Korean star Park calls it quits
Print Edition
PARK Ji-sung has called time on a trailblazing career that was launched in South Korea’s unlikely run to the World Cup semifinals and really took off during his seven seasons with one of the world’s biggest clubs.
The long-time Manchester United midfielder told a news conference yesterday at a stadium named in his honor in Suwon that he has retired from top-flight football. In his immediate plans are two friendly matches later this month and a wedding date in July.
The 33-year-old Park played his last season on loan with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league. He retired from international football in 2011, after representing South Korea at three World Cups, and rejected calls for a return to help the squad at Brazil 2014.
A high-energy, hard-working midfielder, Park followed manager Guus Hiddink from the national team to Eindhoven after the 2002 World Cup, then became the first South Korean to make an impact in the English Premier League after signing with United, where he won the 2008 Champions League and four Premier League titles.
Park left Old Trafford in 2012 after seven seasons to make an ill-fated move to Queens Park Rangers. After the team’s relegation from the Premier League, Park was loaned to Eindhoven, where his European journey had begun in 2003.
“I’ve been mulling retirement since February, and I’ve concluded that my knee won’t hold up for another season,” the domestic Yonhap news agency quoted Park as saying. “I have no regrets about my career. I do think about what might have been if I hadn’t been injured, but I have no feelings of disappointment or sorrow.”
Park had operations on his right knee in 2003 and in 2007.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
