Choe Yu-ri
{{Short description|South Korean footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Distinguish|Choi Yu-ree}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Choe Yu-ri
| image = 최유리 2022.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Choe Yu-ri{{Cite web|url=http://stats.the-afc.com/player/60660|title=CHOE YURI|website=AFC|access-date=31 August 2020}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1994|9|16}}{{Soccerway|260433|access-date=31 August 2020}}
| birth_place = South Korea
| height = 1.70 m{{Cite web|url=https://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&sm=top_hty&fbm=0&ie=utf8&query=%EC%B5%9C%EC%9C%A0%EB%A6%AC+%EC%B6%95%EA%B5%AC|title=최유리|website=Naver|access-date=24 March 2022|language=ko}}
| position = Forward{{Cite web|url=http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/12943|title=Korea Republic 4–0 Vietnam|website=AFC|access-date=31 August 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030090545/https://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/12943}}
| currentclub = Birmingham City
| clubnumber = 26
| youthyears1 = 2007–2009
| youthclubs1 = Hyundai Chungun Middle School
| youthyears2 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs2 = Hyundai Technical High School
| youthyears3 = 2013–2014
| youthclubs3 = Ulsan College
| years1 = 2016–2020
| clubs1 = Sejong Sportstoto
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2021–2023
| clubs2 = Hyundai Steel Red Angels
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2023–
| clubs3 = Birmingham City
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2011–2014
| nationalteam1 = South Korea U20
| nationalcaps1 = 22
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2014–
| nationalteam2 = South Korea
| nationalcaps2 = 67
| nationalgoals2 = 13
| pcupdate = 29 September 2024
| ntupdate = 5 June 2025
}}
{{Infobox Korean name/auto
| hangul = %최유리
| hanja = 崔有利
}}
Choe Yu-ri ({{Korean|hangul=최유리}}; born 16 September 1994) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Championship club Birmingham City and the South Korea women's national team.
Early life
Choe started playing football in elementary school, after a coach from the school's football team noticed her ability to run very fast at a school sports day.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Bo-gyung |date=May 29, 2020 |title=5년 차 스포츠토토 지킴이 '유치미' 최유리 인터뷰 |trans-title=Interview with Sportstoto mainstay and 'Yuchimi' of five years, Choe Yu-ri |url=https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2020052918200975748 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Star News 20 |language=ko}} She is close friends with forward Lee Geum-min, who attended the same high school and college. Together with Jang Sel-gi, they have been called the '94 line trio', referring to their birth year and close teamwork having trained together with the national team since a young age.{{Cite web |last=Jeon |first=Yeoung-ji |date=July 24, 2023 |title="대표팀 동료들이 골을 기대하는,어여쁜 악바리" 'WK리그 올해의 공격수'최유리의 콜롬비아전 각오 |trans-title="A cheeky rascal whose teammates expect her to score goals" WK League's striker of the year Choe Yu-ri's determination ahead of Colombia game |url=https://www.chosun.com/sports/football/2023/07/24/JFMSQYCAC45YDIPLJ3ULJUHF74/ |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=The Chosun Ilbo|language=ko}}
Club career
= Military enlistment refusal =
In the 2015 WK League rookie player draft, Choe was selected by Busan Sangmu, a military team requiring all players to join the military and undertake basic training.{{Cite web |last=Jeon |first=Sang-jun |date=November 4, 2014 |title='AG 동메달리스트' 최유리, 드래프트로 부산상무 입단 |trans-title=Asian Games bronze medalist Choe Yu-ri drafted to Busan Sangmu |url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2014110413352506991 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Money Today |language=ko}} At first, Choe stated that she would join the team despite reservations about joining the military, in particular the effect that such a career move would have upon her training with the national squad.{{Cite web |last=Jeon |first=Sang-jun |date=November 4, 2014 |title='부상상무 입단' 최유리, '처음엔 조금 울었어요 |trans-title=Choi Yu-ri, recruited to Busan Sangmu: "I cried a little when I heard" |url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2014110416522942144 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Money Today |language=ko}} However, she eventually refused to join the military, considering it an infringement of her freedom to choose a career.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Rin |date=January 14, 2023 |title=Veteran striker Choe Yu-ri is ready for the Women's World Cup |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/01/14/sports/football/Choe-Yuri-Korea-womens-world-cup/20230114153510053.html |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily}} According to the rules of the WK League draft at the time, any player who refused to join their drafted team was not permitted to play in the league for two years, and as such Choe was absent from the WK League in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Do-hoon |date=November 5, 2014 |title=축구하려면 군인돼야... WK리그 상무행 신인 딜레마 |trans-title=To play football, you have to become a soldier... the dilemma faced by WK League rookies recruited to Sangmu |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20141105150600007 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}} Following the incident, the KWFF revised the rules of the draft with regards to the military team, and held a special draft for Choe to give her a second chance.{{Cite web |last=Im |first=Sung-il |date=December 3, 2015 |title=축구하려면 여자도 군대 가야 한다고?... 이런 '비극'없앤다 |trans-title=Women have to enlist in order to play football? ... putting a stop to this 'tragedy' |url=https://www.news1.kr/sports/soccer/2505115 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=News 1 |language=ko}}
= WK League =
Choe was signed by Daejeon Sportstoto in late 2015, having missed only one season of league football.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Han-seok |date=October 7, 2015 |title=상무 입단 거부 최유리, 새 둥지 얻는다 |trans-title=After refusing to join Sangmu, Choe Yu-ri gets a fresh start |url=https://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2015/nwdesk/article/3785623_30279.html |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=MBC News |language=ko}}{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Hyun-min |date=December 2, 2015 |title=최유리, 별도 드래프트로 대전스포츠토토행 |trans-title=Choe Yu-ri heads to Daejeon Sportstoto after separate draft |url=https://www.interfootball.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=91746 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Inter Football |language=ko}} She played for the side for five years before transferring to Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels ahead of the 2021 season. At the 2022 WK League Women's Football Awards, the first annual awards ceremony of its type, she was named as the league's forward of the year.{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2022 |title=WK리그 사상 첫 시상식에 장슬기·최유리 "남자축구가 부러웠죠" |trans-title=At WK League's first awards ceremony, Jang Sel-gi, Choe Yu-ri: "We envied men's football" |url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/202212237311Y |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Korea Economic Daily |language=ko}} During her time with the Red Angels, Choe made 55 appearances, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists.
