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Shin Young-rok

Shin Young-rok is a former South Korean football forward known for his powerful play and miraculous recovery from an acute cardiac arrest in 2011, after which he retired in 2013.

1. Overview

Shin Young-Rok, born on March 27, 1987, in Seoul, South Korea, is a former South Korean football forward. Throughout his career, he was known for his physical strength and aggressive play, earning him the nicknames 'Youngrokba' (a portmanteau referencing Didier Drogba) and 'Tank'. He was celebrated for his ability to hold up the ball, excellent close control, dribbling skills, aerial prowess, and the power and accuracy of his shots. Notably, former national team star Cha Bum-Kun praised his precision in the penalty area as being superior to his own. Shin played for several prominent clubs, including Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Jeju United FC, and represented South Korea at various youth and senior national team levels. His professional career took a dramatic turn on May 8, 2011, when he suffered an acute cardiac arrest during a match, leading to a prolonged coma and a miraculous recovery, after which he retired from the sport in 2013.

2. Early Life and Youth Career

Shin Young-Rok was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 27, 1987. His early life saw him develop a passion for football, leading him to pursue a professional career from a young age.

2.1. Youth and Junior Career

Shin began his formal football training at Seil Middle School before joining the professional ranks. His talent was recognized early, leading to his selection for various youth national teams. He played for the South Korea U-17 team from 2002 to 2003, making 6 appearances and scoring 4 goals. From 2004 to 2007, he was a key player for the South Korea U-20 team, appearing in 41 matches and scoring 23 goals. His participation included the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In these tournaments, he achieved a unique distinction by becoming the first South Korean player to score in two consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups, finding the net against Switzerland in 2005 and against the United States and Brazil in 2007. Shin also played for the South Korea U-23 Olympic national team from 2007 to 2008, accumulating 9 appearances and 1 goal.

3. Professional Club Career

Shin Young-Rok's professional club career began in 2003 and saw him play for clubs in both South Korea and Turkey before an unforeseen health crisis led to his retirement.

3.1. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2003-2008)

Shin Young-Rok made his professional debut in the K League with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2003. In his initial five years with the club, he appeared in 39 league matches. He scored his first K League goal in 2005 against Bucheon SK (now Jeju United), three years after his professional debut. His prominence at Suwon grew significantly from 2008, when he became a regular starter under manager Cha Bum-Kun. During the 2008 K League season, he played in 18 matches and scored 6 goals, contributing to Suwon Samsung Bluewings' league championship victory.

3.2. Bursaspor and Contract Disputes (2009)

Following his impressive performance in Korea, Shin Young-Rok transferred to Bursaspor in Turkey in January 2009. He quickly adapted to the new environment, scoring his first goal in only his second full match for the club against Gençlerbirliği on February 8, 2009. During his tenure at Bursaspor, he played 17 matches and scored 4 goals in the 2008-09 Süper Lig season, and 7 matches and 2 goals in the 2009-10 season, totaling 24 matches and 6 goals. However, his time in Turkey was cut short due to contract violations, specifically regarding unpaid fees. Shin returned to South Korea in October 2009 as a clubless player. Despite signing a contract with FC Tom Tomsk of the Russian Premier League in December 2009, the ongoing contract dispute with Bursaspor and the resulting delay in obtaining a transfer agreement from the Turkish Football Association prevented him from officially joining or playing for the Russian club.

3.3. Return to Suwon and Jeju United (2010-2011)

After the complications with his transfer to Russia, Shin Young-Rok returned to his former club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, in 2010. He made his return to the pitch on July 28, 2010, as a substitute in a K-League Cup match against FC Seoul, though he did not score. Three days later, in a league match against Gwangju Sangmu, he scored his first goal since returning to Suwon. On January 28, 2011, Shin completed a transfer to Jeju United FC for an undisclosed fee and contract length. He played for Jeju United until the acute cardiac arrest incident in May 2011.

4. International Career

Shin Young-Rok represented South Korea at various international levels, showcasing his skills on the global stage from his youth to the senior national team.

4.1. Youth and Olympic National Teams

Shin Young-Rok was a prominent figure in South Korea's youth national teams. He played for the South Korea U-17 team from 2002 to 2003, recording 6 appearances and 4 goals. He then progressed to the South Korea U-20 team, where he made 41 appearances and scored 23 goals between 2004 and 2007. During this period, he notably participated in two consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments, in 2005 and 2007. In the 2005 tournament, he scored against Switzerland, and in 2007, he found the net against both the United States and Brazil, becoming the first South Korean player to score in two consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups. Shin also represented the South Korea U-23 Olympic national team from 2007 to 2008, participating in 9 matches and scoring 1 goal. He was a member of the South Korean squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he displayed excellent skills. His debut for the U-23 team was on September 8, 2007, against Bahrain.

