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Park Ji-Sung

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This is a Korean name; the family name is Park.
Park Ji-Sung
Image:Crossin.jpg
Personal information
Full name Park Ji-Sung
Date of birth 25 February 1981
Place of birth Suwon, Republic of Korea
Position Attacking Midfielder / Winger
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 13
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
2000-2003
2003-2005
2005-present 		Kyoto Purple Sanga
PSV Eindhoven
Manchester United 		76 (11)
64 (13)
33 (2)
National team**
2001-present Republic of Korea 60 (6)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 2006.
** National team caps and goals correct
as of June 8 2006.

{{#if:박지성朴智星Korean name| {{#switch: |n |north |dprk |nk=<tr><th style="background: #ccf; border-bottom: 1px solid border-top:1px solid; color:" colspan="2" align="center" width="255"> Korean name</th> </tr>

<tr><td align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid">Hanja:</td><td style="border-top: 1px solid;">朴智星</td></tr> <tr><td align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid">McCune-Reischauer:</td><td style="border-top: 1px solid;">Pak Chisŏng</td></tr> <tr><td align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid">Revised Romanization:</td><td style="border-top: 1px solid;">Bak Ji-seong</td></tr>

Chosŏn'gŭl: 박지성

|s |south |rok |sk | #default =

Park Ji-Sung (born February 25, 1981 in Suwon) is a South Korean football player. He currently plays for the South Korean national team and Manchester United. Park is extremely popular among South Koreans and fans of PSV Eindhoven for helping take South Korea to the Semi-Finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, PSV Eindhoven to the Semi-Finals in the UEFA Champions League as well as for reaching the prestigious English Premier League.

Park is also well-regarded among his fans for overcoming the barriers of being a flat-footed football player. His former teammates at PSV Eindhoven have jokingly suggested that Park plays with an oxygen tank strapped to his back. For the same reason, United fans have given Park the nickname "Three-Lung Park." These nicknames stem from his impressive stamina, which enables him consistent play for a full 90-minute game.

Park has been renowned for his good attitude and strong work ethic which have helped him excel for both club and country. He is the first Korean player to have played in the FA Premier League, and is considered the most popular player in Korea<ref>UNICEF-2006 FIFA World Cup. Ji-Sung Park, rising star from South Korea. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.</ref>. His diverse experience, gained from stints in the J-League, the Dutch Eredivisie, the English Premier League and the opportunity to take part in the UEFA Champions League as well as the World Cup Semi-Finals have made him star in Korea, a formidable foe to opponents and an amiable contributor to his teammates.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] International Career

Park began his international career as an 18 year old defensive midfielder. However, when Guus Hiddink became the head coach of South Korea, Park's position was shifted to that of a winger. Since then, Park has become a versatile player who can play in a variety of positions: central midfield, right or left midfield, as well as a wing-forward.

Park rose to stardom in 2002, scoring goals against England and France during international friendlies in May, preceding the World Cup of 2002. During the World Cup, he scored the winner in South Korea's group match against the favoured Portugal team eliminating them from the tournament.

Park also scored the equalising goal in the 2nd Group G Match against eventual finalists France in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was voted Man of The Match. Between these two World Cup Finals, his shirt number shifted from 21 to 7, and he played in every match for South Korea.

[edit] Kyoto Purple Sanga

Park's first professional contract was at J-League's Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000. He was the first Korean footballer ever to go straight to the J-League without first playing for the K-League. In 2001 the club won the Division 2 championships. He left the J-League following the World Cup.

[edit] PSV Eindhoven

After the World Cup, Guus Hiddink was appointed the manager of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. In 2003, Park and South Korean teammate Lee Young-Pyo moved to PSV Eindhoven, to play under their mentor and former national team coach. While Lee quickly became a fixture in PSV Eindhoven's starting lineup, Park struggled due to injuries and misadaptation to the Dutch league and came to be boo-ed by many PSV fans.

However, by the end of 2003-04 season, Park had begun to adapt to the Netherlands, both on and off the field. In the 2004-05 season, the departure of Arjen Robben to Chelsea afforded Park more starting opportunities and he quickly proved his worth to the team. Along with Johann Vogel and Dutchmen Mark van Bommel and Philip Cocu, Park formed the backbone of PSV Eindhoven's midfield play. His energetic movement created havoc against all opponents at all areas of the field, both offensively and defensively. The highlight of Park's PSV career came when he scored the first goal against AC Milan at the Champions League Semi-Finals. PSV went on to win the home leg 3-1, but their 2-0 loss during the away leg meant AC Milan advanced to the Champions League Final.

PSV fans wrote a song for Park for his contributions during his time with the club. Titled "Song for Park", it was included in the PSV official album "PSV Kampioen", and repeats "Ji-Sung Park" in Dutch pronunciation the whole time.

[edit] Manchester United

In the closing months of the 2004-05 season, Park was scouted by Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, who was impressed with Park's lively style of play and superb fitness. On June 22, 2005 Park signed for English Premiership side Manchester United from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for £4 million, subject to a medical and work permit. His work permit was initially denied, but was granted on July 5 following an appeal from United.

As expected, he impressed during Manchester United's pre-season tour of the Far East, as well as in the first game of the season against Everton with his tireless, pacy roaming of the pitch and pressuring of opponents, such that Ferguson picked him over Ryan Giggs and the popular Cristiano Ronaldo against Aston Villa on 20th August the following week. His lack of composure in front of goal is considered his main weakness.

