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Cho Won-hee

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Cho Won-hee
Born (1983-04-17) April 17, 1983 (age 43)
South Korea
Occupation(s)Professional footballer (retired), YouTuber
Years active2001–2021
Known forPlaying as right-back and defensive midfielder; YouTube football training and commentary


Template:Infobox football biography Template:Infobox Korean name Template:Family name hatnote

Cho Won-hee (Template:Korean, Korean pronunciation: [tɕo.wʌn.ɦi]; born on April 17, 1983) is a retired South Korean professional football player who operated primarily as a right-back or defensive midfielder. Throughout his career, he accumulated significant playing time with multiple K League teams and also competed abroad in leagues across England, China, and Japan.[1]

In addition to his on-field achievements, Cho has gained recognition in South Korea as an online personality. He manages a popular YouTube channel where he shares specialized training content—often collaborating with fellow footballer and YouTuber Lee Min-a—as well as commentary on both domestic and international football and insights from his own playing career.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Early development

During his youth and as he approached the start of his professional journey, Cho frequently operated as a forward. For instance, while playing for South Korea's U-20 team, he was also deployed on the left wing. In 2001, after plans to join a university football program—commonly pursued by Korean players to enhance their skills—did not materialize, Cho signed with Ulsan Hyundai, a leading club in the K League known for its success. Following his professional debut with the Horangi, in 2003 Cho opted for a loan move to the army-affiliated squad Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix to fulfill his mandatory military service while gaining more consistent playing time.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

After completing two years of military service at Gwangju, Cho transferred from Ulsan to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2005. This transfer was among several high-profile acquisitions that contributed to the team earning the nickname "Real Suwon" during that season’s regular campaign.

Initially, Cho played primarily as a right wing-back or right full-back at the Big Bird Stadium, competing for playing time with Song Chong-Gug. However, in 2007, following a long-term injury to defensive midfielder Kim Nam-Il, Cho was repositioned to fill that midfield role. Throughout that season, he appeared somewhat unsettled in this new position, with fans particularly noting concerns regarding his passing precision.

Despite this, Cho demonstrated marked progress the next year and reestablished himself as a key first-team player. Suwon enjoyed one of its most successful seasons, securing both the K League championship and the Korean League Cup. At season’s end, Cho earned a place in the league’s Best XI, alongside teammates Lee Woon-jae, Mato Neretljak, and Edu. Opting not to extend his contract with Suwon, he entered free agency and began exploring more ambitious opportunities.

Wigan Athletic

Following strong showings for both Suwon and the national side, Cho attracted interest from multiple European clubs, including Germany’s Schalke 04 and France’s AS Monaco. After undergoing a trial with Monaco in January 2009, he pursued another trial with English Premier League club Wigan Athletic, since Monaco had already filled all their non-EU player registrations. Impressing during his trial period with the Tics, Cho secured a work permit and officially signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Wigan on 6 March 2009.

Initially assigned to Wigan’s reserve team, Cho made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool, where he contributed an assist. A few months later, during an international friendly versus Iraq, he suffered a calf injury that was expected to sideline him for the rest of the season. However, he fully recovered in time to make his Premier League debut in the final game of the 2008–09 season against Stoke City.

Overall, Cho’s appearances for Wigan remained limited due to injury setbacks and competition within the squad.

Loan Return to Suwon Bluewings and Exit from Wigan

Seeking increased game time, Cho consented to a one-year loan move back to Suwon Bluewings in January 2010.

Appointed as team captain, he made twenty appearances and netted one goal during a season in which the Blue Wings excelled in both domestic and continental competitions—they secured the Korean FA Cup, advanced to the semi-finals of the K-League Cup, and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League—although they concluded the K League campaign in seventh place.

Following the completion of his loan period, Cho returned to England and subsequently parted ways with Wigan upon contract expiration. During his tenure with the Tics, he accumulated a limited total of five first-team appearances, comprising one start and four substitute entries.

Guangzhou Evergrande

On 13 February 2011, Cho transferred on a free move to Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Evergrande, becoming the club’s second Korean player after Park Ji-Ho. He distinguished himself by being the sole player to participate in all 30 matches throughout the 2011 season.

During the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League on 30 May 2012, Cho sustained a rib fracture in Guangzhou’s 1–0 victory over Japanese side FC Tokyo. His incomplete recovery from this injury led to losing his starting position to compatriot Kim Young-Gwon, who joined the squad in August that year.

Despite these setbacks, Cho contributed notably to Guangzhou’s consecutive league championship triumphs in 2011 and 2012, as well as capturing both the Chinese FA Cup and Super Cup titles in 2012.

Wuhan Zall

On 28 November 2012, Chinese club Wuhan Zall officially announced Cho’s acquisition on a free transfer.

