‘Retirement’ Koo Ja-cheol cries while remembering Brazil World Cup, “I’m still sorry”

He served as captain during the World Cup, but the team suffered 1 draw and 2 losses.
A new start as Jeju SK youth advisor

Jeju United’s Koo Ja-cheol is expressing his thoughts at a press conference about his retirement held at the Korea Football Association Football Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 14th. Koo Ja-cheol led Jeju to its runner-up peak in 2010, and based on his performance, he advanced to the German Bundesliga in 2011 the following year and performed very well. At the 2012 London Olympics, he led the remarkable feat of winning the first bronze medal in Korean men’s soccer history. 2025.1.14 News 1

Soccer player Koo Ja-cheol (36), who announced his retirement, shed tears and said, “I’m sorry,” recalling the pain he suffered at the 2014 Brazil World Cup 11 years ago. The Brazil World Cup was a huge guilt that followed him even to the day he took off his soccer shoes.

On the 14th, Koo Ja-cheol held a retirement press conference at the soccer club in Sinmun-ro, Seoul, marking the end of his 18-year career as a player that began in 2007. Koo Ja-cheol begins a new soccer career as a Jeju SK youth advisor.

Koo Ja-cheol wore the Taegeuk flag and scored 19 goals in 76 international matches and 5 goals in 16 games for the U23 national team, and played a leading role in the team’s bronze medal victory at the 2012 London Olympics. On the professional stage, he played as a key player in Jeju SK, Wolfsburg, Augsburg, Mainz (Germany), and Al-Gharafa (Qatar).

Koo Ja-cheol was a part of Korean soccer’s historic moment, but he had a big burden on his mind.

South Korea national soccer team players look depressed after the match against Algeria in the second round of the 2014 Brazil World Cup group stage held at the Estagio Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil on the afternoon of the 22nd (local time). Hong Myung-boho struggled against Algeria, an African ambush, and Son Heung-min and Koo Ja-cheol scored their first World Cup goals, but lost 4-2 and fell to the bottom of Group H, putting them in danger of advancing to the round of 16. 2014.6.23 News 1

After being asked what he regretted about retiring, he was unable to speak for a long time and then looked back on the 2014 Brazil World Cup with difficulty.

He said, “I earned the title of Korean soccer’s youngest World Cup captain at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, but I’m not proud of that at all.”

At that time, Korea attempted to advance to the round of 16 with captain Koo Ja-cheol at the forefront, but finished at the bottom of the group with only 1 draw and 2 losses in the group stage.

Koo Ja-cheol said, “Looking back, I was too young back then. “Being a World Cup national team player comes with social responsibilities, but I fell short and didn’t even think about that responsibility.”

He then said in a hoarse voice, “I was able to grow through the experience at the time, but I am sorry for not meeting the people’s expectations at the World Cup. “I also felt very irresponsible to the people who had to make a living and benefit from the World Cup,” he said, eventually shedding tears.

Jeju United’s Koo Ja-cheol is giving a greeting at a press conference regarding his retirement held at the Korea Football Association Football Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 14th. Koo Ja-cheol led Jeju to its runner-up peak in 2010, and based on his performance, he advanced to the German Bundesliga in 2011 the following year and performed very well. At the 2012 London Olympics, he led the remarkable feat of winning the first bronze medal in Korean men’s soccer history. 2025.1.14 News 1

In addition, Koo Ja-cheol said that his most memorable moment was when he went up to the podium while looking at the Korean national flag after winning the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Koo Ja-cheol, who took off his uniform as a player, is making a new start as a Jeju youth advisor, planning youth training programs and serving as a bridge for youth players to receive overseas training. We also provide scouting support for Jeju’s recruitment of European foreigners.

Koo Ja-cheol shared his plans for his second soccer career, saying, “My goal is to nurture Jeju players well and create a system where players can pursue their dreams.”

In addition, “I want to accomplish something important for Korean soccer. “The goal is to do things step by step, without rushing, but to end things,” he added.

(Seoul = News 1)