Ji So-yun(Korean:지소연,Korean pronunciation:[tɕi.so.jʌn];born 21 February 1991) is a South Korean professionalfootballerwho plays as amidfielderforSeattle Reign FCof theNational Women's Soccer Leagueand theSouth Korea national team.
 Ji with theSeattle Reignin 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 February 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Seoul,South Korea[1] | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Seattle Reign FC | ||
| Number | 91 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Dongsan Info & Industry HS | ||
| 2009–2010 | Hanyang Women's University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2013 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | 48 | (21) |
| 2014–2022 | Chelsea | 124 | (37) |
| 2022–2024 | Suwon FC | 23 | (8) |
| 2024– | Seattle Reign FC | 19 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2008 | South Korea U17 | 15 | (11) |
| 2007–2010 | South Korea U20 | 17 | (13) |
| 2006– | South Korea | 160 | (71) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 September 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 June 2024 | |||
| Ji So-yun | |
| Hangul | 지소연 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | Trì tiếu nhiên |
| Revised Romanization | Ji Soyeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chi Soyŏn |
Club career
edit
Ji started her career in Japan, playing forNadeshiko LeaguechampionsINAC Kobe Leonessabetween 2011 and 2013. In November 2013, Ji was subject to atransferbid from English clubChelsea.[2]She agreed to a two-year contract in January 2014.[3]When the transfer was officially confirmed later that month, Chelsea managerEmma Hayessaid of Ji: "She is one of the best midfielders in the world and our fans will love her."[4]In one of her final matches for the Japanese club, Ji scored against her soon-to-be new club, Chelsea, in theInternational Women's Club Championshipfinal.[5]
Ji was named Players' Player of the Year after her first season in England, as Chelsea narrowly missed out on theFA WSL 1league title on the last day of the season.[6]She was namedPFA Women's Players' Player of the Yearin April 2015 and was also named in thePFA WSL Team of the Year.[7][8]
In the2015 FA Women's Cup Final,staged atWembley Stadiumfor the first time, Ji scored the only goal of the match to win the Cup for Chelsea.[9]In October 2015 she also scored in Chelsea's 4–0 win overSunderlandwhich secured the club's firstFA WSLtitle and a League and Cupdouble.[10]
On 1 April 2018, Ji made her 100th appearance for Chelsea in a 1–1 draw againstArsenal.[11]
In the light of her performances for Chelsea over the years and the instrumental role she played in Chelsea's2020–21 FA WSLwinning team,Suzanne WrackofThe Guardianclaimed that Ji was the best foreign player in the history of WSL.[12]
After spending eight years with Chelsea, Ji left the club following the 2021–22 season. She made over 200 appearances and scored 68 goals in all competitions, and won six league titles, fourFA Cups,twoleague cups,and oneCommunity Shield.[13]
On 24 May 2022, Ji returned to her homeland and joinedWK LeaguesideSuwon FC,her first spell with a South Korean club.[14]On her WK League debut on 18 August 2022, she scored a brace in a 3–0 victory againstBoeun Sangmu.[15]
On 24 January 2024, theNational Women's Soccer LeagueclubSeattle Reign FCannounced that they had signed Ji on a two-year contract through the 2025 season.[16]
International career
editJi represented South Korea atunder-17 leveland was part of theunder-20 teamthat finished as runners-up at the2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship,and in third place at the2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[17]
In October 2006, Ji made hersenior teamdebut while playing at the2006 Peace Queen Cup.On 30 November 2006, she became the youngest goalscorer (15 years, 282 days) for the South Korean senior team after scoring two goals againstChinese Taipeiat the2006 Asian Games.[17][18]
Ji is the all-time top scorer of the South Korea women's national team with 71 goals.[18]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 25 November 2023[19]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | International[c] | Other[d] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2011 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 8 | |||
| 2012 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 7 | ||||
| 2013 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 31 | 19 | |||
| Total | 48 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | 76 | 34 | |||
| Chelsea | 2014 | FA WSL | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 19 | 9 | ||
| 2015 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 26 | 10 | |||
