‘Park Ji Sung’ announces retirement from International Football
Park Ji Sung, South Korean captain has publically announced his retirement from the international football arena on Monday just after getting his 100th cap for his national team. The ending day of January 2011 has brought
the most saddening news for many of the South Korean football fans. Park Ji Sung has confirmed that he will be no more available to perform his duties for the national team as he announced a public retirement from International football in a fully packed Press
conference in Seoul on Monday.
In his press conference on Monday, he said that he would love to continue to play for his national team, but the right knee injury was a big hurdle in the continuation of his career at the international level. According to South
Korean Captain, the severe knee injury became the deciding reason for his retirement. In an emotional retirement speech he considers his initial selection as the happiest moment of his life. He said the 2002 FIFA world cup was also special as they became the
semifinalist of that world cup.
During the Press conference, the 29 year old said “It’s been an honor to have played for the national team for the last 11 years, and many great things have happened along the way. It’s been an honor to have played for the national
team for the last 11 years, and many great things have happened along the way,” the 29-year-old player said in a press conference in Seoul”.
He said that it is a perfect time for him to retire as many of the young and brilliant players have been waiting in the lines to represent South Korea. He said that the inclusion of the young blood will play a key role in South
Koreas preparation for the forthcoming FIFA 2014 World Cup.
The veteran believes that he took a right decision and has no regret over the decision. But most importantly he said that his club football career has not ended yet. He expects that he has still some football left in his body and
can play for Manchester United for the next three to four years. It was a proud moment for the South Korean captain, when he became the first ever player from his country to have played a European League Final. He represented Manchester United in that match,
although they were defeated by Barcelona that day.
The decision was very much anticipated by the football critics, as the South Korean coach has indicated during the 2011 Asian Championship that this tournament might turn out to be his last. South Korean Coach, Cho Wang Rae said
that park will retire after the Asian Cup. The defeat from Japan in the recently held Asian Cup match turned out to be the last match of his mammoth career.
The Veteran has represented his team in three consecutive world cups, including 2002, 2006 and 2010. The dream came true for the Park when his team got into the semifinals of 2002 world cup which is the best ever show put up by
any Asian team in the world cups.
Park started his international career back in 2000 and since then became an integral part of the national team. Under his presence of 29 year old Park, Manchester United won three English Premier League titles and three league
cup finals. In football circles, he considered as one of the best and most prolific player to represent Asia in Europe and at international stage. He captains South Koreas in the recently held Asian Championship where they performed extremely well and won
the third position in the Championship. He was not selected in to the final eleven in an Asian Cup third place match against Uzbekistan, where Uzbekistan was beaten by Japan in a 3-2 final score.
In 2005, Park left PSV Eindhoven and joined Manchester United. Now, his national team mate Lee has also announced the retirement from the international football on the same day. The 33 year old, Lee used to play of Tottenham Hotspurs
in Premier League. This must have created a big hole in the South Korea team but young players are expected to fill this gap soon.