Kwoun Sun-tae (Korean: 권순태; Hanja: 權純泰; Korean pronunciation: [kwʌn.sun.tʰɛ̝]; born September 11, 1984) is a South Korean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kashima Antlers and the South Korea national football team. He is currently assistant goalkeeping coach at Kashima Antlers.
 Kwoun with Kashima Antlers in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kwoun Sun-tae[1] | ||
| Date of birth | September 11, 1984[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Paju, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kashima Antlers (Assistant goalkeeping coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2005 | Jeonju University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2016 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 231 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Sangju Sangmu (army) | 31 | (0) |
| 2017–2023 | Kashima Antlers | 108 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015–2017 | South Korea | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:51, 7 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 June 2017 | |||
Club career edit
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors edit
After graduating from Jeonju University, Kwoun signed his first professional deal with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2006 and quickly displaced team-mate Lee Kwang-suk as first choice goalkeeper. Kwoun made 43 first team appearances in his first season, most notably winning the 2006 AFC Champions League after beating Al-Karamah SC in the final.[2]
After a successful debut season, Kwoun cemented himself as Jeonbuk's first choice goalkeeper for Jeonbuk under manager Choi Kang-hee. He was an integral part of the team during the 2009 season, where Jeonbuk claimed their first ever K-League title.[3]
Loan to Sangju Sangmu edit
He continued to play for the club until 2011, when he was required to carry out mandatory military service and joined military club Sangju Sangmu for just under two seasons. During this loan spell, Jeonbuk won the league and again reached the Champions League Final and it being played at Jeonju Stadium, Kwoun used his vacation from the military to go and support the team amongst the fans. He later said that the disappointing experience of seeing Jeonbuk lose at home in this final would change his mentality and spur him on to be more prepared for finals in the future.[4] Returning from military service midway through the 2012 season, Kwoun struggled to break back into the team and played only a handful of games for the remainder of the 2012 season and the 2013 season.
Return to Jeonbuk edit
After two years spent managing the South Korean national team, Choi Kang-hee returned to manage Jeonbuk in 2013 and by the 2014 season, Kwoun was returned to the starting line-up after the retirement of Choi Eun-sung. Kwoun played a key role as Jeonbuk went on to win back-to-back league titles and would have won three in a row if they were not deducted nine points for their part in a scandal which involved bribing referees during the 2013 season.[5] Kwoun was selected as the best goalkeeper in the league for three straight seasons, being named part of the K League Best XI in 2014, 2015[6] (as well as winning the Golden Glove award)[7] and 2016.[8]
For the 2016 season, Kwoun was named captain of Jeonbuk and it was arguably the best season of his career. Conceding only 40 goals in the league all season, he was said to be the most reliable goalkeeper in the league.[9] He also went on to win his second AFC Champions League title after a hard-fought 3-2 aggregate win over Al-Ain.[10] Kwoun had a fantastic performance in the second leg, denying Al-Ain striker Douglas multiple times as well as a pulling off a crucial reaction save to deny substitute Ibrahim Diaky late in the game.[11]
Kashima Antlers edit
When it was later revealed that Jeonbuk would be refused entry into the 2017 AFC Champions League after an additional review into their 2013 bribery scandal,[12] Kwoun eventually accepted an offer of a three-year contract from J-League champions Kashima Antlers.[13][14]
Kwoun was not first-choice goalkeeper with Kashima in his first season, despite being given the number one shirt, as long term servant of the club Hitoshi Sogahata retained the main goalkeeping duties. He was however in goal for the season-opener, as Kwoun won his first trophy with Kashima in his first game after they lifted the 2017 Japanese Super Cup with a 3–2 win over Urawa Red Diamonds.[15] In the 2018 season, Kwoun became first choice goalkeeper and was part of the squad that won the 2018 AFC Champions League – the third time he was won that competition. Kashima were only the third side from Japan to win the title. Much like the 2016 final, Kwoun played magnificently, keeping a clean sheet in both legs against Persepolis.[16] He was rewarded with the player of the week award for his heroics in the second leg after making 6 saves and topping the player ratings.[17]
Kwoun continued to be an ever present part of the team during the 2019 season, but from the 2020 season team-mate Yuya Oki started the majority of games for Kashima in place of Kwoun. With a change in management for Kashima in the 2022 season, Kwoun was back to being first-choice goalkeeper and played the majority of games for the club throughout the season.
