Park Ji-sung facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Park Ji-sung

Park at the G-20 Seoul Summit in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Park Ji-sung
Date of birth	(1981-03-30) 30 March 1981 (age 44)
Place of birth	Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.75 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (advisor)
Youth career
1993–1995	Anyong Middle School
1996–1998	Suwon Technical High School [ko]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	Kyoto Purple Sanga	76	(11)
2003–2005	PSV Eindhoven	65	(13)
2005–2012	Manchester United	134	(19)
2012–2014	Queens Park Rangers	20	(0)
2013–2014	→ PSV Eindhoven (loan)	23	(2)
Total		318	(45)
National team
2000	South Korea U20	2	(0)
1999–2004	South Korea U23	24	(2)
2000–2011	South Korea	100	(13)
Honours Representing  South Korea Men's football AFC Asian Cup Third 2000 Lebanon Team Third 2011 Qatar Team Asian Games Bronze 2002 Busan Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Park Ji-sung (Hangul: 박지성; Korean pronunciation: [pak̚.t͈ɕi.sʌŋ]; born 30 March 1981) is a South Korean former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Park is known as one of the best and most successful Asian players in football history. He won 19 trophies during his career.

Park was the first Asian footballer to win the UEFA Champions League. He was also the first to play in a UEFA Champions League final. Plus, he was the first to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Park could play anywhere in the midfield. He was famous for his amazing fitness, hard work, and smart movement without the ball. His incredible energy earned him the nickname "Three-Lung" Park.

Park started his football journey in South Korea. He played for the Myongji University team. Later, he moved to Japan to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga. His national team coach, Guus Hiddink, moved to the Netherlands to manage PSV Eindhoven. Park followed him a year later. At PSV, he won two league titles and a cup. His skills caught the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Park joined Manchester United in July 2005. He won 11 trophies there, including four Premier League titles. He also won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. After seven years, he moved to Queens Park Rangers in 2012. Due to injuries and his club being relegated, Park returned to PSV on loan in 2013. He retired in 2014 because of a knee injury.

For the South Korea national team, Park played 100 games and scored 13 goals. He helped his team finish fourth at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. At the World Cup, he was named "man of the match" four times. This is more than any other Asian player. He is also South Korea's joint all-time leading World Cup goalscorer with three goals. He scored in three World Cup tournaments in a row.

Park's Early Life and Football Start

Park was born in Seoul, but his family registered his birth in Goheung. This was his father's hometown. He then moved to Suwon, a city near Seoul, where he grew up. Park started playing football in elementary school. He went to Anyong Middle School and Suwon Technical High School.

Even in school, Park was seen as a very promising young player in South Korea. Many clubs wanted him. He was known for his great work rate, amazing dribbling, and accurate passes. However, his small size became a challenge when he entered middle school. To help his son, Park's father, Park Sung-jong, quit his job. He opened a butcher shop. He fed Park different meats, and even frogs and deer blood. He believed this would make Park stronger.

While in high school, Park helped his team win a big competition in 1998. But many professional clubs and universities still turned him down because of his small size. He ended up playing for Myongji University. His high school coach strongly recommended him to the university coach. Park was even put in the university's tennis club at first because the football club was full!

In January 1999, Park's university team got to train with the South Korea Olympic team. Park played very well. He caught the attention of Huh Jung-moo, the coach of the national team. Park became a preliminary member of the Olympic team. At just 18 years old, this was a big surprise for everyone.

On 5 April 2000, Park made his debut for the senior national team. This was in a match against Laos. In June 2000, while still in university, Kyoto Purple Sanga from Japan offered Park a contract. He took the offer, even though he was not very well known yet.

Park's Club Career Journey

Playing in Japan: Kyoto Purple Sanga

In June 2000, Park joined the Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga. The team was in the J1 League at the time. The coach, Bunji Kimura, heard about a rising star in Korea. When he visited, Park was the one who impressed him. Kimura said Park's performance was amazing, even with injuries. He saw Park's talent and potential.

