didn't play for South Korea. His last international tournament was the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]], South Korea's first World Cup since 1954. He showed exemplary performance in intensive checks by opponents,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1986060600209204015&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1986-06-06&officeId=00020&pageNo=4&printNo=19901&publishType=00020 |title=It was right to put Kim Jong-boo in the second half |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=6 June 1986 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1986061100329208005&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1986-06-11&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=12525&publishType=00020 |title=It was a mistake to use Kim Jong-boo late |first=Jong-hwan |last=Park |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=11 June 1986 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> but failed to prevent South Korea's elimination in the group stage.

== Managerial career ==
[[File:Cha Bum-Kun in 2009.jpg|thumb|Cha Bum-kun as manager of [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]] in 2009.]]
Cha moved into management with [[K League]] side [[Ulsan HD FC|Hyundai Horang-i]], coaching them from 1991–94. His next appointment in January 1997 was Korean national team coach and he led the nation to the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]; however, a disastrous 5–0 defeat at the hands of the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in Korea's second group game got Cha fired. He later blamed the [[Korea Football Association|KFA]] for the bad performance, citing lack of bonuses and alleging pro soccer games in Korea were fixed. The association promptly slapped a five-year ban on him and he soon left the country with his wife.

After an 18-month spell coaching [[Shenzhen F.C.|Shenzhen Ping'an]] in [[China]], Cha took up a commentator position with [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]] in Korea. He returned to coaching in late 2003 when offered the [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]] position. Cha achieved immediate success with Suwon by lifting the [[2004 K League]] championship, an achievement he ranked as even better than the UEFA Cup he won as a player in 1988. He later resigned in June 2010 as Suwon manager.

== Personal life ==
Cha is a devout [[Christianity|Christian]] and said the faith is one of his three biggest values along with family and football.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.joins.com/article/1803166 |title="Football, family, and faith" Cha Bum-kun's three biggest values which have supported him |publisher=[[JoongAng Ilbo]] |language=ko |date=23 October 2003 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>

Cha's second child, [[Cha Du-ri]], also played for the  South Korean national team and Bundesliga clubs, among them Eintracht, following in his father's footsteps.

