Football: South Korea’s World Cup great Yoo Sang-chul dies aged 49

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HONG KONG (REUTERS) – Former South Korea international Yoo Sang-chul has died at the age of 49, the Korea Football Association announced on Monday (June 7).

Yoo, a key component in Guus Hiddink’s side that reached the World Cup semi-finals when the country co-hosted the tournament with Japan in 2002, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2019.

The midfielder scored South Korea’s second goal in their opening 2-0 win over Poland in 2002 and his performances saw him named in the tournament’s All-Star team. He made 124 appearances for his country, scoring 18 goals, from 1994 to 2005.

Yoo won the K-League title with Ulsan Hyundai in 1996 and 2005 and also helped Yokohama F Marinos claim the J-League crown in 2003 and 2004 before moving into coaching, where he most recently was head coach at South Korean club Incheon United.

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