WWC 2015 PROFILE: JI SO YUN
- Ann Odong
- Jun 1, 2015
- 2 min read
Being an outstanding youth player is not always an indicator of future suc-cess at senior level.
When it comes to the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, three names stood out as future stars of the women’s game; Alexandra Popp, Ji So-yun and Sydney Leroux. Of those three, only Ji has gone on to establish her-self as a vital component at club (with Chelsea FC) and national level.
While 2010 was her intro-duction to the world, by the time she set foot in Germany, the midfielder had already been making her impact felt in Korea Republic. Capped at 15 years old, the fleet footed Ji has spent the last four years honing her craft overseas.
First with three time Japanese champions INAC Kobe Leonessa and then most recently with a high profile move to Chelsea. The move to the FA Wom-en’s League side was a dream one facilitated by Blues coach Emma Hayes.
After witnessing the at-tacking midfielder’s skills against her side in the 2013 International Wom-en’s Club Championship, Hayes moved swiftly to secure her signature.
There was no “bedding in” season for Ji as she quickly adapted to the physical and more fast paced envi-ronment of the FA WSL.
“Personally I settled down and adapted to English football well,” she said. “In the first match in 2014 against Bristol academy, I managed to score just one minute after the start of the whistle.” “It gave me a lot of con-fidence throughout the year.”
That growing confidence was to the benefit of Chelsea who, after finishing second last in 2013, went within a hairsbreadth of claiming the 2014 title.
As Chelsea’s prime play-maker, she finished the 2014 season as joint leader in assists while scoring 3 goals in her 12 league appearance.
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Originally written for The Women’s Game x Equalizer Soccer 2015 WWC Guide
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