In November 2019, Cha received the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Cross of Merit]] from the German government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=055&aid=0000774074 |title=Cha Bum-kun received Germany's Cross of Merit |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]] |date=22 November 2019 |access-date=23 November 2019}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==
=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="Statistics"/>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!Apps!!Goals
!Apps!!Goals
!Apps!!Goals
!Apps!!Goals
!Apps!!Goals
|-
|Korea Trust Bank
|1976||[[Korean National Semi-Professional Football League|Semipro League]]||?||?||?{{efn|name=NFC|Appearance(s) in [[Korean National Football Championship|Korean National Championship]]}}|||?||colspan="2"|—||?{{efn|name=PC|Appearance(s) in [[Korean President's Cup National Football Tournament|Korean President's Cup]]}}||?||?||?
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Sangju Sangmu FC#History|ROK Air Force]] ([[Conscription in South Korea|draft]])
|1976||Semipro League||?||?||?{{efn|name=NFC}}||?||colspan="2"|—||?{{efn|name=PC}}||?||?||?
|-
|1977||Semipro League||?||?||?{{efn|name=NFC}}||?||colspan="2"|—||?{{efn|name=PC}}||?||?||?
|-
|1978||Semipro League||?||?||?{{efn|name=NFC}}||?||colspan="2"|—||?{{efn|name=PC}}||?||?||?
|-
|1979||Semipro League||?||?||?{{efn|name=NFC}}||?||colspan="2"|—||?{{efn|name=PC}}||?||?||?
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!?!!?!!?!!?!!colspan="2"|—!!?!!?!!?!!?
|-
|[[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
|[[1978–79 Bundesliga|1978–79]]||[[Bundesliga]]||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Eintracht Frankfurt]]
|[[1979–80 Bundesliga|1979–80]]||Bundesliga||31||12||4||0||11{{efn|name=UEL|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||3||colspan="2"|—||46||15
|-
|[[1980–81 Bundesliga|1980–81]]||Bundesliga||27||8||6||6||5{{efn|name=UEL}}||2||colspan="2"|—||38||16
|-
|[[1981–82 Bundesliga|1981–82]]||Bundesliga||31||11||1||0||6{{efn|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||38||12
|-
|[[1982–83 Bundesliga|1982–83]]||Bundesliga||33||15||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||15
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!122!!46!!12!!6!!22!!6!!colspan="2"|—!!156!!58
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
|[[1983–84 Bundesliga|1983–84]]||Bundesliga||34||12||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||12
|-
|[[1984–85 Bundesliga|1984–85]]||Bundesliga||29||10||3||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||14
|-
|[[1985–86 Bundesliga|1985–86]]||Bundesliga||34||17||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||19
|-
|[[1986–87 Bundesliga|1986–87]]||Bundesliga||33||6||2||1||3{{efn|name=UEL}}||2||colspan="2"|—||38||9
|-
|[[1987–88 Bundesliga|1987–88]]||Bundesliga||25||4||0||0||10{{efn|name=UEL}}||2||colspan="2"|—||35||6
|-
|[[1988–89 Bundesliga|1988–89]]||Bundesliga||30||3||5||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||37||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!185!!52!!15!!7!!15!!4!!colspan="2"|—!!215!!63
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!308||98!!27!!13!!37!!10!!?!!?!!372!!121
|}
{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{{updated|8 July 2020}}
The [[Korea Football Association|KFA]] is showing the list of Cha's 136 international appearances in its official website.<ref name="KFA">{{cite web |url=https://www.kfa.or.kr/archive/player_record.php?search_val=%EC%B0%A8%EB%B2%94%EA%B7%BC |title=Cha Bum-kun |lang=ko |publisher=KFA |access-date=2025-10-22}}</ref> The [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]] is also claiming 136 appearances about Cha's international career, but its details have some discrepancies.<ref name="RSSSF"/> [[FIFA]] registered him with 130 appearances in the [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|FIFA Century Club]] by excluding six matches in the Summer Olympics qualification.<ref name="fifa">{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/5a117604549223c/original/tsatiy6dhwatj9k5pi1i-pdf.pdf |title=FIFA Century Club |publisher=FIFA |date=30 June 2020 |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>

<div><li style=display:inline-table;>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=8|[[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]
|[[South Korea national football team results (1970–1979)|1972]]||23||6
|-
|1973||17||8
|-
|1974||13||2
|-
|1975||19{{efn|Includes one appearance in Summer Olympics qualification}}||9
|-
|1976||19{{efn|Includes five appearances and two goals in Summer Olympics qualification}}||13
|-
|1977||26||15
|-
|1978||16||5
|-
|[[South Korea national football team results (1980–1989)|1986]]||3||0
|-
!colspan=2|Career total||136||58
|}
</li> <li style=display:inline-table>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by competition
|-
!Competition!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Exhibition game|Friendlies]]||10||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Minor competitions||76||44
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]||12||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[AFC Asian Cup qualification]]||4||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[AFC Asian Cup]]||5||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] qualification||6||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[FIFA World Cup qualification]]||20||7
|-
|style="text-align:left"|[[FIFA World Cup]]||3||0
|-
!Total!!136!!58
|}</li></div>
{{notelist}}

