“I’m always thinking about why Korean goalkeepers can’t go to Europe these days. If I retire later and have a chance, I want to foster Korean goalkeepers in Europe and advance them.”
Cho Hyeon-woo (31, Ulsan Hyundai) has a big dream. It is to block the ball in Europe, the center of world soccer trend. There was an opportunity after the World Cup in Russia, but it was unfortunately canceled. However, he wanted to help young players realize the dreams he had in his heart in the near but distant future.
Cho Hyun-woo became a star goalkeeper at the ‘2018 FIFA World Cup Russia’. At the time, Germany, which ranked first in the FIFA rankings, was also defeated without being able to break through Jo Hyun-woo’s animalistic save show. After the World Cup, he had a chance to advance to Europe, and he was offered a direct recruitment offer by the German team, but unfortunately he did not advance.
He joined Ulsan Hyundai, a team competing to win the K-League, and maintained his best skills. The national team is also constantly selected and is gaining valuable experience in the best team. In mid-January, when the cold winter wind blew, Europe was still wriggling in the heart of Jo Hyun-woo, who met at the ‘2023 K-League Winter Field Training Media Camp’ and Ulsan Battery Training.
It is not a story about leaving Ulsan and challenging the European stage. If I were to retire in the distant future, I wanted to draw a ‘big picture’ and make the European stage dream that I couldn’t achieve as a player a reality to young players. Cho Hyeon-woo said, “I felt a lot while playing for a long time, and I was worried about why Korean goalkeepers couldn’t advance to Europe,” he said about his future plans.
“Why is there no starting point to advance to Europe? I always thought why I could not go to Europe. After thinking about it, I would like to run an academy globally if there is an opportunity after retiring later. 안전놀이터 Young Korean goalkeepers can learn, and through agents “I want to create opportunities to play in Europe. Coaches teach in Europe. Players go to Europe to learn. I want to support them so that they have the confidence and dreams to compete on a global stage like the Premier League.”
I was more desperate because there were opportunities to advance to Europe in 2018 and 2019. He faced a world-class team at the World Cup in Russia, and the love call from Europe gave him confidence that ‘certainly Korean goalkeepers can do it’. Cho Hyeon-woo said with twinkling eyes, “It’s possible if we give young players early opportunities and experiences.”
“After I retire, I will plan to train Korean goalkeepers while living in Europe. It’s a pity that I just let go of my experience with the K-League winning team and the national team. I will show my strength, so please look forward to it.”