2022 FIFA World Cup: Kim Young-gwon reaches 100 caps for South Korea
Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images
Ulsan Hyundai centre back Kim Young-gwon has joined South Korea's century club with 100 caps for his country. It came in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match with Brazil on Monday 5th December.
Kim has missed just 13 of the 56 matches that Paulo Bento has been in charge for and was named as skipper for 14 matches, including two matches in the AFC Asian Cup in 2019, two in the EAFF E-1 Football Championships that same year, and three in World Cup qualifiers.
In fact, 50 of Kim's 100 caps have come since Paulo Bento took charge of the South Korean national team.
Milestones
Kim Young-gwon's international debut came in August 2010 in a 2-1 win over Nigeria at Suwon World Cup Stadium. His competitive debut came the following November in a World Cup qualifier against the UAE with Kim slotting in at left back as Korea went on to win 2-1.
His quarter-century came in a 3-1 win over Venezuela in a friendly in September 2014 and his first goal came in the semifinal of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as Korea went on to beat Iraq 2-0 and reach the final.
Cap number 50 came in the 0-0 draw with Chile in September 2018.
Kim is now level on 100 caps with Park Ji-sung, one being Park Sung-hwa and the only other active player is Son Heung-min who currently sits eighth with 108 caps.
Kim Young-gwon is one of South Korea's most decorated players having won six Chinese Super League titles, two Chinese FA Cups, and two AFC Champions League titles with Guangzhou Evergrande, and one K League title with his current club Ulsan Hyundai.
South Korea's Century Club
1. Hong Myung-bo, 136
2. Lee Woon-jae, 132
3. Cha Bum-kun, 130
4. Lee Young-pyo, 127
5. Yoo Sang-chul, 120
6. Kim Ho-gon, 117
7. Ki Sung-yueng, 110
8. Son Heung-min, 108
9. Kim Tae-young, 104
9. Lee Dong-gook, 104
11. Hwang Sun-hong, 103
12. Cho Young-jeung, 102
13. Park Sung-hwa, 101
14. Park Ji-sung, 100
14. Kim Young-gwon, 100
Stats are according to the FIFA Century Club for appearances in full 'A' internationals.
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