Koo Ja-cheol

Koo Ja-cheol
Koo with South Korea in 2017
Personal information
Full name Koo Ja-cheol
Date of birth (1989-02-27) 27 February 1989
Place of birth Nonsan, Chungnam, South Korea
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Midfielder
Youth career
2004–2006 Boin High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Jeju United 67 (7)
2011–2014 VfL Wolfsburg 32 (0)
2012–2013FC Augsburg (loan) 36 (8)
2014–2015 Mainz 05 39 (6)
2015–2019 FC Augsburg 104 (14)
2019–2021 Al-Gharafa 38 (6)
2021 Al-Khor 8 (0)
2022–2024 Jeju United 28 (1)
Total 352 (42)
International career
2007–2009 South Korea U20 16 (5)
2009–2012 South Korea U23 16 (5)
2008–2019 South Korea 76 (19)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Korea
Olympic Games
2012 London
AFC Asian Cup
Runner-up 2015 Australia
2011 Qatar
Asian Games
2010 Guangzhou
EAFF Championship
Winner 2008 China
Runner-up 2010 Japan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 November 2024 (UTC)
Koo Ja-cheol
Hangul
구자철
Hanja
具滋哲
RRGu Jacheol
MRKu Chach'ŏl
Also spelled Gu Ja-chul or Ku Ja-chul

Koo Ja-cheol (Korean구자철; Korean pronunciation: [ku.dʑa.tɕʰʌl] or [ku] [tɕa.tɕʰʌl]; born 27 February 1989) is a South Korean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Koo is considered one of the most successful South Korean players at the Bundesliga. He made 211 Bundesliga appearances, while playing for VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg and Mainz 05. On the international side, he won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and captained the South Korea national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.