Kim Joo-sung

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. Bundesliga club VfL Bochum signed him on loan in 1992, yet he struggled to adapt to the new environment and suffered relegation. 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. Two years later, Kim announced his retirement, with the Royals also retiring his number 16.

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 the official World XI against Germany in a charity match organised by FIFA.

Club

International

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

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

FIFA 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: 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 '90s All-Star Team: 2003 K League 30th Anniversary Best XI: 2013 K League Hall of Fame: 2025