Biography
Who is Kim Young-gwon?
Early life and education
Kim Young-gwon was born in Jeonju. He attended Jeonju Technical High School. During middle school, coaches thought his small frame was a weakness. He decided to pursue professional football after manager Hong Myung-bo visited his school.
Kim studied at Jeonju University. There, he played college football and futsal. In 2009, he won the Korea Football Association Futsal League. He also finished that season as the top goalscorer. These futsal experiences improved his technical skills.
Club career highlights
Kim started his professional career in 2010 with FC Tokyo. He scored his first senior goal against Kyoto Sanga FC using a direct free kick. He later moved to Omiya Ardija after FC Tokyo was relegated.
In July 2012, he joined Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League. He helped the team win four league titles and two AFC Champions Leagues between 2013 and 2016. He was named to the Team of the Year every year during that period.
Later, he played for Ulsan Hyundai. He won K League 1 titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He was named the K League 1 Most Valuable Player in 2023.
International achievements
Kim played for the South Korean under-20 team at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored a goal against the United States to help the team reach the knockout stage. He earned a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games with the under-23 squad.
He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Kim played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, starting all group matches. At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, he scored against Iraq in the semi-final. South Korea finished as runners-up in that tournament.
World Cup success and milestones
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Kim was a leader for the defenders. He scored a goal in the 91st minute against Germany. This goal helped knock the defending champions out of the tournament.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored against Portugal. This goal helped South Korea reach the round of 16. He earned his 100th international cap during a match against Brazil.
Family and personal life
Kim married Park Se-jin in 2014. The couple has three children. They have one daughter and two sons. He appeared on the show The Return of Superman. He featured on the program with his two oldest children. He stands 187 centimeters tall.
Birthday and age
Kim Young-gwon was born on February 27, 1990, which makes Kim 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Kim shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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