His first goal for Manchester United came on December 20th 2005, during a 3-1 win over Birmingham in the League Cup Quarter Final. His first goal in the Premier League appeared to have been against Fulham on 5th February 2006, in Manchester United's 4-2 victory at Old Trafford.<ref>Manchester United 4-2 Fulham. Football.co.uk match reports. Retrieved on 2006-04-10.</ref> However the Premier League's Dubious Goals Panel later ruled that this was an "own-goal" due to a deflection off a Fulham defender. Park's first official league goal came against Arsenal on April 9th 2006, in Manchester United's 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

On August 11th 2006, Manchester United announced that Park had extended his contract with the club until 2010. Speaking of Park's commitment to the club, Ferguson said "Ji-Sung has had an impressive first year and I’m pleased to have secured him to the end of the decade at least. He has adapted well to the Premiership. His awareness and ability are first class."

He tore his ankle ligaments in training right before Manchester United's away match against Benfica FC, which will see him out of action for 3 months.<ref>Sky Sports. United duo agree new deals. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.</ref>

[edit] Man Utd career stats

(Correct as of July 13, 2006)

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2005–06 33165160442
2006–07 400000040
Total 482

[edit] Trivia

  • Suwon, Park's home town in South Korea, unveiled a road named after him, Park Ji-Sung Road, on June 27,2005 to honour his contribution to the South Korean national team in the 2002 World Cup - the first instance of such an event for a living footballer in South Korea.
  • Park learnt of his flat-footed condition while receiving treatment for an injury during a match against the United States in the 2002 World Cup.
  • Park Ji Sung is commonly known in certain parts of North Lancashire as the "Worker", as well as "The Shaggy Haired One", and "Three Lung Park".
  • Park Ji Sung is known to be good friends with fellow Manchester United player John O'Shea and former United player Ruud van Nistelrooy.
  • According to the local media in Lancashire the South Korean international enjoys regular nights out in "The Office" nightspot in the peninsula town of Morecambe with his ex PSV team mates Denny Landzaat of Wigan Athletic, Manchester City ace De Marcus Beasley and his well known friend Lancaster University full back Jamal Pode.

[edit] Clubs

[edit] Honours

With Kyoto Purple Sanga:

With PSV Eindhoven:

With Manchester United:

Also Park Ji Sung was thought to win Asia's Best Player award 2005, but unfortunately he wasn't awarded as AFC said he did not attend the award presenting night so he may not claim it. The reason he couldn't attend would be because that he prefered to play for Manchester United's important game then to gain the award. Park did play that night showing impressive play and he said there was no doubts to it.

[edit] Notes

<references/>

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg

1 Lee Woon‑Jae | 2 Hyun Young‑Min | 3 Choi Sung‑Yong | 4 Choi Jin‑Cheul | 5 Kim Nam‑Il | 6 Yoo Sang‑Chul | 7 Kim Tae‑Young | 8 Choi Tae‑Uk | 9 Seol Ki‑Hyeon | 10 Lee Young‑Pyo | 11 Choi Yong‑Soo | 12 Kim Byung‑Ji | 13 Lee Eul‑Yong | 14 Lee Chun‑Soo | 15 Lee Min‑Sung | 16 Cha Du‑Ri | 17 Yoon Jung‑Hwan | 18 Hwang Sun‑Hong | 19 Ahn Jung‑Hwan | 20 Hong Myung‑Bo | 21 Park Ji‑Sung | 22 Song Chong‑Gug | 23 Choi Eun‑Sung | Coach: Hiddink

Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg

1 Lee Woon‑Jae | 2 Kim Young‑Chul | 3 Kim Dong‑Jin | 4 Choi Jin‑Cheul | 5 Kim Nam‑Il | 6 Kim Jin‑Kyu | 7 Park Ji‑Sung | 8 Kim Doo‑Hyun | 9 Ahn Jung‑Hwan | 10 Park Chu‑Young | 11 Seol Ki‑Hyeon | 12 Lee Young‑Pyo | 13 Lee Eul‑Yong | 14 Lee Chun‑Soo | 15 Baek Ji‑Hoon | 16 Chung Kyung‑Ho | 17 Lee Ho | 18 Kim Sang‑Sik | 19 Cho Jae‑Jin | 20 Kim Yong‑Dae | 21 Kim Young‑Kwang | 22 Song Chong‑Gug | 23 Cho Won‑Hee | Coach: Advocaat

Manchester United F.C. - Current Squad

1 Van der Sar | 2 Neville | 3 Evra | 4 Heinze | 5 Ferdinand | 6 Brown | 7 Ronaldo | 8 Rooney | 9 Saha | 11 Giggs | 13 Park | 14 Smith | 15 Vidić | 16 Carrick | 18 Scholes | 20 Solskjær | 22 O'Shea | 23 Richardson | 24 Fletcher | 27 Silvestre | 29 Kuszczak | 34 Shawcross | 35 Lee | 36 Gray | 38 Heaton | 41 Marsh | 42 Barnes | 43 Rose | 49 R. Jones | Manager: Ferguson

bg:Жи Сунг Парк

cs:Pak Či-song de:Park Ji-sung fr:Park Ji-sung ko:박지성 id:Park Ji-Sung it:Park Ji-Sung he:פארק ג'י-סונג lt:Park Ji-Sung nl:Park Ji-sung ja:朴智星 no:Park Ji-Sung pl:Park Ji-sung fi:Park Ji-Sung sv:Park Ji-Sung zh:朴智星

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