:''Scores list South Korea's goal tally first.''<ref name="RSSSF"/><ref name="KFA"/>
<!---DO NOT DELETE REPEAT ENTRIES!!! REPEAT ENTRIES REPRESENT Cha Bum-Kun SCORING MULTIPLE GOALS IN THE SAME GAME!!!--->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! No. !! Date !! Venue 
!Cap!! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|+List of international goals scored by Cha Bum-kun
|-
| align=center|1 || 10 May 1972 || [[National Stadium (Thailand)|National Stadium]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand 
| align="center"|2|| {{fb|CAM|1970|name=Khmer Republic}} || align=center|3–0 || align=center|4–1 || [[1972 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| align=center|2 || 19 July 1972 || [[Perak Stadium]], [[Ipoh]], Malaysia 
| align="center"|8|| {{fb|SIN}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|4–1 || [[1972 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|3 || 23 July 1972 || [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia 
| align="center"|9|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|2–0 || 1972 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|4 || 29 July 1972 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|11|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|2–1 || 1972 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|5 || 20 September 1972 || [[Dongdaemun Stadium]], [[Seoul]], South Korea 
| align="center"|13|| {{fb|THA}} || align=center|3–0 || align=center|3–0 || [[1972 President's Cup Football Tournament|1972 Korea Cup]]
|-
| align=center|6 || 22 November 1972 || National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|21|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|1–1 || align=center|1–1 || [[1972 King's Cup]]
|-
| align=center|7 || 19 May 1973 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|24|| {{fb|THA}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|4–0 || [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)|1974 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align=center|8 || 28 May 1973 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|28|| {{fb|ISR}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–0 || 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align=center|9 || rowspan="2"|22 September 1973 || rowspan="2"|Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 30|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|CAM|1970|name=Khmer Republic}} || align=center|2–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|6–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1973 President's Cup Football Tournament|1973 Korea Cup]]
|-
| align=center|10 || align="center" |4–0
|-
| align=center|11 || 30 September 1973 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|33|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|2–0 || 1973 Korea Cup
|-
| align=center|12 || 16 December 1973 || National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|37|| {{fb|CAM|1970|name=Khmer Republic}} || align=center|4–0 || align=center|5–0 || [[1973 King's Cup]]
|-
| align=center|13 || 22 December 1973 || National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|39|| {{fb|Burma|1948}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|2–0 || 1973 King's Cup
|-
| align=center|14 || 25 December 1973 || National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|40|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|2–1 || 1973 King's Cup
|-
| align=center|15 || 18 May 1974 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|43|| {{fb|Burma|1974}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|3–0 || [[1974 President's Cup Football Tournament|1974 Korea Cup]]
|-
| align=center|16 || 25 December 1974 || [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] 
| align="center"|54|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|3–1 || Hong Kong Tournament
|-
| align=center|17 || 29 July 1975 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|58|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|3–1 || [[1975 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|18 || 7 August 1975 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|61|| {{fb|THA}} || align=center|3–0 || align=center|6–0 || 1975 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|19 || rowspan="3"|9 August 1975 || rowspan="3"|Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 62|| rowspan="3" |{{fb|JPN|variant=1947}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan="3" align=center|3–1 || rowspan="3"|1975 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|20 || align="center" |2–1
|-
| align=center|21 || align="center" |3–1
|-
| align=center|22 || 11 August 1975 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|63|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|5–1 || 1975 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|23 || 15 August 1975 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|64|| {{fb|BAN}} || align=center|4–0 || align=center|4–0 || 1975 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|24 || rowspan="2"|21 December 1975 || rowspan="2"|National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 68|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|Burma|1974}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|3–1 || rowspan="2"|[[1975 King's Cup]]
|-
| align=center|25 || align="center" |2–0
|-
| align=center|26 || 6 March 1976 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|73|| {{fb|ROC}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|3–0 || [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's Asian Qualifiers|1976 Summer Olympics qualification]]
|-
| align=center|27 || 27 March 1976 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|75|| {{fb|JPN|variant=1947}} || align=center|2–1 || align=center|2–2 || 1976 Summer Olympics qualification
|-
| align=center|28 || rowspan="3"|10 August 1976 || rowspan="3"|Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 79|| rowspan="3" |{{fb|IND}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan="3" align=center|8–0 ||rowspan="3"|{{ill|1976 Merdeka Tournament|ms|Pestabola Merdeka 1976}}
