Cho Gue-sung (Korean조규성; RRJo Gyu-seong; born 25 January 1998) is a South Korean footballer who plays as striker for Danish Superliga club Midtjylland and the South Korea national team.

Cho Gue-sung
Cho with FC Anyang in 2019
Personal information
Full name Cho Gue-sung[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-25) 25 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Ansan, South Korea[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Midtjylland
Number 10
Youth career
2013 Anyang Technical High School [ko]
2014–2015 FC Anyang[note 1]
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Gwangju University [ko]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 FC Anyang 31 (14)
2020–2023 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 43 (13)
2021–2022Gimcheon Sangmu (draft) 48 (21)
2023– Midtjylland 30 (12)
International career
2019–2021 South Korea U23 11[α] (4)
2021– South Korea 39 (9)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Korea
AFC U-23 Championship
Winner 2020 Thailand Team
EAFF Championship
Runner-up 2022 Japan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024
Korean name
Hangul
조규성
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJo Gyuseong
McCune–ReischauerCho Kyusŏng
IPA[t͡ɕo.ɡju.sʌŋ]

Club career

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Early career in South Korea

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Cho played defensive midfielder during his youth career and freshman year at Gwangju University. However, Cho was not evaluated as a good midfielder by his university's head coach Lee Seung-won and changed his position to striker in 2017.[4] In 2019, Cho joined K League 2 side FC Anyang where he was a youth player before.[5] He was selected for the K League 2 Best XI after becoming the third highest scorer in his first professional season, and transferred to K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors the next year.[6]

Cho had difficulty proving his worth in his first season at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. In 2021, he joined the military team Gimcheon Sangmu to serve his mandatory duty and get a stable spot.[7] As a result, he developed physically and technically while being trained at Gimcheon.[8] He became the top goalscorer in the 2022 K League 1 and led Jeonbuk to the 2022 Korean FA Cup title. In January 2023, Jeonbuk received transfer bids for him from Mainz 05, Celtic, Rangers and Minnesota United.[9][10] Cho was attracted to Mainz and Celtic but rejected their offers after judging that his body condition was not good enough to play in Europe.[11]

Midtjylland

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On 11 July 2023, Cho signed with Danish Superliga club Midtjylland on a five-year contract for a fee reported to be around £2.6 million.[12] On 22 July 2023, he made his Danish Superliga debut with Midtjylland, scoring in a 1–0 win over Hvidovre.[13] Having a considerable presence at Midtjylland early on, he was selected for the Superliga Team of the Month in July and September.[14][15] He won the most duels and aerial duels in the 2023–24 Danish Superliga.[16][17] He successfully performed the role of target man, while helping his team win the league title.[18]

Cho Kyu-sung usually had knee problems, but he underwent surgery to remove the meniscus after the end of last season. He prepared to return in time for the season, but it is also said that it is difficult to return this season due to complications[19]

International career

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Cho made his senior debut for South Korea on 7 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Lebanon.[20]

In November 2022, Cho was named to the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[21] In Korea's second match at the tournament, he scored two goals against Ghana in an eventual 2–3 defeat, becoming the first South Korean player to ever score 2 or more goals in a single World Cup match. Despite losing that match, the goals proved decisive in ultimately sending Korea through to the Round of 16 on goal difference, at the expense of Uruguay.[22][23] Due to his performance in 2022 FIFA World Cup, Cho proved to be one of the greatest players in the air in Qatar. The young Korean forward won 21 aerial duels, putting him second in terms of success in the air among all players at the World Cup, after Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri.[24]

Cho was called up for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, and was expected to play as an influential striker for the South Korean national team during Hwang Ui-jo's absence.[25] However, he disappointed Koreans by missing five big chances and winning only 35% of duels while scoring one goal in six matches (although he did score against Saudi Arabia as the Koreans would win on penalties).[26][27] Especially, he received a yellow card after attempting a dive instead of a shot in front of Jordan's goal when Jordan held a 2–0 lead in the 88th minute of the semi-final match.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 28 May 2024[29][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Anyang 2019 K League 2 31 14 3 0 2[b] 0 36 14
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2020 K League 1 23 4 5 1 6[c] 3 34 8
2022 K League 1 8 4 3 4 11 8
2023 K League 1 12 5 2 1 14 6
Total 43 13 10 6 6 3 0 0 59 22
Gimcheon Sangmu (draft) 2021 K League 2 25 8 2 1 27 9
2022 K League 1 23 13 1 0 24 13
Total 48 21 3 1 0 0 0 0 51 22
Midtjylland 2023–24 Danish Superliga 30 12 2 0 5[d] 1 37 13
Career total 152 60 18 7 11 4 2 0 183 71
  1. ^ Includes Korean FA Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in K League 1 promotion playoffs
  3. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

