Kim Joo-sung

Kim Joo-sung (born 17 January 1964) is a South Korean former footballer who mainly played as an attacking midfielder. An icon of the Daewoo Royals with a brief stint in Germany for VfL Bochum, Kim was also a long-time South Korean national team captain and finished second in the IFFHS Asia's Player of the Century polls.

Club career Kim joined the Daewoo Royals in 1987. In his first professional season, he won the K League and was named the K League Young Player of the Year. Later on, Kim helped Bochum win the 1993–94 2. Bundesliga before coming back to South Korea at Daewoo's request. Playing a key part in the Daewoo Royals' title win, he became 1997's K League MVP.

International career Kim was selected for the South Korea national team for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, playing in a major competition for the first time. He also played for South Korea in the 1986 Asian Games, winning a gold medal.

Afterwards, Kim became the greatest footballer in Asia and South Korea. In the 1988 AFC Asian Cup, he performed a key role with great dribbles, leading South Korea to the final. He became the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, He could go to Europe two years after the end of the World Cup.

On 8 October 1991, he played for the official World XI against Germany in a charity match organised by FIFA.

After retirement In September 2003, Kim attended a sports management masters course at De Montfort University, Leicester until February 2004, when his studies took him to Switzerland.

Career statistics Club

International Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

Honours Busan Daewoo Royals K League 1: 1987, 1991, 1997 Korean National Championship: 1989

VfL Bochum 2. Bundesliga: 1993–94

South Korea B Summer Universiade silver medal: 1987

South Korea Asian Games: 1986 AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 1988 Dynasty Cup: 1990

Individual FIFA World XI: 1991 AFC Asian Cup Most Valuable Player: 1988 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) Most Outstanding Player: 1989 IFFHS Asian Men's Player of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991 IFFHS Asia's Player of the 20th Century runner-up: 1999 IFFHS Asian Men's Team of the 20th Century: 2021 MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century: 1998 Dynasty Cup Most Valuable Player: 1990 Korean FA Best XI: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 Korean FA Most Valuable Player: 1991 K League Rookie of the Year: 1987 K League 1 Best XI: 1987, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999 K League All-Star: 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998 K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 1997 K League 30th Anniversary Best XI: 2013 K League Hall of Fame: 2025