| 2016 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 10 | |||
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 10 | 6 | |||||
| 2017–18 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — | 28 | 12 | |||
| 2018–19 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | 30 | 9 | |||
| 2019–20 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 7 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 22 | 2 | |||
| Total | 124 | 37 | 26 | 17 | 26 | 8 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 210 | 68 | ||
| Suwon FC | 2022 | WK League | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||
| 2023 | 18 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 21 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 23 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 195 | 66 | 37 | 23 | 41 | 14 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 313 | 113 | ||
- ^IncludesEmpress's CupandWomen's FA Cup
- ^IncludesNadeshiko League CupandFA WSL Cup
- ^IncludesInternational Women's Club ChampionshipandUEFA Women's Champions League
- ^IncludesWomen's FA Community ShieldandWK Leagueplay-offs
International
edit- Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ji goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 November 2006 | Doha,Qatar |  Chinese Taipei |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 2 | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | 17 February 2007 | Masan,South Korea |  India |
1–0 | 5–0 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers |
| 4 | 15 April 2007 | Hai Phong,Vietnam |  Vietnam |
1–1 | 2–1 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers |
| 5 | 2–1 | |||||
| 6 | 12 August 2007 | Cheongju,South Korea | Vietnam |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers |
| 7 | 26 August 2009 | Tainan,Taiwan |  Northern Mariana Islands |
1–0 | 19–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 8 | 11–0 | |||||
| 9 | 12–0 | |||||
| 10 | 16–0 | |||||
| 11 | 19–0 | |||||
| 12 | 30 August 2009 | Tainan, Taiwan | Chinese Taipei |
5–0 | 6–0 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship qualifiers |
| 13 | 10 February 2010 | Tokyo,Japan |  China |
1–2 | 1–2 | 2010 EAFF Women's Championship |
| 14 | 14 November 2010 | Guangzhou,China | Vietnam |
1–1 | 6–1 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 15 | 16 November 2010 | Guangzhou, China |  Jordan |
1–0 | 5–0 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 16 | 2–0 | |||||
| 17 | 5–0 | |||||
| 18 | 22 November 2010 | Guangzhou, China | China |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 19 | 7 March 2011 | Paralimni,Cyprus |  Russia |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2011 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 20 | 18 June 2011 | Ehime,Japan |  Japan |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 21 | 3 September 2011 | Jinan,China | Japan |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2012 Summer Olympics Qualifiers |
| 22 | 14 January 2013 | Chongqing,China |  Canada |
2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 23 | 6 March 2013 | Paralimni, Cyprus |  South Africa |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2013 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 24 | 8 March 2013 | Paralimni, Cyprus |  Northern Ireland |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2013 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 25 | 27 July 2013 | Seoul,South Korea | Japan |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup |
| 26 | 2–0 | |||||
| 27 | 5 March 2014 | Paralimni, Cyprus |  Switzerland |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2014 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 28 | 7 March 2014 | Paralimni, Cyprus |  Republic of Ireland |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2014 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 29 | 15 May 2014 | Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam |  Myanmar |
1–0 | 12–0 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 30 | 17 May 2014 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |  Thailand |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 31 | 12 November 2014 | Hsinchu,Taiwan |  Guam |
1–0 | 15–0 | 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cupqualifiers |
| 32 | 8–0 | |||||
| 33 | 15 November 2014 | Hsinchu, Taiwan |  Hong Kong |
1–0 | 9–0 | 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup qualifiers |
| 34 | 13 January 2015 | Shenzhen,China | China |
2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 35 | 15 January 2015 | Shenzhen, China |  Mexico |
