Cho Young-jeung (born 18 August 1954) is a South Korean former footballer who played as a defender. He won two Asian Games, and participated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Cho was allowed to participate in tryouts for North American Soccer League (NASL) clubs by the Korea Football Association when the national team left for Los Angeles to train in February 1981. He joined Portland Timbers after having offers from four clubs. He played both football and indoor soccer for Portland Timbers, becoming the first Asian to play indoor soccer. In 1982, he made the cover of Kick, the official magazine of the NASL, and was selected for the first team of the NASL all-stars. He returned to his country after the K League was founded in 1983.

Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso was a newly-formed weak team in the K League when Cho joined it in 1984, and so he played as a forward or midfielder in unfamiliar positions if necessary. However, he scored nine goals in the 1984 season, and was selected as the Exemplary Award winner and one of the K League Best XI. He also scored in six consecutive games, becoming a record holder until Hwang Sun-hong broke the record in 1995.

Style of play

Cho was considered as one of the best centre-backs in South Korea and the United States during the 1980s. He didn't have rapid pace and great stamina, but he was noted for his prediction, positional sense and team play. He also had a burly physique and so was skilled in tussle and tackle.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Korea First Bank1977Semipro League????????
ROK Navy (draft)1978Semipro League????????
1979Semipro League????????
Total????????
Korea First Bank1980Semipro League????????
Portland Timbers1981North American Soccer League252??252
1982North American Soccer League251252
Total503??503
Portland Timbers (indoor)1981–82North American Soccer League155155
Chicago Sting (indoor)1982–83Major Indoor Soccer League396??396
Chicago Sting1983North American Soccer League271??271
Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso1984K League289289
1985K League5151
1986K League10321124
1987K League7070
Total5013215214
Career total18128??21??18329

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea1975190
197670
1977261
1978140
197950
1980170
198140
198450
198580
198680
Career total1131

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Cho Young-jeung
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
118 February 1977Manama, Bahrain28Bahrain3–04–1Friendly

Honours

Player

ROK Navy

Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso

South Korea U20

South Korea

Individual

Manager

LG Cheetahs

See also

External links

  • – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean and English)
  • at KFA (in Korean)
  • FIFA competition record (archived)
  • at National-Football-Teams.com