Last weekend, at the Changnyeong Women's Football Championship in Gyeongnam, the topic of veteran WK leaguers was by far 'Jo's return'. It was shortly after the official recruitment of Suwon FC women by Cho So-hyun (37) of 「Korea's Women's Soccer Legend」, nicknamed 'Jo', was announced. Suwon midfielder Kwon Eun-som (35), who will work with Cho So-hyun in the midfield, is the first to meet his sister during Seolbong. I only trust my sister." Kim Do-yeon (37, Sports Toto), who shared the first 16th round of the Canadian Women's World Cup and the heyday of Incheon Hyundai Steel, just spoke to "Jo". It would be fun to meet at the stadium."
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| Choi Soon-ho, head of Suwon FC, is shaking hands after recruiting Cho So-hyun. |
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Cho So-hyun, born in 1988, represents the golden generation of Korean women's soccer. He scored 26 goals in 156 A matches, won the gold medal at the 2010 Belgrade Universiade, served as captain in Canada in 2015 and France in 2019, and has been recognized as the longest and best player. He made his debut at the WK League Suwon Facility Corporation in 2009 and has played in European leagues such as Kobe Ainak in 2016 after Incheon Hyundai Steel, Yavalsnes (Norway) West Ham, Tottenham, and Birmingham City (England) since 2018.
Cho So-hyun smiled saying, `It's so nice to be back in Suwon.' "It's my first return in seven and a half years, but I've always watched the WK League in England, so there's nothing unfamiliar about it." The contract was signed quickly after communicating with Suwon FC Women coach Lee Eun-mi and meeting coach Park Gil-young, who retired after last season. "I signed it in two days. I didn't measure it here and there," he said with a smile. Choi Soon-ho, head of Suwon FC, also said, `We talked a lot in a short time. "The thoughts and ideas of the team and the club as a whole were definitely different." Cho So-hyun said, `Suwon is my first team in the WK League. I won my first championship and it was a team I wanted to go back to at least once. Returning to the first team is the dream of all footballers. It means a lot to me as well."
'Defending Champion' Suwon FC Women remain sixth in the league this season. In order to rebound in the second half of the year and challenge the Women's Champions League, it has decided to recruit Cho So-hyun in the summer transfer market 'Legend'. Cho So-hyun said, `I expected Choi Soon-ho and Park Gil-young to play a role in keeping the center of the team at the center and motivating the team.' `It was the same when I was the captain of the national team, but it is a style that shows through actions rather than words. I'm confident."
Cho So-hyun, who has already turned 37 years old, does not have a 'aging curve' in her dictionary, where today runs like the last. After the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, he vowed to play in the next World Cup unconditionally. After seven years of playing in England, he became faster, bolder and stronger. He is confident that he will be among the top three in Korea physically. "There are many younger juniors in the national team on our team. I hope we can develop together while talking about the fast tempo and transition of European footballexpected " Cho So-hyun is the only South Korean player to score two goals in the past three Women's World Cups. It is the history and pride of the Korean female soccer team, which has a strong physical and steel mentality, a multiplayer who plays defensive midfielders, center backs, fullbacks, and offensive midfielders. "I'll show you I'm not dead yet." Just playing with him will be an inspiration to his juniors." Her eyes glistened: `The goal is to raise the team's ranking as much as possible in the remaining games to reach the third place where the playoffs are possible, to prepare well for the Asian Champions League, and to score goals and help out.'
Cho So-hyun is an icon of passion and challenge. He became the first Korean player to advance to the Norwegian League and played seven years after moving to the English WSL. Cho So-hyun said, "After the 2015 World Cup in Canada, I thought about whether I should quit. Retirement might have been fast if you were in Korea. I learned that I have a lot to experience and challenge while going abroad, and I have something I want to do. Environmentally and temperamentally, I was able to focus more on soccer"I looked back. Recently, he welcomed a series of overseas league challenges by young juniors and raised the need to improve the system to protect players. "It's important to go out, but it's really important to go out and adapt well to your body and mind. In addition, institutional arrangements are needed to protect these players. If he returns early, he must go through the rookie draft to play in the WK League. Currently, people have to play abroad for more than five years to be exempted from the draft, and I hope we can discuss reducing this period to three years or abolishing it in the long run" in his voice.
The veteran's thoughts on the generational change of the national team were also clear. Amid the trend of generational change after the appointment of new coach Shin Sang-woo, Cho So-hyun has not been on the national team list for more than a year since his first A match in June last year. Cho So-hyun said, `There is something that the existing senior players should keep in mind. Young juniors should grow up, and of course, young players should be given more opportunities. We also had good seniors, and we grew up receiving the opportunity like that." "However, veterans who have not made the national team must be fully prepared at any time. You should be well prepared to show your performance at any time when you are called. That way, women's soccer and the latitude will develop together." Cho So-hyun is also desperately preparing for his fourth World Cup and 2027 trip to Brazil with that mind. "If I keep playing soccer well, I think I'll make the national team at least once." Age is just a number. I am confident. If we can compare them equally in terms of skills, we will continue to challenge them." The veteran, who scored the only two goals on the World Cup stage, was firm in his presence and confidence. "It's strong on the big stage. It was the same in the last World Cup match against Germany. I don't care who the opponent is. We can play soccer. I play more than anyone else, and I'm more confident that I'll devote myself to the team than anyone else."
At the end of the interview, Cho So-hyun said "Suwon FC Women, what is the largest audience?" asked. According to the Suwon FC club, the most spectators ever were 1,091 when Ji So-yeon made her Suwon debut on August 18, 2022 (against Boeun Sangmu), and the most spectators this season were 721 against Sejong Sports Toto on March 15. There is no sport without spectators. Cho So-hyun, who experienced a full crowd on the stage of the English and European Champions League, said "This women's euro was also really fun. The crowd was huge, and 60,000 people gathered at the England victory parade. "If there was anything that could bring in women's soccer fans, I would do anything. I came back to do it." "I would like to discuss various events with the club so that the most spectators of women's soccer can come to Castle Park." As a senior in women's soccer, I want to raise the pride of my juniors and inspire Suwon citizens and Yoo girls with 'Suwon pride' through female soccer. "If there's anything you can do, whether it's a You-girl clinic or an event, I'll try anything." It was clear why Cho So-hyun, who held out for seven years in the European league, returned to the WK League in the summer of 2025 and chose to go to Suwon FC Women.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
