Thu 24 May 2012 | 
Is Park Ji-Sung Asia's best ever?
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Enlarge textThe Korean midfielder may not have had the best match in the Champions League final, but he has come a long way from being shunned by clubs in his home country.
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Ninety minutes before Barcelona wiped the Stadio Olimpico floor with their team in the UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester United fans sang one song loudly and proudly that could be heard (admittedly, thanks to TV), all the way over in Seoul, South Korea.
"Park! Park! Wherever you may be!" the United faithful bellowed to the tune of Lord of the Dance.
"You eat dogs in your home country! But it could be worse, you could be Scouse! Eating rats in your council house!"
Politically correct? Absolutely not. But you will hear no finer tribute from United fans for a player. Especially one from South Korea and one who is probably the best-ever player to come from our region.
Yes, Park Ji-Sung is proving better than Australians Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, and Mark Bosnich who have all had some sort of impact in England's Premier League. Park plays for Manchester United, the best team in England and one of the top two teams in Europe. The Aussies? Also rans.
But that song was possibly as good as it got for the Korean in Rome on Wednesday.
"A waste of space." was former Socceroo Ned Zelic's brutal appraisal at half-time during SBS's telecast of the match.
Park, though, was not alone in his vacuum. Just as ineffective were superstar signings Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo. Don't even mention AWOL defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
But this is not about Manchester United's shortcomings. It is to praise Park Ji-Sung's achievement.
The 28-year-old's trajectory is almost textbook and one that many Australian hopefuls may consider emulating. Rejected by Korean clubs for his slight stature, he eventually won a deal with Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga (one of the best named clubs ever) then playing in the second division.
With eventual promotion to the J-League, he also made an impression with the coach of his national team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. That coach's name? Guus Hiddink.
Hiddink took Park with him back to Holland and signed him to PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutch league was not easy but during the 2004-2005 season, the Korean finally established himself in the first team as PSV progressed to the Champions League semi-finals. Alex Ferguson was watching and paid around $10 million to make him a Manchester United player.
On merit, Park perhaps should have played in, or at least been included in the 18-man squad for, last season's Champions League final. Ferguson admitted omitting him after his efforts during the campaign had been a tough decision.
But this week, Park made history of sorts, being only the second player from the Asian Football Confederation to not just play but start in the UEFA Champions League Final. (Yes, we count Harry Kewell's appearances for Liverpool in 2005 and 2007).
South Korea's other top export, Cha Bum-Kun, tore up the Bundesliga during the 1980s, (I have even shared a cup of tea with guy) but is it possible Park is the best Asian footballer ever?
Socceroos fans may point to Kewell or Cahill and the Asian Football Confederation certainly doesn't think so.
Its bizarre system has seen such global high-flyers as Hamad Al-Montashari, Khalfan Ibrahim, Yasser Al-Qahtani, and Server Djeparov officially named the Confederation's best in recent years.
With all respect to football in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Uzebkistan, but who are you guys?
Maybe for 2009, the AFC and fans across Asia, will recognise Park Ji-Sung for the true talent he is.
Just don't mention Rome.
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Comments (24)
Previous 10 |
21 Apr 2011 3:06 AEST
From: Nonsense
Cool
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29 Mar 2011 22:32 AEST
From: indian boy
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12 Jun 2009 11:37 AEST
From: Brisbane
Asia's best?
Park is not asia's best. Whoever made that article has to re-write it again. There were other greats such Nakamura Shunsuke or Hidetoshi Nakata or even Ahn Jung-Hwan.
31 May 2009 10:32 AEST
From: Adelaide
Nakamura
Nakamura is twice the player that Park is. However, Naka probably wouldn't be as successful in the EPL as that particular league has become more about strength and speed (as well as money) than skill. If both players were in La Liga Nakamura would be held in much more regard than Park.
30 May 2009 23:29 AEST
From: melbourne
Park is the best Asian player!!!
Park is a great player and i do beleive that he is the best asian player to come through soccer!!Sir Alex doesnt play himm to much does still get a game every now and then and is capable of doing anything.If he had more game time he would be an amazing player, he wouldnt be as good as likes as ronaldo and rooney but if he kept on training and keeps up his good work he will become as good as thoughs two!!!! go Ji Sung Park
29 May 2009 22:18 AEST
From: Sydney
Greatest ever? He's a useful part of Man U inc.
Greatest ever? Let's not get carried away. Park Ji-Sung is a decent player and wouldn't be getting regular game time for Man U if he wasn't. But his performances are tradesmanlike. Sure it does the job a lot of the time but there are dozens of other players capable of doing the same job. Call me cynical but is it possible he's valued almost as much by Man U for his ability to spruke the Man U brand in Asia as he is for his contribution on the pitch?
29 May 2009 22:06 AEST
From: Melbourne
Good Asian Soccer player of the past
Does anyone have more information on this Hong Kong soccer player called Lee Wai Tong? according to wiki "He was nicknamed Alex James of the East." "In 1976, a German football magazine considered him as one of the five all-time greatest footballers in the world, the other four being Pele, Sir Stanley Matthews、Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas." "in 1965 he became vice-president of FIFA, being the first Chinese to reach that position."
29 May 2009 21:05 AEST
From: Mt. Waverley, Melbourne
Park or No Park
Soccer is a team sport. To blame one player or some players for the team's defeat is unthinkable. Not because Man. Utd players including Park did not try, but Barcelona was a better team on the night. I have seen the ups and downs of Man Utd since 1968. Losing is just a small part of the wonderful sport.
29 May 2009 17:25 AEST
From: Sydney
Park is the best asian player!
Park has to be the best player. He's quick, aggressive and is a machine. He plays for South Korea and the best English team Manchester United. Zelic is the waste of space not Park. The Champions League Final Midfield was pathetic. Carrick, Giggs and Anderson. Park should play Midfield not wing. The second goal was all because of Ronaldo not closing down Xavi which Park would have done. So I think Paark is a very good asian player.
29 May 2009 14:12 AEST
From: Sydney
2nd Goal
My analysis of the second goal in the final. Ronaldo has all the time in the world to put pressure on Xavi, but gives up. Actually doesn't even try. Actually, he walks away from Xavi. Xavi has all the time in the world to place the most comfortable, pin-point accurate cross in for Messi. Had Park not been taken off, it may have been a different story. everyone knows Park would have closed Xavi down in an instant. Ned is clearly not qualified to be anywhere near Fozzie. Clearly.
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Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't.
Matthew Hall Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't. Matt is a writer, author, and filmmaker, originally from Perth, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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