Ri Myong-guk

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ri Myong-guk

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|9|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Pyongyang, North Korea

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| years1 = 2006–2019

| clubs1 = Pyongyang City

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1 = 2007–2019

| nationalteam1 = North Korea

| nationalcaps1 = 118{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/nk-rimg-intl.html|title=Ri Myong-Guk - Century of International Appearances|website=RSSSF|date=7 February 2019|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208174738/https://rsssf.org/miscellaneous/nk-rimg-intl.html|url-status=live}}

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{PRK}} }}

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

| hangul = 리명국

| hanja = 李明國

| rr = Ri Myeongguk

| mr = Ri Myŏngguk

| context = north

}}

Ri Myong-guk (born 9 September 1986)[https://int.soccerway.com/players/myong-guk-ri/60980/ Ri Myong-guk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013162341/http://int.soccerway.com/players/myong-guk-ri/60980/ |date=13 October 2017 }} at soccerway.com. Retrieved on 7 December 2015. is a North Korean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Ri was known for his positioning and reflexes and spent his entire playing career at Pyongyang Sports Club in the DPR Korea League. Ri was also the captain of the North Korea national team, making 118 appearances, more than any other player in the team's history, before retiring in 2019. Ri is currently the goalkeeper coach for his former club.{{Cite web |author=DPR Korea Football |date=4 June 2020 |title=Best Goalkeeper Prize Winner ["Korea" Magazine article] |website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/dprkfootball/photos/a.1409645815999727/2395352827429016/?type=3 |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128040846/https://www.facebook.com/dprkfootball/photos/a.1409645815999727/2395352827429016/?type=3 |url-status=live }}

Career

Ri played 15 matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying for Korea DPR, including keeping a clean sheet in the decisive final group game against Saudi Arabia. After the match, he stated "I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/6338427/North-Koreas-draw-with-Congo-gives-world-glimpse-of-secretive-nations-football-side.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312010343/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/6338427/North-Koreas-draw-with-Congo-gives-world-glimpse-of-secretive-nations-football-side.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-03-12 |title=North Korea's draw with Congo gives world glimpse of secretive nation's football side |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2009-10-15 |access-date=2010-05-12 | location=London | first=Ian | last=Chadband}} His performances also saw him nominated for the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year award. Ri was Korea DPR's first choice in goal in FIFA World Cup 2010. He played all Korea DPR's three World Cup matches including 7–0 loss to Portugal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/25578--afc-player-of-the-year-2009-nominees-first-list-announced- |title=AFC player of the year 2009 nominees first list announced |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=2009-10-09 |access-date=2010-05-12 |archive-date=20 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420023710/http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/25578--afc-player-of-the-year-2009-nominees-first-list-announced- |url-status=live }}

He played more than 100 official matches for his national team since his debut in 2007, making him the most capped player in the history of Korea DPR.

He was named the DPRK's best male footballer for three years running, in 2014, 2015, and 2016.{{cite web |url=http://naenara.com.kp/en/society/?sport+1+3474 |title=Naenara Democratic People's Republic of Korea |website=Naenara |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223051519/http://naenara.com.kp/en/society/?sport+1+3474 |archive-date=2018-02-23}}

Both his father and uncle were goalkeepers for the national team.{{cite web|title=A day in the life of North Korean footballer Ri Myong-guk|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/15/north-korean-footballer-ri-myong-guk|work=The Guardian|date=15 May 2014|access-date=15 May 2014|archive-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011181831/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/15/north-korean-footballer-ri-myong-guk|url-status=live}}

Honours

North Korea

AFC Challenge Cup: 2012
EAFF Championship third place: 2015

Individual

AFC Challenge Cup: 2012 Team of the tournament {{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men-a-youth/afc-challenge-cup/38403-mvp |title=Pak scoops MVP award |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=19 March 2012 |access-date=23 March 2012 }}
EAFF Championship Best Goalkeeper: 2008,{{cite web |url=https://eaff.com/competitions/eafc2008/match_result_m.html |title=EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 Final Competition Match Schedule |publisher=EAFF |access-date=15 May 2020}} 2015{{cite web |url=https://eaff.com/competitions/eafc2015/index_k.html |title=EAFF East Asian Cup 2015 & EAFF Women's East Asian Cup 2015 Competition |publisher=EAFF |access-date=11 March 2020}}

References

External links

{{FIFA player|279084}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140913202507/http://www.incheon2014.kr/Sports/Biographies/Athletes_Profile/?ParticCode=5121618&lang=en Ri Myong-guk] at Asian Games Incheon 2014
[https://www.dprkfootball.ga/index.php/player/ri-myong-guk/ Ri Myong-guk]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at DPRKFootball

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Pyongyang

Category:North Korean men's footballers

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:North Korea men's international footballers