S. Korean footballer Park Ji-sung retires from international play
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- Park Ji-sung, who has represented South Korean football in each of the past three FIFA World Cups, announced his retirement from international play on Monday.
"It's a great honor and a dream come true to wear the national team uniform for 11 years," Park said at a press conference. "I know it may be a little early for me to call it quits. But I believed this was the best decision for myself and for the team."
Park, 29, ended his 11-year international career a day after the South Korean team arrived home back from the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, where it finished third for the second straight tournament. The midfielder for Manchester United in England served as the South Korean captain in Doha.
Park said he wanted to give young players a chance to develop. He pointed to Koo Ja-cheol, who led the Asian Cup with five goals at age 21; Ji Dong-won, the 19-year-old striker who scored four goals; and the 18-year-old winger Son Heung-min, who was named the top rookie of the first half of the ongoing season at the first-division German league called Bundesliga.
"As you saw at the Asian Cup, there are many young players with great potential and passion for the game," Park said. "And I think it behooves me as a veteran to let them have the opportunity to experience big matches. I felt I had to give them an opening now so that the national team can start preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (in Brazil)."
Park has also battled right knee pain after having two major operations on the leg. He sat out South Korea's third-place match against Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup because of lingering knee pain.
Park attributed his problems to long trips from England to South Korea and to other venues for international matches. But he said it never entered his mind to refuse to play for his country.
"I think I could have continued my international career without health issues," Park said. "But I will accept the situation as it is and I have no regre! ts. Beca use of our geographic location, I've had to travel long ways from Europe to play (in South Korea). But to be competitive in the world, we have to travel around the world and players from now on should take care of themselves."
Park's future with the South Korean national team had been subject to much speculation since late last year. Park Sung-jong, the player's father, told reporters in December that the midfielder would leave the national team following the Asian Cup. The player himself had refused to discuss his future during the tournament.
Park has played 100 games for South Korea, joining seven other compatriots in the exclusive "Century Club." He hit the century mark with the Asian Cup semifinal tilt against Japan last week.
The midfielder said he will likely play "at least three to four more years" of professional football, but ruled out any possibility for a brief comeback to the national team for the next World Cup in 2014.
"If we make it to the World Cup in Brazil, then players who worked hard during the qualification should get the chance to play," Park said. "They will improve as players through World Cup experience. I don't think I will ever be back with the national team."
After the Uzbekistan game on Saturday, South Korean teammates threw Park in the air in an apparent celebration of their captain's international career, which began with a friendly match against Laos in April 2000.
Defensive back Lee Young-pyo announced his retirement after the Uzbek match, but Park had said he would wait until he came home to talk about his future.
Park has been dubbed "Three-Lung Park" for his relentless style of play and his work ethic. He said as long as he was in the national team shirt, he always "tried to give everything I had."
"If my teammates, coaches and fans saw me on the pitch and had faith and trust in me, then that's the greatest compliment I could ever ask for," Park said. (Yonhap)
"It's a great honor and a dream come true to wear the national team uniform for 11 years," Park said at a press conference. "I know it may be a little early for me to call it quits. But I believed this was the best decision for myself and for the team."
Park, 29, ended his 11-year international career a day after the South Korean team arrived home back from the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, where it finished third for the second straight tournament. The midfielder for Manchester United in England served as the South Korean captain in Doha.
Park said he wanted to give young players a chance to develop. He pointed to Koo Ja-cheol, who led the Asian Cup with five goals at age 21; Ji Dong-won, the 19-year-old striker who scored four goals; and the 18-year-old winger Son Heung-min, who was named the top rookie of the first half of the ongoing season at the first-division German league called Bundesliga.
"As you saw at the Asian Cup, there are many young players with great potential and passion for the game," Park said. "And I think it behooves me as a veteran to let them have the opportunity to experience big matches. I felt I had to give them an opening now so that the national team can start preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (in Brazil)."
Park has also battled right knee pain after having two major operations on the leg. He sat out South Korea's third-place match against Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup because of lingering knee pain.
Park attributed his problems to long trips from England to South Korea and to other venues for international matches. But he said it never entered his mind to refuse to play for his country.
"I think I could have continued my international career without health issues," Park said. "But I will accept the situation as it is and I have no regre! ts. Beca use of our geographic location, I've had to travel long ways from Europe to play (in South Korea). But to be competitive in the world, we have to travel around the world and players from now on should take care of themselves."
Park's future with the South Korean national team had been subject to much speculation since late last year. Park Sung-jong, the player's father, told reporters in December that the midfielder would leave the national team following the Asian Cup. The player himself had refused to discuss his future during the tournament.
Park has played 100 games for South Korea, joining seven other compatriots in the exclusive "Century Club." He hit the century mark with the Asian Cup semifinal tilt against Japan last week.
The midfielder said he will likely play "at least three to four more years" of professional football, but ruled out any possibility for a brief comeback to the national team for the next World Cup in 2014.
"If we make it to the World Cup in Brazil, then players who worked hard during the qualification should get the chance to play," Park said. "They will improve as players through World Cup experience. I don't think I will ever be back with the national team."
After the Uzbekistan game on Saturday, South Korean teammates threw Park in the air in an apparent celebration of their captain's international career, which began with a friendly match against Laos in April 2000.
Defensive back Lee Young-pyo announced his retirement after the Uzbek match, but Park had said he would wait until he came home to talk about his future.
Park has been dubbed "Three-Lung Park" for his relentless style of play and his work ethic. He said as long as he was in the national team shirt, he always "tried to give everything I had."
"If my teammates, coaches and fans saw me on the pitch and had faith and trust in me, then that's the greatest compliment I could ever ask for," Park said. (Yonhap)
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