South Korea captain and Women’s Super League star Cho So-hyun has shed light on her ambitions to win silverware and conquer her Olympic dream.
At 31-years-old, So-hyun is South Korea’s most ever capped player – having amassed 126 appearances since 2007. After captaining her country at two World Cups, So-hyun is rightfully regarded as an international icon.
“I played all the games in the FIFA World Cup, both in 2015 and 2019,” she told Her Football Hub. “The opening game of the France World Cup was in front of more than 45,000 people in Paris”.
“I think I am a lucky player to have had such good experiences. I’ve played for many clubs in many countries such as Korea, Japan, Norway and now England.
“All the countries I have played in were different and interesting. So my career is still helping me grow as a person and will continue to help me to reach the goals and standards I’ve set for myself.”
So-hyun was one of many women’s footballers affected by the early end of the 2019/20 WSL season due to COVID-19. Yet, despite the initial disappointment, the 31-year-old agrees with the decision.
“We are all humans first, and footballers second. It’s right that we take all precautions necessary to keep ourselves and others safe.”
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She also gave some insight into how the club has been handling the situation. “West Ham have provided the squad with training programmes to follow and all the players have been having Zoom meetings.
“We have a very strong bond amongst the players so we all keep in touch.”
Alongside her dedication and drive, the playmaker has still made time for essential fun whilst in lockdown.
“I’ve been cooking and keeping fit by visiting the gaming arcade. I like to use the dance machine which people might have seen me on if they follow me on Instagram.
What the Future Holds
“I have many goals. A major one would be getting to the Olympics with Korea. Secondly, I am trying to win a cup with West Ham and help them become one of the best teams in the league.
“I am also working to stay healthy and keep playing football for as long as I want – which is a good few years still!”
“I definitely want to continue to show the best of my game for my Korean fans before retiring.”
When asked if she would stay within the footballing world after eventually hanging up her boots, So-hyun gave a fast answer.
“My long-term ambition is to be a general manager for a club in Korea… As you see, I have a lot of goals.”