Kim Joo-sung

Kim Joo-sung (born 17 January 1964) is a former South Korean football player. Kim is regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of the 20th century. He was nominated for the IFFHS Asia's Player of the Century, finishing second place.

Club career
Kim joined 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.

In June 1992, Kim was loaned to Bundesliga club VfL Bochum. Having a red card and no goals, he struggled with competing in the big league, while Bochum was in danger of being relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. After Bochum was eventually relegated, he tried to return to the Bundesliga, helping Bochum to win a 2. Bundesliga title in the 1993–94 season. However, he came back to South Korea at the request of Daewoo.

Originally deployed as a winger or an attacking midfielder, Kim played as a sweeper after the 1994 FIFA World Cup because the condition of his knee was exacerbated. In the 1997 season, Daewoo Royals once again won the K League with his successful change, and he received the K League MVP Award. Kim announced his retirement in 1999, and his uniform number 16 was also retired by Daewoo.

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, although South Korea lost to Saudi Arabia after the penalty shoot-out in the final. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player in the Asian qualification of the 1990 FIFA World Cup after South Korea won the competition without a defeat. He was voted Asian Footballer of the Year for three consecutive years from 1989 to 1991.

Kim's domination over Asia interested European clubs at the time. However, he showed poor performance in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, failing to live up to their expectations. He could go to Europe two years after the end of the World Cup.

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

Style of play
He was nicknamed the "Wild Horse" or the "Samson" due to his pace and long curly hair. He normally played as a winger, but he was capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or a sweeper. Kim possessed as well an exceptional level of stamina and good dribbling skills.

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

International
   
 * Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

Honours
Busan Daewoo Royals
 * K League 1: 1987, 1991, 1997
 * Korean National Championship: 1989
 * Korean League Cup: 1997, 1997+, 1998+

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
 * World XI: 1991
 * AFC Asian Cup Most Valuable Player: 1988
 * AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 1988
 * FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) Most Outstanding Player: 1990
 * 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 '90s All-Star Team: 2003
 * K League 30th Anniversary Best XI: 2013