Kim has been running tirelessly since the summer of 2022. Leaving Fenerbahce in the summer of 2022, Kim immediately became a key defender of the team as he joined Napoli. In September 2022-23 season, Kim won the Serie A Secretariat’s Player of the Month award, and the Italian Footballers Association’s Player of the Month award in October.
This marks Kim’s first time as a defender since Kalidou Koulibaly won his first player of the month award as a defender in the 2021-22 season. In addition, he swept all the awards he could receive as a defender, taking even the title of “best defender.” Such performances have sent Munich a love call, and he will enter the Allianz Arena this summer.
He has become a defender recognized by the world. Kim Min-jae was listed on the 30 candidates for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, which was released in September. It is the first time in Asia. It is the first time that an Asian national defender has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Of the 30 candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or, only three were center backs. Kim Min-jae was included along with Yosuko Gvardiol and Diaz. The final ranking was 22nd, the highest among the three center backs.
In Munich, it has become indispensable in name and reality. It immediately established itself as the team’s key defenders. Dayo Upamecano and Matthijs de Licht became more important as they were removed from their power due to frequent injuries.
Kim couldn’t rest, even sparking controversy over excessive labor. Kim played in 22 of the 24 matches he played since moving to Munich. He played in all 16 matches of the Bundesliga and five matches of the UEFA Champions League group league.
He was also named the best eleven in the first half of the Bundesliga in the 2023-24 season. On the 22nd, Kim Min-jae received the highest evaluation among defenders with a 7.14 rating based on “Husscored Dotcom.” Along with Kim Min-jae, four players including Harry Kane (8.17), Jamal Musiala (7.42) and Leroy Sane (8.25) were listed. 사설 토토사이트
In response to such performance, the British “Sports Kid” said on the 24th (Korea Standard Time), “Gone are the days when center backs were evaluated for their pure physical ability and ability to overwhelm strikers. The role of center backs in modern soccer has gone beyond the traditional stereotype that only defense is a strength.”
He continued, “Technical proficiency, ball-play ability, as well as tactical understanding of the game are being emphasized again. Modern center backs, which play an important role in the build-up, show skillful ball control, accurate passes, and a keen understanding of positional play, and launch attacks from the back.”
“This evolution reflects the changing dynamics of the game. Recently, center backs are not only responsible for solid defense, but also contribute greatly to the fluidity and creativity of the entire team’s play. We will take a look at the top five center backs in 2023,” he said, revealing the five selected by the media.
First place went to Kim Min-jae. “Kim Min-jae showed a remarkable performance in the 2022-23 season as Napoli won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. Beyond pure physicality, he also showed off his ratings and technical qualities. He is widely known as one of the best center backs at the moment.”
“Kim Min-jae, who joined Munich this summer, has already become an indispensable member of the starting lineup. He is constantly making high-level contributions. Kim Min-jae is also excellent at setting his defense line. He also showed leadership qualities,” he added.