2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 36 | 4 March 2015 | Nicosia,Cyprus |  Italy |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2015 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 37 | 5 April 2015 | Incheon,South Korea | Russia |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 38 | 8 April 2015 | Incheon, South Korea | Russia |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 39 | 13 June 2015 | Montreal,Canada |  Costa Rica |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 40 | 3 March 2017 | Nicosia, Cyprus |  Scotland |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 41 | 6 March 2017 | Larnaca,Cyprus |  New Zealand |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 42 | 5 April 2017 | Pyongyang,North Korea | India |
8–0 | 10–0 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 43 | 10–0 | |||||
| 44 | 11 April 2017 | Pyongyang, North Korea |  Uzbekistan |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 45 | 4–0 | |||||
| 46 | 19 August 2018 | Palembang,Indonesia |  Maldives |
1–0 | 8–0 | 2018 Asian Games |
| 47 | 21 August 2018 | Palembang, Indonesia |  Indonesia |
10–0 | 12–0 | 2018 Asian Games |
| 48 | 12–0 | |||||
| 49 | 31 August 2018 | Palembang, Indonesia | Chinese Taipei |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2018 Asian Games |
| 50 | 28 February 2019 | Sydney,Australia |  Argentina |
4–0 | 5–0 | 2019 Cup of Nations |
| 51 | 5–0 | |||||
| 52 | 3 March 2019 | Brisbane,Australia |  Australia |
1–1 | 1–4 | 2019 Cup of Nations |
| 53 | 6 March 2019 | Melbourne,Australia | New Zealand |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2019 Cup of Nations |
| 54 | 9 April 2019 | Chuncheon,South Korea |  Iceland |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 55 | 6 October 2019 | Chicago,United States |  United States |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 56 | 3 February 2020 | Seogwipo,South Korea | Myanmar |
1–0 | 7–0 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round |
| 57 | 3–0 | |||||
| 58 | 9 February 2020 | Seogwipo, South Korea | Vietnam |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Third round |
| 59 | 17 September 2021 | Tashkent,Uzbekistan |  Mongolia |
5–0 | 12–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 60 | 21 January 2022 | Pune,India | Vietnam |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 61 | 3–0 | |||||
| 62 | 24 January 2022 | Pune, India | Myanmar |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 63 | 30 January 2022 | Pune, India | Australia |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 64 | 6 February 2022 | Navi Mumbai,India | China |
2–0 | 2–3 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 65 | 19 July 2022 | Kashima,Japan | Japan |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship |
| 66 | 22 February 2023 | Bristol,England | Italy |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2023 Arnold Clark Cup |
| 67 | 8 July 2023 | Seoul, South Korea |  Haiti |
1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 68 | 22 September 2023 | Wenzhou,China | Myanmar |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 Asian Games |
| 69 | 25 September 2023 | Wenzhou, China |  Philippines |
3–1 | 5–1 | 2022 Asian Games |
| 70 | 24 February 2024 | Oeiras,Portugal |  Czech Republic |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 71 | 5 April 2024 | Icheon,South Korea | Philippines |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours
editINAC Kobe Leonessa
- Nadeshiko League Division 1:2011,2012,2013
- Empress's Cup:2011,2012,2013
- Nadeshiko League Cup:2013
- International Women's Club Championship:2013
Chelsea
- FA Women's Super League:2015,2017,2017–18,2019–20,2020–21,2021–22
- Women's FA Cup:2014–15,2017–18,2020–21,2021–22
- FA Women's League Cup:2019–20,2020–21
- Women's FA Community Shield:2020
South Korea U20
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cupthird place:2010
- AFC U-19 Women's Championshiprunner-up:2009
South Korea Universiade
South Korea
- AFC Women's Asian Cuprunner-up:2022
- Asian Gamesbronze medal:2010,2014,2018
Individual
- Summer UniversiadeMost Valuable Player:2009[20]
- AFC U-19 Women's Championshiptop goalscorer:2009
- FIFA U-20 Women's World CupSilver Ball:2010[20]
- FIFA U-20 Women's World CupSilver Shoe:2010[20]
- Korean FA Women's Player of the Year:2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022[18][21]
- FA Women's Players' Player of the Year:2014[6]
- PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year:2014–15[7][8]
- PFA Women's Super League Team of the Year:2014–15,2015–16,2017–18,2018–19,2019–20[7][22][23]
- IFFHSAsian Women's Team of All Time: 2021[24]
- WK LeagueMidfielder of the Year:2022[25]
References
edit- ^ab"Ji So-yun – Biography".Chelsea F.C. Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2022.Retrieved17 May2022.
