[Yonhap News Photo ]
Kim Nam-il, a member of the semifinalist South Korean team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, will officially join Chinese football club Jiangsu Suning as an assistant coach, a source said Wednesday.
Kim, who hung up his boots in April, will be part of the coaching staff led by fellow South Korean Choi Yong-soo.
"Kim will become an assistant to Choi after receiving a call from him," a source with knowledge of the matter told Yonhap News Agency. "Kim joined the team last week. He has reached a verbal agreement with the club and will soon sign an official contract."
Dubbed "Vacuum Cleaner" for his defensive prowess, Kim played 98 matches for South Korea, featuring at the World Cup in 2002, 2006 and 2010. After making his pro debut with Jeonnam Dragons in the top-flight K League Classic in 2000, he has played with domestic clubs Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Incheon United and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
The 39-year-old midfielder also had stints with Dutch club Excelsior and Russian side Tom Tomsk.
Kim had been searching for a club after his contract with Kyoto Sanga FC in the second-tier Japanese league expired last year, but couldn't find any suitors. After retirement, he became a member of the Korea Football Association's Strategic Planning for Future Task Force that rolls out productive plans for South Korean football.
In June, Kim was close to joining the coaching staff of Thailand side Pattaya United, but the two sides failed to reach a contract agreement.
Jiangsu, runners-up in the Chinese Super League this season, are currently awaiting the second leg of the Chinese Football Association (FA) Cup final where they face league champions Guangzhou Evergrande. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg last Sunday.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
