The star is not satisfied with the 2024 K-League’s best player. “I can’t believe I won this year’s MVP award, but there’s a law that tells me not to win it again next year,” said Cho Hyun-woo (33), the goalkeeper who led Ulsan HD to its third consecutive win.
Cho Hyun-woo was selected by beating Suwon FC’s Andersson (20.26 points) by receiving 63.36 points in conversion from coaches (8 votes), captains (7 votes), and media (75 votes) in the K League 1 MVP category at the 2024 K League Awards held at the Grand Hotel in Switzerland on the 29th.
Cho Hyun-woo said, “The goalkeeper is a difficult position to get attention,” adding, “It’s been a long time since goalkeepers won the award (since Lee Woon-jae in 2008). I hope better goalkeepers will get interested in my award.” “There are many good goalkeepers in the K-League, so I hope they will get attention from all over the world (beyond Korea).”
The fact that Cho won the MVP award as the goalkeeper means that he displayed outstanding performance. Having played in all 38 K League 1 games this year, he only yielded 40 points (14 without allowing a goal). Yang Min-hyuk (18), a member of Gangwon FC, the runner-up team that competed for MVP along with Cho, said, “(Cho) Hyun-woo showed great performance. I acknowledge the MVP award.”
Cho Hyun-woo said, “My mind went blank the moment I received the MVP award. It’s an unforgettable memory while playing soccer,” adding, “I wanted to win last year, but I didn’t get this award. I want to feel this feeling again next year.” If Cho wins the K League 1 MVP next year, he will be able to enjoy the honor of winning the MVP award for the second consecutive year since Lee Dong-gook (2014-2015). If the scope is expanded to the second division, Ahn Byung-joon won the award for the second consecutive year by changing teams at Suwon FC (2020) and Busan I’Park (2021).
Cho Hyun-woo’s award this time reminds me of Suwon Samsung’s Lee Woon-jae, who was the first main character. “I don’t remember 2008 (when Lee Woon-jae won the award). If I had played, I would have won it, not Lee Woon-jae,” Cho said. 메이저놀이터
Cho Hyun-woo is also highly regarded as the main character of the “Best Eleven” goalkeeper for eight consecutive years in the K League 1. It is a waste to say that he is a goalkeeper who leads an era. Cho said, “I am not satisfied with the award for the eighth consecutive time, and I will aim to run for the ninth, or 10th consecutive time.”
When asked if it’s time for a goalkeeper to challenge, Cho said, “My wife and I always talk about always doing our best until we run out of energy as a soccer player. If there is a better player than me, we should be applauded. I live a day as a soccer lover. Everyone wants to be a striker. I hope I have a dream to become a goalkeeper.”
Cho also expressed his desire to spend the MVP prize money (KRW 10 million) on soccer players who are playing in tough circumstances. “Whenever I talk to my wife, she always says she wants to donate to my friends who are in tough circumstances. I’m able to make that dream come true by receiving the prize today,” Cho said.