# Choi Tae-uk

Choi Tae-uk (Korean: 최태욱; born 13 March 1981) is a South Korean football coach and former player who is assistant coach of South Korea.

## Club career

Choi is a natural winger well known for his great speed. He was identified as a very promising talent in his childhood, and was selected by Anyang LG Cheetahs in the 2000 draft following his graduation from Bupyeong High School. Despite his early promise, his professional career at Anyang was particularly successful, playing as a wing-back together with then-teammate Lee Young-pyo.
After short spells playing for Incheon United and J1 League side Shimizu S-Pulse, Choi joined Pohang Steelers. Although one of the better paid players at Pohang, Choi was not given much of a chance under Brazilian coach Sergio Farias. This was largely because the Steelers concentrated on midfield play rather than the sidelines, with playmaker Andrezinho (known as Tavares in South Korea) playing a significant role. Choi was usually fielded as a substitute. Following the conclusion of the 2007 season, he transferred to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Choi retired from football in 2015 due to an injury.

## International career

At international level, Choi was part of the South Korean Olympic football team in 2004. At the Olympics, South Korea finished second in Group A, making it through to the next round, but was defeated by eventual silver medal winners Paraguay.
Choi was also a member of the South Korean World Cup team in 2002, but spent most of the tournament on the bench.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Anyang LG Cheetahs | 2000 | K League | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Anyang LG Cheetahs | 2001 | K League | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| Anyang LG Cheetahs | 2002 | K League | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| Anyang LG Cheetahs | 2003 | K League | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 3 |
| Anyang LG Cheetahs | Total | Total | 96 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 115 | 7 |
| Incheon United | 2004 | K League | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 5 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2005 | J1 League | 25 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 37 | 9 |
| Pohang Steelers | 2006 | K League | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| Pohang Steelers | 2007 | K League | 13 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 3 |
| Pohang Steelers | Total | Total | 34 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 50 | 5 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2008 | K League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 4 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2009 | K League | 28 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 9 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2010 | K League | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 3 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Total | Total | 58 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 83 | 16 |
| FC Seoul | 2010 | K League | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 6 |
| FC Seoul | 2011 | K League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| FC Seoul | 2012 | K League | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 |
| FC Seoul | 2013 | K League 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| FC Seoul | Total | Total | 67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 77 | 9 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2014 | K League 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 304 | 40 | 22 | 3 | 42 | 5 | 19 | 3 | 388 | 51 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | 2000 | 4 | 2 |
| South Korea | 2001 | 6 | 1 |
| South Korea | 2002 | 10 | 1 |
| South Korea | 2003 | 5 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | 30 | 4 |
    Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Choi Tae-uk :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 7 April 2000 | Seoul, South Korea | Mongolia | 3–0 | 6–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2 | 7 April 2000 | Seoul, South Korea | Mongolia | 6–0 | 6–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 3 | 10 November 2001 | Seoul, South Korea | Croatia | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 20 April 2002 | Daegu, South Korea | Costa Rica | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |

## Honours

FC Seoul
* K League 1: 2000, 2010, 2012
* Korean FA Cup: 2002, 2009, 2010
* Korean League Cup: 2010
* Korean Super Cup: 2001
* AFC Champions League runner-up: 2001–02, 2013
Shimizu S-Pulse
* Emperor's Cup runner-up: 2005
Pohang Steelers
* K League 1: 2007
* Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2007
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
* K League 1: 2009
South Korea U23
* Asian Games bronze medal: 2002
Individual
* K League All-Star: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009
* K League 1 Best XI: 2009