Former South Korean star Koo Ja-cheol was unveiled by Al Qatar Stars League outfit Al Gharafa at a press conference yesterday. Ja-cheol arrives in Qatar after having spent the last nine seasons in the Bundesliga.
The South Korean’s signing was confirmed by the club on August 2 and the midfielder had already joined his new teammates at their training camp in Netherlands. “I m very happy to join the Cheetahs after a nine-year spell in Germany. I hope to give my best to the club and make them happy. Qatar’s Asian Cup triumph is a great indicator of the development of football in Qatar,” he said.
Koo’s arrival is yet another signal of intent by Al Gharafa to make amends for a disappointing 2018/19 campaign. After sealing continental qualification in the previous two seasons, the Cheetahs slumped to an 8th place finish in the 12-team competition and finished a staggering 31 points behind eventual champions Al Sadd, despite boasting the likes of Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder, Iran star Mehdi Taremi and ex-Manchester City man Vladimir Weiss.
By joining the Cheetahs, Koo brings an end to a long and successful spell in the Bundesliga, which saw him play for three different teams.
Having joined Wolfsburg in January 2011, Koo spent time on loan at Augsburg before joining Mainz midway through the 2013/14 season. A brief stay at the Opel Arena was then followed by a permanent return to Augsburg, whom he represented in the past four seasons to take his Bundesliga appearance total to an impressive 211 games.
The 30-year-old also established himself as a key player for Korea after winning his first cap in 2008 and captained his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He  retired from international football after the AFC Asian Cup.