|-
| align=center|29 || align="center" |5–0
|-
| align=center|30 || align="center" |8–0
|-
| align=center|31 || 15 August 1976 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|81|| {{fb|Burma|1974}} || align=center|2–2 || align=center|2–2 || 1976 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|32 || rowspan="3"|11 September 1976 || rowspan="3"|Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 84|| rowspan="3" |{{fb|MAS}} || align=center|2–4 || rowspan="3" align=center|4–4 || rowspan="3"|[[1976 President's Cup Football Tournament|1976 Korea Cup]]
|-
| align=center|33 || align="center" |3–4
|-
| align=center|34 || align="center" |4–4
|-
| align=center|35 || 13 September 1976 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|85|| {{fb|IND}} || align=center|4–0 || align=center|4–0 || 1976 Korea Cup
|-
| align=center|36 || rowspan="2"|17 September 1976 || rowspan="2"|Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 86|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|SIN}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|7–0 || rowspan="2"|1976 Korea Cup
|-
| align=center|37 || align="center" |7–0
|-
| align=center|38 || 22 December 1976 || National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|91|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|1–1 || align=center|1–1 || [[1976 King's Cup]]
|-
| align=center|39 || 14 February 1977 || [[Singapore]] 
| align="center"|92|| {{fb|SIN}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|4–0 || Friendly
|-
| align=center|40 || 18 February 1977 || [[Al Ahli Stadium (Bahrain)|Al Ahli Stadium]], [[Manama]], Bahrain 
| align="center"|93|| {{fb|BHR|variant=1972}} || align=center|2–0 || align="center" |4–1 || Friendly
|-
| align=center|41 || 20 March 1977 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|96|| {{fb|ISR}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|3–1 || [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)|1978 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align=center|42 || 3 April 1977 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|98|| {{fb|JPN|variant=1947}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–0 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align=center|43 || 26 June 1977 || [[Hong Kong Stadium]], Hong Kong 
| align="center"|100|| {{fb|HKG|1959}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–0 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align=center|44 || 17 July 1977 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|102|| {{fb|LBY|1972}} || align=center|2–0 || align="center" |4–0 || [[1977 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|45 || 22 July 1977 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|104|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|3–1 || align=center|5–1 || 1977 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|46 || 24 July 1977 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|105|| {{fb|Burma|1974}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|4–0 || 1977 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|47 || 31 July 1977 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|108|| {{fb|IRQ|1963}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–0 || 1977 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|48 || 27 August 1977 || [[Sydney Sports Ground]], [[Sydney]], Australia 
| align="center"|109|| {{fb|AUS}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–2 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align=center|49 || 3 September 1977 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|110|| {{fb|THA}} || align=center|3–0 || align=center|5–1 || [[1977 President's Cup Football Tournament|1977 Korea Cup]]
|-
| align=center|50 || rowspan="2"|5 September 1977 || rowspan="2"| [[Daegu Civic Stadium]], [[Daegu]], South Korea 
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 111|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|IND}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan="2" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="2"|1977 Korea Cup
|-
| align=center|51 || align="center" |3–0
|-
| align=center|52 || 13 September 1977 || Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 
| align="center"|112|| {{fb|MAS}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|3–0 || 1977 Korea Cup
|-
| align=center|53 || 5 November 1977 || [[Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/kuwait-v-korea-republic-05-november-1977-234500/ |title=Kuwait v Korea Republic, 05 November 1977 |publisher=11v11 |access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> [[Kuwait City]], Kuwait 
| align="center"|115|| {{fb|KUW}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|2–2 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align=center|54 || 19 July 1978 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|121|| {{fb|JPN|variant=1947}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|4–0 || [[1978 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|55 || 22 July 1978 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|122|| {{fb|IRQ|1963}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center|2–0 || 1978 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|56 || 25 July 1978 || Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
| align="center"|123|| {{fb|IDN}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|2–0 || 1978 Merdeka Tournament
|-
| align=center|57 || 11 December 1978 || [[Chulalongkorn University Stadium]], Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|127|| {{fb|BHR|variant=1972}} || align=center|3–0 || align=center|5–1 || [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|58 || 17 December 1978 || Bangkok, Thailand 
| align="center"|130|| {{fb|CHN}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center|1–0 || 1978 Asian Games
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Korea University'''
*[[Korean National Football Championship|Korean National Championship]]: 1974<ref name="1974Cha"/>

