Wanted by Jose Mourinho and a host of big-name European clubs, Minjae Kim joins Bayern Munich as one of the most coveted central defenders in football. bundesliga.com lifts the lid on the all-action South Korea international...
Min-jae Kim
Age: 26 Club: Bayern Munich Position: Central defender Country: South Korea (49 caps).
Key statistics
Kim has penned a five-year deal with Bayern, rewarded for a short but sweet one-season stint at Napoli. The 6'2" center-back played in 35 of 38 Serie A fixtures in 2022–23 as the Partenopei lifted their first league title since 1989–90. Underpinning the club's efforts, Kim won 63 percent of his challenges and only dribbled past five times(the highest score in Serie A for players who played at least 24 games).
He also boasted a pass completion rate of 91 percent across all competitions. No outfield player in Europe's top five leagues made as many forward passes in 2022/23 (1,057), and he ranked third for most passes that reached their target (2,547).
Kim made a further nine appearances during Napoli's run to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, adding to his handful of 2021/22 Europa League and Europa Conference League outings at his former club Fenerbahce. Early in his career, he won two K-League titles with Jeonbuk Hyunadi Motors. The naturally right-footed defender also lifted Asian Games Gold at U23 level for South Korea, whose senior team he represented at the 2022 World Cup.
Plays a bit likeJaap Stam
Kim quickly became known as 'the Monster' in Napoli circles due to his uncompromising approach to the tackle. However,he's more than a defensive henchman. The South Korean international boasts exceptional positional awareness, strong possession, and footrace speed. It's still early days, but there are some clear similarities with Dutch colossus Jaap Stam. Jaap helped Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United overcome Bayern Munich in the 1998/99 Champions League final.
Did you know?
Kim might take from opposition players, but he's not afraid to give either. Affectionately called 'the Great Giant' in his homeland, thehandsome man is an ambassador for the PurmeFoundation. This is a charity committed to improving the lives of disabled children in South Korea. He also donated €75,000 towards emergency projects for children affected by the 2023 Turkish earthquake.
What they're saying
"I wanted to sign Minjae Kim when I was at Tottenham, but it wasn't possible in the end. Now look at Kim and his level; he's a top player." Roma head coach Jose Mourinho says, "He does at least 20 unbelievable things per game.
When he runs with the ball at his feet, he's inside the opposition penalty area within five seconds." Luciano Spalletti, Kim's former coach at Napoli "There's no doubt that he is doing extraordinary things as a technical leader and personality. What a talent." Former Manchester United and South Korea attacker Park Ji-sung
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