Biography
Who is Cha Du-ri?
Early life and family background
Cha Du-ri was born on July 25, 1980, in Frankfurt, South Korea. He grew up in Germany because his father, Cha Bum-kun, was a professional football player competing in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen. He lived in West Germany until his family moved back to South Korea when he was ten years old.
His family includes his father, Cha Bum-kun, as well as his siblings, Cha Se-jji and Cha Ha-na. He attended Korea University before beginning his professional career. His upbringing in Germany significantly influenced his early football development before he returned to his home country.
Professional football career in Germany
Cha started his professional path by joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2002. He was quickly loaned to Arminia Bielefeld for the 2002–03 season to gain first-team experience. He made his debut in a draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. During this period, he established himself as a regular player and scored his first goal for the club against Werder Bremen in January 2003.
In 2004, he joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a permanent contract after a loan spell. He played in various positions, including striker and right-back. He helped the club achieve promotion back to the top flight during the 2004–05 season. He remained with Eintracht Frankfurt until the end of the 2005–06 season, making dozens of appearances and scoring several goals in all competitions.
Time at Celtic and later career
In 2010, Cha moved to Scotland to sign with Celtic. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds against Braga. His time in Glasgow saw him play alongside fellow South Korean international Ki Sung-yueng. He scored his first goal for the club in December 2010 against St Johnstone.
During his second season at Celtic, he faced competition for the right-back position. He participated in the Old Firm derby and experienced a mix of playing time due to international commitments and injuries. He left the club in 2012 to return to the Bundesliga with Fortuna Düsseldorf, having criticized the specific demands of the Scottish playing style during his final months at Parkhead.
International play and personal stats
Cha is well-known for being the first Korean player born outside of Korea to participate in a FIFA World Cup. He famously captained the national team during the third-place match of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup against Uzbekistan, stepping in for the regular captain, Park Ji-sung.
He stands 181 centimeters tall. Throughout his career, he transitioned between several positions, including right back, right winger, and striker. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into the role of an association football coach and manager, continuing his involvement in the sport.
Birthday and age
Cha Du-ri was born on July 25, 1980, which makes Cha 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Cha shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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