Manager is also satisfied → The youngest EPL debut expected to start against Arsenal, Kim Ji-soo is happy to finally be made after a long, long time

Dec 29, 2024

Photo =Brentford Club's official SNS capture

Photo by Kim Ji-soo personal SNS capture

Kim Ji-soo (20, Brentford), born in 2004, has written a new history of soccer in Korea. The coach was also satisfied, and in the end, there was a good expectation that he would start in the next game.

Kim Ji-soo replaced Ben Mee in the 33rd minute of the second half in the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL) away match against Brighton at Amex Stadium in Brighton, England on the 28th (Korea time). It was the moment when Kim Ji-soo announced his EPL debut.

On this day, Kim Ji-soo started the game on the bench. In the 33rd minute of the second half, when the game was 0-0 tight, Mi was unable to play due to injury, so she stepped on the ground as a substitute. He made his EPL debut 18 months after joining Brentford. Kim Ji-soo helped his team's scoreless game, although it wasn't enough time. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. According to soccer statistics media Footmob, Kim Ji-soo recorded a 67% pass success rate (6 attempts, 4 successes), 8 ball touches, and 2 clearings in 12 minutes of official playing time.

Photo =Brentford Club's official SNS capture

On this day, Kim Ji-soo made a new history of Korean soccer. He became the 15th Korean Premier Leaguer. Prior to Kim Ji-soo, Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham), Seol Ki-hyun (Wolverhampton), Lee Dong-guk (Middlesbrough), Kim Doo-hyun (West Bromwich), Cho Won-hee (Wigan), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton), Ji Dong-won (Sunderland), Park Joo-young (Arnall), Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City), Yoon Seok-young (Queens Park Rangers), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) played in the. Jung Sang-bin (Minnesota) and Hwang Ui-jo (Alania Spor) also signed contracts with EPL clubs Wolverhampton and Nottingham, respectively, but they were loaned out at the same time as they joined and failed to make their debut.

In addition, Kim Ji-soo, who celebrated his 20th birthday on the 24th, became the youngest Korean player and the first Premier Leaguer as a center back. The previous record was 20 years and 3 months old when Ji Dong-won, the eighth Korean Premier Leaguer, was deployed as a substitute for Sunderland in the 2011-2012 season opener away game against Liverpool in August 2011. In addition, Kim Ji-soo was the first Korean center back to step on the EPL stage. Defenders such as Lee Young-pyo, Cho Won-hee and Yoon Seok-young played in the EPL first, but their main position was side defenders.

After the game, coach Thomas Frank said, "Kim Ji-soo and Hakon Valdimarsson made their EPL debuts. I enjoyed the performance of the two. Suddenly he came on as a substitute, but he was calm. This was very satisfactory."

Brentford face Arsenal at home on 2 January 2025. Global sports media ESPN expected Kim Ji-soo to start the game against Arsenal. Currently, Brentford centre-backs such as Ethan Pinnock, Christopher Ayer and Sef van den Bergh are out one after another due to injuries.

Kim Ji-soo, who achieved his dream of making his EPL debut, said on his personal SNS (social network service) that it was a `long, long, long, long, long road. I've been sweating so far, dreaming of this moment. I am grateful and happy that the moment has finally come true. Thank you to your parents and family for giving unconditional love and faith. I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.