Lee Young-pyo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lee Young-pyo

Lee with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Lee Young-pyo
Date of birth	(1977-04-23) 23 April 1977 (age 48)
Place of birth	Hongcheon, Gangwon, South Korea
Height	1.77m
Playing position	Left-back
Youth career
1990–1992	Anyang Middle School
1993–1995	Anyang Technical High School [ko]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Anyang LG Cheetahs	60	(3)
2003–2005	PSV Eindhoven	81	(1)
2005–2008	Tottenham Hotspur	70	(0)
2008–2009	Borussia Dortmund	18	(0)
2009–2011	Al-Hilal	46	(0)
2012–2013	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	65	(1)
Total		340	(5)
National team
1999–2002	South Korea U23	23	(1)
1999–2011	South Korea	127	(5)
Honours Representing South Korea Men's football AFC Asian Cup Bronze 2000 Lebanon Team Bronze 2011 Qatar Team Asian Games Bronze 2002 Busan Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Lee Young-pyo is a famous former footballer from South Korea. He was born on April 23, 1977. Lee played as a left-back, which is a defensive position on the football field. He was known for his amazing speed and how well he could dribble the ball.

One of his former coaches, Martin Jol, even called him "the best left back in Holland." Lee played for many big clubs around the world, including PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Tottenham Hotspur in England. He also played a huge role for the South Korean national team.

Lee started his professional football journey with FC Seoul, which was then called Anyang LG Cheetahs. After that, he moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. His coach there, Guus Hiddink, had also coached Lee and the South Korean team during the 2002 World Cup. Lee was considered the best left-back in the Netherlands in 2005. This led to him joining Tottenham Hotspur in August 2005.

On November 19, 2008, Lee became the seventh Korean player to play 100 international games for his country. This happened during a World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia. He even captained the national team a couple of times during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

After retiring from playing, Lee Young-pyo became the CEO of a K League football team, Gangwon FC, on January 1, 2021. He held this position for two years.

Lee Young-pyo's Football Journey

Starting Out in Korea: Anyang LG Cheetahs

Lee Young-pyo finished his studies at Konkuk University in Seoul. He then began his professional football career with a K League club called Anyang LG Cheetahs. This team is now known as FC Seoul.

He helped Anyang win the K League title in 2000. His team also reached the final of the Asian Club Championship in the 2001–02 season. However, they lost to another South Korean club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Lee played so well in the league that he was chosen to play for the South Korean national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During this World Cup, he helped South Korea score winning goals against Portugal and Italy with his excellent crosses. After the World Cup, where South Korea finished fourth, Lee followed his coach Guus Hiddink and teammate Park Ji-sung to PSV Eindhoven.

Playing in the Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven

At PSV, Lee became an even better player under coach Hiddink. He quickly became a key player in PSV's main team. Lee was known for his great energy, skills, and how well he could play both defense and attack. Many people thought he was the best left-back in the Dutch Eredivisie league.

Lee and his fellow Korean player, Park Ji-sung, were very important when PSV Eindhoven reached the semi-finals of the 2005 UEFA Champions League. Sadly, they were knocked out by Milan. Even though PSV tried hard to keep him, Lee decided to move to the English club Tottenham Hotspur in August 2005. During his time at PSV, Lee scored 1 goal and helped set up 13 goals for his team.

Moving to England: Tottenham Hotspur

Lee playing for Tottenham

When Lee joined Tottenham, he quickly became popular. He even earned a spot on the Premier League's best team in his very first week. Tottenham's coach, Martin Jol, said Lee was "the best left-back in Holland" when he signed him on August 31, 2005.

Lee's performance changed a bit during the 2005–06 season. But he was almost always playing in defense, and his team let in the fourth lowest number of goals that season. In the 2006–07 season, Lee started playing as a right full-back. This was because another player, Benoît Assou-Ekotto, was playing well, and the usual right-back, Paul Stalteri, was injured.

Lee faced more competition when Tottenham signed French defender Pascal Chimbonda. Lee also got a knee injury. In August 2006, Tottenham offered to transfer him to Roma in Italy. However, he decided not to go at the last minute for "personal reasons." Lee later explained that moving to Roma would have been great for his football career, but he chose not to go for private reasons he didn't want to share.

Lee got his spot back in the first team when Assou-Ekotto's performance dropped. Lee came in as a substitute in a match against Arsenal and played much better. He continued to be a starter until he got a season-ending knee injury in a UEFA Cup match against Sevilla on April 5.

On August 9, 2007, Tottenham manager Martin Jol announced that Lee would be ready to play again soon. On August 18, 2007, Lee played his first game of the season against Derby County. He kept playing regularly for Tottenham in the 2007–08 season. He also played in League Cup games against Blackpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal. He missed the final game but still received a medal for his contributions to the team.

Playing in Germany: Borussia Dortmund

On August 27, 2008, Lee moved to a German club called Borussia Dortmund. He played regularly at the start of the season. Borussia Dortmund even announced that Lee's contract was extended for two years. However, he was benched after the team's vice-captain, Dedé, recovered from his injury.

Playing in Saudi Arabia: Al-Hilal

On July 10, 2009, Lee left for a Saudi Arabian club called Al-Hilal. He played for Al-Hilal for two seasons.

Finishing in Canada: Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Lee officially signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC on December 6, 2011. He scored his first goal in MLS for Vancouver on April 28, 2012. This goal came from a free kick against the Columbus Crew.

Lee was a very important player for Vancouver during their 2012 season. He played as a right-back and was considered one of the best players on the team that year. Lee was named Vancouver's 2012 Player of the Year on October 21, 2012. He helped the team become the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.

He played his last professional game on October 27, 2013, in Vancouver. His team won 3–0 against the Colorado Rapids. After scoring the first goal, which ended up being the winning goal, MLS Golden Boot-winner Camilo Sanvezzo gave Lee the ball during the goal celebration.

Lee Young-pyo's International Goals

Lee Young-pyo scored 5 goals for the South Korean national team during his career. Here is a list of his international goals:

List of international goals scored by Lee Young-pyo

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 July 2000	Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China	14	China	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2	4 October 2000	Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates	15	United Arab Emirates	1–1	1–1 (aet) (2–3 p)	2000 LG Cup
3	13 October 2000	International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli, Lebanon	17	China	1–0	2–2	2000 AFC Asian Cup
4	9 February 2005	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	74	Kuwait	2–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	30 March 2005	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	76	Uzbekistan	1–0	2–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Lee Young-pyo on Television

After his football career, Lee Young-pyo also appeared on several television shows.

Television Shows

Awards and Honours

Lee Young-pyo won many awards and honours throughout his career as a player and later as a TV personality.

As a Player

Anyang LG Cheetahs

• K League 1: 2000
• Korean Super Cup: 2001
• Asian Club Championship runner-up: 2001–02

PSV Eindhoven

• Eredivisie: 2002–03, 2004–05
• KNVB Cup: 2004–05
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2003

Tottenham Hotspur

• Football League Cup: 2007–08

Al-Hilal

• Saudi Pro League: 2009–10, 2010–11
• Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 2009–10, 2010–11

South Korea U23

• Asian Games bronze medal: 2002

South Korea

• AFC Asian Cup third place: 2000, 2011

Individual Awards

• K League All-Star: 2000, 2001, 2002
• K League 1 Best XI: 2001
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC Player of the Year: 2012
• AFC Fans' All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020

As a Television Personality

See also

In Spanish: Lee Young-pyo para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps