Kim Sung-gan

Kim Sung-gan (Korean: 김성간, 17 November 1912 – 19 May 1984) was a South Korean football player and manager. He played for Japan national team when Korea was ruled by Japan.

Playing career

Born in Pyongyang (known at the time as "Heijō"), Kim started playing football when he was in elementary school. He played mostly for Yonhi College and Kyungsung FC after graduating from middle school. He won the 1935 Emperor's Cup, while playing for Kyungsung FC. He also played for Japan national team in five matches from 1939 to 1940 including one official match.

Managerial career

Kim became a coach and an executive of the Korean FA after retiring as a player, and led South Korea to become inaugural champions at the AFC Asian Cup when being appointed manager.

Personal life

Kim played soft tennis and basketball for a short while in early life. He participated in the All Joseon Soft Tennis Tournament in 1927, while playing soft tennis at Suncheon Shinsung Middle School. He played for basketball team "Nongwoo" (which meant "Basketball Friends") in the Pyongyang Basketball League in 1933 before transferring to Yonhi College.

Kim's son Kim Yeong-il was a Korean national basketball player, who participated in two Summer Olympics and won two major Asian titles (1969 ABC Championship and 1970 Asian Games). Yeong-il was found dead with his blood and head wounds near a railway on 23 May 1976.

Kim died on 29 May 1984, in a traffic collision in the United States.