Ki Sung-Yueng

At 35 years old, Ki Sung-Yueng has this physical status:

Ki Sung-yueng (born 24 January 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Newcastle United and the South Korean national team. Ki is known for his eye, skill, long-range passing and shooting, as well as his solid set-pieces.

Ki was chosen in their squads for three World Cups and the 2011 and 2015 AFC Asian Cups, finishing as runner-up in the second tournament.

He has also competed in two Olympic Games with his country, winning bronze in 2012. Ki was named Swansea City Player of the Year on May 20, 2015, after he scored eight goals in 33 appearances.

Early life

Ki started his football career at Suncheon Jungang Elementary School Football Club, later joining Gwangyang Jecheol Middle School. He went to Brisbane, Australia, in 2001, to study at John Paul College under BSP (Brain Soccer Program) directed by Jeff Hopkins. Ki's father saw the move as a chance for him to pursue his athletic and academic interests as well as learn English. Ki played for youth football for the school team and was part of the 2004 Bill Turner Cup, the national inter-school under-15 soccer tournament. He received invitations from South Korean club FC Seoul and A-League club Queensland Roar in 2005, but he returned to South Korea to continue his education and work. Ki graduated in 2006 from Kumho High School, after returning to South Korea.

Personal life

Ki Young-ok, his father, was general manager of Gwangju FC between 2015 and 2019. After four years at the club without receiving any compensation, he resigned from his role in December 2019. Despite financial challenges, the club rose to the country's top tier during his tenure, but it was unable to establish itself in the K League.

Ki revealed in March 2013 that he was dating actress Han Hye-jin and announcing their engagement in May 2013. The couple married on June 25, 2013, and we celebrated on July 1st at the Intercontinental Hotel Seoul. Both are devout Christians. They have a daughter, who was born on September 13, 2015.

"If you are ill, why don't you go out and play?" Kipley wrote on November 19, 2007 "Why don't you go out and play?" After the South Korea U-23 team's goalless draw against Uzbekistan, he wrote on his Cyworld blog in response to Korean fans' criticism. After being heavily chastised for his careless conduct, Ki later withdrew his statement.

Ki scored the first goal on January 25, 2011, during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup semi-final match between Japan and South Korea. In an apparent racial insult toward Japanese people, Ki made a scandal by scratching his cheek in front of a pitch-side camera. Tokuaki Suzuki, the Asian Cup tournament's chairman, said that no action will be taken on behalf of the AFC and that FIFA has not contacted the AFC regarding the situation.

Ki had previously insulted then-South Korea national team manager Choi Kang-hee on his Facebook page before and after the match against Kuwait in February 2012. "Now everybody should have appreciated the contributions of the players who play in another country," Ki wrote. [He] should have left us alone, otherwise [he] would have been hurt." Ki later apologised for his "mischievous and inappropriate comments," and his father visited the KFA to apologise as well.

Ki was accused of sexual and physical assault by two former elementary school classmates on February 24th. Those allegations came in the context of allegations of bullying against professional basketball and volleyball players in South Korea, including twin sisters Lee Da-yeong and Lee Jae-yeong who were suspended indefinitely by their clubs, and Park Sang-ha who announced his resignation shortly after. Although the press release denying the allegations did not identify Ki as a perpetrator, it referred to a "star player who recently joined a club in the greater Seoul area," and the alleged events occurred in sixth grade of elementary school at South Jeolla Province in the year 2000. Between January and June 2000, Ki and another player reportedly coerced the victims to perform sexual offences on them. Ki, first through his company C2 Global and then on social media, denied the charges, saying "he had no connection whatsoever" to the case and threatened legal action.

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Club career

Ki returned to South Korea and joined FC Seoul, where he competed with national teammate Lee Chung-yong. In the last game of the 2006 League Cup, he was an unused substitute. Enol Güneş made his senior debut in the K League on March 4, 2007, against Dae FC.

Ki reaffirmed his position as a key player of FC Seoul during the 2008 season. In the 92nd minute, Ki scored the winning goal against Seoul's top rivals, Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Ki held a "Kangaroo Ceremony," which he claims to be an imitattion of Emmanuel Adebayor's funeral, but Suwon supporters have argued that this was an 'chicken' imitated. With four goals and one assist in 21 appearances, he led the team to a new K League runners-up finish.

