Koo Sang-min explained

Koo Sang-Min
Fullname:Koo Sang-Min
Birth Date:31 October 1991
Birth Place:South Korea
Height:1.85 m
Currentclub:Busan IPark
Clubnumber:1
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:2014–2015
Caps1:55
Goals1:1
Years2:2016–
Caps2:136
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2021
Clubs3:Yangju Citizen FC (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:0
Pcupdate:20 April 2024

Koo Sang-Min (; born 31 October 1991) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Busan IPark.[1]

Career

While playing for Ulsan Dolphins, Koo scored a goal directly from a goal kick on 25 June 2014 in a victory over Gimhae City. At the time it was recorded as the longest goal of all time. The following year, he was named as the National League MVP as Ulsan finished top of the division.

Koo signed with Busan IPark from Ulsan Dolphins on 13 January 2016.[2] Koo was first-choice keeper in his first season with the club, conceding 25 goals in 32 games, but he later faced competition for the starting spot from the likes of Kim Hyung-keun and Kim Kyeong-min. Midway through the 2019 season Koo left to complete his mandatory military service with Yangju Citizen FC in the K League 3 before returning to Busan in April 2021. Koo found himself back-up keeper to Ahn Joon-soo under struggling Portuguese manager Ricardo Peres, but replacement coach Park Jin-sub reinstated Koo to the starting line-up midway through the 2022 season.

In 2023, Koo played every minute of every game for Busan as they finished second in the league, with the club missing out on promotion after a 4-6 two-leg aggregate defeat to Suwon FC in the play-offs. Koo kept 15 clean sheets and was named in the K League 2 Best XI for the season. Following the 2023 season, only goalkeeper Kim Poong-joo has kept more clean sheets for Busan in the club's history.

Club career statistics

As of 12 December 2023

Club performanceLeagueCupPlay-offsTotal
Season Club LeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
2014Ulsan DolphinsNational League27110--281
201528020--300
2016Busan IParkK League 23201000330
20171303010170
20182101020240
201920100030
2020Yangju Citizen FCK3 League1800000180
2021Busan IParkK League 210000010
20221601000170
20233600020380
Career total1941100502091

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Korea Republic - Sang-Min Koo - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. soccerway.com. 20 June 2016.
  2. Web site: 부산, 이창근 대체선수로 '내셔널리그 MVP' 구상민 영입. hankooki.com. 20 June 2016.