He combined agility with strength, and his acrobatic dives earned him both the admiration of fans and the respect of strikers across Asia. His ability to read the game and organize the defense made him a de facto coach on the field. His performance in the tense 1997 World Cup playoff against Australia is often described as legendary. Dramatic 2-2 draw in Melbourne, which ensured their qualification on away goals, is still remembered as one of the most iconic moments in football.
