Song Chong-gug

Early career

In June 2000, Song made his senior international debut against Macedonia under manager Huh Jung-moo when he was a university student. In 2001, Song started his professional career at K League club Busan I'Cons after graduating from Yonsei University. He was named the K League Rookie of the Year in his first season. Guus Hiddink, a new manager of the South Korea national team, quickly chose him as a member of the national team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and tested him in various midfield and defensive positions. As a result, he played as a right-back at the tournament. While South Korea finished fourth at the 2002 World Cup, Song was the only outfield player of the national team to play all of 687 minutes in seven matches. He also nullified Luís Figo perfectly by blocking all twelve of his dribbles without a concession, making a memorable match against Portugal. He sometimes talks about his experience in marking Figo when appearing on South Korean television programs.

Feyenoord

After the 2002 World Cup, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal approached Busan I'Cons to get Song, but Busan intentionally delayed negotiations in order to keep him. He strongly expressed his intention to leave for a European club by moving his belongings out of the club after his deals with Premier League clubs were scuttled. He eventually joined Eredivisie club Feyenoord, and played 56 matches including UEFA Champions League matches for Feyenoord during two seasons under…

Club

International

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

In 2003, Song married Kim Jung-ah to the surprise of many of his fans after dating Kim since April 2001. Before the marriage, he had been linked with multiple celebrities including Lee Jin, a member of a Korean girl band Fin.K.L. He presented a bigger surprise three years later by getting divorced. On 17 December 2006, he married an actress and model Park Yun-soo after an 18-month relationship. The wedding was held privately in front of 100 family and friends. Song became a father six months after the wedding. In October 2015, however, Song once again divorced his wife. In September 2021, Song signed with DH Entertainment.

Busan I'Cons

Korean League Cup runner-up: 2001 Feyenoord

KNVB Cup runner-up: 2002–03 Suwon Samsung Bluewings

K League 1: 2008 Korean FA Cup: 2009 Korean League Cup: 2005, 2008 Korean Super Cup: 2005 A3 Champions Cup: 2005 Pan-Pacific Championship: 2009 Tianjin TEDA

Chinese FA Cup: 2011 South Korea U20

AFC Youth Championship: 1998 South Korea

AFC Asian Cup third place: 2007 Individual

K League All-Star: 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 AFC Player of the Month: November 2001 K League Rookie of the Year: 2001 K League 1 Best XI: 2001 AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020