Cho Kwang-rae
FullnameCho Kwang-rae
Birth date19 March 1954 (age 72)
Birth placeJinju, Gyeongnam, South Korea
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
PositionAttacking midfielder
Youthyears 11971–1973[1]
Youthclubs 1Jinju High School
Collegeyears 11974–1977
College 1Yonsei University
Years 11978–1979
Clubs 1POSCO FC
Years 21980–1981
Clubs 2ROK Army (draft)
Years 31982–1987
Clubs 3Daewoo Royals
Caps 344
Goals 33
Nationalyears 11976
Nationalteam 1South Korea B
Nationalyears 21977–1986
Nationalteam 2South Korea
Nationalcaps 2100
Nationalgoals 215
Manageryears 11987–1992
Managerclubs 1Daewoo Royals (assistant)
Manageryears 21992
Managerclubs 2South Korea (assistant)
Manageryears 31992–1994
Managerclubs 3Daewoo Royals
Manageryears 41995–1997
Managerclubs 4Suwon Samsung Bluewings (assistant)
Manageryears 51999–2004
Managerclubs 5Anyang LG Cheetahs
Manageryears 62007–2010
Managerclubs 6Gyeongnam FC
Manageryears 72010–2011
Managerclubs 7South Korea
Cho Kwang-rae
Hangul%조광래
Hanja趙廣來

Cho Kwang-rae (Korean: 조광래, born March 19, 1954) is a former South Korean football midfielder and manager. He is the current director of Daegu FC.

International career

Cho was selected for the 1976 World University Football Championship in Uruguay. South Korea advanced to the final after defeating Brazil, Chile and the Netherlands. In the final against Paraguay, he won a crucial penalty and Paraguay forfeited the match after two players who did not accept the judgement were sent off for hitting the referee.[2]

Cho played for the senior national team in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Cho contributed to South Korea's draw by providing an assist against Bulgaria, but he scored a fatal own goal in the last match that South Korea lost 3–2 to Italy.

In the 1986 Asian Games, Cho consecutively scored team's first goals in the semi-finals and the final. South Korea won a gold medal in the tournament and Cho selected the final match against Saudi Arabia as the best match in his international career.[3]

Style of play

Nicknamed "The Computer" for his tactical acumen, Cho is regarded as one of the greatest South Korean midfielders ever.

Managerial career

Cho began his coaching career in the K League after his retirement, winning the league with the Anyang LG Cheetahs and turning a young Gyeongnam FC side, known as "Cho's Kindergarten", into title contenders.[4]

Cho assumed the South Korean national team head coach position after the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Huh Jung-moo's resignation. He tried to implement a tiki-taka-esque style of play on the Korean squad, which backfired badly. After losing to Lebanon in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, Cho was sacked.[5]

Career statistics

International

  • Appearances and goals by national team and year[6]
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    South Korea1977202
    1978153
    197954
    1980164
    1981110
    1982100
    1985130
    1986102
    Career total10015
  • Appearances and goals by competition
    CompetitionAppsGoals
    Friendlies140
    Minor competitions407
    Asian Games144
    AFC Asian Cup qualification20
    AFC Asian Cup50
    Summer Olympics qualification64
    FIFA World Cup qualification160
    FIFA World Cup30
    Total10015
    • Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
    List of international goals scored by Cho Kwang-rae
    No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    122 July 1977Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia9Indonesia2–05–11977 Pestabola Merdeka
    226 July 1977Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia10Burma3–04–01977 Pestabola Merdeka
    312 July 1978Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia24Japan1–04–01978 Pestabola Merdeka
    410 December 1978Bangkok, Thailand29Bahrain1–05–11978 Asian Games
    52–0
    68 September 1979Seoul, South Korea38Sudan6–08–01979 Korea Cup
    716 September 1979Incheon, South Korea40Bangladesh4–09–01979 Korea Cup
    86–0
    99–0
    1022 March 1980Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia44Japan2–03–11980 Summer Olympics qualification
    113–0
    1231 March 1980Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia47BRU1–03–01980 Summer Olympics qualification
    133 April 1980Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia48Indonesia1–01–01980 Summer Olympics qualification
    143 October 1986Seoul, South Korea99Indonesia1–04–01986 Asian Games
    155 October 1986Seoul, South Korea100Saudi Arabia1–02–01986 Asian Games

    Honours

    Player

    Yonsei University

    ROK Army

    Daewoo Royals

    South Korea B

    South Korea

    Individual

    Manager

    Anyang LG Cheetahs

    Gyeongnam FC

    South Korea

    Individual

    References

    1. ^ "ko:'영원한 진주 축구인' 파란만장 인생이야기" (in Korean). Gyeongnam Ilbo. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
    2. ^ "ko:한국 축구 첫 세계 제패는 1976년이었다" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 27 September 2010.
    3. ^ "ko:조광래는 누구인가? 축구 인생 '하이라이트 5선'" (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 21 July 2010.
    4. ^ "ko:경남을 누가 ‘조광래 유치원’이라 했나" (in Korean). Segye Ilbo. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
    5. ^ "ko:[뉴시스아이즈]미완성으로 끝난 조광래 '만화축구'" (in Korean). Newsis. 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
    6. ^ "Cho Kwang-rae at Korea Football Association" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
    7. ^ "ko:全國蹴球폐막 高大,3년만에 覇權" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 2 December 1974.
    8. ^ "ko:실업축구 충의·서울시청 공동우승" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. 24 March 1980. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
    9. ^ "ko:大統領杯 전국축구 延大 강호忠義꺾고 우승" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. 15 May 1980. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
    10. ^ Lee, Seung-soo; Schöggl, Hans; Trevena, Mark (13 May 2020). "South Korea - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
    11. ^ Lee, Seung-soo & Trevena, Mark (8 April 2020). "South Korea - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
    12. ^ Fujioka, Atsushi; Halchuk, Stephen; Stokkermans, Karel (25 March 2020). "Asian Champions' Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
    13. ^ "Universiade 1976". RSSSF. 14 November 2003.
    14. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (6 September 2018). "Asian Games". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
    15. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (7 February 2019). "Asian Nations Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
    16. ^ "ko:趙榮增 최우수選手로 新聞·通信 蹴球기자 선정" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 26 December 1977.
    17. ^ "ko:최우수선수 金在漢 蹴球베스트11 선정" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 16 January 1979.
    18. ^ "ko:최우수選手 朴成華 체육기자단 蹴球11" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 26 December 1979.
    19. ^ "ko:80最優秀선수 李榮武 蹴球기자단 選定…27일표창" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 21 January 1981.
    20. ^ "ko:축구 최우수선수 趙廣來 뽑혀" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 8 January 1982.
    21. ^ "ko:축구「베스트11」선정 축구 記者團" (in Korean). Naver. The Dong-a Ilbo. 17 January 1984. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
    22. ^ "ko:85축구 베스트11 선정" (in Korean). Naver. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 22 January 1986. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
    23. ^ "ko:축구「올해의 베스트11」선정" (in Korean). Naver. The Dong-a Ilbo. 17 December 1986. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
    24. ^ "ko:축구記者團 GK 趙炳得등 베스트11 선정" (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 26 September 1983.
    25. ^ "ko:[프로축구]80년대 vs 90년대 축구 왕별들 뜬다…15일 OB 올스타전" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. 2003-08-01. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
    26. ^ "ko:[프로축구 시상식] 최우수선수에 최용수" (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 26 December 2000.
    27. ^ "ko:김남일, 올스타 팬투표 최다 득표" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 2004-06-29. Retrieved 2025-05-28.