Korean soccer legend Koo Ja-cheol (36) will end his stellar career today (30th).
Jeju will play Suwon FC at 2 p.m. on the 30th in the 6th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025" at Jeju World Cup Stadium '? Oh 換?SK Legend)' will hold Koo Ja-cheol's retirement ceremony. The retirement ceremony will be held after the game. Koo Ja-cheol will appear on the ground himself to say goodbye to his fans, and his teammates' video messages will be sent on the electronic display to give a big resonance.
Koo Ja-cheol was the third-ranked player in the 2007 K League Rookie Draft and became a star player in Korean soccer and Jeju by wearing the Jeju United (currently Jeju SK) uniform. He has elevated the status of Korean soccer in Wolfsburg, Augsburg, and Mainz in the German Bundesliga. He laid the groundwork for his juniors to advance to Germany. With the national flag, he led the bronze medal myth as captain of the 2012 London Olympics. He played 76 A matches and scored 19 goals.
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The end of his professional career was also in Jeju. Ahead of the 2022 season, he kept his promise with fans to return to Jeju 11 years ago when he entered overseas. In the K-League, he played 116 K-League games (9 goals and 21 assists) wearing only Jeju's orange jersey. Although he did not play many games in the aftermath of his injury after returning, he was applauded for his dedication to the team and his active participation in local close-up events.
Jeju did not forget Koo Ja-cheol's dedication. Jeju has been appointed as a youth advisor since Koo Ja-cheol decided to retire from active duty. In addition, he also offered Koo Ja-cheol an official retirement ceremony for the 2025 season. There was a great desire for Koo Ja-cheol to open the second act of his successful life amid the orange wave.
Jeju prepared an opportunity for fans to remember Koo Ja-cheol in a special way before the retirement ceremony. Since the 24th, it has sold the <7HANKOO! Handwritten signature uniform package> consisting of retirement season uniforms, retirement commemorative special marking, and autographs to only 50 people on the club's website. It was sold out in about 30 minutes, proving the fans' extraordinary affection for Koo Ja-cheol.
There is no need to be disappointed by missing the <7HANKOO! Koo Ja-cheol's handwritten uniform package>. On the day of the game, you can purchase MD products for Koo Ja-cheol, including mufflers, key rings, and special marking, a badge set that allows you to see Koo Ja-cheol's Jeju SK-era uniform at a glance, and acrylic.
As a youth advisor, Koo Ja-cheol's special gift for future generations has also been prepared. Koo Ja-cheol decided to present soccer shoes with his handwritten signature for the winner of the <1:1 Soccer Challenge> held before the game for youth soccer clubs in the province. It will be a meaningful moment for the legend who leaves the ground to give hope to the dream tree who will shine on the ground in the future.
Koo Ja-cheol said, `I'm really happy to start and finish my professional career with Jeju SK fans. I want to be remembered as a player who played hard and a good player. I will not only play in soccer shoes, but also deliver the love and experience I received for Korean soccer after retirement" he said.
Meanwhile, Jeju hopes the spirit of legend Koo Ja-cheol will reach victory. Jeju, led by head coach Kim Hak-beom, has not won the last four games. Jeju ranks 11th with 4 points, and Suwon FC ranks 12th with 3 points.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
