Ri Myong-guk

Ri Myong-guk (born 9 September 1986) is a North Korean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Ri was known for his positioning and reflexes and spent his entire playing career at Pyongyang City in the DPR Korea Football League. Ri was also the captain of the North Korea national team, making 118 appearances, more than any other player in the team's history, before retiring in 2019. Ri is currently the goalkeeper coach for his former club.

Club career Ri Myong-guk played as a goalkeeper and he spent his entire club career with DPR Korea Football League club Pyongyang City; he played for the club between 2006 and 2019.

He retired from club football on 17 November 2019 upon the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.

International career Ri made 118 appearances for his national team between 2007 and 2019,

Ri played 15 matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying for Korea DPR, including keeping a clean sheet in the decisive final group game against Saudi Arabia. After the match, he stated "I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland". His performances also saw him nominated for the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year award.

Ri was North Korea's first choice in goal in for most of his career, and he played during all three of their 2010 FIFA World Cup matches including the 7–0 loss to Portugal. He would then go on to win the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup and also finished as runner-up in the 2014 Asian Games. His final medal came during the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup where North Korea finished third. He also helped North Korea to qualify for three AFC Asian Cups: 2011, 2015, and 2019.

His last appearance for North Korea came on 17 January 2019 during the 4–1 loss against Lebanon during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He retired after North Korea were eliminated from the group stage of the tournament.

He was named North Korea's best male footballer for three years running, in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Coaching career He became the goalkeeper coach at Pyongyang City after he retired in November 2019.

Honours Pyongyang City DPR Korea Football League: 2007, 2009 Paektusan Prize: 2007, 2016 Ponchonbo Torch Prize: 2014, runner-up 2010

North Korea AFC Challenge Cup: 2012 Asian Games runner-up: 2014 EAFF Championship third place: 2015

Individual AFC Challenge Cup: 2012 Team of the tournament EAFF Championship Best Goalkeeper: 2008, 2015 North Korea's Best Male Footballer: 2014, 2015, 2016