Asian stars reluctant to return
Source: Agencies |
August 18, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PARK Ji-sung and Harry Kewell are playing it cool about returning to their home country's football leagues, illustrating the reluctance among many Asian football exports to make the journey home.
Park has virtually ruled out a swansong season in the Korean league, while Kewell is dragging his feet over a possible return to Australia. Hidetoshi Nakata never returned to play club football in Japan after his successful career in Europe.
Park, 30, has signed a new two-year contract with English champion Manchester United and has spoken of his desire to end his playing days in Europe.
He has never played in the K-League and is not enthusiastic about the prospect.
"Maybe it's possible but I want to play more in Europe as much as I can," he said.
Instead of wanting to head home, he urges talented South Koreans to join him in Europe.
The debate about whether star players should return to help their national leagues is loudest in Australia, where clubs are eager to sign Kewell and national team captain Lucas Neill, both of whom were released from Galatasaray.
Neill, 33, has been linked with a move to the United Arab Emirates while Kewell, perhaps the nation's biggest star, has been at the center of a 'will he-won't he?' transfer saga all summer over whether the former Leeds and Liverpool star will return home.
Kewell, 32, is regarded as a figure who can bring some much needed publicity and glamor to a league that is struggling with falling attendances. Like Park, he never played in the local league, instead heading to England as a teenager.
The status of being a high-profile European-based player can be a double-edged sword when contemplating a move to the A-League. The debate intensified in early August when veteran Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer expressed doubts about such a move.
"I have seen too many players go back home and it has not worked out," the 38-year-old Fulham goalkeeper told Australia's Football + magazine. "You are up there to be shot down very, very quickly...I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to do that to me."
Park has virtually ruled out a swansong season in the Korean league, while Kewell is dragging his feet over a possible return to Australia. Hidetoshi Nakata never returned to play club football in Japan after his successful career in Europe.
Park, 30, has signed a new two-year contract with English champion Manchester United and has spoken of his desire to end his playing days in Europe.
He has never played in the K-League and is not enthusiastic about the prospect.
"Maybe it's possible but I want to play more in Europe as much as I can," he said.
Instead of wanting to head home, he urges talented South Koreans to join him in Europe.
The debate about whether star players should return to help their national leagues is loudest in Australia, where clubs are eager to sign Kewell and national team captain Lucas Neill, both of whom were released from Galatasaray.
Neill, 33, has been linked with a move to the United Arab Emirates while Kewell, perhaps the nation's biggest star, has been at the center of a 'will he-won't he?' transfer saga all summer over whether the former Leeds and Liverpool star will return home.
Kewell, 32, is regarded as a figure who can bring some much needed publicity and glamor to a league that is struggling with falling attendances. Like Park, he never played in the local league, instead heading to England as a teenager.
The status of being a high-profile European-based player can be a double-edged sword when contemplating a move to the A-League. The debate intensified in early August when veteran Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer expressed doubts about such a move.
"I have seen too many players go back home and it has not worked out," the 38-year-old Fulham goalkeeper told Australia's Football + magazine. "You are up there to be shot down very, very quickly...I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to do that to me."
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