 Kim playing forPersib Bandung in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Jeffrey Kurniawan | ||
| Date of birth | (1990-03-23)23 March 1990 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Mühlacker, Germany | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | PSS Sleman | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–2009 | Karlsruher SC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2010 | FC 07 Heidelsheim | 12 | (2) |
| 2011–2013 | Persema Malang | 65 | (5) |
| 2014–2015 | Pelita Bandung Raya | 28 | (2) |
| 2016–2021 | Persib Bandung | 81 | (7) |
| 2021– | PSS Sleman | 100 | (10) |
| International career | |||
| 2012 | Indonesia U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2015 | Indonesia | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 November 2025 | |||
Kim JeffreyKurniawan (born 23 March 1990) is a professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forChampionship clubPSS Sleman. Born in Germany, he represents theIndonesia national team.
Kurniawan was born in the town ofMühlacker to a German mother and an Indonesian father of Chinese heritage. His paternal grandfather, Kwee Hong Sing, was also a footballer who played forPersija Jakarta and theIndonesia national team in the 1950s.[2]
Born with German nationality, Kurniawan decided to take up Indonesian citizenship after thePSSI, the football association of Indonesia, offered him a naturalization path that could pave way for him to win a position on the national team. In December 2010, he officially received anIndonesian passport and, afterCristian Gonzáles, became the second naturalised football player in that country; Gonzáles had done so in November 2010. Kurniawan's sister, Jennifer Kurniawan, is married toIrfan Bachdim, another naturalised Indonesian though born in theNetherlands. Bachdim and Kurniawan, who are both playing for PSS Sleman, came to Indonesia at the same time in 2010 and became teammates atPersema Malang in 2011.[citation needed]
After training at a football academy inKarlsruhe, Kurniawan, then aged 6, was recruited by German clubKarlsruher SC, then playing in theBundesliga. He stayed there for 12 years, participating in youth games against international clubs such asInter Milan,Valencia and top German clubs likeBayern Munich,Borussia Dortmund,Schalke 04 andBayer 04 Leverkusen. However, Kurniawan suffered a knee injury at 18 in his last junior season, ruining his dream to play in the highest levels of German football.[3]
Kurniawan's knee injury kept him away from the ball for the better part of a year. Eventually, he joined FC 07 Heidelsheim in theVerbandsliga, tier-six of German football, at the time. He enjoyed a successful first season, playing in every game and scoring two goals. He had agreed to extend his contract, but this changed after he received an invitation to play in Indonesia with a possibility to play for the national team of his father's country.[4]
Kurniawan went to Indonesia in 2010 with two other Europe-based footballers of Indonesian descent,Irfan Bachdim and Alessandro Trabucco.[5] His career there started with an invitation to charity games inEast Java cities ofSurabaya andMalang in 2010. After the matches,Timo Scheunemann, a German who was coaching top-flight teamPersema Malang contacted Kurniawan and offered him atrial, in which the latter impressed.[6]Scheunemann recruited Kurniawan and Bachdim to play in the 2011 season of the breakawayIndonesian Premier League, irking the PSSI that later delayed Kurniawan's naturalization process.[7] Without an Indonesian passport at the time, Kurniawan could not play as local player until he officially became Indonesian. An injury also kept him from playing on the national team for theSuzuki AFF Cup 2010. Despite the challenges, Kurniawan signed a contract withPersema Malang in 2011 and stayed for almost three years.[8][9]
Amid Persema's financial problems in late 2013, Kurniawan tried to play inThailand but did not secure a contract despite trials at several clubs.
