1. Early Life and Education
Cho Deok-je was born on October 26, 1965. His formative years in football began with his youth career at Ajou University, where he later also pursued his academic studies and graduated. This institution played a crucial role in both his development as a player and later as a coach.
2. Playing Career
Cho Deok-je's professional football career began after his time at Ajou University. He was primarily known for his tenure as a midfielder.
2.1. Club Career
Cho Deok-je signed with Daewoo Royals in 1988, marking the start of his professional playing career. On November 5, 1988, he scored his professional debut goal against Yukong Elephants. In his rookie season (1988), he appeared in 18 matches, recording 1 goal and 1 assist. His performance notably improved in the 1989 season, where he played in 39 league matches, the highest number of appearances in the league that year, contributing 1 goal and 4 assists. His strong showing earned him a selection to the K League Best XI as a midfielder in 1989.
He was a consistent presence in the Daewoo Royals' midfield, maintaining his position as a regular starter. During his eight seasons with the club, he played over 200 times, with records indicating 213 appearances. He remained a one-club man throughout his professional playing career, retiring after his long service to Daewoo Royals. During his time at Daewoo, the team secured the Korean Super League (now known as K League 1) title in 1991.
3. Managerial Career
Following his retirement as a player, Cho Deok-je transitioned into coaching and managerial roles, making significant contributions to various South Korean football clubs and organizations.
3.1. Ajou University
After ending his playing career, Cho Deok-je embarked on his coaching journey. He first worked as a coach at the Kim Hee-tae Football Center before returning to his alma mater, Ajou University. He served as a coach at Ajou University between 1996 and 2001. Following this, he spent a year at the Barcelona Soccer School, broadening his coaching perspectives. In 2004, he took on the role of manager for Ajou University, a position he held for seven years. After his tenure at the university, he moved to supervise all youth soccer programs within the city of Suwon.
3.2. Suwon FC
Cho Deok-je took over as manager of Suwon FC, then known as Suwon City FC, for the 2012 season. This period marked a pivotal phase in his managerial career and for the club.
3.2.1. Promotion to K League Classic
In his first season with Suwon City FC in 2012, the club finished 9th in the Korea National League. However, they demonstrated their competitive edge by winning the mid-season Korea National League Championship cup competition, defeating Ulsan Hyundai Mipo in the final.
As part of a league restructuring, Suwon City FC transitioned into a professional club, renaming itself Suwon FC, and was incorporated into the newly established K League Challenge for the 2013 season. This marked Cho Deok-je's debut as a professional team manager. Under his guidance, Suwon FC finished 4th in 2013 and 6th in 2014. On September 9, 2015, Cho Deok-je achieved his 100th managerial game against Ansan Police FC.
In the 2015 season, Suwon FC finished 3rd in the K League Challenge. Cho Deok-je implemented an aggressive offensive philosophy, popularly known as "Makgong Chukgu" (roughly translating to "aggressive offensive football"), which became the team's distinctive style. This attacking approach propelled Suwon FC through the promotion/relegation playoffs, where they successively defeated Daegu FC, Seoul E-Land FC, and significantly, his former club Busan IPark, to secure a historic promotion to the K League Classic for the first time. The final promotion was sealed with a 2-0 victory in the second leg against Busan IPark, a moment marked by the irony of his former club being the final hurdle. This achievement made Cho Deok-je the first manager to lead a team from the National League (an amateur/semi-professional league) all the way to the K League Classic. For his exceptional leadership in gaining promotion, he was awarded the 2015 K League Challenge Manager of the Year award.
3.2.2. K League Classic Season and Departure
In their inaugural K League Classic season in 2016, Suwon FC finished 12th out of 12 teams and were immediately relegated back to the K League Challenge. Despite the swift relegation, the team's "Makgong Chukgu" style of play demonstrated competitiveness in the top league. Notably, Suwon FC managed to win all their league matches against Pohang Steelers and secured a total of 10 wins throughout the season, which was the highest number of victories achieved by a last-place team since the implementation of the promotion/relegation system, showcasing a bright future for the club's distinctive playing style.
Although Cho Deok-je considered resigning due to the relegation, the club expressed re-confidence in his leadership, and he remained with the team. However, on August 26, 2017, he eventually resigned from his managerial position, taking responsibility for the team's performance. His chief coach, Cho Jong-hwa, served as interim manager until October 11, and subsequently, Kim Dae-eui was appointed as Suwon FC's third official manager.
3.3. Administrative Role
After his departure from Suwon FC, Cho Deok-je briefly transitioned into an administrative role within South Korean football. In 2018, he served as the chairman of the competition committee for the Korean Football Association for one season, contributing to the organizational aspects of the sport.
3.4. Busan IPark
On December 20, 2018, Cho Deok-je was announced as the new manager of K League 2 side Busan IPark, replacing Choi Yun-kyum for the 2019 season. His appointment was particularly significant as he was already considered a club legend, having played over 213 games during his eight years with the club when it was known as Daewoo Royals.
3.5. FC Mokpo
Currently, Cho Deok-je is serving as the manager of FC Mokpo. He continues to apply his extensive experience and coaching philosophy to lead the club in its current endeavors within the South Korean football league system.
4. Awards and Honors
Cho Deok-je has received several significant individual recognitions throughout his playing and managerial careers:
- K League Best XI Midfielder: 1989
- K League Challenge Manager of the Year: 2015
5. Legacy and Evaluation
Cho Deok-je's impact on South Korean football is multifaceted, marked by his pioneering spirit both as a consistent player and, more notably, as a groundbreaking manager. His strategic application of "Makgong Chukgu" (aggressive offensive football) at Suwon FC not only entertained fans but also demonstrated that a proactive, attacking style could be competitive, even leading a team from the lower tiers to the top division. His leadership in guiding a National League team to the K League Classic for the first time cemented his status as a historical figure in Korean football, highlighting the potential for growth and upward mobility within the league structure.
Even after relegation, his team's performance in the K League Classic, particularly securing 10 wins as the last-place team, showcased a competitive spirit that resonated with fans and experts alike. This commitment to an exciting, attacking style of play, coupled with his administrative stint at the Korea Football Association, underscores his broad contributions to the development and enhancement of South Korean football, particularly in promoting lower-league teams and fostering a dynamic league environment for both players and supporters.