Nam Tae-hee

Nam Tae-hee (Hangul: 남태희; Hanja: 南泰熙; ; born 3 July 1991 in Busan) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays for J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos and the South Korea national team. Besides South Korea, he has played in England, France, and Qatar.
He is a versatile midfielder and can play as attacking midfielder or central midfielder. He is known for his honed technique, smooth movement, and dribbling.
Club career
Nam played in the Reading's Youth Academy through KFA Youth Project. In July 2009, his first professional contract signed in France with Valenciennes FC. He played his debut on 8 August 2009 against AS Nancy and is currently the youngest Asian player to play in the Ligue 1 at age 18.
In the winter break of the 2011–12 season, Nam agreed to leave Ligue 1 for Qatar Stars League giant Lekhwiya SC on 26 December 2011.
Lekhwiya
Nam made his debut on 1 January 2012 against Al Kharitiyath. He scored his first league goal from a free kick on 19 January 2012.
He made his AFC Champions League debut on 7 March 2012, scoring the only goal against Saudi Al Ahli, thereby scoring the first ever goal for Lekhwiya in any regional competition.
Al Sadd
On 8 February 2019, Al Sadd SC announced that they acquired Nam from fellow Qatari club Al-Duhail SC. Under their agreement, Nam will join Al Sadd in the 2019–20 season and will play for them for three years.
Return to Al-Duhail
On 8 July 2021, Nam returned to Al-Duhail after two years.
On 30 July 2023, Al-Duhail confirmed that Nam would leave the club.
Yokohama F. Marinos
On 1 August 2023, Nam signed with J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos.
International career
Nam has represented South Korea at U-13, U-15 and U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. He made his debut for the Korean senior team on 9 February 2011 in a friendly against Turkey.
Nam represented South Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He appeared as a substitute as Korea beat Japan in the bronze medal match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
On 22 December 2014, Nam was named in South Korea's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup held in Australia. In the team's second group match, Nam scored the only goal as Korea defeated Kuwait 1–0 to ensure qualification to the knockout stage. On 20 November 2018, it was announced that Nam would miss the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the UAE after being ruled out for six months because of a knee injury.
Career statistics
Club
Updated 15 April 2023.
International goals
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.
Honours
Lekhwiya/Al-Duhail
Qatar Stars League: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2022-23 Qatar Stars League
Emir of Qatar Cup: 2016, 2018, 2022
Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2015, 2016
Qatar Cup: 2013, 2015, 2018
Al-Sadd
Qatar Stars League: 2020–21
Emir of Qatar Cup: 2020, 2021
Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2019
Qatar Cup: 2020, 2021
South Korea U23
Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2012
South Korea
AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015
Individual
Qatari Footballer of the Year: 2017
AFC Champions League All-Star Squad: 2018, 2019
Background
Nam is hailed as the 'Korean Messi' by Valenciennes fans and has also been touted as a 'magician' and 'wonderkid'. He was Most Valuable Player three times in his youth career in the National Championships in South Korea. Nam became the youngest Korean footballer to play in a professional league in Europe as a result of this game. He is known for his very energetic playing style.
References
External links
Nam Tae-hee – National Team Stats at KFA
1991 births
Living people
Men's association football midfielders
South Korean men's footballers
South Korea men's youth international footballers
South Korea men's under-23 international footballers
South Korea men's international footballers
South Korean expatriate men's footballers
Valenciennes FC players
Al-Duhail SC players
Al Sadd SC players
Ligue 1 players
Qatar Stars League players
Expatriate men's footballers in England
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in England
Expatriate men's footballers in France
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in France
Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Qatar
Expatriate men's footballers in Japan
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Japan
Footballers from Ulsan
Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
2015 AFC Asian Cup players
Olympic footballers for South Korea
Olympic medalists in football
Olympic bronze medalists for South Korea
Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Uiryeong Nam clan