Nam Tae-hee (32, Yokohama F. Marinos) is highly regarded in Japan, comparable to Shinji Kagawa (34, Cerezo Osaka), a former member of the European Football Association (ESM) Team of the Year.
Yokohama F. Marinos won 3-0 at home against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2023 J-League Cup on September 10. Offensive midfielder Nam Tae-hee scored a goal five minutes into the second half.
Nam Tae-hee scored his debut goal in Japanese soccer after only two games as a starter. Japanese magazine ‘Soccer Digest’ said, “A monster has appeared in Marinos’ midfield. He praised her, saying, “When he’s at his best, he makes me feel like Shinji Kagawa.”
Nam Tae-hee is playing in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the 2023 J-League Cup against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. Photo = Yokohama F. Marinos official website
Shinji Kagawa shines in the ▲2011-12 ESM Best 11 ▲2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) International Player of the Year Award ▲2015-16 German Bundesliga Best 11 ▲2021 International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Asia’s Best 11 of all time.
Eight years ago, Germany was ranked second in the UEFA league rankings. Nam Tae-hee ended his 10-season and 12-year relationship with Al Duhail (Qatar) and signed a contract with Marinos until next season.
Japan is 3rd in the 2023-24 Asian League rankings, and Qatar is 5th. ‘Soccer Digest’ highly praised Nam Tae-hee, saying, “I was naturally amazed by his sharp dribble penetration, brilliant mid-distance shot, and threatening ball touch to the opponent.”
Nam Tae-hee joined Al Duhail and won the Qatari first division league in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2023. Al Duhail’s only wins in the Stars League without Nam Tae-hee were in 2011 and 2020.
In the history of the Stars League, Nam Tae-hee in the 2016-17 season was the first and still the last time that a player from an Asian country other than Qatar won the official MVP award.
‘Soccer Digest’ said, “He attacks quickly (without dragging it unnecessarily) while rarely losing the ball. “He is capable of scoring with his great individual ability, but he doesn’t overshoot his shots,” he said, summarizing the effects that Marinos can expect from acquiring Nam Tae-hee.
Nam Tae-hee contributed to Al Sadd regaining the top spot in the Qatar Stars League for the first time in two years in the 2020-21 season, showing that he can play outside of Al Duhail and increasing his value on the West Asian stage.스포츠토토
The attack points per 90 minutes of Qatar professional soccer, including the cup competition, is 0.67, and if limited to Al Duhail, it is 0.71. He also proved his international competitiveness by being selected as an AFC Champions League All-Star two times in a row in 2018 and 2019.
It was with Nam Tae-hee that Al-Duhail succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League for five consecutive years in the 2015-2019 season and the semifinals of the 2022 season.
Nam Tae-hee is a bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and runner-up at the 2015 Asian Cup. ▲Recorded 3 goals and 5 assists in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers ▲1 point in the AFC Asian Cup finals ▲1 point in the Olympic qualifiers.
Marinos started this season by winning the Japanese Super Cup, overcame the disappointment of being eliminated in the round of 32 of the FA Cup, and is attempting to win three domestic competitions by finishing second in the J1 League and advancing to the semifinals of the J League Cup.
In the 2023-24 AFC Champions League round of 40 group stage, it is in Group G with ▲Shandong Taishan (China) ▲Kayailoilo (Philippines) ▲Incheon United (South Korea).