“To choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Minho? Chungbuk Cheongju FC desperately needs both of them.”
The first coach of Chungbuk Cheongju FC, Choi Yun-gyeom (61), a ‘new team’ in the domestic professional soccer K League 2 (Part 2) recently met with Ilgan Sports, and the world-renowned Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nasri) and the global K-POP idol group SHINee. When asked which of the two members and second son, Minho, he would like to recruit more, he answered with a smile.
Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do will participate in the second division of professional football from the 2023 season. Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, which competed in K3 (semi-pro), received approval from the Professional Football Federation in July last year to participate in the league. On the 3rd, the foundation ceremony was held at the Grand Theater of the Arts Center in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Even in Chungbuk, which was the only provincial government in the country without a professional team, it has been established seven years after Chungju Hummel, which participated in the second division from the 2013 season to the 2016 season.
Manager Choi Yoon-gyeom took the club’s first baton. Coach Choi, who played for Yugong Elephant, is a veteran K-League leader. In the early and mid-2000s, Daejeon Citizen (now Daejeon Hana Citizen) created a sensation. He also lived as a leader in Turkey, Vietnam, etc. From the 2015 season, when he returned to the domestic stage, he took the helm of Gangwon FC, Busan I-Park, and Jeju United. In Gangwon, he led the K-League 1 (first division) promotion.
K-League fans think of Ronaldo and Minho when they see manager Choi Yoon-gyeom. In 2017, coach Choi, who led Gangwon at the time, said in front of the players, “I don’t really want a player like Ronaldo.” It was said metaphorically to mean that team organization is more important than individuals, but it was a big topic as it was seen as “There is no need for Ronaldo in Gangwon.” Minho appeared in a variety show with his father, Director Choi, and supported him.
Manager Choi Yoon-gyeom said, “If Ronaldo joins Chungbuk Cheongju, there will be a lot of soccer fans.” “Minho really likes soccer. He was also a K-League public relations ambassador. He didn’t have a K-League team that he passionately supported, but when his father said he was going to coach a new team, he said, ‘I have a team to root for.’ With Ronaldo and Minho, we can bring them to the stadium for a few more minutes. We need both of them now,” he laughed.
The Chungcheong-do Derby is expected. In Chungcheong Province, three teams compete in the second division, including Chungnam Asan FC, Chungbuk Cheongju and Cheonan FC. After receiving approval from the Cheonan-do Federation, which competed in K3 with Chungbuk Cheongju, it will participate in the second division next year. Director Choi Yoon-gyeom said, “Fans will visit the stadium a lot when there is a rival. The match against Cheonan, a new team, is highly anticipated. I think a good picture will come out,” he said. 메이저사이트
Coach Choi Yoon-gyeom is the only coach in the K-League in his 60s. He thinks he won’t be in a hurry. Director Choi Yoon-gyeom, who will make a team for the city and the people as much as he receives budget support from Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju, said, “If you participate in the second division, including Chungbuk Cheongju and Cheonan FC, there are 13 teams. A single-digit ranking is the goal. Even 9th place is a huge success. I want to be promoted to division 1 after 5 years,” he said.
Chungbuk Cheongju does not have a clubhouse. It is a poor environment for the players to live in a hotel near Cheongju, but they are determined to overcome the crisis with the fighting spirit of a ‘new club’. Director Choi Yoon-gyeom said, “I want to show that we are a team that works hard and does its best. Doesn’t Minho have the nickname of ‘flaming charisma’? I will also make Chungbuk Cheongju a passionate team.”