Park Ji Sung

Birth Date: 25 February 1981
Birth Place: Seoul
Birth Nation: South Korea
Height: 175cm
Weight: 70kg
Nationality: South Korean
Position: Midfielder

Park's first professional contract was with J-League (Japan) side Kyoto Purple Sanga. he was the first Korean ever to go to the J-League without making an appearance in the K-League (Korea). While in Japan he won the J-League Division 2 title and the Emperor's Cup.

He was originally a defensive midfielder, then Guus Hiddink took over as the Head Coach of South Korea and pushed him onto the wing to play as a winger. Park starred in the 2002 World Cup, scoring against Portugal in the group stage.

When Guus Hiddink left Korea to take over as manager of PSV Eindhoven, he took Park, amongst a group of other Korean players, to Europe. He struggled at first, injuries not helping him to adapt to the game in Holland and he became a target of boos from sections of the club's crowd.

The departure of Arjen Robben to Chelsea afforded him more opportunities to impress in the 2004/5 season and Park grabbed them with both hands. He quickly became an established member of the first team and his high work-rate caused havoc amongst opposing defences, even if his finishing left a lot to be desired at times.

PSV won the Dutch Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup in the 2004/5 season.

Cost Manchester United ?4 million from PSV Eindhoven in June 2005, just after starring as they reached the Champions League semi-finals. He was the first South Korean to play in the English Premier League, though this season he may be joined by his compatriot Seol Ki-Hyon who has joined Reading. Park very nearly never completed his move to United after a work permit was initially denied to him, but it was granted on appeal July 5 2005.

Park was a valued member of the squad as Man Utd won the Carling Cup in 2006.

While at PSV his team-mates used to joke that he played with an oxygen tank strapped to his back due to his extraordinary stamina. The United fans have even nicknamed him '3-Lung Park'!

He is the first living player to have a road named after him in South Korea - Park Ji-Sung Road is in Suwon.