Choi Woo-jae, a member of Kangwon FC promotion, will end his career
Choi Woo-jae, a member of Kangwon FC promotion, will end his career
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Korean defender Choi Woo-jae (34), who won the "2024 Shapling Cup" with Rangers FC of the Hong Kong Premier League, has ended his career. Having played an outstanding role as a captain in Chung-Ang University's soccer department, he made his professional debut in 2013 at the behest of Kim Hak-beom, who led Gangwon FC at the time, and has since gone through a number of clubs, including Anyang FC and Paju Civic Football Team. In particular, in Gangwon Province, he won the trust of Gangwon fans by demotion and promotion of the team.
The following is an interview I had with him at a cafe in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 8th.
"I almost went to another club... Thanks to Kim Hakbeom's call, I went to Gangwon."
- I wonder how you are doing these days.
"I finished my career with Rangers FC in the Hong Kong Premier League in 2024 and now I am a coach at Anyang Technical High School (hereinafter Anyang Technical High School)."
- What made you decide to retire?
"I really miss my family in Hong Kong. In the meantime, Kim Shin-wook, who I trust and rely on a lot, gave me a lot of advice, and I decided to retire because I had the opportunity to work as a coach at Anyang Technical High School."
- The interview three years ago was memorable. He said he wanted to spend the last part of his career abroad, but he made that dream come true. How did you end up in Hong Kong?
"During my three-year career with Paju Citizens' Soccer Team, I visited church every Wednesday and Sunday and prayed. As in Lee Young-pyo's book, Thinking Becomes Me, I prayed for a chance to work abroad. Interestingly, when my contract in Paju ended, DJ Management CEO Lee Dong-joon contacted me to ask if I would like to try on the Hong Kong stage."
- Hong Kong soccer is somewhat unknown in Korea. What is the standard of soccer in Hong Kong?
"I don't think it was a coincidence that the Hong Kong national soccer team beat China last year. That much, the level of soccer has improved a lot, and some players have chosen naturalization from other countries, so there are many players with outstanding individual skills. Compared to Korean soccer, Hong Kong soccer is still lagging behind in terms of organizational strength and training intensity. However, it is a stage that has high potential for development, and I would like to recommend it to players who have not received an opportunity in Korea and Korean players who are entering their twilight years.
- I would like to talk about Gangwon, which was the first start of my professional career. I heard that the background of the Gangwon transfer was quite interesting.
"After graduating from college, I was actually scheduled to join a team in the K3 League. Whenever I had the chance, I wanted to try out for the professional stage. Just in time, Gangwon FC offered me a test. Immediately after, I took the train early the next morning and ran to Gangneung.
At that time, we played a friendly match with the Gangneung City Hall football team, and as soon as I was put in the second half, I scored an equalizer and drew 1-1. At that time, Gangwon coach Kim Hak-beom told me to write down my phone number and go, and I was not selected in the test that day, but I was able to join the team through additional designations. That's how I was from 2013 to 2019 in Gangwon."
- Kangwon achieved tremendous performance last season. As a player who has gone through all the ups and downs in Kangwon, how do you see Kangwon's rise now?
"I played a lot of games in 2013, when I was in my debut season, but I experienced relegation by losing to Sangju Sangmu in the promotion and playoffs. I felt so sorry for the leaders and the fans, and it was heartbreaking. If I had a chance again, I had the goal to get promoted and return to the top division, but Choi Yoon-kyum led the team well, so I was able to achieve promotion.
Gangwon has changed a lot now, but I'm really happy to prove my skills in the first division last year. I hope that this year, along with good results, many young and promising players like Yang Min-hyuk will be produced, making it a club that shines Korean soccer."
"The most memorable time was not K League 1..."
- I was also active in Anyang FC. Compared to when you were in Gangwon Province, it might have been a personal disappointment, but what did you gain from that time? 메이저사이트
"When I went to the army after being promoted to Gangwon-do, there was no place in the team. Thankfully, Kim Hyung-yeol, who was a precious relationship with Gangwon-do at the time, was coaching Anyang and I was given a chance.
"I think I was ahead of my impatience at the opportunity that arose again and I was afraid of missing the opportunity. It would have been better to relax as usual, but it was a time where I learned many lessons."