Haha yes indeed. Now let's hear everybody say it, Let's Go Metz!!! Seriously, good deal for both sides. Metz got him cheaply, Ahn gets to start and play good opponents.
I don't think Ahn does what he says. He'd rather play in J-league than getting a chance at playing in Europe with less money. I don't blame him though.
Finally some good news regarding this guy. I hope this works out well. Maybe Ahn will be primed and ready for WC2006.
Maybe the first time he's backed up his words. Anyway, I won't rest assured until I see him holding up the uniform.
http://sports.chosun.com/news/news.htm?name=/news/sports/200507/20050712/57l08002.htm Ahn interview. He was most attracted by Fc Metz offer due to the biggest chance to play the first-team football. One rather interesting/dubious thing to note is that he may end up at Udinese instead of FC Metz, due to his previous connection with Cosmi - but I think it's rather dodgy to change the club to go to this late in the process.
sorry i couldn't translate this sooner for y'all. major hangover today. this is great news. he's gotta get out of Nippon. kinda moot now, after all the other good links (thanks to those who posted them) but here's what the French article said (not anything important) if anyone was still curious: FC Metz has South Korean attacker Ahn Jung-Hwan in its sights. 29 years old, the Korean international was a hero of World Cup 2002. Notably, he scored the goal that eliminated Italy. Ahn, who plays in Japan, after having been with Perugia, is at the end of his contract with his club. After having tried to recruit Andrés Mendoza, FC Metz may well have found their new attacker. In matters concerning Ahn Jung-Hwan; if his name does not illicit high praise, this South Korean attacker has however made a mark in the history of international football. Indeed, it was he who tortured Italy by scoring the golden goal at the 2002 World cup. 3rd Korean at Metz Jung-Hwan played with Perugia from 2000 to 2002, but was forced to leave the Calcio following his exploits at the World cup. The Italians reproached him for scoring his goal. The South Korean striker therefore left for Japan. Having come to the end of his contract with his club (Yokohama F-Marinos), Ahn very much interests FC Metz and would meet two other Koreans who play in the CFA. ******************************** Le FC Metz a en ligne de mire l'attaquant sud-coréen Ahn Jung-Hwan. A 29 ans, l'international a été le héros de la Coupe du Monde 2002. Il avait notamment marqué le but qui avait éliminé l'Italie. Le joueur qui évolue au Japon après être passé par Pérouse, est en fin de contrat avec son club. Après avoir essayé de recruter Andrés Mendoza, le FC Metz pourrait bien avoir trouvé son attaquant. Il s'agit d'Ahn Jung-Hwan. Si son nom ne dit pas grand chose, cet attaquant international sud-coréen a pourtant marqué l'histoire du football international. En effet, il avait été le bourreau de l'Italie en marquant le but en or lors de la Coupe du monde 2002. 3e Coréen à Metz Jung-Hwan a joué à Perouse de 2000 à 2002, mais il avait été obligé de quitter le calcio à la suite de son exploit en Coupe du monde. Les Italiens lui reprochant son but. Le buteur sud-coréen était alors parti au Japon. Arrivé en fin de contrat avec son club (Yokohama F-Marinos), Ahn Jung-Hwan intéresse beaucoup le FC Metz et retrouverait alors deux autres Coréens qui évoluent en CFA.
