Cha Du-ri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cha Du-ri
차두리

Cha in 2006
Personal information
Date of birth	(1980-07-25) 25 July 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth	Frankfurt, West Germany
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Right-back, right winger
Youth career
1996–1998	Paichai High School [ko]
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2002	Korea University [ko]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Bayer Leverkusen	0	(0)
2002–2003	→ Arminia Bielefeld (loan)	22	(1)
2003–2004	→ Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)	31	(1)
2004–2006	Eintracht Frankfurt	56	(11)
2006–2007	Mainz 05	12	(0)
2007–2009	TuS Koblenz	61	(3)
2009–2010	SC Freiburg	23	(1)
2010–2012	Celtic	31	(2)
2012–2013	Fortuna Düsseldorf	10	(0)
2013–2015	FC Seoul	82	(2)
Total		328	(21)
International career
2001–2015	South Korea	76	(4)
Managerial career
2025–	Hwaseong FC
Medal record Men's football Representing  South Korea AFC Asian Cup Silver 2015 Australia Team Bronze 2011 Qatar Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cha Du-ri is a famous South Korean football manager and former player. He was born on July 25, 1980. He played in different positions like right back, right winger, and even striker.

Cha Du-ri was born in Germany. He is the first Korean player born outside of Korea to play in a FIFA World Cup. He even captained the national team in a big match against Uzbekistan in 2011. His father, Cha Bum-kun, is also a legendary football player. Cha Du-ri played for one of his father's old clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt.

Early Life and Background

Cha Du-ri was born in Frankfurt am Main, which was in West Germany at the time. His father, Cha Bum-kun, was playing football in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt. Cha Du-ri grew up in Germany while his dad played for Frankfurt and later for Bayer Leverkusen. He moved to South Korea when he was ten years old. His father described him as a very positive, open, and honest person.

Club Football Career

Cha Du-ri started his football journey at Korea University. He then began his professional club career in Germany.

Starting Out in Germany

Cha Du-ri joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2002. However, he was loaned out to Arminia Bielefeld for the 2002–03 season. He made his debut for Arminia Bielefeld on September 11, 2002, in a 1–1 draw. He quickly became a regular player. On January 25, 2003, he scored his first goal for the club. He played 22 games and scored once for Arminia Bielefeld.

Playing for Eintracht Frankfurt

After his loan, Cha Du-ri joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a two-year loan deal. This was special because his father had also played for this club. He made his debut for Frankfurt in a match against Bayern Munich. He often played as a striker during this time.

On February 22, 2004, he scored his first goal for Eintracht Frankfurt. The club was relegated to a lower league that season. After the loan, he joined Frankfurt permanently in 2004. He helped the team get promoted back to the top league in the 2004–05 season. He scored nine goals that season. In the 2005–06 season, he started playing more as a right-back. He played 30 games and scored three goals that season.

Time at Mainz 05 and TuS Koblenz

In 2006, Cha Du-ri moved to Mainz 05. He changed his position to right wingback. However, he had a foot injury that limited his playing time. He made 13 appearances for Mainz 05 before leaving when the club was relegated.

In 2007, he joined TuS Koblenz in the second division. He played in different attacking roles like right winger and supporting striker. On November 23, 2007, he scored his first goal for Koblenz. In the 2008–09 season, he had a great start, providing three assists in one game. He scored two more goals that season.

Moving to SC Freiburg

After two years at Koblenz, Cha Du-ri signed with SC Freiburg in 2009. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Hamburger SV. He scored his first goal for Freiburg, which was the winning goal, against Schalke 04. He played 25 games and scored once in his first season before an injury kept him out.

Playing for Celtic in Scotland

Cha with Celtic in 2010.

In 2010, Cha Du-ri moved to Celtic in Scotland. He was excited to play in the famous "Old Firm" derby. He joined his national teammate Ki Sung-yueng at the club.

He made his Celtic debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match in July 2010. He scored his first Celtic goal on December 26, 2010. In his first season, he played 21 games. In the 2011–12 season, he continued to face injuries and competition for his position. He was sent off in an "Old Firm" derby match in March 2012. He scored again for Celtic in April 2012.

Return to Germany with Fortuna Düsseldorf

In 2012, Cha Du-ri signed a two-year contract with Fortuna Düsseldorf, a newly promoted club in Germany. He made his debut for Fortuna Düsseldorf in September 2012. However, he had personal issues and preferred a defensive role, not wanting to play as a forward. He left the club in February 2013.

Playing in South Korea for FC Seoul

On March 25, 2013, Cha Du-ri signed with FC Seoul in South Korea. This was his first time playing professionally for a club in his home country. He made his debut for FC Seoul in April 2013. He played in the AFC Champions League Final that year.

In 2014, he continued to be a key player for FC Seoul. He played 37 games and was named in the K League 1 Best XI. He signed a new contract with the club. In 2015, he became the captain of FC Seoul. He scored his first goal for the club in July 2015 and another in September 2015. After playing 35 games and scoring two goals, Cha Du-ri announced his retirement from football on October 31, 2015. He won the Korean FA Cup with FC Seoul that year and was again named in the K League 1 Best XI.

International Career Highlights

Cha Du-ri was first noticed by coach Guus Hiddink in 2001. He was still playing amateur football when he made his debut for the national team. He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Costa Rica in April 2002.

FIFA World Cup Appearances

Cha Du-ri was part of the South Korea team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. South Korea surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals, beating strong teams like Spain and Italy. Their journey ended with a loss to Germany. Cha Du-ri also played in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, where he scored a goal against Kuwait.

He was not selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Instead, he worked as a commentator for TV broadcasts of the games. He returned to the national team in 2009.

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cha Du-ri played as an attacking right-back. He played his 50th game for South Korea in a match against Uruguay.

AFC Asian Cup and Retirement

Cha Du-ri was selected for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He played in every game as the team reached the semi-finals. He was made captain for the third-place match against Uzbekistan.

He was called up for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He played his last international game in the final match against Australia, where Australia won 2–1. He announced his retirement from international football after this match. He was also named in the AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament. He played one final friendly match against New Zealand, receiving a standing ovation when he left the field.

Personal Life

Cha Du-ri is the son of Cha Bum-kun, who is considered one of the greatest Asian footballers ever. Cha Du-ri is fluent in German and Korean, and also speaks English and Dutch.

Managerial Career

On December 6, 2024, Cha Du-ri was officially announced as the manager of Hwaseong FC. He started this role in the 2025 season.

Honours and Achievements

Cha Du-ri won many awards and titles during his career:

Eintracht Frankfurt

• DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2005–06

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League: 2011–12
• Scottish Cup: 2010–11
• Scottish League Cup runner-up: 2011–12

FC Seoul

• Korean FA Cup: 2015
• AFC Champions League runner-up: 2013

South Korea

• AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015

Individual Awards

• K League All-Star: 2013, 2014, 2015
• K League 1 Best XI: 2014, 2015
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2015

See also

In Spanish: Cha Du-ri para niños