Son Jun-ho (footballer)
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Son with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Son Jun-ho[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 May 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Yeongdeok, South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Chungnam Asan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Pohang Steelers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Yeungnam University | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Pohang Steelers | 99 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 86 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Shandong Taishan | 46 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Gunyung FC | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Suwon FC | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Chungnam Asan | 35 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | South Korea U23 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018– | South Korea | 20 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 March 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Son Jun-ho | |
| Hangul | 손준호 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 孫準浩 |
| RR | Son Junho |
| MR | Son Chunho |
Son Jun-ho (Korean: 손준호; born 12 May 1992) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for K League 2 club Chungnam Asan.
Club career
Early career
After graduating from high school and Pohang Steelers academy, Son played for Yeungnam University in the U-League. In 2013, he was named the U-League Most Valuable Player by leading his university to a league title. The next year, he returned to Pohang Steelers, where he played as a youth player, and made his professional debut.[2]
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Before the start of the 2018 season, Son joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on a four-year contract.[3] While playing for Jeonbuk, he won three consecutive K League 1 titles, and especially contributed to Jeonbuk's first-ever Double in 2020 when he was selected as the K League 1 Most Valuable Player.[4]
Shandong Taishan
On 13 January 2021, Son joined Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan.[5] He quickly showed large influence, leading Shandong to a league title in his first CSL season. He was regarded as the league's best player,[6][7] but the award ceremony was not held at the end of the season.
Match-fixing allegations and trial
On 15 May 2023, however, Son was reportedly investigated by public security authorities in Liaoning due to match-fixing allegations involving former Shandong Taishan manager Hao Wei.[8] The following day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that he had been detained for a suspected bribery case.[9]
After ten months of detention by Chinese authorities, Son was released and returned to South Korea on 25 March 2024.[10] For about two months, he trained at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and played for fifth division club Gunyung FC.[11] He was expected to join Jeonbuk, but the negotiation with the club broke down due to the suspicion.[12] On 14 June, he joined another K League 1 club Suwon FC with the help of Choi Soon-ho, the director of Suwon and his former manager.[13]
On 10 September, Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced that Son was banned from football-related activities in China for lifetime for involving in match-fixing.[14][15] It also notified FIFA and Korea Football Association of the disciplinary action against him. The next day, he held a press conference to deny the verdict. He claimed that he made a false confession due to oppressive investigation and did not know why match fixer Jin Jingdao sent ¥200,000 to his account.[16] On 13 September, Suwon FC terminated the contract with him and was criticised for wasting citizens' tax money.[17]
Chungnam Asan
On 24 January 2025, FIFA dismissed CFA's request due to lack of evidence and Son could continue his football career outside China.[18] On 6 February, he joined K League 2 club Chungnam Asan.[19] In the middle of the season, Chungnam Asan announced Son became their new captain on 5 August, but Kim Seung-ho wore the armband in a league match against Gyeongnam FC four days after the announcement due to strong opposition from their supporters club.[20][21][22]
International career
Son would make his first senior appearance for South Korea in a friendlies match on 27 January 2018 against Moldova, where he came on as a substitute for Kim Sung-joon in a 1–0 victory.[23]
Style of play
Son usually played as a defensive midfielder, and was good at duel, interception, recovery, and long-distance pass.[24]
Career statistics
- As of 23 November 2025[25]
| Team | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pohang Steelers | 2014 | K League 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7[a] | 1 | — | 34 | 2 | |
