Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Queens Park Rangers replace Park as captain
Park Ji-sung
By Kang Seung-woo
By Kang Seung-woo
Park Ji-sung’s tenure as Queens Park Rangers captain lasted five months, as the English Premier League side appointed a new skipper Wednesday.
According to the team’s website, QPR manager Harry Redknapp has handed the captain’s armband to veteran defender Clint Hill and he will assume the job until the end of the season.
“Clint is a great character, a good lad and a fantastic professional,” said Redknapp, who replaced Mark Hughes in November.
“We are in a battle to stay in the Premier League and we need players like him.”
Hill, 34, moved to Loftus Road on a free transfer from Crystal Palace in July 2010 and has made 89 appearances for the Hoops in all competitions.
Park left Manchester United after spending seven productive seasons to join QPR for more playing time in July 2012 and became the first Asian footballer to captain a side in England’s top flight with high expectations of resurrecting his career under Hughes.
Ahead of the season, the west London club landed a number of big-name signings including Julio Cesar, Esteban Granero and the former Korea captain but they have registered only two victories this season and started their campaign with a 16-game winless streak ― seven draws and nine losses. QPR are currently rooted to the bottom of the table on 15 points.
Following the dismal start, Hughes was sacked and the former Tottenham manager took the reign.
Park has just recovered from a knee injury that sidelined the 31-year-old midfielder for about a month. In his absence, New Zealand defender Ryan Nelson and Hill skippered QPR on an interim basis. Although Park returned to full fitness earlier this month, they continued to share the armband.
The appointment of hill is in line with Redknapp’s recent shake-up of the squad as instead of fielding signings by Hughes, Redknapp, 65, has turned to other players.
Park started 10 straight matches at the start of the season but has dropped down the pecking order with Samba Diakite, Stephane M’Bia and Esteban Granero currently preferred to shore up the midfield.