Kim Young-kwon (34, Ulsan HDFC) is back.
Kim played full-time at home against Daegu FC on Aug. 10, contributing to his team’s 1-0 victory. It was the first time Kim has played in an official match since the match against Hyundai in North Jeolla Province on June 1. Kim has been struggling for rehabilitation due to his injury.
Kim Young-kwon said, “There were shortcomings, but I think he showed what he prepared at the training ground well,” adding, “I’m trying to put meaning on the fact that I won the victory without losing a point.”
“I tried to return to the ground as soon as possible. However, I had difficulties as it took longer than expected. When I returned to training, I tried not to hurt myself in the same part. I am glad that I finished the game painlessly and without any pain. It is not 100 percent yet. I want to improve my physical condition step by step and contribute to the progress of the team,” Kim said.
The match against Daegu, which was Kim Young-kwon’s return match, was also the first game played by head coach Kim Pan-gon at the helm of Ulsan.
“Coach Kim Pan-gon is very passionate,” Kim said. “I was really serious about soccer.” “I was surprised when the coach came. The coach knew every single player in detail. The coach said, “We are a team that can win the championship. I will show you the soccer that rules no matter which team I meet.”
Kim joined the national team without resting after the 2023 season. Kim played in five of the six matches that Korea played at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup held in Qatar in January.
Kim had no time to rest even after the Asian Cup. Ulsan finished its round of 16 best teams in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League. Kim started the second round of 16 best teams in the AFC Champions League on Feb. 21, contributing to his team’s 2-1 victory.
Kim Young-kwon is Ulsan’s built-in defender and has continued the K League 1 and ACL at the same time.
During the break of the A-match in March, Kim once again wore the national flag and played two consecutive matches against Thailand in the second qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup in Asia. Kim played in both consecutive matches against Thailand.
Since then, Kim has continued a tight schedule and taken the lead in the team. There were concerns about Kim’s physical strength in the soccer community, but nothing has changed. Eventually, Kim had to leave the team for more than two months due to physical abnormalities in the match against Jeonbuk on June 1. 메이저사이트
Kim Young-kwon said, “I was disappointed that the team seemed to have been injured at an important time. Personally, I tried to spend it well while rehabilitating and resting.”
“It was the first half of 2024, when I focused only on soccer. After I got hurt, I literally rested well. I think that gave me strength to play again.”
Kim is a living legend of Korean soccer. Kim has scored seven goals in 111 A matches including three World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022). Since the 2022 season, he has been a key player behind Ulsan and has led his team to win its second consecutive K-League 1 title.