Choi Kang-hee (footballer)

Choi Kang-Hee
최강희
Personal information
Full name Choi Kang-Hee
Date of birth (1959-04-12) 12 April 1959
Place of birth Yangpyeong, South Korea
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Manager (Former Defender)
Club information
Current team
 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979 Hanil Bank ? (?)
1980–1982 ROK Army FC (military service) ? (?)
1983 POSCO Dolphins 3 (0)
1984–1992 Hyundai Horang-i 184 (10)
Total 187+? (10+?)
National team
1987 South Korea B
1988–1992 South Korea 40 (0)
Teams managed
1996–1997 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Trainer)
1998–2001 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Assistant)
2002–2003 South Korea U-23 (Assistant)
2003–2004 South Korea (Assistant)
2005–2011 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2011–2013 South Korea
2013– Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Choi Kang-Hee (Korean: 최강희) is a South Korean football manager, who is the current manager of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Club career statistics

All-Time Club Performance
Club Season League League Cup AFC Champions League Total
Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts
POSCO Dolphins 1983 3 0 0 - - - - - - 3 0 0
Total 300------300
Hyundai Horang-i 1984 26 0 2 - - - - - - 26 0 2
1985 21 0 2 - - - - - - 21 0 2
1986 16 0 1 15 0 2 - - - 31 0 3
1987 29 3 6 - - - - - - 25 3 6
1988 24 0 2 - - - - - - 20 0 2
1989 9 0 0 - - - - - - 9 0 0
1990 13 2 3 - - - - - - 13 2 3
1991 37 5 4 - - - - - - 37 5 4
1992 17 0 0 3 0 0 - - - 20 0 0
Total 18410201802---2021022
Career Totals 18710201802---2051022

Managerial career

Choi held his managerial post in charge of K League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for 6 years since 2005 which year he was appointed as new head coach. He focused on pursuing offensive tactics and as a result, the squad became much more aggressive and improved their goal scoring ability. He led Jeonbuk to the K League Championship twice in 2009 and 2011. He also led his team towards the AFC Champions league final but as a result, they lost to Qatari side Al Sadd.

Choi repeatedly turned down offers to become South Korea national football team head coach since former coach Cho Kwang-Rae was sacked. However, after being repeatedly offered the job, he had finally accepted the coaching offer. His post as the national team manager was officially announced on 21 December 2011.

On 25 February 2011, South Korean national football team won against Uzbekistan with the score of 4–2 in friendly match, marking Choi's first victory in his career as a national coach and making many fans look forward to his journey to the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, his team showed the poor performance in 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification match on 18 June 2013, which South Korea suffered the 1–0 defeat against Iran and almost failed to directly qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals.

Choi, a former player himself, firmly insisted that his reign would only last until the end of World Cup qualifying. "I asked that [the contract only runs until June 2013]. What we need to do is qualify for the World Cup finals for the eighth time in a row."My mission is to take the national team to the finals. After that, a foreign coach should take over the team. If the KFA does not accept this, I won't sign the contract.

Managerial statistics

As of 18 June 2013
Team From To Competition Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4 July 2005 21 December 2011 K League 188 79 51 58 303 245 +58 042.02
Korean FA Cup 5 3 0 2 10 6 +4 060.00
Asia 23 15 1 7 55 26 +29 065.22
Other[nb 1] 11 7 0 4 15 7 +8 063.64
Total 227 104 52 71 383 284 +99 045.81
South Korea 21 December 2011 18 June 2013 Competitive 9 5 2 2 15 7 +8 055.56
Friendlies 5 2 0 3 8 13 −5 040.00
Total 14 7 2 5 23 20 +3 050.00
Career totals League 188 79 51 58 303 245 +58 042.02
Cup 5 3 0 2 10 6 +4 060.00
Asia 23 15 1 7 55 26 +29 065.22
Other 11 7 0 4 15 7 +8 063.64
Competitive 9 5 2 2 15 7 +8 055.56
Friendlies 5 2 0 3 8 13 −5 040.00
Total 241 111 54 76 406 304 +102 046.06

Controversy

Prior to the final World Cup qualification match against Iran, Carlos Queiroz was offended by Choi Kang-Hee, the coach of South Korea, who complained that Iran did not provide the training facilities with sufficient qualities during Korea's away qualification match against Iran on 17 October 2012. Queiroz stated that Choi humiliated Iranian people and demanded the immediate apology. Choi instead stated that Iran seemed to be afraid enough to make unnecessary provocations and the team would have to watch the world cup from TV. In revenge, Queiroz pinned the sad face of Choi on his black polo shirt. Queiroz also offered to send Choi the jersey of Uzbekistan national football team as Choi stated he would defeat Iran to rather qualify for the World Cup finals with Uzbekistan.[1]

After Iran's victory against South Korea in their final qualification match, Queiroz showed his anger at the South Korean coach with a raised fist gesture which was deemed offensive by the Korean players and staff, almost causing a fight between the two teams. Queiroz had answered previously to Choi that Iran had fairly shared what they had with the Korean team on their visit to Iran.[2]

Honours

Managerial

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes K League Championship and FIFA Club World Cup.

References

  1. ↑ "Iran Carlos Queiroz offers South Korea coach obscene gesture after qualifying for World Cup". Yahoo Sports. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Iran Carlos Queiroz offers South Korea coach obscene gesture after qualifying for World Cup". Yahoo Sports. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
Awards
Preceded by
Inaugural K-League Cup MVP		 Professional Football Championship Most Valuable Player
1986 		Succeeded by
Last K-League Cup MVP
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