- ^"Chelsea Ladies FC interested in signing Ji So-yeon".Arirang. 29 November 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2013.Retrieved30 November2013.
- ^"Korean footballer Ji So-yun to sign two-year deal with Chelsea Ladies".Arirang. 3 January 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2018.Retrieved3 January2014.
- ^"Chelsea Ladies sign South Korean midfielder Ji So-Yun".BBC Sport. 28 January 2014.Retrieved30 January2014.
- ^Bond, Steve (8 December 2013)."Chelsea Ladies lose to Inac Kobe Leonessa despite defiant late rally".The Guardian.Retrieved13 May2015.
- ^ab"Chelsea's Ji So-Yun named WSL player's player of the year".BBC Sport. 14 November 2014.Retrieved29 November2014.
- ^abc"Who won what? PFA award winners in full".BBC Sport. 26 April 2015.Retrieved13 May2015.
- ^ab"Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun is the PFA Women's Player of the Year".Sky Sports. 27 April 2015.Retrieved27 April2015.
- ^Aloia, Andrew (1 August 2015)."How Chelsea won the Women's FA Cup".BBC Sport.Retrieved5 October2015.
- ^Garry, Tom (4 October 2015)."WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies".BBC Sport.Retrieved8 October2015.
- ^"Ladies report: Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1".Chelsea F.C. 1 April 2018.Retrieved7 April2018.
- ^Wrack, Suzanne (10 May 2021)."'A formidable partnership': player ratings for Chelsea's WSL title winners ".The Guardian.Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2021.
- ^"Ji So-yun makes final appearance in a Chelsea shirt as club wins FA Cup final".Korea JoongAng Daily.16 May 2022.Retrieved17 May2022.
- ^"Ex-Chelsea FC Women star Ji So-yun signs with S. Korean club Suwon".Yonhap News Agency.24 May 2022.Retrieved24 May2022.
- ^"월드클래스의 강림, 지소연 수원FC '데뷔전 멀티골'".The Hankyoreh(in Korean). 18 August 2022.Retrieved18 August2022.
- ^"Seattle Reign FC Signs South Korean Midfielder Ji So-Yun".Seattle Reign FC. 24 January 2024.Retrieved24 January2024.
- ^ab"[한국축구유망주60] 지소연: 여자축구의 미래이자 희망"[Ji So Yeon & apos; Future of women's football and hope] (in Korean). Korea Football Association. 30 June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2015.Retrieved13 May2015.
- ^abc"각종기록"[Various records].kfa.or.kr(in Korean).Retrieved8 May2019.
- ^"Ji So-yun profile".Soccerway.Retrieved7 April2018.
- ^abc"Chelsea's South Korean star eyes World Cup success".FIFA. 31 March 2019.Retrieved8 May2019.
- ^"Son Heung-min, Ji So-yun win Korea's top football award, again".Korea JoongAng Daily.25 December 2022.Retrieved21 January2023.
- ^"PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team".BBC Sport. 21 April 2016.Retrieved8 May2019.
- ^"PFA Women's Team of the Year: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate".The Guardian.Press Association. 26 April 2019.Retrieved8 May2019.
- ^"IFFHS ALL TIME ASIA WOMEN'S DREAM TEAM".IFFHS.9 June 2021.
- ^"WK리그 첫 시상식에 들뜬 지소연" 신인상, 조금 탐나긴 했죠 "".Yonhap News Agency(in Korean). 23 December 2022.Retrieved21 January2023.
External links
edit
- Ji So-yunNational Women's Soccer Leagueprofile
- Ji So-yun–FIFAcompetition record (archived)
- Ji So-yunat Soccerway