Kim Dong-Jin

Football player infobox
playername = Kim Dong-Jin


fullname = Kim Dong-Jin
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|1|29
cityofbirth = Dongducheon
countryofbirth = South Korea
height = height|m=1.84
currentclub = FC Zenit
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender, Left full back
youthyears = 1997–2000
youthclubs = Anyang Technical High School
years = 2000–2003
2004–2006
2006–
clubs = Anyang LG Cheetahs
FC Seoul
FC Zenit
caps(goals) = 56 (6)
63 (7)
45 (2)
nationalyears = 2003–
nationalteam = Korea Republic
nationalcaps(goals) = 46 (2)
pcupdate = 08:55, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:00, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Kim Dong-Jin (Korean: 김동진, Hanja: 金東進) (born January 29, 1982 in Dongducheon) is a South Korean footballer who plays left back for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and the South Korean national team.

Previously Kim played for FC Seoul(formerly Anyang LG Cheetahs), where he made his professional debut in 2000, and he made 119 league appearances for the K-League club. He was a left midfielder of the South Korean 2004 Olympic football team, and helped Korea finish second in Group A by scoring one goal (against Greece) and two assists (both against Mali), consequently advancing to the next round. However, they were stopped by the silver medalist Paraguay.

In 2004, Kim's performance against Germany while under Johannes Bonfrere secured him the leftback or left midfield position (depending on the formation that was usually 4-3-3 or 3-4-3), which originally belonged to Lee Young-Pyo. However, as Advocaat became the new manager of South Korea in November, 2005, both Lee and Kim had to compete for the position. Since the two players proved to be highly influential to the national team,fact|date = August 2008 both players were rotated for the left back position during FIFA World Cup 2006. Today, Kim can operate the centre back position too.

On June 28, 2006, he transferred to FC Zenit, following coach Dick Advocaat and Korean teammate Lee Ho. [http://www.fc-zenit.ru/info/details.phtml?id=2321] In Zenit, both his performance and reputation grew steadily, making him the key side defender in the starting lineup. He helped Zenit to achieve their first Russian Premier League title and most reputably the UEFA Cup. His outstanding improvement in his club and national team brought his reputation as the best left-back in the current Korean squad.

During the 2008 Olympics, he was summoned to join Korea's U-23 squad as a wild card. Despite his outstanding performance and a goal scored in the last game against Honduras which helped Korea clinching 3 points, his team was eliminated in the first round.

He is renowned for his exceptionally well rounded stats in football video game Pro Evo making him a popular and cost effective choice for serious players in the master league.

Club career stats

Last update: 26 August 2008