Although he played 500 matches for one team, his love for soccer remains strong. Veteran Choi Cheol-soon (38, Jeonbuk Hyundai) showcased his unquenched passion.
On the 20th at 7 p.m., Jeonbuk Hyundai secured a 1-0 victory against Port FC (Thailand) in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two (hereinafter ACLT) at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. The opening goal by Park Jae-yong with a header in the 5th minute of the first half was decisive.
With this victory, Jeonbuk advanced to the quarterfinals with a total score of 5-0 against Port. Under coach Gus Poyet, they have won all three matches. Jeonbuk recorded a 4-0 victory in the first leg against Port, and secured a 2-1 comeback win against Gimcheon in the K League 1 season opener. They maintained their good momentum by defeating Port again at Jeonju.
On this day, Jeonbuk also added a significant record. "One-club man" Choi Cheol-soon set an unprecedented record in South Korean professional soccer by playing 500 matches for a single club. He amassed 404 matches in the K League (including league cup matches supervised by the association), 70 matches in the AFC Champions League (Elite + Two), 23 matches in the Korea Cup, and 3 matches in the Club World Cup, achieving a milestone of 500 matches.
Right back Choi Cheol-soon played the full 90 minutes on the field until the final whistle. After the match, he savored the joy of receiving a celebratory lift from his teammates amidst applause from fans.
Choi Cheol-soon's expression was bright when he met with reporters in the mixed zone. Teammates from Jeonbuk, including Song Min-gyu, Lee Seung-woo, Park Jae-yong, and Song Beom-kun, playfully exchanged words with Choi as they passed by, bringing smiles to everyone. The changed atmosphere within the team was palpable.
Choi Cheol-soon noted, "The team atmosphere has improved significantly. The energy level has risen a lot. Also, the players are truly coming together as one team. The play of sacrificing and helping each other during matches has really improved."
The effects of coach Poyet's intense winter training are becoming apparent. Choi Cheol-soon stated, "Since we did new strength training, it seems the players are trying to push themselves a step further. It feels like there is a growing desire among the players to win in matches because they don't want to waste the training we did in the preseason." He added with a laugh, "I don't think I've ever run this much during winter training at Jeonbuk before."
Choi Cheol-soon continues to run tirelessly for the entire 90 minutes. When asked if it was difficult, he replied, "It's fun. Honestly, it's fun." He expressed, "Playing soccer is still so enjoyable. When I step onto the field, I want to give it my all. If given the opportunity in the future, I will do my best to show everything I have."
When the topic of his 500 matches came up, Choi Cheol-soon remarked, "This record is not just mine. It is a result of the support from the club, staff, players, and fans. I will continue to build on it. I hope my juniors will make a lot of effort to break this record."
He also mentioned the warm support from his teammates. Choi Cheol-soon said, "From the meeting, everyone kept emphasizing that we need to win for me. It was such a good time. For today, I was a very happy player." He added, "I received so many congratulatory messages. What resonated with me the most was what the players said about how we had to win for my 500 matches."
Jeonbuk's next opponent, after making it to the quarterfinals, will be Sydney FC from Australia, who advanced after defeating Bangkok United. Jeonbuk will play the first leg at home on the 6th of next month, followed by an away game in Australia on the 13th. Choi Cheol-soon expressed confidence, saying, "If all the players unite like this and move forward as one team, I believe we can win any match."