1. Overview
Ku Ja-ryong (구자룡Gu JaryongKorean; born 6 April 1992) is a South Korean football defender. His career has seen him play for several prominent South Korean clubs, including Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Ansan Police, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and most recently, Bucheon FC 1995. Known for his consistent performance and defensive capabilities, Ku Ja-ryong has contributed to multiple league and cup victories throughout his professional career, highlighting his significant impact on the teams he has represented.
2. Early Life and Background
Ku Ja-ryong was born in Wanju, South Korea. He developed his football skills from a young age and is a graduate of the Maetan High School football team, which is affiliated with the Suwon Samsung Bluewings youth system. This early development laid the foundation for his professional career, preparing him for the demands of top-tier football.
3. Club Career
Ku Ja-ryong's professional club career has spanned several key teams in South Korea, marked by periods of mandatory military service and significant contributions to his clubs' successes in both domestic and continental competitions.
3.1. Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Ansan Police
Ku Ja-ryong began his professional journey by joining Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2011. In 2012, in adherence to South Korean law requiring mandatory military service, he was transferred to Ansan Police (also known as Police Football Club) on loan. During his time at Ansan Police, he served alongside notable players such as Yeom Ki-hun. He made his league debut for Ansan Police on 12 May 2013, in a K League 2 match against Chungju Hummel FC. After fulfilling his military obligations, Ku Ja-ryong returned to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in September 2013, resuming his career with his parent club.
3.2. Return to Suwon and Major Activities
Upon his return to Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Ku Ja-ryong steadily solidified his position within the team. In the 2015 season, he saw a significant increase in his playing time, appearing in 25 matches. A notable moment during this period was when he scored his debut goal for Suwon, which occurred during an AFC Champions League away match against Kashiwa Reysol in 2015. He continued to be a key player for Suwon in subsequent seasons, featuring in 32 matches in 2016, 29 in 2017, 22 in 2018, and 30 in 2019, consistently contributing to the team's defensive efforts and overall performance in K League 1 and other competitions.
3.3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
On 6 January 2020, Ku Ja-ryong's transfer to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, another prominent club in K League 1, was officially confirmed. His move to Jeonbuk marked a new chapter in his career, where he continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess and experience. He played for Jeonbuk through the 2022 season, making 2 appearances in 2020, 17 in 2021, and 15 in 2022 in K League 1. During his tenure at Jeonbuk, he contributed significantly to the club's remarkable success, including winning multiple K League 1 titles and Korean FA Cups.
3.4. Move to Bucheon FC 1995
Following his successful period with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ku Ja-ryong later moved to Bucheon FC 1995. As of the latest available information from sources, he is currently active and playing for Bucheon FC 1995, continuing his professional career in the South Korean football league system and bringing his wealth of experience to the club.
4. Career Statistics
This section provides a detailed overview of Ku Ja-ryong's club performance throughout his professional career, including appearances and goals in various competitions.
4.1. Club 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 | Korean League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2011 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | K League 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | Ansan Police | K League 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | K League 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 1 | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2016 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 1 | ||||
| 2020 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |||
| Total | South Korea | 188 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 240 | 4 | |
5. Honours
Ku Ja-ryong has achieved several significant honours throughout his club career, contributing to the success of his teams in various domestic and continental competitions, showcasing his value as a defensive asset.
5.1. Suwon Samsung Bluewings
- K League 1 Runners-up: 2014
- FA Cup Winner: 2016, 2019
5.2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
- K League 1 Winner: 2020, 2021
- FA Cup Winner: 2020, 2022