Koo Ja-cheol
South Korean footballer (born 1989)
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Koo Ja-cheol (Korean: 구자철; Korean pronunciation: [ku.dʑa.tɕʰʌl] or [ku] [tɕa.tɕʰʌl]; born 27 February 1989) is a South Korean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Koo is considered one of the most successful South Korean players at the Bundesliga.[3][4] He made 211 Bundesliga appearances, while playing for VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg and Mainz 05.[5] On the international side, he won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and captained the South Korea national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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Koo with South Korea in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Koo Ja-cheol[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 February 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nonsan, Chungnam, South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Boin High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Jeju United | 67 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | VfL Wolfsburg | 32 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | → FC Augsburg (loan) | 36 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Mainz 05 | 39 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2019 | FC Augsburg | 104 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Al-Gharafa | 38 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Al-Khor | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Jeju United | 28 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 352 | (42) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | South Korea U20 | 16 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | South Korea U23 | 16 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2019 | South Korea | 76 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 November 2024 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
Koo started football at age ten when a nearby elementary school opened its football club. During his early youth career, he mostly played as a defender, often taking the role of sweeper.[6] While playing for Boin High School, he suffered from anemia, but contributed to the school's runner-up finish at the 2016 edition of the Baekrok High School Football Tournament, annually held in Jeju Island. At the competition, he grabbed the attention of Jung Hae-seong, then manager of Jeju United.[6]
Club career
Jeju United
In 2007, Koo was selected by Jeju United in the K League draft. He failed to make an impression in his first two years at Jeju due to numerous injuries. However, he slowly broke into the first team as a defensive midfielder.
In January 2010, Koo was reportedly invited by Blackburn Rovers for a trial, but the move did not happen.[7] That year, he spent a great season at Jeju instead, driving his club to an unprecedented runner-up finish. After the contribution, he received some individual awards from the league's federation, namely the Top Assist Provider Award and the FANtastic Player Award, as well as being selected for the Best XI.[8]
VfL Wolfsburg
On 30 January 2011, Koo moved to Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[9] On 12 February 2011, Koo made his Wolfsburg debut, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Hamburger SV.[10] However, he had difficulty competing for a starting position with his teammates during a year.
Loan to FC Augsburg
On 31 January 2012, he moved on loan to another Bundesliga club FC Augsburg.[11][12] On 18 February, he scored the equaliser outside the penalty area in a 4–1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.[13] On 17 March, Augsburg defeated Mainz 05 2–1 after he equalised with a lob outside the penalty area.[14] On 24 March, he provided an assist for the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Werder Bremen.[15] On 31 March, he scored the opening goal with a low shot from outside the penalty area, contributing to a 2–1 win over 1. FC Köln.[16] On 7 April, he scored the equaliser through Manuel Neuer's five-hole in a 2–1 defeat to Bayern Munich.[17] On 5 May, he scored the winning goal with a header in a 1–0 win over Hamburger SV.[18] He became Augsburg's top goalscorer with five goals in 15 appearances despite playing for them for only half a season.[19] He performed a significant part in helping Augsburg avoid relegation in their maiden Bundesliga season.[20]
In a DFB-Pokal match on 18 December, Koo was involved in an altercation with Bayern Munich's midfielder Franck Ribéry. After a disputed free kick, Koo confronted Ribéry and touched his face. Ribéry slapped Koo in response, and was sent off by referee Thorsten Kinhöfer.[21] Bayern Munich director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge demanded that the ejection be overturned, while Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes blamed both Koo and Ribéry, stating that although Koo had provoked Ribéry the latter should learn to not react under pressure.[22]
In his second season at Augsburg, Koo was plagued by injuries, but still helped his club survive relegation in the limited matches he played in.
