- Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose is a German footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, as well as the German national football team. He was the top scorer and thus the Golden Boot winner of the 2006 World Cup hosted by his country Germany, with 5 goals. Klose also scored 5 goals in his debut World Cup, the 2002 World Cup hosted jointly by the Korea Republic and Japan, giving him a total of 10 goals in World Cup finals.
- Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink (born 8 November 1946 in Varsseveld) is a Dutch football manager. He managed PSV Eindhoven between 2002-2006. Throughout his entire managerial career, he is best recognised for leading South Korea to a 4th place finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, managing the Netherlands into the same position in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, …
- Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung (born February 25, 1981 in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do) is a South Korean football player who currently plays for Manchester United, and is widely regarded as the best Asian footballer currently playing in Europe. Park is extremely popular among South Koreans and fans of PSV Eindhoven for being pivotal in helping take South Korea to the Semi-Finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, PSV Eindhoven to the Semi-Finals in the UEFA Champions League, …
- Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata, is a Japanese former football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation. Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S. Roma in 2001, played for Japan in three FIFA World Cup tournaments(1998, 2002 and 2006) and played in the Olympics twice (1996 and 2000).
- Oliver Neuville
Oliver Patric Neuville is a Swiss-German football player. He was born of a German father and an Italian mother in Locarno, Switzerland. His name (properly pronounced in French – not German – fashion) stems from his Belgian grandfather. He has one son Lars-Oliver (*1997). Neuville started his career in his native Switzerland with Servette (1992-96). He also played in Spain for Tenerife (1996-97), …
- Gilberto Silva
Gilberto Aparecido da Silva, commonly known as Gilberto Silva, is a Brazilian football (soccer) player. He has played most of his club football for the English club Arsenal, as a defensive midfielder. Gilberto was raised in a poor family and as a child he balanced playing football with various labour jobs. He began his football career in 1997 with América Mineiro, where good form earned him a move to Atlético Mineiro in 2000.
- Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson (born August 29, 1976) is a Danish professional footballer, who plays for Spanish side Villarreal CF in the Spanish La Liga championship. Playing either as a striker or an attacking midfielder, Tomasson is known for his positional strength and fine finishing. His most notable run of football came in his years at Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam, with whom he won the 2002 UEFA Cup, and Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the 2003 UEFA Champions League.
- Cobi Jones
Cobi Jones (born June 16, 1970 in Detroit, Michigan) is one of the most recognizable and successful American soccer players of all time. Jones is currently the all-time leader of the United States national team in appearances, with 164 caps as of the end of 2004 (scoring 15 goals). He played for the team in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He also represented his country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
- Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assís Moreira is a Brazilian footballer, also known as Ronaldinho "Gaúcho" (due to him being from the Rio Grande do Sul state of Brazil), or simply and most commonly Ronaldinho. He became a naturalized Spanish citizen in January 2007. Ronaldinho, meaning "little Ronaldo", is better known in Brazil by the nickname Ronaldinho "Gaúcho", in order to distinguish him from Ronaldo (already called Ronaldinho in Brazil).
- Ebbe Sand
Ebbe Sand (born July 19, 1972) is a Danish former professional football player who most notably played as a striker for FC Schalke 04 in Germany. He was the German Bundesliga top scorer in 2001, and he won the German Cup in 2001 and 2002 with Schalke. On the international stage, he represented the Denmark national football team at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup, …
- Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol i Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He is a regular in the Spanish national team. Puyol played for Spain at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup; Puyol has been capped over 60 times. He has also played for the unofficial Catalonia national football team in one friendly.
- Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team. He won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 as a player and coached the national team to second place at the 2002 World Cup. He was born in Hanau, Hesse.
- Luca Toni
Luca Toni, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI (born May 26, 1977 in Pavullo nel Frignano, Modena) is an Italian football striker who plays for FC Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. Something of a late bloomer who played for almost ten clubs before finally settling, Toni was also a part of the Italian winning team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Raúl González
Raúl González Blanco, usually referred to simply as Raúl, is a Spanish football forward. He has been playing for Real Madrid at senior level since 1994, where he is the team captain. He has played more than 100 games for the Spanish national team, and is its all-time leading goal scorer with 47 goals. He represented Spain in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
- Lee Woon-Jae
Lee Woon-Jae (born April 26, 1973 in Cheongju) is a South Korean football player with the Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the Korean K-League as a goalkeeper. He is 182 cm in height and weighs 82 kg. He was part of Korea's 1994,2002, and 2006 World Cup campaigns. He moved to Suwon from Kyunghee University, making his debut for the K-League club in 1996.
