Kim Byung-ji


Kim Byung-ji is a former football goalkeeper who played for the South Korea national team as well as several clubs in the K League. He played as a sweeper-keeper who moved wide scope to help defense with rapid pace. He also had great reflexes and made super saves. However, his excessively active personality sometimes showed eccentric plays. He was deprived of the ball after he suddenly tried to dribble against Paraguay in the 2001 Lunar New Year Cup and embarrassed Guus Hiddink, the former South Korea manager. He is also noted for his unique hair style, which looks like the tail of a bird. He spent 24 seasons from 1992 to 2015, and recorded 706 appearances, 229 clean sheets and three goals in the K League, including Korean League Cup.
Kim was selected for the South Korea squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. South Korea met the Netherlands in the second game of the group stage, and lost 5–0 to them. South Korean players couldn't avoid journalists' criticism, and the manager Cha Bum-kun was sacked after the loss although the tournament was ongoing. However, Kim struggled in the Netherlands' 17 shots on target, and became the only player who received acclaim, although conceded five goals. Kim formed a strong rivalry with Lee Woon-jae in the K League and the national team, and also competed with him for the starting position for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Hiddink agonized over the choice of a goalkeeper until the start of the tournament, but selected Lee because of the Kim's eccentric play in the Lunar New Year Cup.
Kim is currently working as a YouTuber in the "Kkong-byung-ji-tv", his YouTube channel, after the retirement.

Career statistics

Club

International

Source:

International clean sheets

#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
15 June 1995Suwon, South Korea1–01995 Korea Cup
25 August 1996Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam9–01996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
38 August 1996Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam4–01996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
411 August 1996Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam4–01996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
518 January 1997Melbourne, Australia1–01997 Opus Tournament
622 February 1997Hong Kong2–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
74 October 1997Seoul, South Korea3–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
815 April 1998Bratislava, Slovakia0–0Friendly match
919 May 1998Seoul, South Korea0–0Friendly match
1022 November 1998Shanghai, China0–0Friendly match
114 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand4–01998 Asian Games
127 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand2–01998 Asian Games
1311 December 1998Bangkok, Thailand1–01998 Asian Games
1428 March 1999Seoul, South Korea1–0Friendly match
1521 January 2000Auckland, New Zealand1–0Friendly match
1615 February 2000Los Angeles, United States0–02000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
179 December 2001Seogwipo, South Korea1–0Friendly match
1823 January 2002Pasadena, United States0–02002 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1913 March 2002Rades, Tunisia0–0Friendly match
2026 March 2002Bochum, Germany0–0Friendly match
2120 April 2002Daegu, South Korea2–0Friendly match

Honours

Sangmu FC
Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers
FC Seoul
South Korea
Individual