| 2015 | K League 1 | 35 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2016 | K League 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2017 | K League 1 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 4 | |||
| Total | 99 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — | 115 | 16 | |||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2018 | K League 1 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7[a] | 1 | — | 39 | 6 | |
| 2019 | K League 1 | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | — | 39 | 5 | ||
| 2020 | K League 1 | 25 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | ||
| Total | 86 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 1 | — | 109 | 14 | |||
| Shandong Taishan | 2021 | Chinese Super League | 21 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 4 | ||
| 2022 | Chinese Super League | 19 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2023 | Chinese Super League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 46 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 5 | ||
| Suwon FC | 2024 | K League 1 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| Chungnam Asan | 2025 | K League 2 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 278 | 32 | 24 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 328 | 38 | ||
- ^ a b c d e Appearances in AFC Champions League
- ^ Appearance in Chinese Super Cup
Honours
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Shandong Taishan
South Korea U23
South Korea
Individual
- K League All-Star: 2015, 2017[26][27]
- K League 1 top assist provider: 2017
- K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2020
- K League 1 Best XI: 2020
References
- ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Korea Republic (KOR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 17. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ 포항, 고교 MVP 이광혁 등 신인 8인 계약 (in Korean). Sportalkorea. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ 전북, 도움왕 손준호 영입...4년 계약 (in Korean). Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "K League MVP Son Jun-ho leaves Jeonbuk for Shandong Luneng Taishan". AFC. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "K League MVP Son Jun-ho joins Shandong Luneng". China.org.cn. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "德转朱艺：选孙准浩为中超MVP 泰山夺冠他功不可没" (in Chinese). Sina Sports. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "孙准浩想拿MVP，不料半路杀出一个程咬金，或让山东泰山少一荣誉" (in Chinese). Sohu. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "China-based S. Korean football player under police investigation: embassy". Yonhap News Agency. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "China detains South Korea footballer in suspected bribery case". Al Jazeera. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "China releases South Korean soccer star after a nearly 1-year detention over bribery suspicions". AP News. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ '준비는 끝났다' 손준호, 그라운드 복귀 '이상무', KFA 등록 완료 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ 의문투성 ‘손준호 리스크’ 예견된 사태…본인, 그리고 KFA 직접 밝혀라. Naver (in Korean). Sports Seoul. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Son Jun-ho returns to pro football with Suwon FC after release from China". JoongAng Ilbo. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "中国足球协会关于对有关涉案人员行业处罚情况的通报" (in Chinese). Chinese Football Association. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "金敬道、顾超等43人被终身禁足！中国足协公布禁足大名单" (in Chinese). Dongqiudi. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ 손준호의 애매한 해명, 판결문 열람 계획도 無…눈물 호소에도 의문만 가득 (in Korean). No Cut News. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ 손준호 '3700만원' 석연찮은 해명...수원FC 결국 계약 해지했다 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ FIFA, '손준호 징계 확대' 중국협회 요청 기각…복귀 가능 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ ‘한국을 대표하는 미드필더 영입’ 충남아산FC, 손준호 영입해 중원 강화! (in Korean). Chungnam Asan FC. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ 손준호 주장 선임 후폭풍 "구단 행보 도가 지나치다···결정 재고 촉구" 팬 분노 폭발 (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. 6 August 2025.
- ^ 승부조작 의혹 남은 손준호 '주장 선임' 논란, 결국 팬들도 뿔났다 "막무가내 운영 유감". Nate (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 6 August 2025.
- ^ "내가 책임지고 가야" 논란의 주장단 교체에 대한 충남아산 배성재의 생각은? (in Korean). Sports-G. 9 August 2025.
- ^ "KOREA REPUBLIC VS. MOLDOVA 1 - 0". Soccerway. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ ‘고작 2골?’ 손준호가 MVP를 수상한 이유 (in Korean). KBS. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Son Jun-ho at Soccerway
- ^ [K올스타전 생생리뷰] '염기훈 MVP' 팀 최강희vs팀 슈틸리케, 3-3 무승부. (in Korean). InterFootball. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ [2017 K리그 올스타전] 한국-베트남 수교 25주년 기념 K리그 올스타 x VIETNAM. Facebook (in Korean). K League. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
External links
- Son Jun-ho – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean and English)
- Son Jun-ho at Asian Games Incheon 2014