Ki scored one goal in FC Seoul's first K League match of the 2009 season, defeating Chunnam Dragons 6–1. PSV, Hamburger SV, and Porto were among the many speculations surrounding a high-profile move abroad.

Celtic and FC Seoul had been in touch regarding Ki's transfer to the Parkhead club on August 25, 2009. However, the player's agent confirmed that an immediate move would be unlikely given Seoul's success in the league and the Asian Champions League. Celtic also secured a £2.1 million transfer for Ki. In the January transfer window at the end of the K-League season, he signed up with the Parkhead team. Following Ki's completion of a medical exam and obtaining a work permit, the signing was confirmed on December 13, 2009. According to reports, Ki turned down an English club Portsmouth's bid, then the Premier League. On his shirt, he had "Ki" on his shirt. He made his Celtic debut against Falkirk in a 1–1 draw at Celtic Park on January 16, 2010 and was named Man of the Match by the official Celtic website. He appeared in four more games for Celtic this season, but he failed to make much of an impact on what was a time of turmoil for the club.

Ki barely played for Celtic in the first month of season 2010–11, but he came off the bench to score his first competitive goal for Celtic on August 22nd in the Scottish Premier League, SPL). By the end of October, he had made his first team regular appearance and was named SPL Young Player of the Month for October 2010. Kierkoff discovered himself the perpetrator of apparent racial abuse during a league match away from St Johnstone on October 30, 2010. At Ki, a portion of the St Johnstone support staff was heard making barking sounds – "woofing" as he made a corner kick.

Chants of "Who ate all the dogs?"

Throughout the game, the home supporters were also heard.

In a 2–2 draw with Inverness Thistle at Celtic Park, Ki scored his second goal of the season. Ki scored against St Johnstone in a 2–0 victory in the SPL on Dec. 26, 2010 in what was his last match for Celtic before heading to Qatar to compete for South Korea in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Ki returned to Scotland in February for the Celtic first team's 2–2 draw against Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox Stadium. After goalkeeper Fraser Forster was sent off, Celtic played a significant part in the game, including Ki, but the midfield, which included Ki, received acclaim for their conduct in the second half. Ki was also involved in the replay at Celtic Park, an ill-tempered match that Celtic beat 1–0. Ki scored the first goal of Celtic's Scottish Cup Final victory over Motherwell on May 21, 2011, a left-footed kick from about 35 yards. He also received the Official Man of the Match award.

Ki started the 2011-12 campaign in Celtic's first match against Hibernian in the SPL. Scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win, a 25-yard left foot thrust into the right hand bottom corner, and winning the official Celtic website Man of the Match award. He befuddled Celtic boss Neil Lennon so much in the Hibernian match that he praised:

In a 5–1 victory over Dundee United at Celtic Park on August 13, Ki then scored another goal, a strike into the top left-hand corner from the center of the box. A few days later, it was announced that Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur, and several clubs from the Russian Premier League were interested in signing Ki. Celtic sent a "hands-off warning" to the interested clubs the next day, saying that it would take Celtic to convince the less influential midfielder to leave the club. Ki again impressed Motherwell on September 10, 2011, this time in the SPL, with a spectacular kick from outside the box using his right foot. Celtic went on to win the match 4–0. He got off to a 1-1 draw with Italian side Udinese on September 29th, scoring from a penalty after three minutes. Celtic defeated St Johnstone 2–0 at McDiarmid Park in the SPL on December 18, 2011 on his second goal of the match. Ki scored seven goals and six assists during the 2011-12 season, playing a key role in Celtic's victory over the Scottish title.

Ki moved to Swansea City for about £6 million on a three-year contract, which was Swansea's highest transfer fee until it was later broken by Wilfried Bony. In the second round of the League Cup at Liberty Stadium on August 28, Ki made his debut for the Swans by defeating Barnsley 3–1. Ki started as a central midfielder in the 76th minute after wearing a number 24 shirt.

