Korean soccer legend ‘Samson’ Kim Joo-seong (56) played his last A match in 1996, and 26 years have passed since ‘another Kim Joo-seong’ appeared wearing a national team uniform. FC Seoul defender Kim Joo-seong (23) made his national team debut on July 24 last year in the EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) match between Hong Kong and Hong Kong held in Tokyo, Japan. After that, Kim Joo-seong, who had not been able to establish a relationship with the national team, was in the spotlight again after about 11 months later, as he was surprisingly selected on the national team’s A-match friendly match list this June. When center back Kim Young-kwon (34, Ulsan) was injured, he was chosen as the “replacement for Kim Young-kwon.”안전놀이터

Kim Joo-seong started in all games in the 18th round of the 2023 season’Hana One Q K League 1 2023’. Despite reaching the age of 22, he has established himself as the team’s main left centre-back. Although he occasionally made mistakes, his powerful man marking and calm build-up ability from his solid physique (1m86, 76kg) were enough to imprint the national soccer team coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s eyeballs.

Seoul coach Ahn Ik-soo said in an away game against Incheon on the 7th, immediately after Kim Joo-sung was selected for the national team, “During the winter training in Thailand, I told (Kim) Ju-seong to think about why he came here. My opinion is that the A team should be the goal. It was, and that became a reality,” he said, “Juseong invests a lot of time in soccer, and his mindset and affection for the team are good.”

On the 12th, it was reported that Kwon Kyung-won (31, Gamba) had fallen from the horse due to an injury. Defender Jeong Seung-hyeon (29, Ulsan) Park Gyu-hyeon (22, Dynamo Dresden) and winger Moon Seon-min (31, Jeonbuk) were selected as substitutes. In terms of A match experience, Park Ji-su (29, Portimonense) and Jung Seung-hyun are likely to play as a center back duo, but both are right-footed. If coach Klinsman wants to appoint a left-footed defender, there is a possibility that Kim Joo-seong will be used. If he plays against Peru on the 16th in Busan and El Salvador in Daejeon on the 20th, ‘National Representative Kim Joo-seong’ will be shown to domestic fans for the first time.

Kim Joo-seong, whom we met after the match against Pohang on the 11th, said, “There are so many good players in the national team. Filling the void of excellent players is of course burdensome, but you have to overcome it yourself. I plan to focus on adapting quickly.”

Coach Ahn said that he hopes that Kim Joo-sung will be competitive enough to be selected for the national team even after Kim Min-jae (27, Naples) Kim Young-gwon returns from basic military training. In order for that word to come true, it must leave a definite impact through this A-match period. Coach Klinsman ordered on the 12th at Gudeok Stadium, Busan, the training ground, “Players have to show all their skills this time. They have to show their passion to go to the Qatar Asian Cup on the ground.” Kim Joo-seong replied in a confident voice, “I will learn what I will learn at the training ground, but I will play with confidence.” Let’s pay attention to Kim Joo-sung.