268: Park Ji-Sung, Korea Republic, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, England Collector Binder

Mat Jolin-Beech has been on holiday and all he’s brought back for us is this lousy blog post. Today Mat takes a look at a player Wayne Rooney described as pivotal to his club’s success, Andrea Pirlo stated “rushed around the pitch at the speed of an electron” and Sir Alex Ferguson believed was one of few out there capable of man marking a certain tax evading Argentinian. High praise from some of the game’s royalty. Over to Mat.

South Korea is an interesting place. Having just been there on holiday (I know, lucky me) there is a lot to say and to like about it. It’s a lot more Southeast Asian in feel than I had been expecting. In my mind, Seoul especially, was going to feel very much like Tokyo. Modern, clean and fairly buttoned-up, conservative and grown up. A bit regimented and serious. I was in for a pleasant surprise. They love their 90s American retro fashion, street singers and K Pop dancers. There is neon everywhere – of course there is, and many, many modern, electric cars. But what stands out are the street markets; whether food stalls or for goods. Phone case – you’ve got it. Tornado potato on a stick? Of course. I will be going back.

But while I was there, and purely because it felt topical, I was thinking about South Korean footballers who have graced English football. The list I came up with was not extensive. Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur. Yes, that having just lost 6-1 to Newcastle United over the weekend Tottenham Hotspur. He’s probably the poster boy for Korean football right now and may just be their best ever player. Certainly ask anyone in white in North London and they’ll say so. The other name on the list: Park Ji Sung. I did say it wasn’t extensive.

But Park, for me is one of those massively-rated-but-still-somehow-under-appreciated footballers. Let me try to explain. His stats are not stellar. A total of 318 games, only 45 goals at club level. A century of international caps and only thirteen goals. Decent, but nothing to set the world alight. I distinctly remember my first reaction when Manchester United signed him in 2005. Not a bad player for someone we’ve signed to sell shirts. I was right, but also so wrong. He was more than decent, and more than just a face and name to sell shirts on the Seoul streets.

The phrase tireless worker was made for Park. He was perpetual motion and got everywhere. He also loved a goal against Arsenal. Really loved a goal against Arsenal. Plus, he was pivotal to some of the great United performances in that peak late noughties’ era Fergie team. Peak Park pocketed prime Pirlo in 2010 when United faced up to AC Milan. Sir Alex Ferguson gave park one job. Pirlo. I’m sure – sports cliché warning – Park went with Pirlo to the loo as he was everywhere the Italian was, not giving him any time or space for the game, nullifying his potent threat.

As his game time began to dwindle at Old Trafford, a move to Queen’s Park Rangers soon arose. This was at a time when QPR were going mad and signing all sorts of Premier League stalwarts. A Primark Galacticos if you will. Here, Park joined the likes of Jermaine Jenas, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Rob Green, Jose Bosingwa, Chris Samba, Adel Taarabt, Bobby Zamora and Loic Remy. The only issues was that this squad was all a few years past their peak, and relegation ensued. An emotional return to PSV Eindhoven followed before retirement and he is currently technical director at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Its great to see him returning to Korea and helping to further develop football in his home country. A country, I might add, I’ve just come back from visiting, as I’m sure I’ve not mentioned it yet.