The One That Got Away: Cho Gue-Sung, Ange Postecoglou, and a Transfer That Never Was
By [Your Name]
Date: October 2, 2025
When Ange Postecoglou takes to the touchline with Nottingham Forest for their next Europa League clash, he will do so with a familiar name lining up on the opposite side of the pitch — one that might stir a touch of frustration, and perhaps a hint of regret.
That name is Cho Gue-Sung.
The South Korean striker, now plying his trade with FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga, was once a top target for Postecoglou during the Australian’s tenure at Celtic. Two years ago, Cho was riding a wave of global interest following his breakout performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Postecoglou had earmarked him as the ideal addition to Celtic’s attacking arsenal. But the move never came to fruition — a decision that reshaped the trajectory of both player and manager in small but significant ways.
Now, as fate would have it, their paths cross again — but this time under the bright lights of European competition, and with the possibility that the striker who once turned down Postecoglou could now be the one to hand him an early blow in continental football.
January 2023: A Missed Match at Celtic Park
In early 2023, Celtic were flying under Ange Postecoglou. The Australian manager had reinvigorated the club with an exciting, high-octane style of football and had already delivered silverware. But he wanted more — and central to his mid-season plan was bolstering his frontline.
Enter Cho Gue-Sung.
Fresh off a historic World Cup campaign — where he became the first South Korean player to score twice in a World Cup match (a brace against Ghana) — Cho had become a household name in Korea and a much-talked-about prospect across Europe. At Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, he had already proven himself a consistent goal scorer and a physically dominant forward with the mobility and tactical awareness that aligned perfectly with Postecoglou’s system.
Celtic, well-known for tapping into the Asian market, particularly after the success of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, and Daizen Maeda, were keen to make Cho the next J-League or K-League standout to thrive in Scotland.
Postecoglou was reportedly hands-on during the scouting process and had backed the club’s pursuit of Cho. It seemed like a move that made sense for all parties.
But Cho had other ideas.
The Rejection and the Reasons
Despite advanced talks and strong interest from Glasgow, Cho opted to stay in South Korea for the remainder of the K-League season. His rationale, at the time, was centered around personal development and fitness.
After an intense World Cup run and a physically demanding domestic season, the striker felt he wasn’t fully prepared — mentally or physically — to make the jump to European football in the middle of a campaign. He preferred to wait for a summer transfer, where he could enjoy a full preseason and adjust more gradually to life and football in Europe.
In retrospect, it was a mature decision for a 25-year-old — but one that undoubtedly left Postecoglou frustrated.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming Europa League tie between Forest and Midtjylland, the now-Forest boss candidly reflected on the failed deal:
“I tried really hard to bring him to Celtic, but he ended up turning me down, so I wasn’t happy about that,” Postecoglou said. “At that time, he was doing really well, and you could see the qualities he had. His career has gone in a slightly different direction since then, but I still know him really well, because we studied him closely in the scouting department when we wanted to sign him.”
What Happened Next: Sliding Doors
Celtic pivoted quickly. Within days, they secured the signature of Oh Hyeon-gyu, another promising South Korean striker, from Suwon Samsung Bluewings. While Oh showed flashes of quality, he never quite hit the heights that Postecoglou may have envisioned with Cho.
Meanwhile, Cho eventually made his long-awaited move to Europe in the summer — but not to one of the continent’s top five leagues. Instead, he signed with Danish outfit FC Midtjylland for a modest transfer fee of around £2.6 million — a bargain given the World Cup pedigree he carried.
At first, the move looked like a smart step for all involved. Midtjylland offered a stable, competitive environment with a reputation for player development and analytics-driven football. Cho settled in quickly, scoring goals and helping his side to the Danish Superliga title in his debut season.
It seemed the European dream had finally begun.
But then came disaster.
Injury Woes: A Career on Pause
Just as Cho was beginning to find his feet in Europe, disaster struck. A routine training session led to a knee injury that required surgery — a blow made worse by complications in his recovery, including a post-surgical infection.
What was initially expected to be a few months on the sidelines turned into a grueling 15-month layoff. The striker missed an entire season, a devastating period for a player in his physical prime.
His absence raised questions — not about his talent, but about whether he could return to the level required to compete at the top level in Europe. For many, long-term injuries derail careers. But for Cho, the fire never went out.
In August 2025, he finally made his return to the pitch. Since then, he has scored twice in league play and is slowly working back to full match sharpness. For a player who once made global headlines, the road back has been long and lonely. But he’s back — and his next challenge couldn’t be more poetic.
Postecoglou at Forest: A New Era in Progress
On the other side of this story is Ange Postecoglou, a manager now navigating a very different reality.
After leaving Celtic for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023 and leading a bright, attacking revolution in North London, Postecoglou’s career took another unexpected turn. In 2025, he accepted the managerial role at Nottingham Forest, a historic club seeking a new identity in the modern game.
His appointment was seen as a statement of intent — bringing in a high-profile, forward-thinking coach with a clear tactical philosophy. But the start has been anything but smooth.
With Forest struggling for form and Postecoglou still searching for his first win since taking the reins last month, the Europa League has become both a distraction and an opportunity. A win against Midtjylland could ease the pressure and spark momentum. A loss — especially to a player he once desperately wanted — could invite unwelcome headlines.
Full Circle: Destiny or Coincidence?
There’s a strange symmetry to it all.
A manager once spurned by a player.
A player once at the peak of his powers, only to be knocked down by injury.
Two career paths that diverged, only to now intersect again under the European spotlight.
For Cho Gue-Sung, this fixture represents a proving ground — a chance to show that despite injury and setbacks, he still has the quality to perform on a bigger stage, against stronger opposition. For Postecoglou, it’s a reminder of the one that got away — and the thin margins that define success in modern football.
Their story is not one of bitterness or rivalry, but of parallel ambitions and alternate timelines. But for 90 minutes this week, their fates are tied once again.
And in football, those are often the moments that write the best chapters.
What to Watch
Will Cho start for Midtjylland, and how close is he to full fitness?
Can Forest find rhythm under Postecoglou, or will the pressure continue to mount?
Will Cho score against the manager who once pursued him, in what could be a poetic twist of fate?
Whatever unfolds, it promises to be a story worth watching.