In 2001, the club won the J2 League title. They were then promoted to the J1 League. In 2002, Park helped his team reach the final of the Emperor's Cup. In the final game on 1 January 2003, he scored a goal to tie the game. His team went on to win 2–1. This was Sanga's first Emperor's Cup title. It was also Park's last game for the club. In January 2003, he left Sanga because Guus Hiddink invited him to play in the Netherlands.

Moving to the Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven

After the World Cup, Guus Hiddink became the manager of the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. In 2003, Park and his South Korean teammate Lee Young-pyo joined PSV. They wanted to play under their former national team coach. Lee quickly became a regular player. But Park had a tough start because of injuries. He had surgery on his knee. He even felt scared when the ball came to him because fans were booing him.

By the end of the 2003–04 season, Park started to get used to life in the Netherlands. In the 2004–05 season, another player, Arjen Robben, left the team. This gave Park more chances to play. He quickly showed how good he was. Park became a key part of PSV's midfield. He was fast and passed the ball well. He scored goals and helped set up many others.

A big moment for Park at PSV was when he scored the first goal against the Italian team Milan. This was in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. PSV won that home game 3–1. But they had lost 2–0 in the away game, so Milan went to the final. Even so, Park's strong performances led to him being nominated for the 2005 UEFA Best Forward award. PSV fans loved Park so much that they even wrote a song about him!

Becoming a Red Devil: Manchester United

Joining the Premier League in 2005

In July 2005, Park decided to join Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. He signed for the Premier League team for about £4 million. He was the second East Asian player to join Manchester United.

On 1 October 2005, Park helped Manchester United win 3–2 against Fulham. He assisted two goals and won a penalty kick. On 18 October 2005, Park made history. He became the first Asian player to captain Manchester United. This happened when he took the armband during a Champions League match. Park scored his first goal for Manchester United on 20 December 2005. It was in a 3–1 win against Birmingham City in the League Cup. On 9 April 2006, Park scored his first official league goal. It was the second goal in a 2–0 home win against Arsenal.

Injuries and Trophies: 2006–2008

Park hurt his ankle in September 2006. He returned to play three months later. On 17 March 2007, he scored two goals against Bolton Wanderers. This was his first time scoring more than one goal in a Premier League match. In April 2007, Park had surgery on a knee injury that kept coming back. This ended his season early. Even though he was injured for much of the season, he scored five goals and had two assists in 14 games. He played enough matches to earn a Premier League medal. However, these chronic knee problems would eventually lead to his retirement.

On 1 March 2008, Park scored his first league goal of the 2007–08 season. This was after his long injury. He also helped set up a goal for Wayne Rooney in a Champions League game against Roma. On 29 April 2008, Manchester United reached the Champions League Final. They beat Barcelona. But Park was not chosen for the final match against Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson later said it was one of his hardest decisions.

Champions League Finalist: 2008–2009

Park during the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against Barcelona

Early in the 2008–09 Premier League season, Park scored for United in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea. He was also named man of the match in that game. On 13 December 2008, he played his 100th game for Manchester United. This was against Tottenham Hotspur. Park was part of the team that won the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of 2008. He played the full 90 minutes in the final. Manchester United became the first English team to win this competition.

On 7 March 2009, Park scored his first FA Cup goal. This was in a 4–0 win over Fulham. On 15 April 2009, Manchester United reached the Champions League semi-finals. Park became the only Asian player to reach the Champions League semi-finals four times.

On 2 May 2009, Park agreed to a new four-year contract with Manchester United. He said, "I have no reason to move. I play at the best club in the world." Park then scored his second league goal of the season in a 2–0 win against Middlesbrough. On 5 May 2009, Park scored his first Champions League goal for Manchester United. This was in the semi-final against Arsenal. He scored early in the game, helping United win 3–1. This sent United to the Champions League final for the second year in a row. Park became the first Asian player to play in a Champions League final. However, his team lost 0–2 to Barcelona.

Consistent Performer: 2009–2011

On 14 September 2009, Park signed a new three-year contract. This kept him at United until 2012. Sir Alex Ferguson was confident Park would stay. Park had a slow start to the 2009–10 season. He missed time due to a knee issue after a long flight in October 2009.