Although regularly featured and entrusted with the captaincy, Cho was unable to significantly influence Wuhan’s performance during their inaugural Super League season in 2013. The club struggled throughout the campaign and ultimately finished at the bottom of the standings, resulting in relegation to China League One after just one year following promotion.

Gyeongnam FC

In February 2014, Cho returned to South Korea on loan to Gyeongnam FC, marking his first stint back in the country after four years abroad.

During his short tenure with Changwon, he appeared in twelve matches. Despite his involvement, the team faced difficulties throughout the K League Classic season and ultimately fell short in the promotion-relegation playoff against Gwangju FC.

Omiya Ardija

On 4 July 2014, Cho transferred to Japanese club Omiya Ardija for the remainder of the season.

Unfortunately, this period proved challenging as well; limited by fitness concerns, he participated in only four games. The club finished sixteenth out of eighteen in the J League 1, narrowly missing survival by a single point. This marked Cho’s third consecutive relegation within a two-year span.

Seoul E-Land FC

On 5 February 2015, Cho embraced a fresh start by joining the newly formed Seoul E-Land, which was preparing for its inaugural campaign in the K League Challenge.

Having regained full fitness, Cho played a significant role throughout the season. Seoul E-Land secured fourth place but were eliminated in the playoffs by eventual champions Suwon FC due to ranking criteria. Nevertheless, Cho, along with teammates Kim Jae-sung and Joo Min-kyu, earned spots in that year’s Best XI. Additionally, he achieved personal milestones for most appearances (37) and goals (5) within a single season.

Third spell with Suwon Bluewings and initial retirement

Following his revitalizing period in the South Korean capital, which is also his hometown, Cho rejoined Suwon Samsung at the start of 2016 for a third stint. Over nearly three years with the Blue Wings, although his playing time gradually diminished, his contributions were instrumental in winning the Korean FA Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, among other accomplishments.

One memorable incident during this final chapter involved an unfortunate moment of misfortune: in the 89th minute of Suwon’s seventeenth match of the 2017 season against Gangwon FC, Cho attempted to block a cross by Im Chan-ul. His header unintentionally altered the ball’s path and resulted in an unusual own goal, leading to a 3–3 draw. This event remains widely remembered by football supporters nationwide, with Cho frequently invited to discuss and humorously reflect on the mishap.

On 31 March 2019, Cho officially retired from professional football during a special ceremony held at Suwon World Cup Stadium just before a league fixture against Incheon United.

A fresh chapter with Suwon FC and final retirement

Following an 18-month hiatus from professional play, Cho made an unexpected return by relocating once again to Gyeonggi city, albeit joining a different club this time. On 22 July 2020, it was officially confirmed that he would become a player-coach for Suwon FC, the city’s second professional football team. This move reunited him with head coach Kim Do-kyun, his former teammate from his early days at Ulsan, with Cho providing support in a coaching capacity throughout the remainder of the 2020 K League 2 season.

During his six-month tenure with the Dashers, Cho appeared in just two matches. On 1 August, he started the home fixture against Ansan Greeners but received a yellow card and was substituted off for Lee Ji-hun at the 40th minute, as Suwon FC suffered a 1–2 defeat. Later, on 24 October, he entered as a substitute for Lee at the 77th minute during an away game versus Jeju United, though the team fell 0–2. In both appearances, Cho was deployed in his original role as right-back. Additionally, he was listed on the bench for five consecutive matches between 21 September and 10 October. Suwon FC concluded the season successfully by securing second place in the league and triumphing over Gyeongnam in the final playoff, earning their second promotion to the K League’s top division.

Despite limited impact on the field, Cho made a notable contribution off it. On 4 January 2021, he donated his entire performance bonus of 20 million won (approximately $18,365) back to Suwon FC to support their sporting accomplishments during the 2020 campaign. He declared that this special fund would be allocated toward enhancing their youth development programs. The following day, Cho shared a video on his personal YouTube channel explaining his motivation behind this generous gesture and simultaneously announced his formal retirement from professional football at age 37.

With this decision, Cho Won-hee concluded an 18-year-long career spanning multiple leagues across South Korea, England, China, and Japan, accumulating a total of 352 appearances and scoring 10 goals.

Under-20

Early in his career, Cho frequently represented the South Korean U-20 national squad. Under manager Park Sung-hwa, he was selected for the FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup) in 2003. He participated in three out of four matches as South Korea advanced from the group stage by ranking among the top four third-placed teams but were ultimately eliminated in the round of 16 by Japan.