Ki's debut season in the Premier League was a fruitful one. Despite struggling to replicate the scoring form he displayed at Celtic, his passing style earned fans and critics alike, and he ended the season with 38 appearances in all competitions. Swansea City defeated Leicester City in the final of the League Cup on February 24th. Ki was in the final for more than an hour in an unfamiliar central defensive position. Swansea defeated Bradford City 5–0, winning his first trophy with the Welsh club, proving the tactical shift to be a success.

Ki joined Sunderland on a season-long loan with a mid-season re-call option on August 31. In a 2–1 League Cup quarter-final victory over Chelsea on December 17, 2013, he scored his first goal for Sunderland, cutting inside Ashley Cole and defeating goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a low shot in the 119th minute. In a 1–0 away victory over Everton on December 26, he scored his second for Sunderland. Tim Howard, the goalkeeper for Everton, had a short game with Leon Osman, who was robbed of the ball by Ki. Howard came down and was sent off, but Ki converted the penalty kick himself to give the Black Cats a crucial victory. It was Ki's first league goal. Sunderland defeated Fulham 4–1 away thanks to Adam Johnson's well-planned set piece. Ki's third goal was his third goal.

Ki helped Sunderland beat Manchester United 2–1 on penalty kicks after the two-legged semi-finals had finished level on aggregate, with Ki and Marcos Alonso scoring Sunderland's penalties. On March 2nd, Ki played against Manchester City in the League Cup final, but the players were defeated by City in the second half, ultimately losing 3–1.

During the first month of the Premier League season, Sunderland stayed in the relegation zone, but Ki played a role in their recovery, despite suffering tendonitis in his knee for many months. On April 10, 2014, he played his last match for Sunderland. Sunderland made it to the top of the charts, finishing 14th in the absence of relegation.

"This is my third season in the Premier League, and I want to grow as a player and improve to help the team," Ki says. In a 2–1 victory over Manchester United over Old Trafford on August 16, he scored his first goal of the season. He signed a new deal on August 28th, which will run into 2020. Ki became a regular in the team under new manager Garry Monk, and by the end of December, the team had played in every Premier League fixture. Ki did not play for Swansea during January 2015 when he was away on international service with South Korea at the Asian Cup. On his return to the team in February 2015, he played in a 1–1 draw with Sunderland and scored the equalizer. Swansea lost their next match 2–0 against West Bromwich Albion, but the team defeated Manchester United 21-0, winning by Ki equalizing goals in a 2–1 victory ten days later.

Ki played 28 times in the 2015-2016 Premier League season, scoring twice. On Boxing Day against West Bromwich Albion in an eventual 1–0 victory, and then against West Ham United on May 8, 2016. He made three appearances in the 2016–17 Premier League, where Swansea barely escaped relegation, despite that fact, the player did not score in that season. It was another struggle for the club in the 2017--18 Premier League season. Ki scored twice in two home fixtures in less than a month, the first against Burnley on February 18, 2018 and the second against West Ham on August 18. It seemed that the club was fine in mid-table after that, but with no impact on the attacking aspect, the club floundered and Ki could not prevent them from relegation from Premier League relegation, which was confirmed on the final day. Ki announced his resignation shortly after the season ended, following the relegation.

After the end of his Swansea City contract, Ki signed a two-year contract with Newcastle United, reuniting with former midfield partner Jonjo Shelvey. On August 26, Chelsea, and the following weekend against Manchester City, all resulted in 2–1 losses. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez made his first appearance against Newcastle on Sunday. Benitez would not select Ki for the next five games until describing the player's "lack of mobility." He came on as a replacement to replace Shelvey's injured against Watford on November 3rd and provided the game winning assist as his free kick was kicked in by Ayoze Pérez for Newcastle's first league victory of the season. He was involved of Newcastle's demise of the relegation zone from the start, rising from bottom of the table to 15th by Christmas. The South Korean had to join his national team in the UAE to compete in the AFC Asian Cup. His good form had been suspended. Ki announced that after returning to his club in January 2019 after suffering an achilles injury in a match against the Philippines, he would stop focusing entirely on his club career. Sean Longstaff, a local boy, impressed and took over midfield alongside Isaac Hayden during his absence, winning the starting position. Ki's game time became sporadic, with the South Korean starting six games out of the eleven remaining league games and only finishing 90 minutes twice.

