Twenty-six years after South Korean soccer legend Kim “Samson” Joo-sung (56) played his last A-match in 1996, a different Kim Joo-sung has donned the national colors. FC Seoul defender Kim Ju-sung (23) made his national team debut against Hong Kong in the EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) in Tokyo, Japan, on July 24 last year. After a brief 토토사이트 absence from the national team, Kim was reintroduced to the spotlight nearly 11 months later when he was surprisingly named to the national team’s A-match friendly roster in June. He was selected as a ‘replacement for Kim Young-kwon’ after the 34-year-old center back was injured.
Kim started all 18 rounds of the 2023 season of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023. Despite being over the age of 22, he established himself as the team’s starting left back. Despite making the occasional mistake, his powerful man-marking and calm build-up from his solid frame (1m86, 76kg) were enough to catch the eye of national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
“During the winter training in Thailand, I told (Kim) to think about why he came here,” Seoul coach Ahn Ik-soo said before the team’s 17th round match against Incheon on July 7, shortly after Kim was named to the national team. My opinion was that the A team should be his goal, and it became a reality,” he said, adding, “He has a lot of time to invest in soccer, and he has a good mindset and love for the team.”
On the 12th, it was announced that Kwon Kyung-won (31-Gamba) had been dropped due to injury. Defenders Jung Seung-hyun (29-Ulsan) and Park Kyu-hyun (22-Dinamo Dresden) and winger Moon Sun-min (31-North Korea) were named as replacements. In terms of A-League experience, Park Ji-soo (29-Portimonense) and Jung Seung-hyun are the most likely center back duo, but both are right-footed. If Klinsmann wants to play a left-footed defender, Kim Joo-sung could be used. If he plays against Peru in Busan on the 16th and against El Salvador in Daejeon on the 20th, he will make his first appearance in front of domestic fans.
After the match against Pohang on the 11th, Kim said, “There are so many good players in the national team. It’s a lot of pressure to fill the gap of an outstanding player, but I have to overcome it. I will focus on adapting quickly,” he said.
Ahn hopes Kim will be competitive enough to earn a spot in the squad after Kim Min-jae (27-Naples) returns from basic military training. For that to happen, he’ll need to make an impact during the A matches. “The players have to show all their skills this time,” Klinsmann ordered at the Busan Gudeok Sports Complex on Wednesday, “and show their passion to go to the Qatar Asian Cup on the pitch. “I will learn what I can on the training ground, but I will play with confidence,” Kim replied in a confident voice. Keep an eye on Kim Joo-sung.