Cho Yong-Hyung (, born 3 November 1983) is a South Korean footballer. He is known for his versatility as he can play as a full-back on either side of the pitch, as well as a centre back and a defensive midfielder. Cho Yong-Hyung is praised in the K-League for his positional sense and steadiness under pressure. Cho has become regarded as the successor to

Hong Myung-Bo Hong Myung-bo ( ko, 홍명보, Hanja: 洪明甫; ; born 12 February 1969) is a South Korean former footballer who played as a sweeper, and the current head coach of Ulsan Hyundai. Hong is often considered one of the greatest Asian footballe ...

, South Korea's legendary center half who took part in four FIFA World Cups.

Club career

K-League

Cho debuted for

Bucheon SK Jeju United Football Club (Hangul: 제주 유나이티드) is a South Korean professional football club based in Jeju Province that competes in the K League 1, the top division in South Korea. In the past, the club has been known as the ''Yuko ...

in the 2005 season, when he was voted into the

K-League Best XI The K League Best XI is an award for the best eleven players in a K League season. K League 1 award (1983–present) Winners Players marked bold won the Most Valuable Player award in that respective year. Appearances by player Appearanc ...

after a successful season. He continued with the club in the 2006 season when it converted to

Jeju United Jeju United Football Club (Hangul: 제주 유나이티드) is a South Korean professional football club based in Jeju Province that competes in the K League 1, the top division in South Korea. In the past, the club has been known as the ''Yuko ...

. In 2007, he spent a season at

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Seongnam () is the fourth largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province after Suwon and the 10th largest city in the country. Its population is approximately one million. Seongnam is a satellite city of Seoul. It is largely a residential city ...

, the most successful K-League club in terms of Championship victories, before transferring back to Jeju United for the 2008 season where he continues to play to this day.

Premier League

In 2010, it was claimed that European interest in Cho had risen. The English

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Foo ...

clubs

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa P ...

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandswo ...

and

Newcastle United Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional Association football, football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, that plays in the Premier League – the top flight of English football league system, English football. The club was ...

, were interested in him and wanted to sign him in summer 2010 after the

World Cup A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...

Qatar Stars League

Cho moved to the Qatar Stars League after the end of the 2010 World Cup to Al Rayyan Sports Club on a 2-year deal, until the end of the 2011–2012 season. After the end of the 2011–2012 season, Cho renewed his contract for one more year which kept him at the Qatari club until the end of the 2012–2013 season.

International career

Cho made his first appearance for

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

against

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...

on 30 January 2008. Cho was voted best defender at the

2010 East Asian Football Championship The 2010 EAFF East Asian Football Championship was the fourth edition of the tournament which was held between 6 and 14 February 2010. Two preliminary competitions were held during 2009. Participating teams Preliminary Round 1 * * * * Round 2 ...

. He played for South Korea at the

2010 FIFA World Cup , image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg , size = 200px , caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...

in South Africa.

Honors

Individual

: 2005

East Asian Football Championship EAFF E-1 Football Championship, known as the East Asian Football Championship from 2003 to 2010, and the EAFF East Asian Cup for the 2013 and 2015 editions, is a men's international association football, football competition in East Asia for memb ...

Best Defender: 2010

Team titles

Al Rayyan:

Sheikh Jassim Cup The Sheikh Jassim Cup ( ar, كأس الشيخ جاسم) is an annual men's super cup competition in Qatari football held between the winner of the Qatar Stars League and the Emir of Qatar Cup. History The inaugural Sheikh Jassim Cup was held in ...

: 2012, 2013

Qatar Crown Prince Cup The Qatar Cup is a tournament in men's football. It is played by the top 4 teams of the Qatar Stars League after each season. In 2013, the tournament was renamed Qatar Cup. Previous winners Top-Performing Clubs References External link ...

: 2012
Qatar Emir Cup: 2011, 2013

Club career statistics

References

External links

*
National Team Player Record
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, Yong-Hyung 1983 births Living people Men's association football defenders South Korean footballers South Korean expatriate footballers South Korea men's international footballers Jeju United FC players Gyeongnam FC players Seongnam FC players Al-Rayyan SC players Al-Shamal SC players Cangzhou Mighty Lions F.C. players K League 1 players Qatar Stars League players Chinese Super League players 2010 FIFA World Cup players 2011 AFC Asian Cup players Expatriate footballers in Qatar Expatriate footballers in China South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Qatar South Korean expatriate sportspeople in China Sportspeople from Incheon