Minjae Kim Makes History: The First Korean to Win in Two Different European Big Leagues
[News from Korea — May 2025]
A proud moment for Korean football!
Minjae Kim (29), a key defender for Bayern Munich, has added yet another prestigious achievement to his growing career — lifting the Bundesliga trophy. This marks Bayern’s 34th league title, but for Minjae Kim, the significance runs much deeper.
On May 5th, Bayern Munich clinched the 2024–2025 Bundesliga title without even playing. Their closest rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, drew 2-2 with Freiburg, making it mathematically impossible for them to catch up. As a result, Bayern secured the championship with two games to spare, returning to the throne after losing out last season.
While Bayern’s title is impressive in itself, the story of Minjae Kim is what makes this victory extra special — especially for Korean football fans.
From Seoul to Munich: A True Champion’s Journey
After helping Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022–2023 season, Minjae Kim became the first Korean player to win league titles in two of Europe’s “Big 5” leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France).
This feat puts him in a unique class, surpassing even legends like Park Ji-sung, who won titles in the EPL and the Netherlands (which is not considered part of the Big 5).
Minjae also previously won two K-League titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors back home in Korea. That makes him a four-time league champion across continents — a rare and outstanding accomplishment.
Not Just Glory — A Season of Struggles and Resilience
However, this season was far from easy for Minjae.
After a strong start, he faced criticism for several costly mistakes, especially during crucial Champions League matches. Statistically, he recorded the most errors leading to goals among defenders in Europe’s top leagues this season. Adding to the challenge, an Achilles tendon injury since last October made his campaign even tougher.
Despite the physical and mental challenges, Minjae remained a vital player for Bayern. He played 27 league matches (20 of them full games) and even scored twice, proving his worth on both ends of the pitch.
Backed by His Coach, Trusted by His Team
One crucial reason Minjae overcame this tough period was new head coach Vincent Kompany. Unlike former coach Thomas Tuchel — who publicly criticized Minjae’s aggressive style — Kompany, himself a former world-class defender, gave full support to the Korean star.
He even ran special defensive drills with Minjae and his partner Upamecano to strengthen their partnership.
Kompany’s trust paid off. Minjae’s excellent long passing and ability to cover the backline suited Bayern’s high defensive line strategy. His presence allowed Kompany to play bold, attacking football.
A Historic Milestone for Korea
Minjae Kim has now achieved what no other Korean — not even legends like Cha Bum-kun or Son Heung-min — has done before: becoming a Bundesliga champion. His name will forever be remembered as the first Korean player to lift the league trophy in Germany.
Moreover, he stands tall among Asian defenders. While Japanese center-back Maya Yoshida had a long and respectable career in Europe, he never played for title-challenging teams like Minjae has.
Looking Ahead
Minjae Kim himself knows the job isn’t finished.
“Excuses like injuries and mistakes don’t matter. I need to improve,” he said humbly after securing the title.
Korean fans — and football lovers worldwide — are now eager to see how this proud “Iron Wall” defender will continue to grow in the next season, fully recovered and hungrier than ever.
📌 This inspiring story is brought to you directly from Korea. Stay tuned for more news and insights from Korean culture, sports, and daily life — right here on Korea by Korean!
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