An other article by Reuters about Ahn and FC Metz He took the plane to France yesterday evening to pass the medical check and sign his contract (one year). There are still somme discussion about his salary. http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/050711/26/8aet.html Football: le Sud-Coréen Ahn Jung-hwan signe à Metz lun 11 jui, 08h55 SEOUL (Reuters) - Le buteur sud-coréen Ahn Jung-hwan, qui s'était illustré à la Coupe du monde de football 2002 en inscrivant le but en or contre l'Italie en huitième de finale, est sur le point de rejoindre le club du FC Metz, en première division française, confirme son agent. "Nous confirmons qu'un accord pour un contrat d'un an a été trouvé avec Metz mais nous négocions toujours les détails de salaire", a déclaré à Reuters Yang Myung-ky, l'agent du joueur. Ahn a évolué ces trois dernières saisons au Japon. Il jouait l'an dernier dans le club champion du Japon en titre, Yokohama F-Marinos, avec lequel il est en fin de contrat. Le joueur de 29 ans, qui avait contribué à l'excellent parcours des Sud-Coréens en 2002 (demi-finale), a quitté son pays pour Paris le week-end dernier afin de passer une visite médicale. And from L'Equipe: http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/20050711_080801Dev.html Ahn proche du FC Metz Le buteur sud-coréen Ahn Jung-hwan devrait rejoindre le FC Metz dans les jours à venir. Son agent, cité par l'agence britannique Reuters, a indiqué dimanche qu'il était d'accord avec le club lorrain pour un contrat d'un an. Mais la négociation salariale n'est pas terminée. Metz n'aura pas à verser d'indemnité de transfert puisqu'il est en fin de contrat avec le club japonais des Yokohama F-Marinos. Ahn a pris l'avion dimanche soir pour Paris, où il est attendu pour une visite médicale. Agé de 29 ans, ancien joueur de Pérouse, il s'était fait connaître lors de la Coupe du monde 2002 en incrivant le but en or lors d'un huitième de finale mémorable contre l'Italie (2-1). Depuis, indésirable en Série A italienne, il a poursuivi sa carrière au Japon, à Shimizu S-Pulse puis à Yokohama. Carlo Molinari avait reconnu, dans "L'Equipe" de dimanche, les contacts avec ce joueur au fort potentiel commercial dans la péninsule coréenne. Même perturbé par une série de blessures, Ahn a inscrit 30 buts en 72 matches au Japon.
This is not too bad I guess. But if he went to Udinese I don't think he'll get much playing time as they've got decent attackers already.
Ahn's new kit: Home: http://www.subsidesports.com/uk/images/product/large/FCMetzHSS0405.gif Away: http://www.fcmetz.com/upload/boutique/maillotext.JPG
Maybe he wants to get away from the spotlight...lol I'm surprised that Hertha didn't try to get him. Cheap striker, and he's better than every striker we have at the moment. And we are in UEFA Cup, and are very close to contending for German title. Now he goes to a team that are still VERY possible to go down to Ligue 2. But one year contract, he can leave and go wherever he wants to afterwards. Shrewd move by Metz though, didn't see this coming.
Those are some ugly ass kits. But don't worry, Ahn will make it look prettier since he is the pretty-boy afterall.
FSC usually has a weekend game or two of Ligue Un, but I don't remember them ever having Metz on....maybe this year they will
Apparently Ahn didn't like the food while in Italy. He said that he ate only chocolates and ice cream. Maybe overstatement, but if true, it is rather pathetic, and it might help to explain why he has trouble running for 90 minutes. Let's hope he finds something in France that is better for a footballer.
Man, if the guy couldn't get used to Italian food, how the heck is he going to adjust to French food? Italian food actually goes really well with Kimchi btw. The garlic and the peppers of kimchi really matches well with tomato based Italian sauces and dishes.
he can just go to the local mcdonalds. haha. they pretty much taste the same across the globe. haha. go to france, eat shite american fast food all the time. haha.
Maybe Ahn lacks cultural appreciation. Maybe it would be best for him to play at the Galaxy in MLS. This way, he would be assured of playing time and he wouldn't have to worry about relegation. And most importantly, he can enjoy his Korean food, and have all the ice cream, chocolate, and fast food he wants. But maybe his love of chocolate is what brought him to France in the first place. But if Metz does get relegated, I don't know how high his stock would be even if he impresses at the World Cup. He should stay away from those truffles and chocolates. He'll probably make the next World Cup team for Korea, but I sure hope Bonfrere comes to his senses.