Korean soccer participant Koo Ja-cheol speaks throughout his retirement press convention on the Korea Soccer Affiliation Home in Seoul, Jan. 14. Yonhap
Koo Ja-cheol, captain for Korea on the 2014 FIFA World Cup, introduced his retirement from soccer Tuesday, with a second profession together with his former Okay League 1 membership awaiting him.
Koo, who turns 36 subsequent month, will work as a youth growth adviser for Jeju SK FC, the one Korean membership he performed for throughout his 17-year profession.
Two separate stints with Jeju bookended Koo’s time on the pitch. He was chosen within the third spherical by Jeju on the 2006 Okay League draft, and he would go on to play 4 seasons there earlier than taking his expertise to Germany.
Koo dressed for 3 golf equipment within the top-flight Bundesliga — VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg and Mainz 05 — between 2011 and 2019. Koo then performed for Al-Gharafa and Al-Khor in Qatar for 3 seasons, earlier than rejoining Jeju forward of the 2022 season.
Koo solely performed in 28 matches mixed from 2022 to 2024, together with solely three matches in his ultimate season, because of accidents.
„My physique would not maintain up any longer, be it my knees or my ankles,“ Koo stated throughout his press convention on the Korea Soccer Affiliation Home in Seoul. „Prior to now, every time I used to be injured, I might at the very least get a way of after I’d be capable to get well and return. Prior to now couple of years, it was tough to determine that timeline. I knew then I might dangle up the cleats and never have any regrets.
„It was all the time my dream to return to Jeju and retire right here,“ Koo continued. „I’m actually grateful that I used to be in a position to notice that dream.“
Koo additionally made his mark internationally. He was the highest scorer on the 2011 Asian Soccer Confederation Asian Cup with 5 targets, and helped Korea end in third place.
He captained the under-23 Korean squad to bronze medal on the 2012 London Olympics, the nation’s first and to date solely Olympic medal in soccer. The midfielder performed in each match and scored the second objective of Korea’s 2-0 win over Japan within the bronze medal contest.
Korean soccer participant Koo Ja-cheol bows throughout his retirement press convention on the Korea Soccer Affiliation Home in Seoul, Jan. 14. Yonhap
Requested how he’d wish to be remembered as a participant, Koo stated, „If individuals keep in mind me as somebody who performed on the primary group to win an Olympic soccer medal for Korea, that might make me actually glad.“
Two years later, Koo was named captain of the senior nationwide group for the 2014 World Cup. Korea solely managed a draw and two losses within the group stage, with Koo scoring in a 4-2 loss to Algeria within the second match.
Koo retired from worldwide play after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup within the United Arab Emirates, following Korea’s exit from the quarterfinals. He logged 76 caps and scored 19 targets for the Taegeuk Warriors.
In his post-playing profession, Koo will stick with Jeju SK FC and work with their youth growth program.
„I have been making ready for this second for a number of years. I wished to do one thing to assist develop and alter Korean soccer,“ Koo stated. „I do not need to rush into something. I’ll take my time and ensure I end what I begin. I do know I haven’t got all of the solutions. Out of respect to individuals who’ve been working with the membership, I’ll keep out of their means for the primary 12 months however assist them every time they want me.“
Based on the membership, Koo will assist Jeju observe within the footsteps of high European golf equipment, and set up robust youth growth and coaching packages.
Koo may even assist arrange alternatives for Jeju’s youth gamers to coach abroad and work with Jeju’s scouts to verify on overseas gamers.
Jeju additionally stated Koo will play an vital position within the membership’s advertising and marketing actions. (Yonhap)
