Korean Defender Jisoo Kim Promoted to Brentford’s EPL First Group: Making Historical past in Korean Soccer

Brentford’s Jisoo Kim has formally been promoted to the English Premier League first group subsequent season. Picture = Brentford

The primary Korean ‘centre again’ participant to play on the English Premier League (EPL) stage was born. The primary character is Kim Ji-su, born in 2004, who joined Brentford final yr and performed for the B group.

The Brentford membership posted on their web site on the seventh (native time), “Jisoo Kim and Ben Winterbotham (goalkeeper), who performed for the B group, had been formally promoted to the primary group. “They are going to be a part of the primary group from the 2024-25 season,” the official assertion mentioned.

He continued, “Kim Ji-soo participated within the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) U-20 Asian Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup final yr. Most notably, he led Korea’s progress to the semi-finals of the U-20 World Cup, and took part as a member of the A group on the 2024 AFC Asian Cup.

Consequently, Kim Ji-su was the primary Korean participant to put in writing a brand new historical past in Korean soccer as a middle again on the EPL stage. Earlier than that, there have been 14 Korean gamers enjoying on the EPL stage, however none of them had been centre-backs. Now, if Kim Ji-soo hits the EPL degree, he’ll turn out to be the fifteenth Premier League participant in Korean soccer historical past and the primary EPL heart again.

Kim Ji-soo left Seongnam FC and joined Brentford in June final yr, however didn’t make his first group debut and solely performed within the U-21 second group. The second group’s document is 1 objective in 29 video games.

When assets had been missing within the centre, he was quickly promoted to the primary group and registered as an alternative, however didn’t get the possibility to make his debut. Within the EPL, he was named on the substitute listing for 8 video games, and within the League Cup, he was additionally named on the substitute listing for 1 sport.

Jisoo Kim. Picture = Korea Soccer Affiliation

Nonetheless, ranging from the brand new season, Kim Ji-soo was capable of put together for his EPL debut by becoming a member of the primary group by each schedule, together with coaching and sport preparation, fairly than gaining first group expertise by short-term promotion. He’s now capable of play on the EPL stage as an official member of the Brentford first group.

Neil Macfarlane, head coach of the Brentford B group, mentioned, “Jisoo Kim is an instance of the mission that Brentford are doing,” and added, “Since taking the reins, many gamers have been promoted to the primary group. Jisoo Kim is one among them. “I hope he’ll proceed to indicate his talents and rise to the highest,” he mentioned.

Kim Ji-su is the primary participant to signal a semi-professional contract with Seongnam FC after enjoying for the U-15 and U-18 groups. He performed in 20 video games for Seongnam, gained consideration from Europe by his efficiency as a consultant of his age group, and progressed to the European stage on the age of 19. He’s already gaining consideration as a useful resource within the heart who will information the way forward for Korean soccer, with some even calling him the subsequent Kim Min-jae.

Reporter Kim Myeong-seok [email protected]