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 competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKorea First Bank1977National Semipro League????—????ROK Navy (draft)1978National Semipro League????—????1979National Semipro League????—????Total????—????Korea First Bank1980National Semipro League????—????Portland Timbers1981North American Soccer League252—??—2521982North American Soccer League251———252Total503—??—503Portland Timbers (indoor)1981–82North American Soccer League155———155Chicago Sting (indoor)1982–83Major Indoor Soccer League396—??—396Chicago Sting1983North American Soccer League271—??—271Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso1984K League289———2891985K League51———511986K League103—21—1241987K League70———70Total5013—21—5214Career total18128??21??18329
International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea1975190197670197726119781401979501980170198140198450198580198680Career total1131
Results list South Korea's goal tally first. +List of international goals scored by Cho Young-jeung No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition1 18 February 1977 Al Ahli Stadium, Manama, Bahrain 28 3–0 4–1 Friendly
Honours Player ROK Navy Korean National Semipro League (Spring): 1978 Korean President's Cup: 1979
Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso K League 1: 1985
South Korea U20 AFC Youth Championship third place: 1973, 1974
South Korea Asian Games: 1978, 1986 AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 1980 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1987
Individual Korean FA Best XI: 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986 Korean FA Most Valuable Player: 1977 NASL All-Star First Team: 1982; Second Team: 1983 K League 1 Best XI: 1984, 1986
Manager LG Cheetahs Korean League Cup runner-up: 1994
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
References
External links
Cho Young-jeung – National Team Stats at KFA
North American Soccer League Player Profile