Football legend Cha receives German order of merit
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun received the Federal Cross of Merit from the German government Friday for his contribution to the relationship between the two countries.
German Ambassador to Seoul Stephan Auer delivered the decoration from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a ceremony at the German Embassy in Seoul.
Cha played in the Bundesliga in Germany from 1978 to 1989. Scoring 98 goals in 308 matches, he was rated as one of the best Asian players in the top German league.
He also won two UEFA Cups, one each with Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen.
Cha coached South Korea at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2017, he became the first football player to enter South Korea's Sports Hall of Fame.
Late former President Kim Dae-jung and late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan also received the order of merit.

South Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun, a German Bundesliga star in the 1980s, speaks during a media conference for the German Fest at Lotte World Tower in eastern Seoul on Oct. 4, 2019. (Yonhap)
(END)
-
N. Korea's Kim holds talks with Russian defense minister on strengthening military cooperation: state media
-
Late wife of Australian veteran of Korean War laid to rest in Busan
-
Remains of another Korean War soldier identified
-
(LEAD) Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Late wife of Australian veteran of Korean War laid to rest in Busan
-
24 teachers caught illegally selling exam questions to private educators
-
Remains of another Korean War soldier identified
-
(LEAD) Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
(LEAD) Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations
-
Allies vow stern measures against Russia-N. Korea arms deal
-
(LEAD) Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment
-
(2nd LD) U.S. finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding
-
(4th LD) Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official