Sejong Sportstoto midfielder Ji Sunmi will retire from football at the end of this season, bringing to a close a professional career spanning fifteen years. 35-year-old Ji, who first played for Sportstoto in 2012, originally planned to retire two years ago, but was convinced to play on for just a little longer by manager Yoon Deokyeo.
Ji played for Yeoju University before being selected by Chungbuk Sportstoto in the 2012 WK League draft. She stayed with the club for three years, during which time it relocated to Daejeon. Early in her career Ji made several appearances for the South Korean national team, but after being forced to take a year away from football to recover from a broken leg, she struggled to return to her previous form.
Ahead of the 2015 WK League season, Ji transferred to Icheon Daekyo, managed at the time by Park Namyeol. Not fitting with Park’s style and tactics, Ji found herself with few opportunities to play. When Shin Sangwoo took over at Daekyo in 2017, Ji was afforded more chances, and eventually made a return to the national team.
In 2018, she returned to Sportstoto, which had moved again, this time to Gumi. Ji trained with the South Korea national team, managed at the time by Yoon Deokyeo, during preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup but missed out on the final squad due to an injury. After a second three-year spell with Sportstoto, Ji moved on to Suwon FMC ahead of the 2021 season.
When Suwon FMC merged with the existing Suwon FC the following year, Ji became a member of the first squad to compete as Suwon FC Women. Having narrowly missed out on the WK League title with Suwon in 2023, Ji returned to Sportstoto to finish her career where it all began.
Over the course of her 15 years in the WK League, Ji has clocked up over 270 appearances, recording 15 goals and 10 assists. A retirement ceremony was held for her ahead of Sejong’s final home match of the season, but Ji still has unfinished business: besides Sejong’s attempt to clinch a spot in the playoff, and their campaign to become the inaugural W Korea Cup champions, Ji told reporters she still hopes to be named ‘Queen of the Round’ after seeing the suitcase won by teammate Shin Damyoung, who was honoured with the title in Round 22.
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