Kim Byung-ji facts for kids
Kim in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Byung-ji | ||
| Date of birth | 8 April 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Miryang, Gyeongnam, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1985 | Milyang Middle School | ||
| 1986–1988 | Aloysius Technical High School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1990–1992 | Sangmu FC (draft) | ||
| 1992–2000 | Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i | 177 | (2) |
| 2001–2005 | Pohang Steelers | 137 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | FC Seoul | 58 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Gyeongnam FC | 122 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Jeonnam Dragons | 101 | (0) |
| Total | 595 | (2) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–2008 | South Korea | 61 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
| Kim Byung-ji | |
| Hangul |
김병지
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
金秉址
|
| Revised Romanization | Gim Byeong-ji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Pyŏng-ji |
Kim Byung-ji (born 8 April 1970) is a former professional goalkeeper from South Korea. He played for the South Korea national team and several clubs in the K League. He is known for his long career and exciting style of play.
Contents
Kim Byung-ji's Football Career
Kim Byung-ji played professional football for 24 seasons, from 1992 to 2015. He holds a record for playing 706 games in the K League and Korean League Cup. During his career, he managed to keep opponents from scoring in 229 games, which is called a "clean sheet." He even scored three goals himself, which is very rare for a goalkeeper!
Playing for South Korea
Kim was chosen to be part of the South Korean team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In one match, South Korea lost 5–0 to the Netherlands. Even though they lost by a lot, Kim Byung-ji was praised for his efforts. He faced 17 shots on target from the Netherlands team and still managed to make many saves.
Kim Byung-ji's Unique Playing Style
Kim Byung-ji was known as a "sweeper-keeper." This means he didn't just stay in his goal area. He would often run out of the penalty box quickly to clear the ball and stop attacks. He was also very good at making amazing saves because of his quick reactions.
However, Kim sometimes took risks with his active style. In a game in 2001, he tried to dribble the ball away from an opponent but lost it. This surprised the South Korea manager at the time, Guus Hiddink.
Rivalry and World Cup Choice
Kim Byung-ji had a friendly competition with another great goalkeeper, Lee Woon-jae. They both wanted to be the starting goalkeeper for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Manager Guus Hiddink had a tough decision to make. In the end, he chose Lee Woon-jae to start, partly because of Kim's risky play in that 2001 game.
Life After Retirement from Football
After retiring from playing in 2015, Kim Byung-ji started a new career. He became a YouTuber and runs his own channel called "Kkong-byung-ji-tv."
He has also taken on important roles in football management:
- On 27 January 2021, Kim was made a vice-president of the Korea Football Association (KFA).
- On 15 December 2022, he became the president of Gangwon FC, a football club. He then left his KFA role to focus on Gangwon FC.
- On 9 April 2025, Kim was again appointed vice-president of the KFA.
Kim also signed with an entertainment company called Angry Dogs on 28 May 2022. He even played in a special match for retired legendary players on 20 October 2024, called the Nexon Icons Match.
Television Appearances
Kim Byung-ji has appeared on television shows:
| Year | Title | Role | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Vincenzo | Youth football team coach | ||
| 2021–present | Kick a Goal | Himself | ||
| 2022 | Steel Ball | Himself (host) |
Awards and Achievements
Kim Byung-ji has won many awards and honors throughout his career.
Player Awards
Sangmu FC
- Korean Semi-professional League (Spring): 1992
- Korean Semi-professional League (Autumn): 1991
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
- K League 1: 1996
- Korean FA Cup runner-up: 1998
- Korean League Cup: 1995, 1998
Pohang Steelers
- Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2001, 2002
FC Seoul
- Korean League Cup: 2006
Individual Awards
- Korean Semi-professional League (Autumn) Best Player: 1991
- K League All-Star: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015
- K League 1 Best XI: 1996, 1998, 2005, 2007
- K League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2000
- K League Hall of Fame: 2025
Records
- Most appearances in K League history: 706 appearances
- Most clean sheets in K League history: 229 clean sheets
Television Personality Awards
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Entertainment Awards | 2022 | Leader of the Year Award | Kick a Goal | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Kim Byung-ji para niños