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As of match played 26 March 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
South Korea 2021 4 0
2022 16 6
2023 10 2
2024 9 1
Total 39 9
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cho goal.[31]
List of international goals scored by Cho Gue-sung
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 January 2022 Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey   Iceland 1–0 5–1 Friendly
2 27 January 2022 Saida Municipal Stadium, Sidon, Lebanon   Lebanon 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 14 June 2022 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea   Egypt 3–1 4–1 Friendly
4 20 July 2022 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan   China 3–0 3–0 2022 EAFF Championship
5 28 November 2022 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Ghana 1–2 2–3 2022 FIFA World Cup
6 2–2
7 12 September 2023 St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England   Saudi Arabia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
8 16 November 2023 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea   Singapore 1–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 30 January 2024 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Saudi Arabia 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
2023 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

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Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Gimcheon Sangmu

Midtjylland

South Korea U23

South Korea

Individual

Notes

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  1. ^ Anyang Technical High School became an academy of FC Anyang in 2014.
  1. ^ Includes two appearances against another KFA team.

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Korea Republic (KOR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 17. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ 조규성, '순천의 손자'가 '월드컵 스타'로…시골·모교 덮은 펼침막 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. ^ "조규성曺圭成" (in Korean). K-league. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ 경쟁자이자 동반자’ 조규성과 모재현의 특별한 인연 (in Korean). Sports-G. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  5. ^ FC안양, 우선지명 포함 2019 신인 5명 영입 (in Korean). Sports Donga. 4 January 2019.
  6. ^ 조규성까지 영입한 전북, 22세 이하 고민 날렸다. Goal.com (in Korean). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ [단독]'이동국 후계자'조규성,상무 입대 결심.."지금이 적기" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ '성장캐' 김천 조규성, 여유에 승리 욕심까지 활활 "뜻대로 안 될 때 스스로 화가 난다" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ Fulton, Matthew (8 January 2023). "Cho Gue-sung Celtic transfer hype intensifies after 'bidding war'". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Gue-Sung Cho: Celtic in talks over deal | Rangers monitoring South Korea striker". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. ^ "몸상태 100% 아니다보니"…조규성, 여름 이적으로 기우는 이유 (in Korean). Xportsnews. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Officielt: FC Midtjylland henter sydkoreansk angriber" (in Danish). Bold. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  13. ^ 조규성, 덴마크 수페르리가 개막전서 데뷔골…미트윌란, 1-0 승리. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Månedens Hold i juli". Twitter.com (in Danish). Superliga. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Silkeborg dominans på Månedens Hold i september, hvor hele fire profiler har fundet vej til start 11'eren". Twitter.com (in Danish). Superliga. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Gue-Sung Cho". FotMob. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Årets Superligahold hos Flashscore: Blot én FCM-spiller på top fire-domineret mandskab" (in Danish). Flashscore. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Reaktioner på mesterskabet: En vanvittig følelse" (in Danish). FC Midtjylland. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Cho Gue-sung's injury is more serious than expected". 풋볼아시안 (in Korean). 15 September 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  20. ^ "South Korea v Lebanon game report". FIFA. 7 September 2021.
  21. ^ "South Korea World Cup squad 2022: Son Heung-min included but 'final decision' to be made". 16 November 2022.
  22. ^ "WATCH: Two goals in three minutes! Cho stuns Ghana with quick-fire brace for South Korea | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Who is Cho Gue-Sung, the South Korea striker who scored twice vs Ghana in the FIFA World Cup". Sportstar. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Cho Gue-sung may not be going anywhere this winter: Jeonbuk". Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Five stars from World Cup qualifying to watch in the Asian Cup". FIFA. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Gue-sung Cho". Sofascore. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. ^ [카타르 현장] '최악 부진' 조규성 "아쉬움만 남는 대회, 많은 걸 느꼈다". Naver (in Korean). SPOTV News. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  28. ^ '걸리지도 않았는데 넘어진' 조규성, 슈팅 못하고 헐리웃 옐로 [스한 스틸컷]. Nate (in Korean). Sports Hankook. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  29. ^ Cho Gue-sung – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)  
  30. ^ Cho Gue-sung at Soccerway
  31. ^ a b "Cho, Gue-Sung". KFA. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  32. ^ 손흥민-장슬기 올해의 선수 선정... 올해의 골은 조규성 (in Korean). KFA. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 K-League XI". Tottenham Hotspur. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  34. ^ a b 울산 이청용 K리그 '최고의 별'... 홍명보는 감독상 영예 (종합). Naver (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  35. ^ '멀티골 작렬' 조규성, FA컵 MVP... 감독상 전북 김상식 감독[오!쎈전주]. Naver (in Korean). Osen. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
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