Choi Kang-hee (footballer)

Choi Kang-Hee
최강희

Personal information
Full name	Choi Kang-Hee
Date of birth	(1959-04-12) 12 April 1959
Place of birth	Yangpyeong, South Korea
Height
Position(s)	Manager (Former Defender)
Team information
Current team	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1979	Hanil Bank	?	(?)
1980–1982	ROK Army FC (military service)	?	(?)
1983	POSCO Dolphins	3	(0)
1984–1992	Hyundai Horang-i	184	(10)
Total		187+?	(10+?)
International career
1987	South Korea B
1988–1992	South Korea	40	(0)
Managerial career
1996–1997	Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Trainer)
1998–2001	Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Assistant)
2002–2003	South Korea U-23 (Assistant)
2003–2004	South Korea (Assistant)
2005–2011	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2011–2013	South Korea
2013–	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This is a Korean name; the family name is Choi.

Choi Kang-Hee (Korean: 최강희) is a South Korean football manager, who is the current manager of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Club career statistics

All-Time Club Performance

Club	Season	League			League Cup			AFC Champions League			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assts	Apps	Goals	Assts	Apps	Goals	Assts	Apps	Goals	Assts
POSCO Dolphins	1983	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0	0
	Total	3	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0	0
Hyundai Horang-i	1984	26	0	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	26	0	2
	1985	21	0	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	21	0	2
	1986	16	0	1	15	0	2	-	-	-	31	0	3
	1987	29	3	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	25	3	6
	1988	24	0	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	0	2
	1989	9	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	0	0
	1990	13	2	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	13	2	3
	1991	37	5	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	37	5	4
	1992	17	0	0	3	0	0	-	-	-	20	0	0
	Total	184	10	20	18	0	2	-	-	-	202	10	22
Career Totals		187	10	20	18	0	2	-	-	-	205	10	22

Managerial career

Choi held his managerial post in charge of K League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for 6 years since 2005 which year he was appointed as new head coach. He focused on pursuing offensive tactics and as a result, the squad became much more aggressive and improved their goal scoring ability. He led Jeonbuk to the K League Championship twice in 2009 and 2011. He also led his team towards the AFC Champions league final but as a result, they lost to Qatari side Al Sadd.

Choi repeatedly turned down offers to become South Korea national football team head coach since former coach Cho Kwang-Rae was sacked. However, after being repeatedly offered the job, he had finally accepted the coaching offer. His post as the national team manager was officially announced on 21 December 2011.

On 25 February 2011, South Korean national football team won against Uzbekistan with the score of 4–2 in friendly match, marking Choi's first victory in his career as a national coach and making many fans look forward to his journey to the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, his team showed the poor performance in 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification match on 18 June 2013, which South Korea suffered the 1–0 defeat against Iran and almost failed to directly qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals.

Choi, a former player himself, firmly insisted that his reign would only last until the end of World Cup qualifying. "I asked that [the contract only runs until June 2013]. What we need to do is qualify for the World Cup finals for the eighth time in a row."My mission is to take the national team to the finals. After that, a foreign coach should take over the team. If the KFA does not accept this, I won't sign the contract.

Managerial statistics

As of 18 June 2013

Team	From	To	Competition	Record
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	4 July 2005	21 December 2011	K League	188	79	51	58	303	245	+58	42.02
			Korean FA Cup	5	3	0	2	10	6	+4	60.00
			Asia	23	15	1	7	55	26	+29	65.22
			Other	11	7	0	4	15	7	+8	63.64
			Total	227	104	52	71	383	284	+99	45.81
South Korea	21 December 2011	18 June 2013	Competitive	9	5	2	2	15	7	+8	55.56
			Friendlies	5	2	0	3	8	13	−5	40.00
			Total	14	7	2	5	23	20	+3	50.00
Career totals			League	188	79	51	58	303	245	+58	42.02
			Cup	5	3	0	2	10	6	+4	60.00
			Asia	23	15	1	7	55	26	+29	65.22
			Other	11	7	0	4	15	7	+8	63.64
			Competitive	9	5	2	2	15	7	+8	55.56
			Friendlies	5	2	0	3	8	13	−5	40.00
			Total	241	111	54	76	406	304	+102	46.06

Controversy

Prior to the final World Cup qualification match against Iran, Carlos Queiroz was offended by Choi Kang-Hee, the coach of South Korea, who complained that Iran did not provide the training facilities with sufficient qualities during Korea's away qualification match against Iran on 17 October 2012. Queiroz stated that Choi humiliated Iranian people and demanded the immediate apology. Choi instead stated that Iran seemed to be afraid enough to make unnecessary provocations and the team would have to watch the world cup from TV. In revenge, Queiroz pinned the sad face of Choi on his black polo shirt. Queiroz also offered to send Choi the jersey of Uzbekistan national football team as Choi stated he would defeat Iran to rather qualify for the World Cup finals with Uzbekistan.

After Iran's victory against South Korea in their final qualification match, Queiroz showed his anger at the South Korean coach with a raised fist gesture which was deemed offensive by the Korean players and staff, almost causing a fight between the two teams. Queiroz had answered previously to Choi that Iran had fairly shared what they had with the Korean team on their visit to Iran.

Honours

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

• K League Classic: 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015
• Korean FA Cup: 2005
• AFC Champions League: 2006

External links

• Choi Kang-Hee – K League stats at kleague.com
• Choi Kang-Hee – FIFA competition record
• Kang-Hee.html Choi Kang-hee at National-Football-Teams.com

Awards
Preceded by Inaugural K-League Cup MVP	Professional Football Championship Most Valuable Player 1986	Succeeded by Last K-League Cup MVP