Choi Yong-soo
Overview
Choi Yong-soo (born September 10, 1973) is a former South Korean football player and current coach. During his playing career, his position was striker. He played as an iconic player for FC Seoul in the K League, gaining fame as a representative goal scorer of the K League in the early 2000s. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, serving as manager for FC Seoul and Gangwon FC, among others, and nurturing future talents.
Main Content
Playing Career
Choi Yong-soo began his professional career by joining LG Cheetahs (now FC Seoul) in 1994. He established himself as a starting striker from 1995, and in 1999, he scored 23 goals in the K League, winning the top scorer award. Particularly in the early 2000s, he was active as a leading striker for Korean football alongside Ahn Jung-hwan and Lee Dong-gook. In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, he was selected as a national team player, contributing to the team's advancement to the round of 16, and scored crucial goals, including the winning goal in the group stage match against Poland.
Choi Yong-soo's playing style was characterized by powerful shooting, excellent positioning, and high goal-scoring ability. In particular, his right-footed shots combined accuracy and power, earning him a reputation as the best shooter in the K League. Additionally, his heading ability, utilizing his tall height (184 cm), was outstanding. He played over 300 matches for FC Seoul, scoring more than 100 goals, and remains the club's greatest striker in its history.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player in 2010, Choi Yong-soo began his coaching career as a coach for FC Seoul. In 2011, he was promoted to manager of FC Seoul, leading the team. In his first season as manager in 2012, he won the K League title, demonstrating his excellent leadership. He subsequently led the team to top-tier finishes in 2013 and 2015, and notably achieved the runner-up position in the AFC Champions League in 2013. His coaching style is known for emphasizing offensive tactics and communication with players.
In 2016, after stepping down as FC Seoul manager, Choi Yong-soo took over as manager of Gangwon FC in 2017. At Gangwon FC, he succeeded in elevating a mid-table team to the upper ranks, leading them to a runner-up finish in the K League in 2018. However, he resigned in 2019 due to poor performance. In 2021, he managed Yanbian Longding in the Chinese Super League, but the contract was terminated early due to the team's financial issues.
National Team Career
Choi Yong-soo played for the South Korean national team from 1995 to 2003, appearing in 69 A-matches and scoring 27 goals. In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, he played as a starting striker, contributing to the team's legendary semi-final run. In particular, his winning goal in the group stage match against Poland remains a memorable moment in Korean football history. He also participated in the 2000 Asian Cup and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Latest Trends
As of 2024, Choi Yong-soo is not currently serving as a manager for any specific team, focusing instead on football commentary and running a football academy. He works as a football commentator for broadcasters such as KBS N Sports, providing in-depth analysis based on his experience. Additionally, he operates the Choi Yong-soo Football Academy to develop youth football and nurture future players. In 2025, he is strongly expected to be inducted into the K League Hall of Fame, and as a club legend for FC Seoul, he participates in various events.
Related Topics
- [[FC Seoul]]
- [[2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan]]
- [[K League]]
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