Now he is plotting Australia's downfall.
It was mid-December 1996, when Shin scored his third and final goal for the Korea Republic's national team.
The venue was Dubai, the occasion the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals and after Shin's goal put his nation 2-1 up Khodadad Azizi equalised early in the second half and then, in one of the finest individual performances in the history of the tournament, Ali Daei scored four times in the final 24 minutes to round out a 6-2 win.
The attacking midfielder retired shortly afterwards and his nation failed to reach the Asian Cup final in their subsequent four attempts – now Shin and Korea are within touching distance of an elusive third continental title.
In the intervening years the 44-year-old has had a series of interactions with Australia that will mean he has more knowledge than most of Saturday's opponents.
An ill-fated stint with the then Queensland Roar lasted just one match as an ankle injury forced him into retirement at the age of 34.
He was offered and accepted a spot on Roar's coaching staff before a four-year spell in charge of Seongnam in his homeland from 2008 to 2012 that featured several clashes with Australian clubs and an Asian Champions League title in 2010.
In the half decade or so since he left Australia he believes the game here has come along in leaps and bounds, as he told TWG.
"Compared to when I was first in Australia the nation has improved out of sight; of course physically the side is always very good but now tactically things are really improving."
"Nowadays the players are technically good and the systems and tactics have improved dramatically."
When Hong Myung-bo left the Korean national team after the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Shin was handed temporary control of the side and he is now entrusted as Uli Stielike's number 2 and knows just how difficult an opponent Australia will be in the final.
"Australia is really rising as a force in Asia, they are now a formidable opponent and we know just how hard a challenge this match will be – we have to be at our absolute best," he said.
While Korea claimed the first two editions of the Asian Cup they did so at a time when the tournament was played as a four-team round robin and Shin feels that winning this evening would go down as one of his nation's finest footballing achievements – and it comes with an added incentive.
"It's been a long time since we've won the Asian Cup and it's going to be a very tough game, a good game and this is the final step in our goal at this tournament."
"Obviously by winning it also means you qualify for the Confederations Cup and reaching that has a great significance too given that it will be a year before the World Cup in Russia and the ideal preparation for that tournament."
