Choi Yong-soo


Choi Yong-soo is a South Korean professional football manager and former player. He competed for South Korea at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Playing career

Choi played as a striker for Anyang LG Cheetahs in South Korea's K League. In 2000, he led Anyang to the K League title, receiving the K League MVP Award. He is considered one of the FC Seoul's legends.
Choi also played for the South Korean national team in 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Managerial career

Choi was appointed as the assistant coach of FC Seoul in August 2006, and was promoted as the caretaker manager in April 2011. He was finally named a permanent coach after leading Seoul as a caretaker manager during the 2011 season. He led his team to the 2012 K League title and the 2013 AFC Champions League Final. They drew all two matches of the Champions League final against Guangzhou Evergrande, a Chinese club led by Marcello Lippi, but couldn't get the title due to the away goals rule. Nevertheless, Choi was named the AFC Coach of the Year.
On 21 June 2016, he was officially appointed as the manager of a Chinese club Jiangsu Suning. He finished as runner-up in the Chinese Super League and the Chinese FA Cup. On 1 June 2017, he officially resigned from Jiangsu Suning.
On 11 October 2018, Choi was officially reappointed as the manager of FC Seoul, which was being threatened with relegation. On 9 December 2018, Choi won the relegation playoffs against Busan IPark, successfully keeping Seoul in the K League. On 30 July 2020, he resigned from Seoul due to his poor results in the 2020 season.
On 17 November 2021, Choi started to manage Gangwon FC. On 14 June 2023, Choi was replaced by Yoon Jong-hwan at Gangwon FC.

Personal life

Choi divorced his wife in November 2006 after a 15-month-long marriage. His former wife, a one-time contestant in a Miss Korea pageant, went through the legal procedures to take half the estate properties under Choi's name per their prenuptial agreement.
In Australia and Pakistan, Choi is known as "Younis Choi", given to him in recognition of his low, swerving shots on goal – much like the signature delivery bowled by Pakistani cricketer Waqar Younis.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
131 January 1995Hong Kong11–01–01995 Lunar New Year Cup
228 May 1997Daejeon, South Korea72–04–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
328 May 1997Daejeon, South Korea73–04–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
414 June 1997Suwon, South Korea92–03–01997 Korea Cup
524 August 1997Daegu, South Korea122–04–1Friendly
66 September 1997Seoul, South Korea141–03–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
76 September 1997Seoul, South Korea142–03–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
86 September 1997Seoul, South Korea143–03–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
912 September 1997Seoul, South Korea151–02–11998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1011 October 1997Almaty, Kazakhstan181–01–11998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1118 October 1997Tashkent, Uzbekistan191–05–11998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1218 October 1997Tashkent, Uzbekistan193–05–11998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1327 January 1998Bangkok, Thailand211–02–01998 King's Cup
1429 January 1998Bangkok, Thailand222–02–01998 King's Cup
1531 January 1998Bangkok, Thailand231–11–1
1998 King's Cup
167 February 1998Auckland, New Zealand241–01–0Friendly
1718 April 1998Skopje, Macedonia302–12–2Friendly
1827 May 1998Seoul, South Korea342–22–2Friendly
192 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand391–02–31998 Asian Games
202 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand392–02–31998 Asian Games
214 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand402–04–01998 Asian Games
224 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand404–04–01998 Asian Games
237 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand411–02–01998 Asian Games
247 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand412–02–01998 Asian Games
2511 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand431–01–01998 Asian Games
2613 September 2001Daejeon, South Korea542–22–2Friendly
2713 November 2001Gwangju, South Korea551–01–1Friendly

Honours

Player

FC Seoul
Sangmu FC
South Korea U20
South Korea
Individual

Manager

FC Seoul
Jiangsu Suning
Individual