National team-turned-defender Kim Moon-hwan (28, Al-Duhail) was recognized for his ability by Saudi Arabian media, the No. 1 player in the 2023-24 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) League rankings.
Al-Duhail (Qatar) lost its fourth Group E match of the AFC Champions League finals against Al-Nasr (Saudi Arabia) 2-3 on November 8 (Korea time). Qatar is ranked fifth in the Asian League rankings.
It was a face-off between Philippe Coutinho (31, Brazil) of Al Duhail, who was the top player in the English Premier League (EPL), and Sadio Manet (31, Senegal) of Alnasr.
However, “Saudi Sabea” noted in the Alduhail-Alnasr review, “We reaffirmed that Kim Moon-hwan cannot be left out in discussing the Asian Football Confederation Champions League fullback this season.”
It is more meaningful that Saudi Arabian media mentioned Kim Moon-hwan in a spectacular matchup in which Sadio Mane, the 2018-19 EPL’s top scorer, assisted Al-Nasr’s come-from-behind goal when Philippi Cochinho scored multiple goals including the 2014-15 EPL Best 11 goals.
Kim Moon-hwan left Jeonbuk Hyundai in the K League 1 through the transfer market last summer and signed with Al Duhail until the 2024-25 season. In the 2023-24 Asian Football Confederation Champions League, he played in all four games as a right fullback and left wingback, playing an average of 88.0 minutes, establishing himself as a side defensive core.
Since joining Al Duhail, there have been no errors in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League that have led to shooting or losing points. The stable attack development, including an 87 percent pass success rate and 93 percent pass accuracy for the defense side, is very impressive.
It is also worth positively evaluating that he is recording ▲ scoring opportunities per 90 minutes of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League this season, 1.02 ▲ interceptions 1.02 ▲ ball ownership recovery 2.86.
Kim Moon-hwan was the starting member of the national team when he won the gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games in Indonesia and ranked 16th in the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup.
When he was in Busan I’Park, he was selected as the best 11 in the 2018 and 2019 K League 2. At Los Angeles FC in the U.S., he had one point and one assist in 28 Major League Soccer games between 2021 and 2022. At the 2022-23 Asian Football Confederation Champions League, he had one assist in six games to help him advance to the semifinals of Jeonbuk Hyundai.
Kim Moon-hwan made his major debut through the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, and continues his good relationship with West Asia, including a full-time career high at the Qatar World Cup.