- Junichi Inamoto
is a Japanese football player who plays in midfield for Eintracht Frankfurt.
- Dennis Rommedahl
Dennis Rommedahl (born July 22, 1978 in Copenhagen) is a professional Danish footballer, who is currently playing as a winger for Charlton Athletic in the English Premier League. He has represented the Danish national football team in more than 60 matches, scoring 15 goals, and Rommedahl was selected for the Danish squads at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004 tournaments.
- Hakan Şükür
Hakan Şükür, (born on September 1, 1971 in Adapazarı, Sakarya, Turkey to Albanian parents immigrants from Kosovo), is a Turkish footballer playing the striker position. He has received the nickname "King (Kral)" from his admirers. Along with then team-mate Gheorghe Hagi, he was a member of the UEFA Cup-winning Galatasaray side of 2000. He is remembered by supporters for his scoring in European competition that year, including his superb goals against Leeds United, …
- Hwang Sun-Hong
Hwang Sun-Hong was a South Korean football player; he announced his international retirement following the end of the 2002 World Cup tournament.
- Christoph Metzelder
Christoph Metzelder (born November 5, 1980 in Haltern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) is a football defender for Real Madrid. Metzelder is also a part of the Germany national football team, with whom he has amassed a total of 32 caps. In the summer of 2000, Metzelder signed for Borussia, and he was an instant success. He not only won the German championships with BVB in 2002 as a regular first team player, he also reached the 2002 FIFA World Cup final with Germany.
- Lee Eul-Yong
Lee Eul-Yong is a South Korean football player for FC Seoul. He previously played for Anyang Cheetahs FC and Bucheon SK in the Korean K-League, and was part of the South Korean national team at the 2002 World Cup and was one of Guus Hiddink's favorite players. He is capable of scoring free kicks similar to David Beckham's. He is notable for his goal against Turkey in the 3rd place match in the 2002 Fifa World Cup.
- Roger Lemerre
Roger Lemerre (born June 18 1941 in Bricquebec, Manche) is a French football manager and former football player. He has managed the French national side, and is currently manager of the Tunisian national side. His professional playing career spanned 15 seasons, from 1961 to 1975: between 1961 and 1969 he played for Sedan and lose the Cup in 1965, before moving to Nantes (1968-1971), Nancy (1971-1973) and Lens (1973-1975). He won 6 caps for France between 1968 and 1971, …
- Anderson Polga
Anderson Corrêa Polga, usually called Anderson Polga or just Polga, is a Brazilian football defender. He currently plays in Portugal for Sporting, having previously played for Grêmio. He was a World Champion at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Anderson Polga is a central defender who oozes class.
- Philippe Troussier
Omar Troussier is a former French football (soccer) player and now a manager. Known as the "White Witch Doctor" for his success with African club teams such as Asec Abidjan of the Côte d'Ivoire and the national teams of Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso, Troussier is best known as a coach for his time spent with the Japanese national team. Troussier coached Japanese national team from 1998 to 2002, winning the 2000 Asian Cup, …
- Kim Tae-Young
Kim Tae-Young is a retired South Korean football player. He played mostly for Chunnam Dragons. He played for the South Korea national football team and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Juninho Paulista
Juninho, full name Osvaldo Giroldo Júnior, nicknamed Juninho Paulista, (born February 22, 1973 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian footballer. He has scored five goals in 50 games for the Brazilian national team, winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup championship and bronze medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics. During his career, Juninho has played for Brazilian clubs São Paulo FC, Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras, CR Flamengo, …
- Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, is a Brazilian professional footballer. He plays as a striker for Brazil and the Italian Serie A club AC Milan. He has been nicknamed "The Phenomenon". Pelé named him one of the 125 greatest footballers in March 2004. Ronaldo has enjoyed success at the international level, winning the 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cups with Brazil. Ronaldo has won three FIFA World Player of the Year awards (1996, 1997, 2002).
