# Choi Jin-cheul

Choi Jin-cheul (born 26 March 1971) is a South Korean football manager and former player.

## Club career

Choi played only for K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors during his professional career. He played 312 games for Jeonbuk in the K League (including Korean League Cup). He was a well-built centre-back and was strong on aerial duels and tussles.
A forward during his school days, Choi played as a striker while Jeonbuk striker Kim Do-hoon was on loan to J.League club Vissel Kobe for two years in 1998 and 1999. He had 17 goals and 8 assists including a hat-trick during that time.
After winning an AFC Champions League title in 2006, Choi was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

## International career

Choi was an influential centre-back in South Korea national team. He made 65 appearances for the national team including matches in 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup. He formed a strong defense with Hong Myung-bo and Kim Tae-young during the 2002 World Cup.

## Personal life

In November 2021, Choi signed with DH Entertainment.

## 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 | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | !Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sangmu FC (draft) | 1994 | Semipro League | | | | | | | — | — | | | | |
| Sangmu FC (draft) | 1995 | Semipro League | | | | | | | — | — | | | | |
| Sangmu FC (draft) | Total | Total | | | | | | | — | — | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1996 | K League | 27 | 0 | | | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1997 | K League | 9 | 0 | | | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1998 | K League | 11 | 6 | | | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 8 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1999 | K League | 26 | 7 | | | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 9 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2000 | K League | 25 | 2 | | | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 3 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2001 | K League | 21 | 0 | | | 4 | 0 | | | 1 | 1 | 26 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2002 | K League | 23 | 0 | | | 1 | 0 | | | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2003 | K League | 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2004 | K League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2005 | K League | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2006 | K League | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2007 | K League | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Total | Total | 241 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 71 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 338 | 31 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 241 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 71 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 338 | 31 |
* 1 2 Appearance in Korean Super Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup, one appearance in Korean Super Cup

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2002 | 20 | 1 |
| South Korea | 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2004 | 15 | 2 |
| South Korea | 2005 | 3 | 1 |
| South Korea | 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | 65 | 4 |
    Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Choi Jin-cheul :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 30 January 2002 | Pasadena, United States | Costa Rica | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 2 | 10 July 2004 | Gwangju, South Korea | Bahrain | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 13 October 2004 | Beirut, Lebanon | Lebanon | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 4 | 16 November 2005 | Seoul, South Korea | Serbia and Montenegro | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2018 | God of Football with Hiddink | Himself |
| 2021–present | Kick a Goal | Himself |
| 2022 | Gundesliga | Himself |

## Honours
### Player

Sangmu FC
* Korean Semi-professional League (Spring): 1994
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
* Korean FA Cup: 2000, 2003, 2005
* Korean Super Cup: 2004
* AFC Champions League: 2006
* Asian Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 2001–02
South Korea B
* East Asian Games: 1993
South Korea
* EAFF Championship: 2003
Individual
* K League All-Star: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* K League 1 Best XI: 2002, 2003, 2006
* AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2006

### Television personality

List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Choi Jin-cheul :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| SBS Entertainment Awards | 2022 | Leader of the Year Award | Kick a Goal | Won | |
* ↑ Shared with Ha Seok-ju, Kim Byung-ji, Kim Tae-young, Choi Sung-yong, Lee Eul-yong, Hyun Young-min, Lee Young-pyo, Oh Beom-seok, Cho Jae-jin and Baek Ji-hoon