'''Korea Trust Bank'''
*[[Korean National Semi-Professional Football League|Korean Semi-professional League (Spring)]]: 1976<ref name="1976Cha"/>

'''ROK Air Force'''
*[[Korean National Football Championship|Korean National Championship]] runner-up: 1976<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1976111000209208001&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-11-10&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=16956&publishType=00020 |title=Korea University became champions after defeating Air Force |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |language=ko |date=10 November 1976 |access-date=2 October 2019}}</ref>

'''Eintracht Frankfurt'''
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1979–80 UEFA Cup|1979–80]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec197980.html |title=European Competitions 1979-80 |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=2 January 2020 |first=Karel |website=[[RSSSF]] |last=Stokkermans}}</ref>
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1980–81 DFB-Pokal|1980–81]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesd/dfbcup/dfb8.html |title=(West) Germany - DFB Cup History 1980-90 |date=1 February 2001 |access-date=2 January 2020 |first=Andreas |website=[[RSSSF]] |last=Werner}}</ref>

'''Bayer Leverkusen'''
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1987–88 UEFA Cup|1987–88]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198788.html |title=European Competitions 1987-88 |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=2 January 2020 |first=James |website=[[RSSSF]] |last=Ross}}</ref>

'''South Korea U20'''
*[[AFC U-19 Championship|AFC Youth Championship]] runner-up: [[1971 AFC Youth Championship|1971]], [[1972 AFC Youth Championship|1972]]<ref name="1971Youth"/><ref name="1972Youth"/>

'''South Korea'''
*[[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]: [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html |title=Asian Games 1978 |date=1 March 2018 |access-date=2 January 2020 |first1=Erik |last1=Garin |first2=Karel |website=[[RSSSF]] |last2=Stokkermans}}</ref>
*[[AFC Asian Cup]] runner-up: [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/72asch.html |title=Asian Nations Cup 1972 |date=12 June 2009 |access-date=2 January 2020 |first1=Majeed |last1=Panahi |first2=Pieter |website=[[RSSSF]] |last2=Veroeveren}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[IFFHS World's Best Player|IFFHS World's Player of the 20th Century]] 60th place: 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iffhs.de/?42d03e32a16f43809fa3c17c13c09e20a15ff3c09f32b17f7370eff3702bb0a35bb6e28fc380de43110f83d00e1a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008091522/http://www.iffhs.de/?42d03e32a16f43809fa3c17c13c09e20a15ff3c09f32b17f7370eff3702bb0a35bb6e28fc380de43110f83d00e1a |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 October 2007 |title=The World's best Player of the Century |publisher=IFFHS |date=4 January 2000 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS World's Best Player|IFFHS Legends]]: 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players |publisher=IFFHS |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref>
*[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] Asia's Player of the 20th Century: 1999<ref name="IFFHS"/>
*[[IFFHS World Team|IFFHS Asian Men's Team of the 20th Century]]: 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1089 |title=IFFHS ASIA MEN TEAM OF THE XXth CENTURY (1901-2000) |publisher=IFFHS |date=2021-05-08 |access-date=2021-05-12}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS World Team|IFFHS Asian Men's Team of All Time]]: 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1144 |title=IFFHS ALL TIME ASIA MEN'S DREAM TEAM |publisher=IFFHS |date=2021-06-11 |access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>
*[[World Team of the 20th Century|MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century]]: 1998<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/international/1998/may15.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221145250/http://www.soccertimes.com/international/1998/may15.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 1999 |title=Ramos, Balboa named to MasterCard CONCACAF 20th Century team. |work=Soccer Times|date=15 May 1998 |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>
