'It was not a recruit for marketing.' Legendary Park Ji-sung re-examined the 'reversal story' when he was at Manchester

*This content was translated by AI.

Beyond Korean soccer, the story of Park Ji-sung (45), an Asian soccer "legend," during his time at Manchester United has been re-examined overseas. It is a "reversal story" that overcame some negative gaze with his ability at the time of transfer and lifted various championship trophies by playing as the main player of Manchester United.

"In June 2005, Park Ji-sung became the first Korean to play in the Premier League (EPL)," The Footy Section said on the 8th (Korea Standard Time), "In fact, it was not easy at the time of the transfer to Manchester United. Many media, as well as Manchester United fans, looked back on the background of his transfer to Manchester United because he claimed that it was "just a marketing strategy to sell the uniform."

The media said, "But under Alex Fergus, Park has adapted to the league, his teammates and life in England. Ferguson praised him as "a player that everyone wants to play with." Park Ji-sung was not a technical player, but he ran faster than anyone else and fought more intensely than anyone else."

"Park Ji-sung, who was also praised by Andrea Pirlo and Wayne Rooney, even served as Manchester United captain in some games," he said, adding, "He played more than 200 games for Manchester United and lifted a total of 13 trophies, including four EPL wins."

Park Ji-sung made his professional debut at Kyoto Purple Shopping Center in Japan after passing through Myongji, and was selected to the Korean national team after being called by coach Guus Hiddink and played a leading role in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinals. After that, he moved to Manchester United in 2005 after playing PSV Eindhoven. At the time of rumors of a transfer, it was also a Korean soccer slope that many fans could not believe.

However, as the media explained, there were some critical voices in the region that Manchester United recruited Park Ji-sung as part of its marketing strategy to pioneer the Asian market. However, Park Ji-sung proudly established himself as a starting player at Manchester United, a world-class club, and wrote his first Asian history in seven seasons, including four EPL wins and a UEFA Champions League victory.

Park Ji-sung's performance was also significant in that it raised the status of Asian soccer in European soccer such as EPL. Park Ji-sung's transfer to Manchester United was the starting point for the popularity of European soccer such as EPL in Korea. After that, Park Ji-sung retired in 2014 after playing for Queens Park Rangers and PSV Eindhoven. He played 100 A matches as a member of the A national team, and recently was appointed as a member of the FIFA stakeholder committee after retirement.

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*This content was translated by AI.