Kim Byung-soo

Kim Byung-soo (born November 24, 1970) is a South Korean football manager and player. He is the head coach of K League 1 club Daegu FC. Early life

Kim was born on November 24, 1970, in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province. He said that he first became interested in football at Hongcheon Elementary School, where he began imitating members of the school's football team as they practiced juggling a ball. He subsequently attended Midong Elementary School in Seoul, followed by Kyungshin Middle School and Kyungshin High School. Football coach Han Hong-ki noticed Kim while he was young and arranged for him to spend time at the Pohang Steelworks team accommodations, where he trained alongside senior players including Park Chang-sun and Choi Soon-ho. Han also had him study Portuguese in preparation for a possible career abroad. In the KBS Cup later that year, he headed the winning goal against Paichai High School in the round of 16, scored both of Kyungshin's goals in its semifinal victory over Sudo Technical High School, and supplied the short free-kick pass that led to the only goal of the final against Daesin High School. Kyungshin won the competition for the first time, and Kim was named its most valuable player.

Kim later recalled that a recurring ankle injury began during his first year at Kyungshin High School. He described rehabilitation practices at the time as rudimentary, often consisting of applying a compression bandage or waiting for the injury to subside. Kim also acknowledged that his own pride and determination to play complete matches, rather than accept reduced playing time, contributed to the injury's recurrence.

Kim entered Korea University in 1988. In June of that year, he scored the opening goal as South Korea defeated Burma 4–0 in an Asian youth championship qualifier, and he was subsequently included in the final squad for the 1988 AFC Youth Championship. His availability at university was nevertheless repeatedly interrupted by injury. Kim recalled returning after lengthy periods away and only brief preparation to play in the annual match against Yonsei University, largely because he strongly wanted to take part.

Korean coverage later described Kim as an "unlucky genius", a label that he said in 2007 he disliked, arguing that his subsequent work was more important than what had happened during his playing career. Kim instead joined the semi-professional works team of Korea First Bank in 1992.

In a 2007 interview, Kim added that his chronic injuries had left him unsure that he could withstand the demands of the K League, while professional clubs were themselves uncertain about his fitness. He recalled that Korea First Bank employed him on a temporary contract paying ₩800,000 per month, but that he spent almost the entire year injured and played only the final 30 minutes of the club's last match.

Cosmo Oil

A Japanese coach had noticed Kim during a Korea University training trip to Japan. While Kim was with Korea First Bank, the coach invited him to Japan with an offer to arrange further surgery and assist his rehabilitation. Kim said Cosmo's team training was less intense than the training he had experienced in South Korea and that the staff allowed him to regulate his workload, enabling him to prepare for matches without aggravating his injuries.

Kim scored 35 league goals during his four seasons with Cosmo. Cosmo defeated Nagoya 1–0 before losing to Bellmare Hiratsuka in the fourth round. The club's bid to enter the J.League did not materialize, and it was disbanded after the 1996 season; Kim attributed the collapse to problems involving its principal sponsor. Kim scored once for Oita, in a 2–1 victory over NTT Kanto on July 13.

Kim retired after the 1997 season and began coaching the following year. He later said that K League clubs had approached him after his return to South Korea, but that he declined because he no longer believed his body could withstand their training demands.

In 1988, Kim represented the South Korea U-19 team. He scored the opening goal in a 4–0 win over Burma on June 14 during qualification for the 1988 AFC Youth Championship. He was subsequently named to the 20-player squad for the final tournament in Doha, where South Korea defeated Japan, lost to Iraq and drew with the United Arab Emirates before being eliminated in the group stage.

Senior representative side

Kim received his first call-up to South Korea's senior representative side during the 1989 President's Cup. On June 21, he started as an attacking midfielder in a 3–0 win over Hungary's under-21 team. His corner was headed on by Choi Soon-ho for Hwang Sun-hong to score the opening goal. The match is not classified as a full international, and the Korea Football Association's A-match database credits Kim with no senior caps or goals.

The following month, Kim was included in a 25-player squad preparing for the final Asian round of qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He did not make the 22-player squad confirmed in August for the final qualifying tournament.

Olympic team

Kim did not play in the first round of qualification for the 1992 Summer Olympics while injured. At the conclusion of that round, manager Kim Sam-rak identified him as one of several injured regulars whom he intended to recall after their recovery. Kim returned for the six-team final round in Kuala Lumpur in January 1992. Wearing the number 10 shirt, he started all five matches.

Kim assisted Noh Jung-yoon's winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Bahrain on January 21. Six days later, he scored the only goal against Japan with an 88th-minute volley. He was one of seven players left out of South Korea's final 20-player Olympic squad announced in April.

Coaching career On 9 January 2017, he was appointed manager of Seoul E-Land FC.