1. In 2001, after his original plan to join a university club failed, Cho Won-hee signed with Ulsan Hyundai, one of the most successful clubs in the K League.
17 Facts About Cho Won-hee
1. 2.
Cho Won-hee originally played as a right wing-back or a right full-back at the Big Bird Stadium, competing for a regular spot with Song Chong-Gug: however, in 2007, due to a long-term injury of defensive midfielder Kim Nam-Il, he switched his position to replace his team-mate.
3.
Cho Won-hee chose to not renew his contract with Suwon, becoming a free agent and starting figuring out an even more ambitious move.
4.
Cho Won-hee impressed during his tests with the Tics and, after being granted a work permit, he was allowed to join Wigan on 6 March 2009, signing a two years, six months-long contract.
5.
On 13 February 2011, Cho Won-hee joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande on a free transfer, which made him the second Korean player to play for the club after Park Ji-Ho.
6.
Cho Won-hee was the only player to appear in all of the 30 games for Guangzhou during the 2011 season.
7.
Nevertheless, Cho Won-hee still managed to play his part in the win of two consecutive league titles in 2011 and 2012 with Guangzhou, as well as the national FA Cup and Super Cup in the latter year.
8.
In February 2014, Cho Won-hee was loaned to Gyeongnam FC, thus returning to South Korea after four years from his latest experience at the time.
9.
On 4 July 2014, Cho Won-hee moved to Japanese side Omiya Ardija until the end of the season.
10.
On 5 February 2015, Cho Won-hee approached a new and definitive homecoming, as he accepted an offer from newly established Seoul E-Land, which was set to debut in K League Challenge.
11.
The episode is still well-remembered by football fans all across the country, with Cho Won-hee himself being repeatedly invited to speak and joke on his error.
12.
On 31 March 2019, Cho Won-hee announced his retirement from professional football through a special ceremony, hold at Suwon World Cup Stadium shortly before an official league match against Incheon United.
13.
Cho Won-hee's retirement closed an 18-year long career, with a total amount of 352 appearances and 10 goals distributed between South Korea, England, China and Japan.
14.
Cho Won-hee played in the most part of the matches in preparation to the 2006 World Cup and featured in South Korea's first match of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification.
15.
Under another fellow Dutch manager, Pim Verbeek, Cho Won-hee took part in other matches of qualification to the Asian Cup: however, the following year, due to either technical decisions and him having hard times at Suwon, Cho Won-hee ended up missing the continental competition.
16.
Cho Won-hee kept competing for a starting spot in the national team, with Huh Jung-moo trusting him despite some injury problems and limited playing time at his new club Wigan: this way, the versatile player could help South Korea qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
17.
Cho Won-hee was mainly used in his natural position as a right-back, but Huh Jung-moo sided him as a defensive midfielder in sporadic occasions, following his successful transition to the role at Suwon.