The 'Fighting Spirit World Cup Hero' Who Became a Star After Failing to Keep the Promise "I Will Return"

Former Incheon Coach Yoo Sang-chul Passes Away
Key Player in 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Semifinals
Stayed on Bench Despite Battling Cancer
Saved Incheon from Second Division Relegation Crisis

Former Incheon Coach Yoo Sang-chul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] "I will definitely come back," but he ultimately could not keep his promise. Former Incheon United coach Yoo Sang-chul, a key figure in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinal miracle, passed away on the 7th after battling cancer. He was 50 years old.

According to the Korea Football Association, former coach Yoo passed away around 7 p.m. at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. In October 2019, while serving as Incheon’s coach, he was hospitalized with jaundice symptoms and diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite his illness, Yoo stayed on the bench and helped save Incheon from relegation to the second division. The club asked him to continue leading the team, but Yoo expressed his intention to resign and focus on treatment.

Even after stepping down as honorary coach, his love for football never waned. He often appeared at Incheon’s stadium to encourage players. In May last year, he appeared on a TV entertainment program with his 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup teammates, showing a healthy appearance. When Incheon’s performance declined and the coach was dismissed, Yoo was even mentioned as a candidate for the next head coach. However, the illness did not let him go easily. Earlier this year, his condition rapidly worsened due to cancer metastasis. He received intensive treatment at the hospital but passed away after about 1 year and 8 months of battling the disease.

Former coach Yoo was one of the greatest multi-players in Korean football history. He performed beyond expectations in any position. Notably, in 1998, he was both a midfielder and defender while becoming the K League top scorer. He began his professional career in 1994 with Ulsan Hyundai. He played for 12 years in Japan with Yokohama Marinos and Kashiwa Reysol, leaving various records. As a K League player, he only played for Ulsan, recording 142 games, 37 goals, and 9 assists. In Japan, his vigorous activity contributed to Yokohama’s back-to-back league titles in 2003 and 2004.

Former Incheon Coach Yoo Sang-chul Photo by Yonhap News

Former coach Yoo also performed well wearing the Taegeuk mark. In the 1998 France World Cup, he scored an equalizing goal in the third group stage match against Belgium. In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, he scored an additional goal in the first group stage match against Poland. He later served as the national team captain. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, he participated as a wildcard and led the team to the quarterfinals. His A-match (international match) record stands at 124 games and 18 goals.

After retiring, Yoo approached the public warmly by coaching young players on the TV program ‘Fly Shootdori.’ One of the players he coached, Lee Kang-in, now plays for Spanish professional club Valencia and has grown into the future of Korean football. Yoo began his coaching career in 2009 at Chuncheon Mechanical Technical High School. He debuted as a professional head coach in 2011 with Daejeon Citizen. He later led teams such as Ulsan University, Jeonnam Dragons, and Incheon.