"My muscles and joints can't hold out"...Why Koo Ja-cheol took off his soccer shoes
"My muscles and joints can't hold out"...Why Koo Ja-cheol took off his soccer shoes
Blog Article
Koo Ja-cheol picked the 2014 Brazil World Cup as a disappointing moment in his career.
Jeju SK FC held a press conference for Koo Ja-cheol's retirement and an appointment ceremony for Jeju SK FC Youth Advisors at the multi-purpose hall on the second floor of the soccer center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th.
Koo Ja-cheol wore the Jeju uniform as the third choice in the 2007 K-League Rookie Draft. He was reborn as the best midfielder in the league by winning the K-League's Best 11 and Help King in Jeju in 2010, and the following year, he moved to Wolfsburg, Germany, and succeeded in entering Europe.
Koo made an impressive mark on the German stage. After playing for Wolfsburg, he scored 28 goals and 17 assists in 211 matches while playing for Augsburg and Mainz. Afterwards, he moved on to Qatar and spent his career in Al-Garappa and Al-Cor.
Koo returned to Jeju Island ahead of the 2022 season. When he was playing overseas, he wanted to keep his promise with fans that he would only wear Jeju uniforms when he returned to the K-League. He scored one goal and two assists in 28 games during three seasons, and took off his soccer boots after the last season.
However, he decided to retire somewhat faster than Ki Sung-yueng and Lee Chung-yong, who were called the golden generation together. There was a reason. Koo Ja-cheol explained, "First of all, my muscles can't hold up. So can my knees and ankles. In the past, I had a feeling of recovery after injury."
He continued, "When I came back to Korea, I didn't have a clue about the recovery period. I tried to do it again, but I couldn't do it. Such a time has been repeated. I thought I should take off my soccer shoes without regret when it comes to my retirement decision, and the time has come."
Koo achieved his last dream. "My dream was to retire from Jeju Island, where I discovered and raised myself after coming back to Korea. I am grateful that I was able to achieve it," he said. "I don't want to say it out now because I want to keep my final dream after retirement in my heart yet."
When asked if there was anything he wanted to say to him, Koo mentioned his family. He said, "I want to thank my dad for making me this far, rather than me. And I got married early. I want to say thank you to my wife. You worked so hard. Especially when I was in Germany, I gave birth to my first child, and when I went to play for the national team, I was away for 10 days each."
"I raised my two children abroad and made them a happy breadwinner. Thank you so much. My sister-in-law, who helped me, is also grateful. I talk to myself. When you have a family and work, you become more responsible. I am grateful to my family. I am grateful to my aunt who raised me in my childhood. It was all my family's strength to be able to stand here. I hope my family will be highlighted," he added.
Meanwhile, 안전놀이터 Koo will challenge himself to a new life as a youth advisor instead of taking off his soccer boots. "My goal is to achieve solid results in the formation of Jeju players. I hope that I will nurture the players and help the team financially. I think that is the basic goal of the youth system. The important goal is to stick to the goal and find good players, nurture them well when they come to Jeju, establish themselves in the first team, and help Korean soccer," Koo said.