Mainz 05
In the first half of the 2013–14 season, Koo returned to Wolfsburg, playing as a central midfielder or winger. However, he wanted more appearances, and preferred playing as an attacking midfielder like when he played for Augsburg.[23][24] On 18 January 2014, it was announced that he penned a four-and-a-half-year deal with Mainz 05.[25]
On 31 July 2014, Koo contributed to a 1–0 first-leg win by providing an assist in the third qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League against Asteras Tripolis.[26] In the second leg on 7 August, he scored his first Europa League goal, but Mainz 05 were eliminated from the tournament after losing 3–1 to Asteras.[27] During the 2014–15 season, he was used as a winger again to replace Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Nicolai Müller, who left the club,[28] having five goals and two assists in 23 league appearances.[29]
Return to FC Augsburg
On 31 August 2015, Koo rejoined Augsburg, and so Augsburg spent a season with three South Korean players, including Ji Dong-won and Hong Jeong-ho.[30] On 12 September, he provided an assist for the opening goal with a backheel in a 2–1 defeat to Bayern Munich.[31] On 23 September, he won a penalty against Granit Xhaka, but it was insufficient to reverse the club's defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach.[32] On 21 February 2016, he scored a solo goal after starting to sprint behind the half-way line in a 1–0 win over Hannover 96.[33] On 6 March, he became the first-ever player to score a Bundesliga hat-trick for Augsburg,[34] giving them a 3–0 lead in a match against Bayer Leverkusen, which ended in a shocking 3–3 draw.[35] He had eight goals and four assists during 29 appearances at the 2015–16 Bundesliga.[36] He also participated at the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, the first UEFA competition in Augsburg's history.[37] They earned three wins and three losses in the group stage, succeeding in advancing to the knockout stage.[38] Afterwards, they lost 1–0 on aggregate to Liverpool in the round of 32.[39] At the end of the 2015–16 season, he was evaluated as the league's fifth best attacking midfielder by magazine kicker.[40]
On 3 February 2019, he achieved his 200th Bundesliga appearance against Mainz 05.[41] He left Augsburg by turning down a contract extension with the club after the 2018–19 season.[42][43] He wanted to contract with a higher-ranked club,[44] but finally joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa in August 2019.[45]
International career
Koo made his senior international debut on 17 February 2008, coming on as a substitute in South Korea's 3–2 victory over China at the 2008 EAFF Championship.[46] The following year, he captained South Korea to the quarter-finals of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring from the penalty spot in a 3–0 group-stage victory over the United States.[47][48]
Koo attended South Korea's final training camp before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but one of the last three players to be cut.[49][50] Later that year, Koo captained the under-23 team to bronze at the Asian Games, scoring three goals, including one in a 4–3 comeback victory over Iran in the bronze-medal match.[51][52]
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, coach Cho Kwang-rae moved Koo from a deeper midfield position into a withdrawn-forward role behind Ji Dong-won after Park Chu-young withdrew through injury, a change dubbed the "Koo shift" by the Korean press.[53] He played all six matches and scored four times in the group stage. After having South Korea's first attempt saved in the semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat by Japan,[54] he scored and assisted Ji in a 3–2 victory over Uzbekistan in the third-place match.[55] His five goals earned him the tournament's Golden Boot as South Korea finished third.[56]
Koo again served as captain at the 2012 Olympic tournament, appearing in all six matches.[57] In the bronze-medal match against Japan, he was booked for a strong tackle from behind on Yūki Ōtsu and repeatedly demanded "Why? Why? Why?" of the referee.[58][59] Koo later linked his emotions during the match to South Korea's 0–3 senior defeat by Japan the previous year.[60] He scored the second goal in South Korea's 2–0 victory, securing the country's first Olympic medal in football.[61]
Hong Myung-bo named Koo captain for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Aged 25, he became the youngest player to captain South Korea at a World Cup and started all three group matches, scoring in a 2–4 defeat by Algeria as the team finished with one point.[62][63][64] Koo later said that he had focused too much on managing the team away from the pitch rather than leading through his own performances.[65] At his retirement press conference in 2025, he called the tournament his greatest career disappointment and said that he had been too young to understand the social responsibility that came with representing the country.[66]
At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Koo was named Player of the Match in a 1–0 opening victory over Oman. His saved shot created the rebound from which Cho Young-cheol scored the winning goal.[67][68] After missing the Kuwait match with a fever, he returned against hosts Australia but tore a ligament in his right elbow following an aerial challenge, ruling him out as South Korea went on to finish as runners-up.[69][70]
During qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Koo scored an 85th-minute winner in a 2–1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan in November 2016, moving South Korea into the group's second automatic qualification position.[71] At the finals, he started against Sweden and Germany. Against Germany, he partnered Son Heung-min in attack and performed a pressing role, but was substituted in the 56th minute after his injured knee swelled, before South Korea scored twice in stoppage time to win 2–0.[72][73] South Korea were nevertheless eliminated at the group stage.
Koo made his final international appearances at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. After the quarter-final defeat by Qatar, he announced his international retirement, having already decided after a tour of Australia in November 2018 that the tournament would be his last. Coach Paulo Bento had persuaded him to remain through the Asian Cup so that his experience could help the younger players.[74] Koo later said that repeated injuries on international duty, the resulting rehabilitation and competition for his club place had contributed to his decision.[75] He finished with 76 appearances and 19 goals.
