Park Ji-Sung

Profile Football Stars | Park Ji-Sung | Park began his football career in his native South Korea and played for the team Myongji University before moving to Japan to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga. After Park's national team manager Guus Hiddink moved back to the Netherlands to manage PSV Eindhoven, Park Followed him to the Dutch side a year later. After PSV reached the semi-finals of the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League, Park's talents were recognised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed Park for a fee of around £ 4 million in July 2005. Since then, Park has won the Premier League four times and has also won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. As a member of the South Korean national team, Park won 100 caps and scored 13 goals, and was a member of the team finished fourth That at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After the 2011 Asian Cup, on 31 January 2011, Park Announced That he was retiring from international football at a press conference held by the Korea Football Association in Seoul.

Despite his injuries, Park performance was outstanding. Park played only about 20 minutes, however we Could see his sense, physical strength, and his potential, so we accepted Park instead of the player we thought. In 2002, Park led the team to the finals of the Emperor's Cup, and in the final on January 1, 2003, he scored the equalizer with a header and assisted on Teruaki Kurobe's winning goal.

After the World Cup, Hiddink was appointed as manager of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. In 2003, Park and South Korean teammate Lee Young-Pyo moved to PSV Eindhoven in order 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. Having been a top contributor of goals and assists That season, the highlight of Park's PSV career when he came scored the first goal against Italian team of Milan in the Champions League semi-finals. PSV fans were so enamored with Park That They wrote a song about him entitled "Song for Park", the which was included on the official PSV PSV Kampioen album.

In the closing months of the 2004-05 season, Park chose to join Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Park signed for the Premier League side for £ 4 million, subject to a medical and work permit. On 5 February 2006, Park Appeared to have scored his first Premier League goal, coming against Fulham in United's 4-2 victory at Old Trafford. On 9 April 2006, Park scored his first official league goal, netting the second of a 2-0 home win over Arsenal. On 23 February 2012 Park captained Manchester United for the first time from the beginning of a match in a 2-1 home defeat to Ajax in the Europa League. On 30 April 2012, Park played in the Manchester derby, in a game That was Widely perceived as crucial to Manchester United's title defense. Manchester United lost the game 0-1 and Manchester City went on to win the Premier League title.

Park's father, Park Sung-jong, said his son has planned to end his national team career after the 2011 Asian Cup tournament in Qatar. Park traveled to the tournament on 26 December 2010 as squad captain. Park made his 100th international appearance in the semi-final match against Japan on 25 January 2011. Park was nominated as the tournament's MVP alongside Mark Schwarzer, Keisuke Honda and Server Djeparov. On 31 January, Park confirmed his retirement from international football to the make way for younger players with "enormous potential".

Personal information
Full name: Park Ji-Sung
Date of birth 25 February 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 13

Youth career
Myongji University 1999-2000

Senior career
years Team
Kyoto Purple Sanga 76 2000-2002 (11)
PSV Eindhoven 2002-2005 64 (13)
2005-Manchester United 134 (19)

National team
1999-2004 South Korea U23 23 (3)
2000-2011 South Korea 100 (13)

Honours

Club
Kyoto Purple Sanga
     J. League Division 2 (1): 2001
     Emperor's Cup (1): 2002

PSV Eindhoven
     Eredivisie (2): 2002-03, 2004-05
     KNVB Cup (1): 2004-05
     Johan Cruijff-Schaal (1): 2003

Manchester United
     Premier League (4): 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11
     Football League Cup (3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10
     FA Community Shield (2): 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League (1): 2007-08
     FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

Individual
     Peace Cup Golden Ball (1): 2003
     UEFA Champions League Best XI (1): 2005
     KNVB Cup MVP (1): 2004-05
     Eredivisie Best XI (1): 2004-05
     Nominees for the Ballon d'Or: 2005
     FIFA.com Best Asian Player in Europe (1): 2007
     KFA Footballer of the Year (1): 2010
     MLS All-Star Game MVP (1): 2011