Birth Date: 10 September 1973 Height: 184 cm Weight: 79 kg Position: FW Current Club: JEF Utd. Ichihara (JPN) Int'l Goals: 27 (as of 27 May 2002) Int'l Caps: 59 (as of 27 May 2002) First Int'l Cap: China PR (19 February
1995)
Profile
Choi Yong-soo is one of the Korea Republic's chastised veterans and
the nation's most prolific goal scorer - quite a potent mixture. J
League outfit JEF United's top scorer, Yong-soo will undoubtedly
prove a major player in Korea coach Guus Hiddink's side.The menacing
striker, born in Busan, made his debut with the national side in
1995 in a match against regional rivals China.Since Choi's maiden
voyage with his national team, the rough and tumble striker has
become a virtual fixture in the national squad, representing his
country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™, as well as in the FIFA
World Youth Championship Australia 1993 and the 1996 Olympic
Football Tournament.Choi led the South Korean scoring charts during
qualifying for the 1998 finals with a healthy nine goals to his
name.Following a solid performance in France, Choi caught the eye of
some of Europe's more sizable clubs. Three Bundesliga sides seemed
keen to sign the battling striker and South Korean marksman supreme.
Choi, however, decided it best to stay put in Ichihara and JEF
United rather than risk reserve status in Europe.Choi's Czech-born
club manager Jozef Venglos has nothing but the highest praise for
his 28-year-old striker:""What's important is that he always needs
two players to look after him, and this leaves space for his
teammates. He understands the game well and has good communication
with the other players.'' Hiddink will surely hope Choi's
understanding of the game and communication with his mates will
translate to goals at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan and a
first-ever visit to the knockout rounds.