- Shinji Ono
is a Japanese football player, who plays as a midfielder for the Japanese national team and Urawa Red Diamonds of J. League Known as "Tensai", Japanese for "Genius", from his youth days, Ono is one of the biggest stars in Asian football, known for his vision and versatility, as well as his big smile. Although his primary position is attacking midfielder, he can play anywhere in the midfield, including defensive midfield and either wing.
- Paulo Wanchope
Paulo Cesar Wanchope Watson (born July 31, 1976) is a Costa Rican football player. As of February 2007 Wanchope is the second most prolific goalscorer in the history of the national football team (surpassed by Rolando Fonseca), with 45 goals in 72 international matches. Wanchope began his career with Club Sport Herediano, until he went to England to play with Derby County, in 1997, and for whom he scored a memorable goal against Manchester United on his debut, …
- Danny Mills
Daniel John "Danny" Mills (born May 18 1977 in Norwich, Norfolk) is an English professional footballer, who currently plays for Manchester City. His main position is right-back though he can also play in central defence.
- Gerald Asamoah
Gerald Asamoah (born October 3, 1978 in Mampong) is a Ghanaian-German football player. Born in Ghana, Asamoah and his family emigrated to Germany in 1990. He played for Hannover 96 before moving to FC Schalke 04 in 1999. He made his debut for Germany in 2001 against Slovakia, the first black player to ever play for the side (however, with Erwin Kostedde and Jimmy Hartwig, there were two previous German internationals who had one black and one white parent).
- Papa Bouba Diop
Papa Bouba Diop (born January 28, 1978 in Dakar) is a Senegalese footballer, who currently plays for the Senegal national football team, where he is currently the captain, and Fulham.
- Thomas Linke
Thomas Linke is a Defender for FC Bayern Munich and formerly of Germany, for which he played at Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Rivaldo
Vítor Borba Ferreira, commonly known as Rivaldo, is a Brazilian professional football (soccer) player, currently playing for AEK Athens in the Super League Greece. He most notably played five years with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he won the 1998 and 1999 Spanish La Liga championship and the 1998 Copa del Rey. He was honoured as FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year in 1999.
- Byron Moreno
Byron Aldemar Moreno Ruales (born November 23, 1969 in Quito) is a former Ecuadorian football referee, best known for officiating the Italy-South Korea match in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a match which South Korea won in extra time. In the game, South Korea were awarded an early penalty kick (which was saved), and Italian striker Francesco Totti, who had already been given a yellow card earlier in the game, …
- Pim Verbeek
Pim Verbeek (born March 12, 1956 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) is a Dutch football manager who is the current head coach of the South Korea national football team. Verbeek was also an assistant under predecessors Guus Hiddink in 2002 and Dick Advocaat in 2006. The Korea Football Association signed him to a coaching contract on June 26 2006 until 2008. He is currently coaching the national team and the Olympic team.
- Fernando Couto
Fernando Manuel Silva Couto, <small>OIH</small> (born 2 August 1969; pron. or ) is a Portuguese professional football player, who currently plays as a defender for Parma in the Italian Serie A championship. Couto has played in a number of top clubs in Portugal, Spain and Italy and he has won the national league title of each country, as well as the European UEFA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup trophies.
- Carsten Jancker
Carsten Jancker is a German professional footballer who is playing for the Austrian club SV Mattersburg. He played for Germany at Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup and has earned 33 caps, scoring 10 goals, for his country. A striker, Jancker is physically very large for a footballer, standing at 1.94m and weighing 93kg. His height and strength have proved to be an advantage when playing as a targetman, as displayed during his most successful days at Bayern Munich.
- Takayuki Suzuki
Takayuki Suzuki (鈴木隆行 "Suzuki Takayuki"; born June 5, 1976 in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese football player, currently playing for Yokohama F. Marinos. He played all four games at the 2002 World Cup, starting the first three and scoring in the 2-2 tie against Belgium.
- Christian Poulsen
Christian Bager Poulsen (born February 28, 1980) is a Danish professional football (soccer) player who currently plays for Sevilla FC. He has been a regular member of the Denmark national football team since his debut in 2001, and has played more than 40 matches, scoring two goals. He represented Denmark at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2004 European Championship tournaments. He was named 2005 and 2006 Danish "Player of the Year".