Kim Min-Jae: The perfect center-back
Why the South Korean is the ideal defender for Manchester United
Napoli defender Kim-Min Jae is just another top player to come out of that region of Italy. After Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-Jae is the next most talked player from the side from Naples.
Before we talk about the player and his abilities, here is a bit of history on the South Korean international.
Career
Born on 15 November 1996, the 26-year-old is getting into the prime stages of his career, which began in his home country of South Korea where he played for a semi-professional club named Gyeongju KHNP in July of 2016. Kim played a total of 15 matches which culminated in his side reaching the play-offs.
He then moved to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in December of 2016 on a free transfer. During his time there, the Korean international scored his debut goal, was nominated for the K League Best XI and was also crowned the K League Young Player of the Year. His time at Jeonbuk did end prematurely however, as he suffered a fibula injury which ultimately ruled him out of the 2018 World Cup.
After his recovery, Kim made the move to China to play for Beijing Guoan in January 2019. He was a big part of the team being runners-up of that season’s CSL.
But there was an altercation that he had involving his teammates. According to reports (Besoccer), Kim was “exhausted” due to the fact that he had to make up for the defensive inadequacies of his teammates. He apparently also didn’t even know the name of Beijing’s coach at the time Bruno Genesio.
What Kim had to say about his teammates later blew up on Chinese social media and eventually led to him apologizing.
After his time in China, Kim Min-Jae moved to Turkey to play for Fenerbahce on 16 August 2021 for €3m on a 4-year deal. Kim received his first red card in his career at Fenerbahce but would also go on to be selected for the Super Lig Team of the Season for 21/22.
In July of last year, Kim moved to his current club of Napoli as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly after he left for Chelsea. In only his second month, Kim was named player of the month for September.
Now he has become one of the most sort-after center-backs in football. What an amazing season he’s had.
Quite a feisty character, isn’t he? I like that. I like players who show a bit of fight and stand up for themselves, especially in a Man Utd side that have been called spineless and weak over the years.
I’m no scout. I don’t go around the web in search of players from around the globe that we should buy but there are obvious standouts. However, it really comes down to the manager and club in terms of signings. Due to all the noise surrounding Kim, he is obviously one of those standouts, and in a position that United need.
Abilities
So, what is this feisty Korean all about?
Well, as he is 26-years-old, he is coming into his prime and will have many good years ahead of him, which is a good place to start. Standing at 1.9m tall, the former Fenerbahce player is the perfect height for a center-back.
His technical ability is great while he possesses the ability to pass with both feet despite being primarily right-footed. This allows him to keep the ball under pressure as well as progress the ball up the field quite comfortably.
Passing out from the back is a particular strength of his whether it’s on the ground or in the air. His passes through the lines are usually on point both into midfield and the attack.
The Korean also has good speed and amazing reading of the game. These together allow him to be able to cover whenever oppositions are in transitions especially in the wider areas. The fact that he’s comfortable with both feet means that he is able to stop the attacker whether they go on the outside or cut in.
Kim more often than not, stays as the deepest player in his sides defensive line. This gives him as much time as he needs to make the choice of staying back or engage the opposition. Even though he does stay back, Kim can be quite aggressive when it comes to winning possession ahead of his defensive line. Due to his speed and strength, his ability to retrieve possession for his side is pretty darn good. He then has the ability to play the right pass allowing his team to move from defense to attack all in one play.
With a height of 1.9m, Kim is quite strong aerially as well. In his last season at Fenerbahce, Kim won 62.92% of his aerial duels which is actually higher than Koulbaly’s in his final season at Napoli. On crosses, Kim is also very adept.
The thing about his aerial duels is that while he is good at them, it is not something that he does often as he has excellent reading of ball flight. This means that he can get back possession easily without the threat of a 50/50 in the air with an opponent.
Info and stats via Total Football Analysis Magazine
All these abilities suggest that he is the perfect center-back for what ten Hag wants at Man Utd. Someone who is:
- comfortable on the ball
- can pass out from the back
- can progress the ball
- strong on the ground and in the air
- is quick (which means a high line is possible)
- has great reading of the game
are all the things required of today’s modern center-back. These will allow ten Hag to continue to try and implement his style of football due to Kim’s ability to cover all aspects of play.
He is up there for best defenders in football over the past season and has been a major part of Napoli winning their first Scudetto in over 30 years.
Bringing him in alongside the likes of Varane and Martinez is definitely going to improve the Dutch manager’s defense. In fact, he is more than capable of pushing Raphael and Lisandro for a first team spot and in this day and age of ultra competitive football and playing games every few days, a quality squad is needed now more than ever.
I would love for United to sign him as Kim Min-Jae would be the ideal center-back for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United rebuild.
Is Kim him? Should MUFC bring in the South Korean international? We know a thing or two about top South Koreans over the years.
