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Kim Ji-su: 19-year-old defender named to Korean National Soccer Team for Asian Cup

Klinsmann, who is on the final list for next month’s Qatar Asian Cup and is 192cm tall and has received early attention as a center back with quick feet and can play with both feet, said, “It will be a great help to Korean soccer.”

19-year-old defender Kim Ji-su was named to the Korean national soccer team for the Asian Cup. National team coach Jurgen Klinsmann selected him, saying, “He is a player who will play a big role for Korean soccer.” The photo is of Kim Ji-soo at the Under-20 Asian Cup in March this year. Provided by Korea Football Association

Kim Ji-su (19, Brentford, photo) was evaluated as the future of Korean soccer.

On the 28th, Korean national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann included Kim Ji-soo in the list of 26 Taegeuk Warriors who will participate in the Asian Cup to be held in Qatar next January. Coach Klinsmann said, “The number of Asian Cup entries has increased by three from the existing 23, so it will be a good opportunity for young players. I believe Ji-soo Kim is a player who will play a big role for Korean soccer in the future.” Coach Klinsmann explained the background of his selection, saying, “I summoned Ji-soo Kim ahead of the A match in September and watched his growth while keeping in constant contact with his team.” Jisoo Kim is the only player on the Asian Cup final list without a record of playing in international matches. Along with Kim Ji-soo, coach Klinsmann also added Yang Hyun-jun (21, Celtic) and Kim Joo-seong (23, Seoul) to the national team because he saw their potential for growth.

Kim Ji-su signed a semi-professional contract with Seongnam FC, which was in the K League 1 at the time, last year when he was in his third year at Pungsaeng High School, and made his professional debut against Suwon on May 14 of the same year. At the time, Kim Ji-su was 17 years, 4 months, and 20 days old, making him the youngest player ever to play in K-League 1. He is 192cm tall, has good speed, and uses both feet freely, so he is attracting attention as a large center back to succeed Minjae Kim (Bayern Munich). He appeared in 19 games in K League 1 in the 2022 season.

Kim Ji-soo played in 7 games at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which ended in Argentina in June this year, helping Korea reach 4th place. His performance in the U-20 World Cup earned him a transfer to Brentford of the English Premier League (EPL). Kim Ji-soo, a member of the Brentford second team, has not played an official game yet.

Elite members such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) were all on the final list. Joo Min-gyu (Ulsan), the top scorer in the 2023 season K-League 1, was considered as a replacement for Hwang Ui-jo (Norwich City), who was accused of ‘illegal filming’, but he was not selected this time.

The national team will leave for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on the 2nd of next month, play a final mock test with Iraq on the 6th, and then enter Qatar, the battle site, on the 10th. Korea will play Group E against Bahrain on the 15th, Jordan on the 20th, and Malaysia on the 25th.

Asian Cup national soccer team roster (26 players)

△Goalkeeper = Seung-gyu Kim (Al-Shabab), Bum-geun Song (Shonan Belmare), Hyun-woo Cho (Ulsan)

△Defenders = Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Kim Young-kwon, Kim Tae-hwan, Seol Young-woo, Jeong Seung-hyun (Ulsan), Kim Joo-seong (Seoul), Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk), Kim Je-je (Suwon).

△Midfielder = Moon Seon-min Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk) Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) Son Heung-min (Tottenham) Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic) Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) Lee Soon-min (Gwangju) Lee Jae-seong (Mainz) Jeong Woo-young (Stuttgart) Hong Hyun-seok (Gent) Hwang In-beom (Sir) Bena Zvezda) Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)

△ Striker = Oh Hyun-gyu (Celtic), Cho Gyu-seong (Midtjylland)

Reporter Kim Bae-joong wanted@donga.com

2023-12-28 18:00:00

#Kim #Jisoo #Kim #Minjae #boarded #Klinsmann #ship

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