On 31 January 2010, Park scored his first goal of the season. It was United's third goal in a 3–1 win against Arsenal. On 10 March 2010, Park scored his first European goal of the season at Old Trafford. This was in a 4–0 win over Milan. On 21 March 2010, Park scored a very important winning goal against Liverpool. He headed in a cross from Darren Fletcher. On 4 May 2010, Park said he wanted to stay with United for the rest of his career. On 9 May 2010, Park scored on the last day of the season. It was a diving header against Stoke City in a 4–0 win.

Park during a match against Fulham in 2010

Park returned to the United team after the World Cup. He started in their final pre-season game on 4 August 2010. He scored the first goal ever at the new Aviva Stadium. He scored another goal later as United won 7–1.

On 22 September 2010, Park scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season. This was in a 5–2 win against Scunthorpe United in the League Cup. He scored again in the next round. Park scored his first two league goals of the season in a 2–1 win over Wolves on 6 November. The second was a late winning goal in the 93rd minute. On 27 November, Park scored in a 7–1 win over Blackburn Rovers. Park's great performances in November and December 2010 earned him the Player of the Month award from the club's website two months in a row. On 13 December, Park scored the only goal against Arsenal. This was his fourth goal in seven games against them.

Park went to captain South Korea in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He missed seven games for United. When he came back, he was out for a month with a hamstring injury. He returned on 2 April. On 12 April 2011, Park scored the winning goal in a Champions League game against Chelsea. United won 2–1. On 8 May, Park helped set up a goal just 36 seconds into a crucial match against Chelsea. United won 2–1, which helped them win the league title. On 22 May, he scored a goal and set up another in the last match of the season. Park played in another Champions League final in 2011. United lost 3–1 to Barcelona.

Final Season at United: 2011–2012

During a tour in the United States, Park scored in wins against the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC. In the MLS All-Star Game, which Manchester United won 4–0, Park was named the man of the match.

On 28 August 2011, Park scored the sixth goal in an 8–2 win against Arsenal. On 26 December 2011, Park scored an early goal in United's 5–0 win against Wigan Athletic. He also won a penalty that led to a goal. In an FA Cup game against Liverpool, Park scored a goal to tie the game. However, United lost the match.

On 5 February 2012, Park played his 200th game for Manchester United. He became the 92nd player to reach this milestone for the club. On 23 February 2012, Park captained Manchester United from the start of a match for the first time. This was in a 2–1 loss to Ajax in the UEFA Europa League. United still moved on to the next round. On 30 April 2012, Park played in the Manchester derby. This game was very important for United's title hopes. Park had not played much recently, but Ferguson trusted him for big games. However, Park's performance was not his best. Manchester United lost 1–0, and Manchester City went on to win the Premier League title.

Moving to Queens Park Rangers and Retirement

Park moved to Queens Park Rangers on 9 July 2012. He signed a two-year contract. He made his first appearance in a 5–0 loss to Swansea City on 18 August 2012.

Park's first season with QPR was not very successful. He was made club captain at first. But injuries and poor form meant he could not make the impact people expected. Park played only 20 Premier League games and scored no goals. QPR was relegated from the top English league.

With QPR no longer in the top league, Park rejoined PSV on loan for the 2013–14 season. The deal was done on 8 August 2013. He scored his first goal against Heracles Almelo on 24 August. On 22 September 2013, Park helped his team to a 4–0 victory against Ajax. He scored one goal and assisted two others.

On 14 May 2014, Park announced his retirement from football. He said it was because of his knee problems. He reflected on his career, saying he had no regrets and achieved more than he thought he would. He was grateful for all the support he received.

Park's International Career

Early International Games

Park started his international career for the South Korea under-23 team when he was 18. He played as a defensive midfielder. On 27 May 1999, he played his first game against Chinese Taipei. On 5 April 2000, Park also made his senior international debut against Laos. In September 2000, Park played in all three matches at the 2000 Summer Olympics. South Korea was eliminated despite winning two games. In October 2000, Park played five matches at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. South Korea finished third.

