Wednesday’s Special: Meet Park Ji Sung

In this fifth episode of Wednesday’s Special, The Writer will bring readers into the life and brief story of a weekly selected footballer. Today, readers will have the chance to meet one of the famous footballers from Asia, Park Ji Sung; albeit in words only.

 

Park Ji Sung was a former South Korean superstar and a former captain of his national team too. He shot into stardom when he joined Manchester United in July 2005. Prior to that, Park started his career at South Korea where he played for the Myongji University team before moving to Japan to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga. After that, Guus Hiddink, the national team manager of South Korea in the year of 2003, decided to step down and manage PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league instead. Liking Park so much, Hiddink recruited him into his PSV team. And there was where Park's career began to blossom in Europe. Following the departure of Arjen Robben from PSV to Chelsea, Park was afforded more starting opportunities and he quickly proved his worth to the team. PSV fans were so obsessed with Park that they wrote a song about him entitled 'Song for Park', which was included in the official PSV album entitled 'PSV Kampioen'.

After an impressive showings for PSV in just two seasons there, Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United decided to sign Park. All of sudden, Park's popularity rose even higher and Park was once referred to as the 'David Beckham of Asia'. Park's time at Manchester was a successful one as he managed to win four EPL titles, one Champions League title, and other numerous competitions. He was known at United for his tireless work rate and energy. Sir Alex referred Park as 'a player with three lungs' and 'a player with a golden heart'. Sir Alex loved to use Park in the games against big teams and important competitions because of his industrious display and quality defensive works all over the pitch. During his time at United, Park was the best of friends with Carlos Tevez and Patrice Evra. All three of them were often seen pictured together everywhere at United. In fact, they are so close until today.

Park's career at Manchester United ended in 2012 where he then chose to join Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for more first team opportunities. The move was also part of the QPR owner's public relation plan to promote QPR to Asia as a whole. Park was even being made the new captain of QPR to please the fans. However, injuries and severe dip in form sidelined Park for most of his time at QPR. And to make matter worse, QPR was relegated from the EPL in 2013. Park decided to end his QPR career and then rejoined his former club, PSV Eindhoven. The injuries he suffered at QPR strike him back at PSV and in the end of 2013/2014 season, Park announced his full retirement from football as the result of persistent knee injury. 

 

In all, Asia will feel the big loss of Park Ji Sung's supreme talent. He will always be remembered as part of the South Korean team that finished fourth in the 2002 World Cup and being the first ever Asian to win the Champions League. He proved that small-built Asian footballer can also succeed in the highest level of football with the right work ethics, discipline, and the big will to win. The 'player with three lungs' can now rest peacefully looking back at a wonderful legacy he has left behind...