1. Koo Ja-cheol played for VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg and Mainz 05 with 211 Bundesliga appearances.
22 Facts About Koo Ja-cheol
1. 2.
Koo Ja-cheol captained the South Korea national team in the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and won a bronze medal in the Summer Olympics.
3.
Koo Ja-cheol started football at age ten when a nearby elementary school opened its football club.
4.
In 2006, as a member of Boin High School, Koo Ja-cheol participated in the Baekrok High School Football Competition that is annually held in Jeju Island.
5.
In 2007, Koo Ja-cheol was selected by Jeju United in the K League draft.
6.
Koo Ja-cheol failed to make an impression in his first two years at Jeju due to numerous injuries.
7.
Koo Ja-cheol spent a great season in 2010 at Jeju instead, driving his club to an unprecedented runner-up position.
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Ki Sung-yueng 8.
Koo Ja-cheol's contribution enabled him to gain personal honors such as the Top Assists Award, the FANtastic Player Award, and the Best XI.
9.
On 30 January 2011, Koo Ja-cheol successfully moved to VfL Wolfsburg during the winter transfer window, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
10.
Koo Ja-cheol performed a significant part in helping Augsburg to escape relegation in their maiden season in the Bundesliga.
11.
On 18 January 2014, it was announced that Koo Ja-cheol penned a four-and-a-half-year deal with Mainz 05.
12.
On 31 August 2015, Koo Ja-cheol rejoined Augsburg, and so Augsburg spent a season with three South Korean players, including Ji Dong-won and Hong Jeong-ho.
13.
Koo Ja-cheol wanted to contract with one of the top teams of the Bundesliga, but finally joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa in August 2019.
14.
Koo Ja-cheol played a central role in helping South Korea finish third in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, with five goals and three assists over the tournament, finishing as the tournament's top scorer.
15.
On 25 January 2019, Koo Ja-cheol announced his retirement from international duty after South Korea lost in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
16.
Koo Ja-cheol showed his best performance when playing as an attacking midfielder, although he originally deployed as a defensive midfielder.
17.
Koo Ja-cheol sometimes played as a central midfielder, second striker, or winger if necessary.
18.
Koo Ja-cheol was praised for his techniques, especially a talent for getting out of opponents' pressure, while keeping the ball.
19.
Koo Ja-cheol had an ability to find the back of the net, often displaying a knack to charge into the opposition penalty box unsighted.
20.
Koo Ja-cheol is currently the honorary ambassador for The Republic of Korea Air Force.
21.
Koo Ja-cheol is a close friend with his teammate Ki Sung-yueng, and they like to display their friendly, humorous conversations on Twitter.
22.
On 24 June 2013, Koo Ja-cheol married a Jeju woman three years his senior at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel.