Lee Woon-jae facts for kids
Lee with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2009
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Woon-jae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 26 April 1973 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1988 | Cheongju Daeseong Middle School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1991 | Cheongju Commercial High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Kyung Hee University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2010 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 267 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | → Sangmu FC (draft) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Jeonnam Dragons | 63 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 330 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2002 | South Korea U23 | 32 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | South Korea B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2010 | South Korea | 133 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lee Woon-jae | |
| Hangul |
이운재
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
李雲在
|
| RR | I Unjae |
| MR | I Unjae |
Lee Woon-jae (Hangul: 이운재; born April 26, 1973) is a famous former football goalkeeper from South Korea. He played in four different FIFA World Cup tournaments for South Korea: in 1994, 2002, 2006, and 2010. He was even nominated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the early 21st century.
Contents
Playing for South Korea
Lee Woon-jae was part of the South Korean national team for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In a game against Germany, he came in as a substitute goalkeeper and did not let any goals in for 45 minutes. After the 1994 World Cup, he faced some health challenges but thankfully recovered. He returned to the national team in 1998.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup
Lee was chosen as the main goalkeeper for the 2002 FIFA World Cup by coach Guus Hiddink. He played in all seven matches until the third-place play-off. He managed to keep the opposing teams from scoring in three games against Poland, Portugal, and Spain.
He made history for South Korean football in the quarter-finals against Spain. The game ended in a tie, even after extra time. During the penalty shoot-out, Lee blocked Spain's fourth shot. South Korea won the shoot-out 5–3, becoming the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals in a World Cup. South Korea finished fourth in the tournament, which was an amazing achievement.
Later International Games
Lee was the captain for South Korea at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. He did not let any goals in during the knockout stage games. He also saved three penalties in shoot-outs, helping his team win. He was even chosen as the best goalkeeper for the All-Star XI team. However, he was later suspended from the national team for a year because he broke team rules before a match.
Lee is one of only two players in the world to be chosen for four World Cups from 1994 to 2010. He played his last game for the national team on August 11, 2010, in a friendly match against Nigeria, which South Korea won 2–1. After this, he retired from playing for his country.
How He Played
Lee Woon-jae was known as the "Spider Hand" in South Korea. Many people think he is one of the best Asian goalkeepers ever. Even though he wasn't very tall or super fast, he was great at judging the game and worked well with his defenders. He was especially good at predicting where the ball would go, which made him very strong in penalty shoot-outs. In his club career, he won 11 out of 12 penalty shoot-outs and saved 26 out of 58 shots.
Awards and Achievements
Lee Woon-jae won many awards and championships during his football career.
Club Honours
- Suwon Samsung Bluewings
- K League 1: 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008
- Korean FA Cup: 2002, 2009, 2010
- Korean League Cup: 1999, 1999+, 2005, 2008
- Korean Super Cup: 1999, 2005
- Asian Club Championship: 2001–02
- Asian Super Cup: 2002
- A3 Champions Cup: 2005
- Pan-Pacific Championship: 2009
- Sangmu FC
- Korean Semi-professional Championship: 2001
International Honours
- South Korea U23
- Asian Games bronze medal: 2002
- South Korea B
- Summer Universiade silver medal: 1993
- East Asian Games: 1993
- South Korea
- AFC Asian Cup third place: 2000, 2007
- EAFF Championship: 2003
Individual Awards
- K League All-Star: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- K League 1 Best XI: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2008
- EAFF Championship Best Goalkeeper: 2005
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2007
- K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2008
- Korean FA Cup Most Valuable Player: 2009
See also
In Spanish: Lee Woon-jae para niños
