Renowned football coach Kim Chul-soo, who served as one of Philippine football’s most revered and successful coaches, passed away in his native South Korea yesterday at the age of 74.
Popularly known as Master Kim, the former Pohang Steelers defender made his mark on Philippine football primarily as one of the architects of Far Eastern University’s success across the UAAP men’s, women’s, and high school boys’ football divisions.
He also coached the likes of the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Manila Jeepney when both teams competed in the now-defunct United Football League.
Often seen in distinctive corporate attire while coaching his teams, Kim’s programs and methods helped develop several local players who went on to become stars in the collegiate and professional leagues.
One such player is Aguilas Umak standout Arnel Amita, a Philippines Football League and Copa Paulino Alcantara champion who was part of the FEU Tamaraws squads that won back-to-back UAAP titles in Seasons 76 and 77.
“I still find it hard to believe that you’re gone. You were more than just a football coach to me, you were a mentor, a teacher, and someone who helped shape the person and footballer I am today,” said Amita, who began learning from Kim in 2008, in a social media post.
“Thank you for every lesson, every piece of advice, every encouragement, and even every tough moment that taught me to become stronger. Your impact went far beyond the football field. The things you taught me will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Even before moving to the Philippines, Kim had already made a name for himself in grassroots football development, reportedly coaching former Premier League stars Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo early in their careers.
But Kim’s influence extended beyond developing his players’ technical abilities. He also placed a strong emphasis on character development, believing that there was more to life than what happened on the football pitch.
For Paolo Bugas, the lessons he learned from Kim resonate even more strongly today, as he now serves as an assistant coach for FEU’s men’s and high school boys’ teams.
“You changed our lives from the very beginning when we met you. We will always remember the good and bad moments we shared, the laughter, the memories, and even the times you scolded us during training. At that time, even though it was painful to hear, but now we understand that everything you did was to make us better and to help us understand the football you wanted us to play,” said Bugas in a personal social media post written in English and Bisaya.
“Thank you very much for everything, Master Kim. We will always carry your lessons with us, both on and off the field.”
As Kim is laid to rest, his legacy continues to live on in Philippine football, particularly among the players and coaches who had the privilege of learning from a mentor who left an indelible mark on the sport.