In the 2023 season, Kwoun did not make a single appearance for Kashima and announced his retirement at the end of the season.[18]
International career edit
In 2012, Kwoun was called up for international duty but did not play.[19] Kwoun made his international debut match for South Korea against Laos on September 3, 2015, and kept a clean sheet.[20] Kwoun went on to make another four appearances for the national team during the qualification round of the 2018 World Cup, only conceding three goals in total. His final international appearance was in a 3–2 defeat to Qatar in June 2017, which led to the sacking of then South Korea manager Uli Stielike.[21] Unfortunately for Kwoun, Stielke's successor Shin Tae-Yong did not pick him in the squad again and he did not make the final 23 man squad for the World Cup.
Coaching career edit
Kashima Antlers edit
Kwoun remained at Kashima Antlers after retirement, having been handed a position on Ranko Popović's coaching staff as an assistant goalkeeping coach.[22]
Career statistics edit
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Others | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | League Cup | Asia | Others | Total | ||||||||
| 2006 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 2007 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | -— | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2009 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2010 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | Sangju Sangmu (army) | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2012 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||||
| 2014 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 43 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | — | 51 | 0 | ||||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | League Cup | Asia | Others1 | Total | ||||||||
| 2017 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 2018 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | South Korea | 262 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 370 | 0 | |
| Japan | 108 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 159 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 370 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 529 | 0 | ||
1Other tournaments include Japanese Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
Honours edit
Club edit
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Kashima Antlers
- Japanese Super Cup: 2017
- AFC Champions League: 2018
Individual edit
- K League Classic Best XI: 2014, 2015, 2016
- AFC Champions League Player of the week: 2018 finals 2nd leg
References edit
- ^ a b c "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018: List of Players: Kashima Antlers" (PDF). FIFA. 6 December 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2018.
- ^ "AFC Champions League 2006 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "South Korea K-League Classic 2009, Results and Standings - FootballDatabase". footballdatabase.com. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Kwoun Sun-tae: Memories of 2006 and 2011 ACL Finals". Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ Binns, Matthew. "Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Punished for Bribing Referees". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ United, K. League. "2015 K League Best XI". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ United, K. League. "2015 K-League Awards". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions.
- ^ United, K. League. "2016 K-League Best XI". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ United, K. League. "2016 K-League Best XI". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Al Ain vs. Jeonbuk Motors - 26 November 2016 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Captain Kwoun content with Jeonbuk's second silverware". GhanaSoccernet. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ Binns, Matthew. "Asian Champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Refused Entry to AFC Champions League". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "[단독] 최강희 "권순태 이적 허용한다"". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "2017 Previews". jsoccer.com. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "SCHEDULE & RESULTS : J.LEAGUE.JP". J. LEAGUE.JP JAPAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Kashima Antlers realise their dream | Football | News | AFC Champions League 2021". the-AFC.
- ^ "TOYOTA PLAYER OF THE WEEK | AFC". the-AFC. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "クォン スンテ選手 現役引退のお知らせ | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ '폭우 속의 선방' 권순태, "허정무호 승선은 큰 영광"
- ^ "Korea Republic vs. Laos - 3 September 2015 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "South Korea axe Stielike after Qatar shock". South China Morning Post. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "クォン スンテ氏 GKアシスタントコーチ就任のお知らせ | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2019 (NSK MOOK)", 9 February 2019, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411628 (p. 24 out of 289)
- ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 8 out of 289)
- ^ "Korea Republic - Kwoun Sun-Tae - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Kwoun Sun Tae Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
External links edit
- Kwoun Sun-tae at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
- Kwoun Sun-tae – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)
- Profile at Kashima Antlers