World Cup Heroics: 2002, 2006, 2010

When Guus Hiddink became South Korea's head coach, Park started playing as a winger. Since then, he became a very flexible player. He could play in many positions in midfield. Park showed he was in great shape by scoring against England and France in friendly games before the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Park scored a memorable goal during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. South Korea had won one game and drawn another. To move forward, they needed at least a draw against strong Portugal. The score was 0–0 until the 70th minute. Park scored the winning goal. He controlled the ball with his chest, beat a defender, and then kicked it through the legs of the goalkeeper. His goal knocked Portugal out and sent South Korea to the knockout stages for the first time. South Korea eventually reached the semi-finals. They beat Italy and Spain. This made them the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals in World Cup history. Park scored a penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out against Spain, which South Korea won.

Park played for South Korea in the 2002 Asian Games and won a bronze medal. He also played in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. In the quarter-final, South Korea lost 4–3 to Iran.

Park also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He helped win a free kick that led to a red card for an opponent. South Korea won that game 2–1 against Togo. Park scored a goal to tie the game against France. He was voted man of the match. However, South Korea lost their last group game and did not move on.

On 11 October 2008, Park captained South Korea for the first time in a friendly game. Korea won 3–0. He was the captain for the rest of the qualification campaign. He was South Korea's top scorer with five goals. One of his goals was against Iran in Seoul. South Korea reached the finals without losing a single game. On 24 May 2010, Park scored the winning goal in a game against Japan just before the World Cup.

On 12 June 2010, Park scored in his third World Cup in a row. He scored the second goal in South Korea's 2–0 win over Greece. He became the first Asian player to score in three consecutive World Cup finals. He also became Asia's joint all-time leading scorer in the World Cup with three goals. On 22 June 2010, South Korea drew 2–2 with Nigeria. Park won the man of the match award for the fourth time in the World Cup. South Korea reached the knockout stage in a World Cup held in a foreign country for the first time. But they lost 2–1 to Uruguay in the round of 16.

Retirement from International Football

Park's father said his son planned to stop playing for the national team after the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Park went to the tournament as team captain. Park played his 100th international game in the semi-final against Japan on 25 January 2011. Park won a penalty kick which led to the first goal. But South Korea lost the match after a penalty shoot-out.

South Korea's coach confirmed on 28 January that Park had retired from international duty. Park was nominated for the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. On 31 January, Park confirmed his retirement. He said he wanted to make way for younger players. In January 2014, the national team manager wanted Park to return for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. But Park said no because his knee was in too much pain.

Park's Style of Play

Park was highly praised at Manchester United for his speed, movement without the ball, hard work, and energy. He could play anywhere in the midfield. This included the center, a defensive role, a box-to-box role, or on either wing. He often played as a defensive winger, constantly pressing opponents. He could also play as an attacking midfielder or even a second striker.

Park was known as a "big game player." Sir Alex Ferguson often used him in important league games or European matches. In these games, extra defensive work was needed. Ferguson once said that Park was one of the few players in the world who could mark Lionel Messi.

In his 2013 book, Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo wrote about Park. He said Park was the one player he could not get the better of. Park was assigned to mark Pirlo in Champions League matches for both PSV and Manchester United. Pirlo wrote that Park "rushed about the pitch at the speed of an electron."

In May 2020, former teammate Wayne Rooney said Park was as important to Manchester United's success as he and Cristiano Ronaldo were. Rooney explained that players like Park, who sacrificed themselves for the team, were vital. He said their individual quality was often overlooked because they were so good at helping the team.

In a video for a documentary, Sir Alex Ferguson said he made a mistake in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final against Barcelona. He wished he had changed Park's role in the second half to specifically mark Lionel Messi. Ferguson believed they would have won that game if he had done so.

Life After Retirement

On 25 July 2014, Park played in the K League All-Star Game. He scored a goal and was named the Most Valuable Player.

On 5 October 2014, it was announced that Park would become a global ambassador for Manchester United.

In 2016, Park joined "The FIFA Master" program. This program helps people learn about sports management. He graduated in July 2017.

