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| Park Ji-sung, third from left, a former Manchester United midfielder, poses with FC Seoul's Cha Du-ri, left, Ulsan Hyundai's Kim Seung-gyu, second from left, and Lee Young-pyo, a former Tottenham Hotspur defender, during a news conference at Korea Football Association headquarters, downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Tae-jong
The nation's legendary footballer Park Ji-sung seems to have one last accomplishment in his 25-year career ― winning an MVP title in the upcoming All-Star Game, his last match on his home soil.
"This time, I'll try to win an MVP award in the All-Star Game," the 33-year-old former captain of the national team said Thursday during a news conference at the Korea Football Association (KFA) in Seoul, ahead of the event scheduled at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo on Aug. 25.
He announced his retirement from football in May.
"This will be an important game for me, and I hope a lot of fans come and enjoy it," he said.
Titled the "K-League All-Star Game with Team Park Ji-sung," the event will feature a match between stars from the K-League Classic and a team led by Park.
The occasion is meaningful to Park and his fans, as he has never played in the K-League. He only enjoyed an illustrious career with foreign clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and the Queens Park Rangers.
This will only be the second time he has played with stars from the domestic league. He played in the All-Star Game in 2012 along with former national team members from 2002, when the nation hosted the World Cup and made it as far as the semifinals.
At the press conference, he introduced players who will play on his squad.
Park's teammates include former teammates of the national team such as Lee Young-pyo, a retired defender and a TV commentator; Cha Du-ri of the FC Seoul, and Kim Byung-ji of the Chunnam Dragons. Lee and Cha were also present at the conference.
Park also said he is in talks to add a few more players to his roaster including his former Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra.
The K-League All Star Team will be led by Hwang Sun-hong, head coach of the Pohang Steelers, while Guus Hiddink, who was the head coach of the Korean national team in 2002, will be Hwang's counterpart.
The conference took place in an amusing atmosphere with Lee, Cha and Park making jokes about each other occasionally.
Lee and Cha gave a piece of advice about married life to Park, who will have the big day two days after the All-Star Game.
"Married life is more challenging than the competition for Park to be included in the starting lineup at Manchester United," Cha said in a half-joking way.
But the nation's football icons became very serious when calling for more attention and support for the K-League, saying it is the first and urgent step needed to improve the nation's football.
"Broadcasters passionately created football frenzy during the World Cup period and I hope their passion will be transferred to the K-League," Lee said, asking major broadcasters to air more K-League matches.
Cha also echoed that view, saying without efforts to nurture the domestic football league it will be difficult to upgrade Korean players' skills and abilities.
"The success of the K-League will help the national team perform better in the next World Cup in Russia. There are many young and talented players in the league, and if we can support them with continuous attention, and they will definitely be better players."
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