4.2. Senior National Team

Shin Young-Rok received his call-up to the South Korea senior national football team and made his A-match debut on September 5, 2008, in a friendly match against Jordan. He accumulated 3 appearances for the senior national team between 2006 and 2009, although he did not score any goals in these matches.

5. Playing Style

Shin Young-Rok was a forward known for his distinctive tactical role and physical prowess. While he was considered to have some limitations in creating scoring opportunities independently, his greatest strengths lay in his powerful physique, which enabled him to engage in aggressive body-to-body challenges, and his exceptional positional awareness. These attributes allowed him to consistently find optimal spots in the penalty area, leading to decisive goal-scoring opportunities. He possessed a high degree of goal-scoring accuracy and exhibited notable aggressiveness and technical skill when near the goal. His ability to hold up the ball, combined with excellent close control, dribbling skills, and aerial ability, made him a formidable presence. His shots were characterized by both power and accuracy. His playing style, particularly his strength and post-play, led to him being nicknamed 'Youngrokba' (a portmanteau comparing him to Didier Drogba) and 'Tank'.

6. Acute Cardiac Arrest Incident and Recovery

On May 8, 2011, during a K League match between Jeju United FC and Daegu FC at the Jeju World Cup Stadium, Shin Young-Rok suffered a severe health emergency. In the 82nd minute of the game, shortly after attempting a shot, he suddenly collapsed on the pitch. Medical staff immediately responded by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on site. After his breathing returned, he was quickly transported to a local hospital.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Shin was diagnosed with an acute cardiac arrest caused by arrhythmia. He remained in an unconscious state for an extended period, leading to serious concerns about his prognosis. However, after 50 days in a coma, he miraculously regained consciousness on June 27, 2011. Following this remarkable recovery, he was transferred to a hospital in Seoul for further diagnosis and specialized treatment to manage his condition. His struggle and eventual awakening highlighted the fragility of life and garnered significant attention and support from the football community and the public.

7. Retirement

Shin Young-Rok officially retired from professional football by the end of 2013. His retirement was a direct consequence of the acute cardiac arrest incident he suffered in May 2011, which left him with significant health challenges that prevented him from continuing his playing career. The decision marked the end of a promising career that was cut short by an unforeseen medical emergency.

8. Honours and Achievements

Shin Young-Rok achieved several notable honours both individually and as a member of his clubs throughout his career.

8.1. Individual Honours

  • U-19 Qatar International Tournament MVP & Top Scorer: 2006

8.2. Club Honours

8.2.1. Suwon Samsung Bluewings

  • K League Champions: 2004, 2008
  • K League Runner-up: 2006
  • FA Cup Runner-up: 2006
  • League Cup Winners: 2005, 2008
  • Korean Super Cup Winners: 2005
  • A3 Champions Cup Winners: 2005
  • FA Cup Winners: 2010

9. Career Statistics

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Korea RepublicLeagueFA CupK League CupAsiaTotal
2003Suwon BluewingsK League3000--30
2004102050-80
20056100101081
2006814041-162
2007321000-42
20081862051-257
TurkeyLeagueTürkiye KupasıLeague CupEuropeTotal
2008-09BursasporSüper Lig17410--184
2009-107200--72
Korea RepublicLeagueFA CupK League CupAsiaTotal
2010Suwon BluewingsK League83301020143
2011Jeju United80000042122
CountryKorea Republic5513120162729017
Turkey24610--256
Total79191301627211523

10. Legacy and Post-Career Activities

Shin Young-Rok's story, particularly his remarkable recovery from acute cardiac arrest, has left an enduring impact on Korean football and beyond. His experience transformed him into a symbol of resilience and brought greater awareness to heart health among athletes. In December 2011, he became an ambassador for 'Heart Saving' (심장살리기SimjangsalligiKorean), a public awareness initiative dedicated to promoting heart health and supporting those affected by cardiac conditions. This role allowed him to contribute to society by sharing his personal journey and advocating for important health causes. His legacy also extended into popular culture, as his persona was featured as a special season player in the FIFA Online 3 video game, underscoring his recognition and continued presence in the football community despite his early retirement.