Senior team

After his notable displays with Sangmu and Suwon, Cho entered the consideration pool for the South Korea senior national football team starting in 2005. The Dutch coach Jo Bonfrère was the first to call up the Blue Wings player to the senior squad, starting him in an unofficial friendly against North Korea on 14 August 2005. Additionally, Cho was included on the bench three days later during a 0–1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Bonfrère’s resignation soon after that match led to his replacement, fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat, who awarded Cho his official international debut on 12 October 2005 in a friendly versus Iran. During this game, Cho also netted his first and only goal for South Korea: within seconds of kickoff, his shot deflected off a defender and found the net. This strike is believed to be among the fastest goals ever scored by the South Korean national team, excluding unrecorded matches from the 1950s and 1960s.

Cho participated extensively in South Korea’s preparations for the 2006 World Cup and appeared in their opening match of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification, a 2–1 away victory over Syria. Although Advocaat selected him in the final 23-man squad for the tournament in Germany, Cho did not feature in any games. South Korea was eliminated at the group stage, and Advocaat resigned shortly after.

Under another Dutch coach, Pim Verbeek, Cho continued to feature in qualifiers for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. However, due to tactical choices and difficulties at Suwon, he ultimately missed out on participating in the continental championship.

In 2008, following a resurgence in form, Cho attracted attention from new head coach Huh Jung-moo and earned renewed opportunities at international level. While not consistently a starter under Huh, he played in numerous matches during the World Cup qualifying campaign and was instrumental in South Korea’s triumph at the 2008 East Asian Football Championship held in Chongqing.

Despite some injury setbacks—including one sustained during a friendly against Iraq—and limited minutes at his then club Wigan, Cho remained a trusted member of Huh Jung-moo’s squad. His versatility helped South Korea secure qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, he was omitted from the final tournament roster. South Korea advanced past the group stage but were defeated 2–1 by Uruguay in the round of 16.

Cho’s final appearance for South Korea took place on 18 November 2009 in an international friendly against Serbia, which ended in a 0–1 loss. He concluded his international career with 36 caps and one goal. Primarily deployed as a right-back, Cho was occasionally positioned as a defensive midfielder by Huh Jung-moo following his successful transition to that role while at Suwon.

International goals

The following list presents South Korea's goals first in the scoreline.
Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
12 October 2005 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea Template:Fb 1–0 2–0 Friendly

Club career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
South Korea League KFA Cup League Cup Asia Total
2002 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i K League 1 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2003 Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo 23 2 0 0 — — 23 2
2004 10 0 0 0 11 0 — 21 0
2005 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 20 0 2 0 9 0 31 0
2006 23 0 2 0 4 0 — 29 0
2007 14 0 2 0 5 0 — 21 0
2008 25 1 1 0 10 0 — 36 1
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2008–09 Wigan Athletic Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2009–10 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
South Korea League KFA Cup League Cup Asia Total
2010 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 20 1 6 0 colspan="2"|— 26 1
China PR League FA Cup CSL Cup Asia Total
2011 rowspan=2 Guangzhou Evergrande rowspan=3 Chinese Super League 30 0 2 0 — — 32 0
2012 17 0 2 0 — 7 0 26 0
2013 Wuhan Zall 29 0 0 0 — — 29 0
South Korea League KFA Cup League Cup Asia Total
2014 rowspan=1 Gyeongnam FC rowspan=1 K League 1 12 0 0 0 colspan="2"|— colspan="2"|— 12 0
2014 rowspan=1 Omiya Ardija rowspan=1 J1 League 4 0 0 0 colspan="2"|— colspan="2"|— 4 0

2015

Seoul E-Land FC

rowspan="1"

K League 2

38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | —

colspan="2" | —

37 | 5 |

2016

rowspan="3"

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

rowspan="3"

K League 1

26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2" | —

5 | 0 | 26 | 1 |

2017

11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" | —

3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |

2018

23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" | —

6 | 0 |

colspan="13" Retirement

2020

Suwon FC

rowspan="1"

K League 2

2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | —

colspan="2" | —

2 | 0 |

rowspan="3"

Total

colspan="2"

South Korea

248!! 10!! 13!! 0!! 45!! 00!! 14!! 00!! 320!! 10

colspan="22" England

5!! 00!! 00!! 00!! 00!! 00!! colspan="22" —

!

5!! 00!!

colspan="22" China PR

76!! 00!! 04!! 00!! 00!! 00!! 07!! 00!! 87!! 00!!

colspan="3" Career total

329!! 10!! 17!! 00!! 45!! 00!! 21!! 00!! 412!! 10!!


Honours

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Guangzhou Evergrande

South Korea

Individual Achievements

  • Selected for 2008 K League 1 Best XI (with Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
  • Named in 2015 K League 2 Best XI (representing Seoul E-Land FC)

Television appearances

Year Program Role Remarks Reference
2021 Golden Eleven 2 Consultant [2]
2021–Present Let's Play Soccer 2/Gentlemen's League 2 Cast member Serving as commentator and defensive coach
2022 Hole-in-One [3]

References

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

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