In 1972, Cha had been capped by the South Korean national team as the youngest player in history called up to the squad. He is the all-time leading goal scorer for the South Korean national team with 58 goals, and won the 1978 Asian Games. He is also the youngest player to ever reach 100 caps in the world with 24 years and 139 days. After developing into the top player in his country, he left for West Germany, and played for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen. He scored 121 goals in two Bundesliga clubs, and won the UEFA Cup with each team. He started a youth football clinic to develop South Korean football after his retirement. He managed the national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and two K League clubs.