Daniel Cho, the talented musician and composer, passed away recently.  He had reportedly drowned while swimming in Lake Geneva in Switzerland.  He was an occasional writer for ESPN’s Soccernet.  The Soccernet staff paid tribute to Daniel in their obit.

Daniel Cho was well-known as a session/touring musician and brilliant composer, most recently touring with Regina Spektor, and previously working with Coldplay, John Mayer and Katy Perry. But ESPNsoccernet‘s army of readers will remember him for his passion for the beautiful game. There is nothing he loved more than writing about football. He launched his own writing career by independently contacting players’ managers and interviewing top Korean players. One of Daniel’s first interviews for Soccernet came back in January 2007 when he quizzed South Korea’s Seol Ki-Hyeon about life in the Premier League, and he later spoke to Tottenham Hotspur’s Lee Young-Pyo about his experiences in the English top flight. He was an admirer of Bill Simmons but wrote in a style that was also all his own – with humour and emotion, and a deep knowledge of the game. He spent hours researching, writing and editing his ESPN posts for the 2010 World Cup. Daniel was also a key contributor for the 2006 World Cup. He said the day the World Cup began was like Christmas morning for him. He loved football because it united the world in a special way – whatever your race, colour or creed, soccer is something everyone can enjoy. Daniel Cho passed away in a swimming accident July 6, 2010, in Switzerland while on Regina Spektor’s European tour. He leaves behind his wife and baby daughter, who were the true loves of his life. Words cannot describe the way he adored his wife and doted on his little girl. If you’ve met him, he’s shown you a video of his little girl. He lived with great passion and was driven to do the things he loved and was called to do, no matter what. He will be greatly missed by all of the lives he’s touched and changed forever. His time here was way too short, and the world has lost not only a huge talent, but a kind and gentle soul. For more information Daniel’s memorial service or to add your thoughts to the family’s memorial book please click here.