Style of play
Koo showed his best performance when playing as an attacking midfielder, although he started his professional career as a defensive midfielder. He could play as a central midfielder, second striker, or winger if necessary.[23][76] He was praised for his techniques, especially a talent for getting out of opponents' pressure with the ball.[77] He also had an ability to find the back of the net, often displaying a knack to charge into the opposition penalty box unsighted.[78] However, his individual ability was occasionally criticised for slowing his team's tempo.[77]
Personal life
Koo likes to go shopping in his spare time in Germany.[79] He is currently the honorary ambassador for The Republic of Korea Air Force.[80] Koo is also a close friend with his teammate Ki Sung-yueng, and they like to display their friendly, humorous conversations on Twitter. Ki revealed on the Korean talk show Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy that Koo has a nickname called "Koogle Georim" (구글거림) because of his sometimes goofy way of talking.[81] On 24 June 2013, Koo married a Jeju woman three years his senior at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel.[82][83]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Shooting Star Season 2 | Himself | [84] | |
| The Gentlemen's League 4 | Himself | [85] | ||
| Kick a Goal: Legend Match South Korea–Japan | Himself | [86] |
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 24 November 2024[87]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jeju United | 2007 | K League | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2008 | K League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | K League | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2010 | K League | 26 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 34 | 5 | ||
| Total | 67 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 95 | 9 | |||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||||
| FC Augsburg (loan) | 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 5 | |||
| 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 8 | |||||
| Mainz 05 | 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15 | Bundesliga | 23 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | 2[d] | 1 | — | 26 | 7 | |||
| 2015–16 | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 39 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 42 | 8 | ||||
| FC Augsburg | 2015–16 | Bundesliga | 27 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 0 | — | 36 | 8 | ||
| 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||||
| 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||||
| 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 104 | 14 | 6 | 1 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 118 | 15 | ||||
| Al-Gharafa | 2019–20 | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | Qatar Stars League | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1[e] | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 28 | 7 | |
| Total | 38 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 47 | 8 | |||
| Al-Khor | 2021–22 | Qatar Stars League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Jeju United | 2022 | K League 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | K League 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||||
| 2024 | K League 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||||
| Career total | 352 | 42 | 20 | 4 | 26 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 414 | 50 | ||
- Includes Korean FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Amir of Qatar Cup
- Includes Korean League Cup, QSL Cup
- Appearances in K League Championship
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
- Appearances in Qatar FA Cup
International
- As of 25 January 2019[88]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 15 | 7 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 76 | 19 | |
- Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 January 2010 | Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | 3 |  Zambia | 2–4 | 2–4 | Friendly |
| 2 | 7 February 2010 | National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | 6 |  Hong Kong | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2010 EAFF Championship |
| 3 | 10 January 2011 | Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 11 |  Bahrain | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup |
| 4 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 5 | 14 January 2011 | Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 12 |  Australia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup |
| 6 | 18 January 2011 | Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 13 |  India | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7 | 28 January 2011 | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 16 |  Uzbekistan | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup |
| 8 | 7 June 2011 | Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea | 19 |  Ghana | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 9 | 15 November 2011 | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon | 25 |  Lebanon | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 12 June 2012 | Goyang Sports Complex, Goyang, South Korea | 28 | Lebanon | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 6 September 2013 | Sungeui Arena Park, Incheon, South Korea | 31 |  Haiti | 2–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 15 October 2013 | Cheonan Baekseok Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea | 34 |  Mali | 1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 13 | 22 June 2014 | Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil | 39 |  Algeria | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
| 14 | 27 March 2015 | Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon, South Korea | 45 | Uzbekistan | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 15 | 8 October 2015 | Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | 48 |  Kuwait | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16 | 12 November 2015 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | 50 |  Myanmar | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 1 September 2016 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | 52 |  China | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 15 November 2016 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | 57 | Uzbekistan | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19 | 14 November 2017 | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea | 65 |  Serbia | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Honours
South Korea U23
- Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2012
- Asian Games bronze medal: 2010
South Korea
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015
- EAFF Championship: 2008
Individual
- K League All-Star: 2010[89]
- K League 1 Best XI: 2010[8]
- K League 1 top assist provider: 2010[8]
- K League FANtastic Player: 2010[8]
- AFC Asian Cup top goalscorer: 2011[90]
- K League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2013[91]
- FC Augsburg All-time XI: 2020[92]
