Min-jae Kwak
South Korean footballer (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Min-jae Kwak (Korean: 곽민재, born 25 August 2000) is a South Korean footballer.
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Kwak in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 August 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Suwon, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Youth career | |||
| South Bay Force | |||
| 2012–2014 | Strikers FC Academy | ||
| 2015–2017 | Pateadores Academy | ||
| 2017–2018 | Sporting Arsenal | ||
| 2018–2019 | Strikers FC Academy | ||
| 2019–2020 | HNK Gorica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | TNT FC | ||
| 2020–2021 | California United Strikers FC | 20 | (4) |
| 2022 | AC Syracuse Pulse | 20 | (4) |
| 2023 | Vancouver FC | 25 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Chattanooga FC | 15 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 29, 2024 | |||
Early life
Born in South Korea, Kwak lived in Fiji for eight months,[1] before moving to the United States at age 12, moving to Orange County, California.[2] Shortly after arriving in the United States, he was invited to trial with the LA Galaxy academy, but did not make the program.[3] He began playing with South Bay Force before moving to the Strikers FC Academy, before moving to Pateadores Academy, Sporting Arsenal, before returning to Strikers Academy.[1][4][5]
In September 2019, he joined the youth side of Croatian club HNK Gorica, after having participated in a camp for South Korean players with the club.[6][7][8] He scored in an exhibition game with the first team against Lekenik FC.[9]
Club career
In 2019, he played with South Korean side TNT FC.[10]
In September 2020, he signed with National Independent Soccer Association club California United Strikers FC, after having trained with the club since January.[5] In March 2022, he joined another NISA club, AC Syracuse Pulse.[4] That season, he was named to the NISA Best XI, after having scored four goals and adding an assist.[11][12]
In March 2023, he signed with Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League,[13][14] becoming the second Korean-born player to play in the CPL.[15] With Vancouver, he was converted by head coach Afshin Ghotbi, who was an assistant coach with the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, to play left-back.[3] In May 2023, he was named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, after helping his team earn a clean sheet in their match that week.[16] He scored his first goal on June 2 against Pacific FC.[17]
In March 2024, he signed with Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.[18][19] On September 21, 2024, he scored his first goal for the club, in a match against New England Revolution II, which earned MLS Next Pro Goal of the Matchweek honours.[20][21] After the season, he re-signed with the club for the 2025 season, with an option for another season.[22]
Career statistics
- As of match played September 29, 2024[23]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| California United Strikers FC | 2020–21[1] | NISA | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2021[1] | 17 | 4 | — | — | ? | ? | 17 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 4 | ||
| AC Syracuse Pulse | 2022[1] | NISA | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 4 | |
| Vancouver FC | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 25 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Chattanooga FC | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 15 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 80 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 86 | 10 | ||
- Appearances in the NISA Legends Cup