*[[ESPN]] Best Asian Footballer of All Time: 2015<ref name="ESPN"/>
*[[KFA Awards#Best XI (1969–1988)|Korean FA Best XI]]: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978<ref name="MVPCha"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1972122800209208004&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1972-12-28&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=15767&publishType=00020 |title=The press corps selected the best XI, and Park Lee-chun became the most valuable footballer of the year |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=28 December 1972 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1974122400329206028&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1974-12-24&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=9000&publishType=00020 |title=The press corps selected the best XI, and Byun Ho-young became the MVP |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=24 December 1974 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1976012800329206016&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-01-28&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=9333&publishType=00020 |title=Kim Ho-kon was selected as the most valuable footballer by the press corps |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=28 January 1976 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1977020800209208009&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-02-08&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=17031&publishType=00020 |title=Choi Jong-duk was selected as the footballer of the year by the press corps |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[The Dong-a Ilbo]] |date=8 February 1977 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1977122600329208005&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-12-26&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=9922&publishType=00020 |title=Cho Young-jeung was selected as the MVP by football journalists |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=26 December 1977 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1979011600329208009&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1979-01-16&officeId=00032&pageNo=8&printNo=10243&publishType=00020 |title=The MVP Kim Jae-han and the best XI |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=16 January 1979 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[South Korean Footballer of the Year|Korean FA Most Valuable Player]]: 1973<ref name="MVPCha"/>
*[[KFA Awards#Hall of Fame|Korean FA Hall of Fame]]: 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kfa.or.kr/fb_info/db_report_view.asp?tcode=007&idx=17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204084142/https://www.kfa.or.kr/fb_info/db_report_view.asp?tcode=007&idx=17 |script-title=ko:'축구 명예의 전당'에서 한국 축구의 전통 세워나간다. |language=ko |publisher=KFA |date=23 November 2006 |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=4 December 2010}}</ref>
*[[Korean National Semi-Professional Football League|Korean Semi-professional League (Spring)]] Best Player: 1976<ref name="1976Cha"/>
*[[Korean Sport & Olympic Committee|Korean Sports Hall of Fame]]: 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hero.sports.or.kr/v2015/index.jsp |title=Korean Sports hero Hall of Fame |language=ko |publisher=KOC |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031070153/http://hero.sports.or.kr/v2015/index.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' Team of the Season: [[1979–80 Bundesliga|1979–80]], [[1985–86 Bundesliga|1985–86]]<ref name="kicker80"/><ref name="kicker86"/>
*[[Eintracht Frankfurt]] All-time XI: 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/saeulen-der-eintracht-wiedersehen-der-legenden-in-u-bahn-station-12036749.html |title=A reunion of legends in the subway station |newspaper=Faz.net |language=de |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=3 November 2019|last1=Heinrich |first1=Simon }}</ref>

