Choi Sung-kuk facts for kids
Choi with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2011
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Choi Sung-kuk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Seoul, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.72 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Second striker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2006 | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i | 84 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | → Kashiwa Reysol (loan) | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 49 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | → Gwangju Sangmu (draft) | 48 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 12 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 201 | (31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | South Korea U17 | 6 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | South Korea U20 | 20 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2006 | South Korea U23 | 40 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2011 | South Korea | 26 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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| Choi Sung-kuk | |
| Hangul |
최성국
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| Hanja |
崔成國
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| Revised Romanization | Choe Seong-Guk |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Sŏngguk |
Choi Sung-kuk (born February 8, 1983) is a former South Korean football player. He played as a second striker, which is a forward player who plays just behind the main striker. His professional football career ended due to serious rule violations.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Choi Sung-kuk was born in Seoul, South Korea. He started playing football at Donggok Elementary School. When he played for Jeongmyeong High School, his amazing talent earned him the nickname "Korean Maradona." After high school, Choi studied at Korea University for two years.
Journey Through Club Football
Choi joined the K League club Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I on February 27, 2003. He quickly got used to playing professionally. In his first season, he scored seven goals. He was even considered for the K League Young Player of the Year award.
In his second year, Choi played for the Olympic team, which made it hard to focus on his club. He scored only one goal in 19 league games. In 2005, he was loaned to J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol in Japan for five months.
The next year, Choi showed great improvement. He became the top goalscorer in the 2006 Korean League Cup. He also had a memorable game in the 2006 AFC Champions League. He helped Ulsan win 6–0 against Al-Shabab, scoring two goals himself. After the 2006 season, he moved to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.
After the 2007 season, Choi tried out for Championship team Sheffield United in England. However, the club decided not to sign him. Choi stayed in South Korea and played in the 2008 Jomo Cup. This cup was between all-star teams from the K League and J.League. He helped the K League win 3–1, scoring a goal and making an assist. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match. In December 2008, Choi joined the military football team Gwangju Sangmu to complete his military service.
Before the 2011 season, Choi moved to Suwon Samsung Bluewings and signed a three-year contract. He was even chosen as the new captain for Suwon. However, his professional football career ended shortly after this. He was removed from his team and lost his captaincy. Later, FIFA gave him a lifelong ban from all football activities.
Playing for His Country
Choi started playing for South Korea at a young age. While in high school, he was called up to the South Korean under-17 team. He played in the 1998 AFC U-16 Championship and scored two goals in six games.
He was part of the South Korean under-23 team for the 2002 Asian Games. His team finished in third place, earning a bronze medal. He then won the 2002 AFC Youth Championship with the South Korean under-20 team.
In March 2003, Choi was called to the senior national team for the first time. He played his first game in a 0–0 draw against Colombia. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a 1–0 win against Oman. This was during the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification. Even with an injury, he played for the under-20 team in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. FIFA even named him one of twelve notable players from the tournament.
Choi also played in the 2004 Summer Olympics. South Korea reached the quarter-finals in that competition.
He was also part of South Korea's team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. He scored a goal in the first match against Saudi Arabia. South Korea finished third in the tournament, beating Japan for the bronze medal.
Life Outside Football
Choi Sung-kuk comes from a family of athletes. His mother, Kim Jae-young, was an artistic gymnast. His father played field hockey when he was in school. Choi's father, who worked as a bus driver, taught him to be humble. In December 2005, Choi married Kwak Seon-hye, and they became parents a year later.
Choi is a Christian. After his football career ended, he started working as a clerk in a hospital. In April 2016, he became a commentator for the sports website Spoplay.
Honours
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
- K League 1: 2005
- Korean Super Cup: 2006
- A3 Champions Cup: 2006
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
- AFC Champions League: 2010
South Korea U20
- AFC Youth Championship: 2002
South Korea U23
- Asian Games bronze medal: 2002
South Korea
- AFC Asian Cup third place: 2007
Individual Awards
- Korean FA Cup top goalscorer: 2001
- K League All-Star: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Korean League Cup top goalscorer: 2006
- K League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2008
See also
- In Spanish: Choi Sung-kuk para niños