= Birmingham City =
Choe transferred to Birmingham City during the 2023 summer transfer window on a two-year deal with a year option.{{Cite web |last=Son |first=Yu-jin |date=September 18, 2023 |title=현대제철, 최유리 선수 버밍엄시티 이적 |trans-title=Hyundai Steel's Choe Yu-ri transfers to Birmingham City |url=http://www.snmnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=523285 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=snmnews.com |language=ko}}{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2023 |title=Blues Women add Choe Yu-ri! |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/womens/blues-women-add-choe-yu-ri |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Birmingham City FC}} She scored her first goal for the club in an FA Cup tie against MK Dons in December of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Bulley |first=Jim |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Koreans in Europe: Choe Yu-ri gets first goal for Birmingham |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-12-11/sports/football/Koreans-in-Europe-Choe-Yuri-gets-first-goal-for-Birmingham/1932365 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily}}
Style of play
Besides her goal-scoring ability, Choe is known for her speed and stamina.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ee-jin |date=July 24, 2023 |title=WK리그 '올해의 공격수' 최유리 "세계 무대서 보여주고파" |trans-title=WK League 'forward of the year' Choe Yu-ri: "I want to show what I've got on the international stage" |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230723055900007 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}} Her high-intensity play has drawn comparisons to South Korean international midfielder Hwang Hee-chan.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Rin |date=January 14, 2023 |title=Veteran striker Choe Yu-ri is ready for the Women's World Cup |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/01/14/sports/football/Choe-Yuri-Korea-womens-world-cup/20230114153510053.html |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily}} Since her youth, she played mostly as a midfielder or winger, but started playing in a more attacking role from the 2020 season onwards.
Career statistics
= International =
:Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Choe goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Choe Yu-ri | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center|1 | 14 September 2014 | Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon, South Korea | {{fbw|THA}} | align=center|5–0 | align=center| 5–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| align=center|2 | 21 September 2014 | Munhak Stadium, Incheon, South Korea | {{fbw|MDV}} | align=center|13–0 | align=center| 13–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| align=center|3 | 11 November 2016 | Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong | {{fbw|HKG}} | align=center|8–0 | align=center| 14–0 | 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| align=center|4 | 14 November 2016 | Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong | {{fbw|TPE}} | align=center|8–0 | align=center| 9–0 | 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| align=center|5 | 23 September 2021 | Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | {{fbw|UZB}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 4–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| align=center|6 | 6 February 2022 | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India | {{fbw|CHN}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 2–3 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| align=center|7 | 9 April 2022 | Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea | {{fbw|VIE}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 3–0 | Friendly |
| align=center|8 | 23 July 2022 | Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Japan | {{fbw|CHN}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–1 | 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| align=center|9 | 3 September 2022 | Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea | {{fbw|JAM}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–0 | Friendly |
| align=center|10 | 5 April 2024 | Icheon City Stadium, Icheon, South Korea | {{fbw|PHI}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 3–0 | Friendly |
| align=center|11 | 8 April 2024 | Icheon City Stadium, Icheon, South Korea | {{fbw|PHI}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 2–1 | Friendly |
| align=center|12 | 20 February 2025 | Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates | {{fbw|UZB}} | align=center|3–0 | align=center| 3–0 | 2025 Pink Ladies Cup |
| align=center|13 | 23 February 2025 | Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates | {{fbw|THA}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 4–0 | 2025 Pink Ladies Cup |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Birmingham City W.F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title=South Korea squads
|bg=#C21E2B
|fg=#FFFFFF
|bordercolor=#2E20BF
|list1=
{{South Korea squad 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup}}
{{South Korea squad 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup}}
{{South Korea squad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choe, Yu-ri}}
Category:South Korean women's footballers
Category:Women's association football forwards
Category:South Korea women's under-20 international footballers
Category:South Korea women's international footballers
Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for South Korea
Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at the 2018 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games
Category:Women's Super League 2 players
Category:Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC players
Category:Birmingham City W.F.C. players
Category:South Korean expatriate women's footballers
Category:South Korean expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in England
Category:2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:Footballers at the 2022 Asian Games