'''Records'''
*Youngest player in the world to reach [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|100 international caps]]: 24 years, 35 days{{refn|group=note|name=100caps}}
*[[South Korea national football team records and statistics#Top goalscorers|South Korea all-time top goalscorer]]: 58 goals<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kfa.or.kr/archive/etc_record.php |publisher=KFA |title=KFA Archives |language=ko |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>

===Manager===
'''Hyundai Horang-i'''
*[[Korean League Cup]] runner-up: [[1993 Korean League Cup|1993]]

'''Suwon Samsung Bluewings'''
*[[Pan-Pacific Championship]]: [[Pan-Pacific Championship 2009|2009]]
*[[A3 Champions Cup]]: [[2005 A3 Champions Cup|2005]]
*[[K League 1]]: [[2004 K League|2004]], [[2008 K League|2008]]
*[[Korean FA Cup]]: [[Korean FA Cup 2009|2009]]
*[[Korean League Cup]]: [[2005 Korean League Cup|2005]], [[2008 Korean League Cup|2008]]
*[[Korean Super Cup]]: 2005

'''Individual'''
*[[K League All-Star Game|K League All-Star]]: 1992, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009<ref>{{cite news |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1992072200329119014&editNo=15&printCount=1&publishDate=1992-07-22&officeId=00032&pageNo=19&printNo=14473&publishType=00010 |script-title=ko:프로축구 올스타戰 오늘 동대문구장서 |website=Naver |publisher=Kyunghyang |language=ko |date=1992-07-22 |access-date=2024-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bluewings.kr/news/273229 |script-title=ko:차범근 감독, 수원 선수들과 함께 K리그 올스타전 참가! |publisher=Suwon Samsung Bluewings |lang=ko |date=2005-08-10 |access-date=2024-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0000351765 |script-title=ko:'진공청소기' 김남일, 올스타전 최고 득표 |publisher=OhmyNews |lang=ko |date=2006-08-09 |access-date=2024-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/07/30/2007073000491.html |script-title=ko:K리그 올스타전에 나설 별들 확정 |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |lang=ko |date=2007-07-30 |access-date=2024-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFMS02/?match_card_id=10733 |title=JOMO CUP 2008 |lang=ja |publisher=J.League Data Site |access-date=2024-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFMS02/?match_card_id=11553 |title=JOMO CUP 2009 |lang=ja |publisher=J.League Data Site |access-date=2024-06-19}}</ref>
*[[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] Coach of the Month: February 1997, May 1997, September 1997<ref>{{cite web |title=Thai hero Piyapong takes award |url=http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/april97/frame.r2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980514221659/http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/april97/frame.r2.html |publisher=AFC |archive-date=14 May 1998 |access-date=16 August 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rising star Nakata wins prize after debut |url=http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/july97/frame.r3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980514222250/http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/july97/frame.r3.html |publisher=AFC |archive-date=14 May 1998 |access-date=16 August 2020 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Perfect Cha is unbeatable |url=http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/Nov97/frame.r3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980514222801/http://www.asian-football.com/afc/pub/Nov97/frame.r3.html |publisher=AFC |archive-date=14 May 1998 |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>
*[[AFC Annual Awards#Coaching awards|AFC Coach of the Year]]: 1997<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/as-poy.html |title=Asian Player of the Year |date=18 January 2018 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[K League Manager of the Year Award|K League 1 Manager of the Year]]: [[2004 K League|2004]], [[2008 K League|2008]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/general/news/read.nhn?oid=047&aid=0000054888 |title=The 2004 K League Awards became a festival of Suwon |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[OhmyNews]] |date=15 December 2004 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/general/news/read.nhn?oid=076&aid=0001976962 |title=Cha Bum-kun received the manager award |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Sports Chosun]] |date=9 December 2008 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>
*[[Korean FA Cup]] Best Manager: [[Korean FA Cup 2009|2009]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=140&oid=003&aid=0002946808 |title=Cha Bum-kun received the best manager award |language=ko |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[Newsis]] |date=8 November 2009 |access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of top international men's football goal scorers by country|List of top international men's football goalscorers by country]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* [https://www.kfa.or.kr/archive/player_record.php?search_val=%EC%B0%A8%EB%B2%94%EA%B7%BC Cha Bum-kun] at [[Korea Football Association|KFA]] {{in lang|ko}}
* {{NFT player}}
* {{Fussballdaten}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=Gold
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{{1979–80 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{1985–86 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{Korea Football Association Footballer of the Year}}
{{AFC Coach of the Year}}
{{K League 1 Manager of the Year}}
{{Korean Sports Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=South Korea squads
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{{South Korea squad 1972 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{South Korea squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{South Korea squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Ulsan Hyundai FC managers}}
{{South Korea national football team managers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cha, Bum-kun}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hwaseong, Gyeonggi]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:South Korean men's footballers]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:South Korea men's international footballers]]
[[Category:South Korean football managers]]
[[Category:SV Darmstadt 98 players]]
[[Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players]]
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in West Germany]]
[[Category:1972 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:South Korea national football team managers]]
[[Category:Ulsan HD FC managers]]
[[Category:Suwon Samsung Bluewings managers]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Footballers from Gyeonggi Province]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate sportspeople in West Germany]]
[[Category:South Korean Christians]]
[[Category:Korea University alumni]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea]]
[[Category:Asian Games footballers for South Korea]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1978 Asian Games]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1978 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in China]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:South Korean expatriate sportspeople in China]]
[[Category:Shenzhen F.C. managers]]
[[Category:20th-century South Korean sportsmen]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in football]]