// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Ri Kwang-chon? A kwang leader?
 |
 Ri in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 4, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Nampo, North Korea | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2011 | April 25 | ||
| 2012–2014 | Muangthong United | 49 | (5) |
| 2014 | April 25 | ||
| 2015 | Pattaya United | 14 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2001–2012 | North Korea | 69 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 11, 2012 ‡ National team caps and goals as of March 19, 2012 | |||
| Ri Kwang-chon | |
| Hangul | 리광천 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 李光川 |
| RR | Ri Gwangcheon |
| MR | Ri Kwangch'ŏn |
Ri Kwang-chon (Korean: 리광천; born 4 September 1985) is a North Korean former footballer who played as a centre-back.
Club career
[edit]From 2005 to 2011, Ri played for April 25 and helped them win the league three times in 2002, 2010 and 2011. In 2012, he had a chance to join Chinese side Tianjin Teda but had problems obtaining a work permit and eventually joined Muangthong United in Thailand.[1] After his release from Muangthong, Ri returned to April 25 in 2014, but came back to Thailand a year later to join Pattaya United, retiring that same year. As with many other North Korean footballers, his whereabouts were largely unknown following his retirement. However, in March 2025, the state-run media website Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the DPRK revealed that Ri was actively working as the head coach of Ryomyong SC men's team, the current champions of the DPRK Premier League at the time, in the previous 2023/2024 season.[2][3] According to the report, he is channeling the same passion and spirit into his coaching that he once displayed as a defender, working to develop the next generation of football talent in the country.
International career
[edit]Ri played for the North Korean national team between 2001 and 2012. He represented the country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[4]
Honours
[edit]Club
[edit]April 25
- DPR Korea League: 2010, 2011
Muangthong United
- Thai Premier League: 2012
International
[edit]- AFC Challenge Cup: 2010, 2012
References
[edit]- ↑ "Ri Kwang-Chon e Choe Kum-Chol al Muangthong United" (in Italian). calciocorea. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ↑ "With same passion and spirit as he displayed as a player". Sports in the DPRK. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "DPRK Football Update". Facebook. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Ri Kwang-chon – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Ri Kwang-chon at National-Football-Teams.com
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- 1985 births
- Living people
- North Korean men's footballers
- North Korea men's international footballers
- April 25 Sports Club players
- 2010 FIFA World Cup players
- Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand
- 2011 AFC Asian Cup players
- Men's association football central defenders
- Footballers at the 2010 Asian Games
- Asian Games footballers for North Korea
- North Korean expatriate sportspeople in Thailand
- North Korean football biography stubs