In June 2018, he became a football commentator for a South Korean TV channel. He commented on South Korea's matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On 19 January 2021, he joined a K League 1 club, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He became an advisor to help with player selection, training, and scouting. At the same time, he resigned as United's ambassador.

In December 2021, Park rejoined Queens Park Rangers. He coached the under-16s team.

After being an advisor, Park became technical director at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in September 2022. However, his time as technical director was not successful. He scouted players and a manager, but Jeonbuk faced the risk of relegation in the 2024 season. The manager resigned, and Park was again made an advisor.

On 20 October 2024, Park played in the Nexon Icons Match. This was an exhibition game with legendary footballers. He came off the bench and scored a penalty kick.

Park's Personal Life and Charity Work

Park said that Brazilian midfielder Dunga was his football idol when he was young. Park is a Buddhist, influenced by his parents.

Park kept his personal life private. He surprised everyone by announcing his wedding to former TV reporter Kim Min-ji at his retirement press conference. They married on 27 July 2014 in South Korea. They now have a daughter and a son.

Park's mother and grandmother both passed away on the same day, 12 January 2018.

JS Foundation and Charity Events

Park started a charity foundation called JS Foundation in 2011. This foundation creates programs to support football and help people in need. Since 2015, he has hosted the Suwon JS Cup [ko]. This is a tournament for youth teams to help develop young Korean players.

He also takes part in the Asian Dream Cup. This is an annual charity event with a team called "Park Ji-Sung and Friends." Other famous footballers and celebrities have played with him at this event.

Addressing a Controversial Chant

During his time at Manchester United, a chant for Park included lyrics that were seen as racist. Park did not know the meaning of the chant at first. He later said he accepted it because he thought it meant no harm. However, this chant was later used on other South Korean players by Manchester United fans.

In 2020, Park took part in an anti-racism campaign. South Korean fans criticized him for allowing the racist chant to continue. Park accepted this criticism. He then asked Manchester United fans to stop singing his chant. He did this on behalf of all Korean players and fans.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

List of international goals scored by Park Ji-sung

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	7 June 2000	Tehran, Iran	6	Macedonia	2–0	2–1	Friendly
2	21 May 2002	Seogwipo, South Korea	32	England	1–1	1–1	Friendly
3	26 May 2002	Suwon, South Korea	33	France	1–1	2–3	Friendly
4	14 June 2002	Incheon, South Korea	36	Portugal	1–0	1–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
5	8 June 2005	Kuwait City, Kuwait	54	Kuwait	4–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	18 June 2006	Leipzig, Germany	61	France	1–1	1–1	2006 FIFA World Cup
7	6 February 2008	Seoul, South Korea	68	Turkmenistan	3–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	31 May 2008	Seoul, South Korea	70	Jordan	1–0	2–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
9	15 October 2008	Seoul, South Korea	73	United Arab Emirates	2–0	4–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	11 February 2009	Tehran, Iran	75	Iran	1–1	1–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
11	17 June 2009	Seoul, South Korea	80	Iran	1–1	1–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
12	24 May 2010	Saitama, Japan	87	Japan	1–0	2–0	Friendly
13	12 June 2010	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	89	Greece	2–0	2–0	2010 FIFA World Cup

Park's Football Achievements

Kyoto Purple Sanga

• J2 League: 2001
• Emperor's Cup: 2002

PSV Eindhoven

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

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
• Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
• FA Community Shield: 2010, 2011
• UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

South Korea U23

• Asian Games bronze medal: 2002

South Korea

• AFC Asian Cup third place: 2000, 2011

Individual Awards

• AFC Asian Cup Quality Player: 2011
• AFC Best Player of All Time at the FIFA World Cup: 2020
• AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020
• AFC Fans' All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020
• AFC Asian Cup All-time XI: 2023
• IFFHS Asian Men's Team of All Time: 2021
• J.League All-Star: 2002
• Korean FA Goal of the Year: 2002, 2010
• Korean FA Player of the Year: 2010
• Korean FA Fans' Player of the Year: 2010
• K League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2014
• MLS All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2011

See also

In Spanish: Park Ji-sung para niños

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