Choi Chung-min


Choi Chung-min is a former South Korean football player and manager. He played for the South Korea national team. Known as "Asia's Golden Legs" among the fans, the late Choi was one of the best strikers in Asia at that time. He is well known for his height and rapid pace. Ryuzo Hiraki, Japanese defender, said "Choi Chung-min was such a great player with balance and speed we couldn't stop him. We felt as if we were a group of children playing against a big man."
Choi was born in Taedong, and grew up in Pyongyang. He was a famous volleyball and football player during his school days. He moved south by January–Fourth Retreat of the Korean War, and enlisted in the Korea Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He played for the football club of the KACIC and the South Korea national football team by Kim Yong-sik since 1952. Choi scored 22 goals in the national team with 47 caps. He won two AFC Asian Cups and two Asian Games silver medals with his team.
Choi went to Japan for the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification. South Korea national team had desperate responsibility to the two matches against Japan because of fans' pressure, caused by the Japanese forced occupation. He scored three goals during both match, and South Korea advanced to the World Cup by defeating Japan 7–3 on aggregate. In the 1954 FIFA World Cup, he couldn't prevent team's losses against Hungary and Turkey.

Honours

South Korea