The failure in Thailand led Kurniawan to look for opportunities in Indonesia again. Kurniawan in December 2013 signed up forPelita Bandung Raya that played inBandung,West Java in theIndonesia Super League. He played for two seasons there under Serbian coachDejan Antonic until the club was sold in late 2015 after going through financial difficulties.[10][11]
Kurniawan in early 2016 joinedPersib Bandung after the top club in Bandung hired coach Antonic. During the FIFA one-year suspension on Indonesian football, Kurniawan was part of the Persib team that participated in unauthorized tournaments in his first season, including the2016 Indonesia Soccer Championship A where the club finished fifth and the 2016 Bhayangkara Cup that saw the team went all the way to the final.[12][13]
Kurniawan's second season saw his team finish 13th in the 2017Liga 1, the first full-season of top-flight Indonesian football after FIFA lifted the suspension. Unfortunately, injuries affected his career again. He broke hisfibula at the end of the season after being tackled by aPersija Jakarta player in the traditionally hostile Persija-Persib match. Kurniawan had to sit out most of the2018 Liga 1. During recovery, Kurniawan developed an array of businesses in Bandung, ranging from a clothing line to a barbershop that has gained popularity among fans.[14][15]
Kurniawan's undeterred will to come back from injury in late 2018 that led to a revived performance in the2019 Liga 1 season, along with a number of goals, and his popular businesses won support from Persib fans who affectionately call him "Little Kimmy". Fans first thought he would retire in Bandung. However, Kurniawan shocked Persib loyalists when he decided to move in February 2021.
Kurniawan in early 2021, before the pre-season Piala Menpora tournament, decided to joinPSS Sleman. His main reason was to reunite with coachDejan Antonic and brother-in-lawIrfan Bachdim, who both joined the up-and-coming Liga 1 club for the 2020 season that abruptly ended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[16] Kurniawan made his PSS Sleman debut in apre-season tournament2021 Menpora Cup againstMadura United on 23 March 2021.[17] On 5 September 2021, Kurniawan made his league debut for PSS Sleman, playing as a starter in a 1–1 draw overPersija Jakarta.[18] Hecaptained his team for the first time, in a match againstBali United on 27 October.[19]
On 2 February 2022, he scored his first league goal in 2–3 lose overPersik Kediri.[20] On 24 March, he scored equalizer for the club, scoring apenalty shoot-out in the 31st minute and provided an assist toMario Maslać in PSS's 3–2 win overPersela Lamongan.[21] On 31 March, he played his closed match of the season with scored in a 2–0 win overPersija Jakarta. The victory made PSS Sleman finish in 13th place in the final standings. PSS closed the league this season by collecting 39 points. Therefore, PSS Sleman is still in the highest caste of the Liga 1 next season and avoid relegation.[22]
Ahead of the new season, he suffered adislocated shoulder. The injury had to make him go to the operating table, causing him to miss the training sessions and even a few weeks of pre-season matches.[23]
It's a long break until the next season starts. So, I can use that time to heal
Kurniawan is also confirmed to be absent throughout the preparation period for PSS Sleman to face2022–23 Liga 1, he said it would take at least three months for him to fully recover and join the team.[25] On 23 August 2022, he made his comeback after dislocated shoulder as an 79th-minute substitute against Persik Kediri, also scored his first goal of the season in the 86th-minute in a 0–2 away win atBrawijaya Stadium.[26] On 29 September, Kurniawan scored the opening goal in a 1–2 home lose overPersita Tangerang, scored a header off a pass fromBagus Nirwanto in the 31st minute.[27] Kurniawan then scored againstBhayangkara in a 3–1 away lose on 5 December.[28] He then played the full 90 minutes and provided the one-two pass forZé Valente's goal in a 1–2 win againstBali United on 19 December.[29]
On 9 February 2023, Kurniawan scored in a 2–1 win over Persik Kediri, the second of which was avolley into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.[30] On 17 February, Kurniawan scored equalizer in a 1–3 home lose overDewa United.[31] He added his sixth goals for the club on 7 April with one goal againstBali United in a 2–0 home win atMaguwoharjo Stadium.[32]
Kurniawan came to play inIndonesia in 2010 after injuries dashed any hope of getting called by his birth countryGermany. Tempted by the possibility of representing his father's country, he took up the PSSI naturalization offer. In 2011, Kurniawan received the call from theIndonesia national under-23 team to play in theSoutheast Asian Games 2011. He trained in several cities, includingHong Kong but did not break into the final squad.[33]
In 2015, he was invited to the officialFIFA friendly games againstCameroon andMyanmar.[34]During the match inSidoarjo on 30 March 2015 againstMyanmar, Kurniawan was brought on and made his debut for thesenior team in a 2-1 win.
PSS Sleman
Individual