1. Overview
Choi Hyun (최현Korean; born 7 November 1978) is a retired South Korean footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is currently a professional coach. His playing career spanned from 2001 to 2012, primarily in the K League, where he played for clubs such as Bucheon SK/Jeju United, Gyeongnam FC, Busan IPark, and Daejeon Citizen. He represented South Korea at various youth national levels, including the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2000 Summer Olympics. Following his playing career, Choi transitioned into coaching, holding goalkeeper coaching positions at notable institutions and clubs like Pohang Steelers' U-18 team, Yonsei University, FC Seoul, Gyeongnam FC, and Busan IPark. This article details his journey from a promising youth talent to a seasoned professional and successful coach.
2. Playing Career
Choi Hyun's playing career began with early development in his hometown, leading to a decade-long professional career as a goalkeeper in the K League, marked by periods of both success and challenges, including significant injuries. He also represented his country at various international youth tournaments.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Choi Hyun was born in Busan, South Korea. He attended Dong-A High School and later graduated from Chung-Ang University, where he honed his skills as a goalkeeper before entering the professional football circuit.
2.2. Club Career
Choi Hyun made his debut in the K League in 2001, joining Bucheon SK. Although he did not secure a regular starting position in his inaugural year, his potential was recognized, leading to his selection for the Korea-Japan World Cup standby squad and the Summer Universiade national team. Over the subsequent two years (2002 and 2003), he established himself, appearing in 40 league matches. However, his progress was interrupted by injuries, which sidelined him for the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons, preventing him from making any league appearances.
In 2006, Bucheon SK relocated to Jeju Island and rebranded as Jeju United FC. Choi continued his career with the club, serving as vice-captain for two years and resuming his competitive appearances. In 2008, he transferred to Gyeongnam FC. Unfortunately, a severe ankle injury sustained just before the start of the league season necessitated surgery, and he did not play any matches for Gyeongnam. Later that year, he was part of a trade deal that saw him move to Busan IPark.
At Busan IPark, Choi faced stiff competition for the starting goalkeeper spot, notably from Lee Beom-young. He eventually secured the primary role during the 2009 K League season. However, his 2010 season was cut short by another injury sustained in the first match, and he was unable to return to play for the remainder of the year due to lingering post-injury effects. Choi transferred to Daejeon Citizen in 2011 and concluded his playing career at the end of the 2012 season.
2.3. International Career
Choi Hyun actively participated in various South Korean national youth teams throughout his development. He was consistently included in the final squads for several major international youth tournaments, showcasing his talent on the global stage. His notable participations include the 1996 AFC U-19 Championship, the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and the 1999 Summer Universiade. He was also part of the South Korean men's football squad for the 2000 Summer Olympics.
2.4. Career Statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2001 | Bucheon SK | K League | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 18 | 0 | ? | ? | 8 | 0 | - | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2003 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2006 | Jeju United | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | Gyeongnam FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Busan IPark | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | Daejeon Citizen | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 89 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 0 | - | 120 | 0 | |||
3. Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a player, Choi Hyun transitioned into football coaching, focusing primarily on developing goalkeepers at both youth and professional levels across various South Korean clubs and educational institutions.
In 2013, he began his coaching career as a goalkeeper coach for the Pohang Steelers' U-18 youth team, Pohang Jecheol High School Football Club. His tenure at the high school was particularly successful; in mid-2015, when head coach Lee Chang-won was appointed as the chief coach for Daejeon Citizen, Choi took on the role of acting head coach. Under his leadership, Pohang Jecheol High School achieved an undefeated victory in the latter half of the 2015 K League Junior season and triumphed in the 2015 Daegyo Noonnoppi King of Kings Tournament.
In 2017, Choi Hyun moved to collegiate football, becoming the goalkeeper coach for Yonsei University. His career then progressed to professional clubs, with his appointment as the goalkeeper coach for FC Seoul on December 28, 2020. In 2022, he took on the role of overall goalkeeper coach for Gyeongnam FC, where he was involved in talent development. Most recently, ahead of the 2023 season, Choi Hyun was appointed as the goalkeeper coach for Busan IPark.
4. Awards and Achievements
Choi Hyun received recognition for his contributions both as a player and as a coach throughout his career.
- 1999: Denso Cup University Selection Goalkeeper Award
- 2015: Daegyo Noonnoppi King of Kings Tournament Best Coach Award