Kim Eun-sun looking to rebuild career in Australia

Kim Eun-sun, who was kicked out from Suwon Bluewings after drunk driving last December, signed for Australian club Central Coast Mariners, Friday. Korea Times file

By John Duerden

Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006 and since then, players from down under have headed to the K League to become some of the most successful foreign players to come to the oldest professional league in the world's biggest continent. It is a process that is becoming increasingly two-way.

Just last week two South Korean players signed for Australian clubs. The first was Kim Soo-beom who joined Perth Glory from Jeju United. The second was more interesting as Kim Eun-sun became a Central Coast Mariners player, Friday.

Kim Eun-sun was the captain of Suwon Bluewings ― a genuine Korean and Asian powerhouse ― just last season. At the age of 31, he is an experienced and mature midfielder who has been called up twice by the national team though never actually crossed the white line.

Kim, a defensive midfielder, joined Suwon in 2012 but was released by the Gyeonggi giant in January. The reason was that he was charged with drunk driving after a traffic accident in Seoul, Dec. 28.

“Kim is a good player and made a big contribution to this team, but we decided to mete out a heavy punishment against him considering social responsibility and ethics,” the club said in a statement in January “We apologize to fans for the misconduct and will try to prevent such cases from happening in the future.”

With the K League handing out a 15-game ban that would come into effect whenever Kim signed for another Korean team, it was perhaps not a surprise when he decided to seek pastures new.

Central Coast, just north of Sydney, is a pleasant setting in which to do so. Kim has impressed enough during trials to earn a one-year contract. It could be win-win. Kim gets a second chance and the Mariners get a player who, under normal circumstances, they would not be able to afford.

“It has been a real pleasure to meet everyone at the Central Coast Mariners and I feel honored to have signed,” Kim said. “I am thrilled to be here for such a tough pre-season and I can't wait to show the fans what I can bring to the team.

“Central Coast Stadium is the most beautiful stadium I have ever seen, and I cannot wait to play there, meet the fans and earn their support."

Central Coast coach Alen Stajcic hopes that Kim's experience and work ethic can bring benefits for the coming season ahead.

“Kim is a high caliber signing for not just the Mariners but the Hyundai A-League,” Stajcic said. “To attract a player of Kim's caliber who captained Suwon Bluewings, one of the biggest teams in Korea, is a tremendous boost for the Mariners and the league.

“His technical skills combined with his experience will be of great benefit in the development of our players and particularly our younger players coming through the ranks. Since arriving at the start of pre-season, Kim has been a real asset amongst the squad, both on and off the pitch and has set a very high standard,” Stajcic said.

It is to be hoped that Kim can rebuild his career in Australia for his own sake as well Central Coast Mariners and his fellow Korean professionals. Europe is not the be-all and end-all and more options in Australia can't hurt.