|
|
|
|
| Birth Name(s) : Ji-Sung Park |
Date of Birth: N/A |
| Status:
Single
|
Partner:
|
| Profession:
Athlete |
| << Add Ji-Sung Park To Your Favorites |
|
Full Ji-Sung Park Biography
Park Ji-Sung (Hangul: 박지성) (born February 25, 1981 in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do) plays for the English club Manchester United in the Premier League, as well as the South Korean national football team.
Park Ji-Sung started playing football at the age of eleven. He won various awards starting from elementary school and played football throughout highschool in Suwon. Upon graduation, he wanted to turn pro but professional clubs were less keen on signing Park, because of his small stature. The fact that he suffered flat feet may have also played a role. Failing to turn professional, Park looked at universities to continue playing football, but he had trouble here as well. Park ended up going to Myongji University after his highschool coach recommended him strongly to the coach of the university. Here, Kyoto Purple Sanga of Japan offered him a contract and Park took up the offer.
Park began his international career as a 19 year old defensive midfielder. Park made his first international selection during 2000 Sydney Olympics U-23 regional quailfier. Park was on 2000 Sydney Olympic roster along with Lee Chun-Soo, and Lee Dong-Gook. Selected by then manager, Huh Jung-Moo, he was unable to improve or show potential as a future regular for Korean National Team. 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 able to play in a variety of positions: central, right and left midfield, as well as wing-forward.
Park scored a memorable goal during the 2002 World Cup. During the group stages South Korea had won their first game against Poland and drew against USA. In order to advance, they had to manage a draw at the least against favoured Portugal side. The game was 0-0 until the 70th minute following two red cards against Portugal, when Park scored the match winner, controlling the ball with his chest and beating a defender before volleying it into the net with his left foot. His goal eliminated Portugal and advanced South Korea into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time.
Park's success in the World Cup continued into the 2006 tournament. He 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.
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 and promoted to the first division. In 2002, Park led the team into the finals of the Emperor's Cup, and scored the equalier with a header in the final match. The team went on to win the match 2-1 to become the champions of Japan for the first time in Sanga's history. He left the J-League following the World Cup.
Before 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.
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 with his pace and passing. Having been a top contributor of goals and assists that season, the highlight of Park's PSV career came when he scored the first goal against Italian team 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.
In the closing months of the 2004-05 season, Park was vigorously scouted by top football clubs in the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A, of which the most keen were Chelsea and Manchester United. He chose to join Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, who was impressed with Park's lively style of play, terrific pace, and unparalled 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.
His first goal for Manchester United came on December 20, 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 February 5, 2006, in Manchester United's 4-2 victory at Old Trafford. 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 9, in Manchester United's 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
After scoring the winner against Portugal in the World Cup to secure a place in the last 16, knocking Portugal out in the process, the first thing Park did was to run to Hiddink and gave him a bear hug. |
|
|
| Add Ji-Sung Park Biography (SuperUSERS) + |
| Add Ji-Sung Park Review/Comment
|
HQ Ji-Sung Park Pictures (1) | Random Ji-Sung Park Picture
|
| << Back to the Ji-Sung Park Homepage |
|
