Cho Jae-jin (; born 9 July 1981) is a former South Korean football player.
Playing career Cho emerged as a national star when he played for South Korean under-23 team in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He scored two goals in a 3–3 draw with Mali, helping his team advance to the quarter-finals.
Cho showed impressive performances including 45 goals in 101 J1 League appearances while playing for Shimizu S-Pulse from 2004 to 2007. He was also selected for South Korean national team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and played three World Cup matches as a powerful target man. David Pleat, an expert of The Guardian at the time, selected him as one of six talents outside the Premier League after the World Cup.
After his successful stint at Shimizu, Cho tried to join a Premier League club, and received offers from Newcastle United, Fulham, Portsmouth and West Ham United. However, he signed for K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after failing to negotiate with them.
Cho has congenital hip dysplasia, and started to suffer from pain when he was 22. He had relied on the drug to continue playing football, but eventually announced his retirement on 18 March 2011.
Personal life Cho is a close friend of Kim Dong-jin, who was also a member of South Korean Olympic team.
Cho appeared in advertisements for Adidas, Cosmopolitan and clothing brand "ASK" in South Korea.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsSuwon Samsung Bluewings2000K League50??00??502001K League30??00??302004K League810000—81 Total161??00??161Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo (draft)2002Semipro League??????—??2003K League31321——334 Total31321??—334Shimizu S-Pulse2004J1 League1271011—1482005J1 League2993273—39142006J1 League32162130—37172007J1 League28131031—3214 Total1014573145—12253Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2008K League2682152—3311Gamba Osaka2009J1 League251030106135112010J1 League100121040162 Total351042201015113 Career total2096715721710125582
International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoals South Korea20037220043120053020061452007102200830Career total4010
Results list South Korea's goal tally first. +List of international goals scored by Cho Jae-jin No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition1 25 September 2003 Incheon Munhak Stadium, Incheon, South Korea 2–0 5–0 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification2 24 October 2003 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman 1–0 7–0 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification3 19 December 2004 Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan, South Korea 3–1 3–1 Friendly4 1 February 2006 Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 1–0 1–3 2006 Lunar New Year Cup5 26 May 2006 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 2–0 2–0 Friendly6 6 September 2006 Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea 5–0 8–0 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification7 7–08 11 October 2006 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 1–0 1–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification9 5 July 2007 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 1–0 2–1 Friendly10 2–0
Filmography Television Year Title Role Note(s) 2021 Kick a Goal Season 1 Himself 2021–2022 Kick a Goal Season 2 Himself 2022–2023 Kick a Goal Season 3 Himself 2022 The Fishermen and the City Season 4 Himself Episode 12
Honours Player Suwon Samsung Bluewings Korean League Cup: 2000, 2001 Korean Super Cup: 2000 Asian Club Championship: 2000–01 Asian Super Cup: 2001
Gwangju Sangmu Bulsajo Korean Semi-professional League (Spring): 2002 Korean Semi-professional Championship runner-up: 2002
Shimizu S-Pulse Emperor's Cup runner-up: 2005
Gamba Osaka Emperor's Cup: 2009
South Korea AFC Asian Cup third place: 2007
Television personality + List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Cho Jae-jin Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result SBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Leader of the Year Award Kick a Goal
References
External links
Cho Jae-jin – National Team Stats at KFA