Despite Newcastle's safety in the Premier League, boss Rafa Benitez refused to prolong his deal and was fired by Steve Bruce. Ki was given little opportunities under Bruce, making only three league appearances in the 2019-20 season, two of which were off the bench. Ki would not be on the team sheet until January, moreover sickness, and a knock in December all hindered his potential to play. It was his last game for Newcastle, an FA Cup match against Rochdale on January 4, 2020, resulting in a 1–1 draw. Ki to consider more game time during the winter transfer window, and by mutual consent, he left the club on January 31, 2020.

Ki joined RCD Mallorca for the remainder of the season, with the Balearic club fighting for relegation from the Spanish top class on February 25. On March 7, he made his La Liga debut, replacing Takefusa Kubo in the last 15 minutes of a crucial 2–1 away win against Eibar, making him the first Korean player to wear the shirt of Los Bermellones. Ki's stay in Spain came to an end shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic came to a conclusion, with La Liga being suspended for three months, and when the league returned in early June, he was unable to train with his colleagues due to an ankle injury. He left Mallorca five days before the end of his deal, having made only one appearance.

Ki decided to return to FC Seoul and extended his deal until 2023, despite 11 years in Europe. After the midfielder's deal with Newcastle came to an end, Ki and Seoul had already held talks in January about a potential return to South Korea, but talks were cut off when Ki accused Seoul of negotiating in bad faith. The club was in eleventh place out of twelve teams halfway through the 2020 K League season at the time of his signing.

He returned to the club on August 30th, replacing him as a replacement in a 3–0 away loss to league leaders Ulsan Hyundai. Kim Ho-young, the team's caretaker boss, would then allow Ki time to recover fitness by bringing him off the bench the three following games, and his presence on the team was quickly lauded for providing more stability in FC Seoul's midfield. Kieton United's 1–0 loss against Incheon United on September 16, however, the team suffered another setback in a 1–0 loss, this time due to a hamstring injury.

Ki was named captain of his club for the 2021 season after FC Seoul ultimately managed to remain in the division. He began his new campaign in a major role in FC Seoul's four victories in the first six games. In three games in a row, Seoul defeated By a single-goal margin, including a last-minute winner against Incheon United on March 13. He was named EA Sports Player of the Month for his April appearances on Tuesday.

International career

Ki has competed in the 2007 U-20 World Cup and for the South Korea national team, as well as the South Korea under-23 team.

He made his international debut in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan on June 7, 2008.

Ki was selected in the 23-man South Korea squad for the 2010 World Cup finals on June 1, 2010. Ki served in South Korea's first match of the World Cup on June 12th against Greece. Ki participated in all three group matches and also assisted twice in two separate games against Greece and Nigeria, which helped his team and his country advance to the knockout stages of the tournament. Ki (along with Ji So-yun of Kobe INAC Japan) was named South Korean Player of the Year on December 20, 2011. Based on his international and club results in the SPL, the Korean Football Association (KFA) informed the decision.

Ki scored the fifth and crucial point for South Korea in their quarter-final match against Great Britain in 2012, allowing South Korea to progress to the semi-finals. South Korea lost 3–0 to Brazil in the semi-finals, but it took the bronze medal from Japan 2–0 in the third round play-off.

Ki was selected for the South Korea squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. After one draw and two losses, he appeared in all three matches as Korea was eliminated at the group level. Ki was appointed captain of the national team by new coach Uli Stielike after the World Cup.

During January, Ki also played for South Korea in the 2015 Asian Cup, helping his country advance to the final against hosts Australia. Son Heung-min was aided by him to tie the final at 1–1 and force extra time, but the Australians beat 2–1.

In the 2018 World Cup, Ki captained South Korea and appeared in the first two matches before missing the final group stage match against Germany due to a left calf injury sustained against Mexico. In Ki's place, Son Heung-min inherited the captain's armband.

Ki retired from international service following his country's 2019 Asian Cup match against the Philippines. South Korea defeated South Korea 1–0, but Ki was forced to leave early after suffering a hamstring injury mid-game.

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