The name of Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) was mentioned in a list of disappointing players selected by his peers.
The German football magazine Kicker released the results of the survey conducted on March 3rd (Korean time) among Bundesliga players, asking for the 'most disappointing field player' of the 2024-2025 season. This survey is an official poll (SPIELER-UMFRAGE) conducted among active players in the Bundesliga, rather than a fan vote.
Generally, this is an internal league evaluation regularly conducted by Kicker after each season among the players in the league. It collects honest opinions from players under the condition that their names are not disclosed, and it is regarded as accurately reflecting the atmosphere and reputation of the field.
In the results of the survey for the 2024-205 season, Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha ranked first with 13.4%. He was followed by Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt (10.2%), Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Victor Boniface (6.9%), and VfB Stuttgart's Dennis Undav (5.6%).
A name that caught the interest of Korean fans was situated lower on the list. The protagonist was none other than Kim Min-jae, a defender for the Korean national team who has logged the most playing time for Bayern this season. He ranked jointly 10th with a vote percentage of 2.3%, along with Borussia Dortmund's Niklas Süle, Bayern's Leroy Sané, and Sasa Lukić, who is rumored to be transferring to Al Ahli.
Kim Min-jae has participated in 43 official matches this season while wearing the Bayern Munich uniform. Despite enduring a series of defensive injuries, he has held the team's last line of defense. In particular, while other defenders struggled with injuries, he played with an Achilles tendon injury, leading his team to victory.
However, the effects of overwork while injured were considerable. In the second half of the season, he suffered from frequent mistakes and controversies regarding his declining skills. Notably, the decisive errors in the Champions League matches against Inter Milan and Dortmund seem to have adversely affected his evaluations. As a result, Kim Min-jae has even become a candidate for transfer.
The evaluations from fellow players were blunt. Since this survey reflects the opinions of players who directly faced him in the league, it carries significant weight. It indicates that those who faced Kim Min-jae were disappointed in him. The survey results also included names like Dortmund's Emre Can, RB Leipzig's André Silva and Lois Openda, and his national team teammate Sané.
Judging by the majority of players who named him, it suggests that there were basic expectations from a player with a recognized name, but he was evaluated as failing to meet those expectations. Interestingly, most of those in the top rankings were players whose performances fluctuated significantly during the season or did not fulfill a solid role compared to expectations.
Of course, this survey cannot serve as a criterion to undervalue Kim Min-jae's overall career. However, given that it reflects opinions from fellow players, it cannot be viewed as anything but a cold gaze towards his current status. It remains to be seen whether Kim Min-jae, facing the 2025-2026 season, can overcome such evaluations if he stays with Bayern.
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