Patrick Klimala's Resurgence: From Israel to South Korean League Top Scorer
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Hapoel Be'er Sheva striker Patrick Klimala is now the top scorer in South Korea's K League, leading FC Seoul towards a championship title. After an unsuccessful stint in Poland, Klimala revived his career with Sydney FC in Australia, scoring 17 goals in 31 games. He then transferred to FC Seoul in June 2025, overcoming an injury to become the team's leading scorer in 2026, with FC Seoul holding a significant lead in the league.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Patrick Klimala is the current top scorer in South Korea's K League, leading FC Seoul to a dominant league position.
- Klimala previously played for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel, leaving in November 2023 due to the conflict.
- His career was revived at Sydney FC in Australia, where he scored 17 goals in 31 matches.
- He joined FC Seoul in June 2025 and has since scored 13 goals in 27 league appearances this season.
- FC Seoul is on track to win their first league title since 2016, holding a 15-point lead.
Striker Patrick Klimala, a former player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, is experiencing a career resurgence in South Korea, currently leading the K League as its top scorer and driving his team, FC Seoul, towards their first league title since 2016. Klimala spent less than a year in Israel, departing in November 2023 due to the ongoing conflict, and recorded four goals in 23 appearances for Hapoel Be'er Sheva. His return to Poland with Sląsk Wrocław was unsuccessful, failing to score in 11 appearances and leading to his relegation to the reserve team.
A turning point came in September 2024 when he was loaned to Sydney FC in Australia. There, Klimala rediscovered his form, scoring 11 goals in 21 league matches and an additional six in the AFC Champions League 2, totaling 17 goals in 31 games. A notable moment was scoring a brace against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals in March 2025.
Following his success in Australia, Klimala transferred to FC Seoul in June 2025, where he played alongside Jesse Lingard. His debut goal against Pohang Steelers earned him the K League's "Goal of the Month" award. Despite an initial setback due to an injury that ended his 2025 season after only four league games, Klimala has become FC Seoul's key striker in 2026.
He has since scored 13 goals and provided an assist in 27 league appearances, with five goals in August alone, including late dramatic strikes. This performance has placed him as a joint top scorer, with FC Seoul comfortably leading the league standings by 15 points after 30 rounds, on track for the championship.
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