Kim Bo-kyung


Kim Bo-kyung is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for K League 1 club FC Anyang.
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Club career

Cerezo Osaka

In 2010, Kim dropped out of Hongik University and signed a three-year contract for J1 League side Cerezo Osaka. After he was loaned out to J2 League side Oita Trinita for the 2010 season, he returned to Cerezo Osaka.
During the 2011 season, Kim had 8 goals and 7 assists in 26 J1 League matches. Cerezo manager Levir Culpi was replaced by Sérgio Soares in 2012, but he remained as a key player of the team. Before participating at the 2012 Summer Olympics, he was the fourth-leading goalscorer at the 2012 J1 League with 7 goals in 15 matches.

Cardiff City

On 10 July 2012, his agents confirmed that his club Cerezo Osaka, had entered talks with Cardiff City, a Welsh club of the EFL Championship, over his transfer. On 12 July, Cardiff City and Cerezo Osaka agreed a fee believed to be around £2.5 million. On 27 July, Kim signed a three-year deal with Cardiff City. On 18 September, he made his Cardiff debut in a 2–0 win over Millwall coming on for Craig Noone. On 27 October, his first start for Cardiff came in a 4–0 win over Burnley at Cardiff City Stadium. On 7 December, he scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 4–1 win over Blackburn Rovers. On 19 January 2013, he scored his second goal in a 2–1 win over Blackpool.
On 17 April 2013, Cardiff City were promoted to the Premier League by winning a Championship title, and so Kim became South Korea's 12th Premier League player. On August 26, he showed impressive dribble and cross which were followed by Cardiff's first goal in a 3–2 win over Manchester City. On 24 November, he scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United with an injury-time header, bringing a 2–2 home draw.
However, Kim failed to prevent Cardiff's relegation. In the first half of the 2014–15 season, he remained at the club, but lost his place. On 24 January 2015, Cardiff City announced Kim's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

Wigan Athletic

On 6 February 2015, another Championship club Wigan Athletic announced that Kim agreed a contract until the end of 2014–15 season. Manager Malky Mackay, who used Kim as a main player at Cardiff, once again recruited Kim after moving to Wigan. He secured a position at Wigan, but experienced relegation for the second year in a row. After his contract expired, local rivals Blackburn Rovers tried to sign him, but Kim failed to get a work permit.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Kim played for J1 League club Matsumoto Yamaga for three months after failing a tryout for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven. On 3 January 2016, he joined K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, starting to play in his country for the first time. He helped Jeonbuk win the 2016 AFC Champions League, qualifying for the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. During the Club World Cup, he scored once in a 2–1 defeat to América and once in a 4–1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns.

Kashiwa Reysol

On 22 June 2017, Kim moved to J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol, meeting his national teammates Yun Suk-young. He once again suffered relegation while playing for Kashiwa for one and a half years. He experienced relegation at four foreign clubs Cardiff, Wigan, Yamaga and Kashiwa, being nicknamed the "Missionary of relegation" by Korean fans.

Loan to Ulsan Hyundai

During the 2019 season, Kim was loaned to K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai, returning to South Korea. Kim showed great influence at Ulsan, leading them to the first place in the league standings ahead of the last match. However, he and his team suffered a shocking 4–1 defeat to Pohang Steelers in the last match, and conceded the league title to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors by the number of goals with the two clubs' points being tied. Afterwards, he received the K League Most Valuable Player Award, and came back to champions Jeonbuk.

Return to Jeonbuk

On 5 January 2020, Kim rejoined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after being promised the highest salary among native Korean players at the K League 1. He won two league titles and one Korean FA Cup title for three years. Especially in the 2021 season, he won the K League Top Assist Provider Award after providing 10 assists during 32 league appearances.

International career

Under Hong Myung-bo, who managed South Korea at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2012 Summer Olympics, Kim participated at both tournaments, and won a bronze medal at the latter.
On 9 January 2010, Kim made his first international appearance for South Korea in a 4–2 friendly defeat to Zambia. He was called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but did not appear at the competition. After Hong Myung-bo became the manager of the senior national team, he played as a substitute in two group stage matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 June 2012Goyang Sports Complex, Goyang, South Korea1–03–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
212 June 2012Goyang Sports Complex, Goyang, South Korea2–03–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
315 October 2013Cheonan Baekseok Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea3–13–1Friendly
411 November 2016Cheonan Baekseok Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea1–02–0Friendly

Honours

Cardiff City
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
South Korea U23
South Korea
Individual