Yun Jong-su

2.1. Early Life and Playing Style

Born on January 3, 1962, Yun Jong-su played primarily as a defender. Details of his early life and playing career are not widely known, but he was recognized for his aggressive man-marking and exceptional competitive spirit, earning him the nickname 독사 (Doksa, meaning "Viper").

2.2. Club Career

During his club career, Yun Jong-su was associated with the 4.25 Sports Group, one of North Korea's most prominent sports clubs. His time with the club was marked by his consistent performance and defensive prowess.

2.3. International Playing Career

Yun Jong-su's international career for the North Korea national football team included significant appearances in major tournaments and qualification campaigns. On October 16, 1989, he started in the second match of the final round of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers held in Singapore, where North Korea faced a 1-0 defeat against South Korea.

He was a key member of the North Korea team that participated in the 1990 Asian Games, contributing to their eventual silver medal win. During this tournament, he scored his first known international goal on October 3, 1990, against Thailand, securing a 1-0 victory for North Korea. Furthermore, on October 11, 1990, during the South-North Unification Football Match held at Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang against South Korea, he scored the equalizing goal after Kim Joo-sung had put South Korea ahead, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Yun Jong-su also participated in the 1992 AFC Asian Cup finals, serving as the captain of the North Korea squad. However, the team recorded a disappointing performance of one draw and two losses, failing to advance from the group stage and ending the tournament early.

3.1. First Stint with Senior National Team (2003-2005)

Yun Jong-su began his extensive managerial career in 2003 when he was appointed head coach of the North Korea national football team. He successfully guided the team through the second round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, achieving an impressive record of three wins, two draws, and one loss against Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This performance led North Korea to the final qualifying round for the first time in 12 years. However, in the final round, the team faced a tough challenge, suffering five consecutive defeats against formidable opponents like Japan, Iran, and Bahrain, which confirmed their elimination. Following the fifth match against Japan, Yun Jong-su was dismissed from his position. Coach Kim Myong-song then took charge for the final match against Bahrain, which North Korea won 3-2.

3.2. Youth and Olympic Team Management (2008-2010)

From 2008 to 2010, Yun Jong-su took on the dual role of managing both the North Korea U-20 and U-23 national teams. During this period, he achieved significant success, leading the U-20 team to win the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship, a prestigious youth tournament. Under his guidance, the U-23 team also reached the quarterfinals of the 2010 Asian Games.

3.3. Second Stint with Senior National Team and 2014 Asian Games (2011-2014)

In 2011, Yun Jong-su returned for his second stint as the head coach of the North Korea national football team. The following year, he guided the team to victory in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, marking North Korea's second consecutive triumph in an AFC-sanctioned competition. After this success, he was appointed to lead the North Korea U-23 team at the 2014 Asian Games. Under his leadership, the team secured a silver medal, an achievement that marked North Korea's first Asian Games football medal in 24 years.

3.4. Later Coaching Roles and Third Stint (2016-2023)

In 2016, Yun Jong-su managed the North Korea U-23 team in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship, which also served as a qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympics men's football tournament. He guided the team to their first-ever AFC U-23 Championship quarterfinals appearance. However, they were narrowly defeated 1-2 by host nation Qatar in the quarterfinals, consequently missing out on their first Olympic qualification since the 1976 Summer Olympics, a gap of 40 years.

Yun Jong-su made his third return as the head coach of the North Korea national football team after his successor, Kim Yong-jun, was dismissed following the team's worst performance in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals. Upon his return, from 2019 to 2023, he oversaw the team's performance in the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers. Under his leadership, the team achieved a commendable record of two wins, two draws, and one loss in five matches. However, the team's participation was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AFC decided to centralize all remaining Group H qualifying matches at Goyang Stadium in South Korea, leading North Korea to withdraw from the competition. As a result, all their records from this qualification campaign were nullified.

4.1. As a Player

• Asian Games: Silver medal (1990)

4.2. As a Manager

• North Korea U-20: AFC U-19 Championship (2010)
• North Korea: AFC Challenge Cup (2012)
• North Korea U-23: Asian Games Silver medal (2014)