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"The Brazilian midfielder Kleberson is a good example for Park, he went to Manchester and was a failure,'' said then PSV Eindhoven coach Hiddink, who led South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semifinals, Australia to the second round in 2006 and is now coordinating Russia's qualifying campaign for 2010.
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Hiddink, who took Park to PSV after the 2002 World Cup, wasn't alone in his opinion.
"Park Bench'' was the headline in one English newspaper which felt that South Korea midfielder would be more use to the club off the pitch - selling United merchandise in Asia - than on it.
Two lengthy injury layoffs meant that the 27 year-old needed time to settle in England's northwest, but he is now a regular feature of United's first XI at a crucial stage of the season.
Park not only played every minute of both UEFA Champions League quarterfinals legs against Roma, he also took the field for the club's vital Premier League win at home over title rivals Arsenal on April 13.
A week earlier, with United struggling at Middlesbrough, it was the intervention of the Korean that changed the game and saved a point.
Manchester United, five points clear at the top of the Premier League and about to face Barcelona in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, could soon be crowned champions of England and Europe.
"He (Park) has shown absolutely the right attitude and risen to the occasion when called upon,'' United coach Alex Ferguson said. "This boy is a very good player He never lets us down.''
Park's appearance as the representative Manchester United player at the Roma pre-match press conference was well-received by a proud South Korean media.
"His appearance marked a new chapter in Korean soccer history,'' remarked Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "The press conference appearance also serves as testimony to Park's increased status on the team.''
After starring in the 2005 Champions League semifinals for PSV, Park could go one better and become the first Asian to play in the world's richest club match.
For Asian football, it would be a good end to an otherwise disappointing season for its stars playing in Europe's big leagues.
All three of Park's fellow South Koreans in the Premier League are likely to be moving elsewhere this summer.
Lee Young-pyo is now out of favor at Tottenham Hotspur and is set to leave the London club and return to PSV. Seol Ki-hyeon at Fulham hasn't played a game since January 19 and Middlesbrough striker Lee Dong-guk has failed to score a Premier League goal since arriving in England in January 2007.
"It's been difficult for him in that he has not played as well as we might have hoped,'' Middlesbrough coach Gareth Southgate said this month. "For him and for the team, it's been better to involve other players.''
For other Asian players, the season has been, at best, a mixed bag.
After winning awards and prizes last season, injuries have lessened the influence of Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura at Scottish power Celtic. Compatriot Daisuke Matsui has impressed for French team Le Mans however and could be moving to Italy this summer.
China's captain Zheng Zhi has become an integral part of Charlton Athletic, but the team is now in England's second tier. Shao Jiayi has struggled for playing time with Bundesliga's Energie Cottbus and Sun Jihai has barely featured in the Premier League with Manchester City.
Fans in West Asia have also been underwelmed by their European representatives.
A serious knee injury means that Iran's talismanic midfielder Javad Nekounam will make his first appearance of the Spanish season for Osasuna on April 20, while countrymen Vahid Hashemian and Medhi Mahdivikia are in and out of the starting lineups for their respective German teams Hanover and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Iranian Midfielder Andranik Teymourian has also played little part in Bolton Wanderers' struggle against relegation from the Premier League, though the English club does have a Middle Eastern goalkeeper.
An injury to regular goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has propelled Oman's Ali Al-Habsi into the starting lineup and the giant stopper has impressed enough to be linked with Bayern Munich and Turkish club Galatasaray.
For the moment however, it is Park Ji-sung grabbing the headlines and not only in South Korea.
첫댓글 지금도 잘하고 있지만 4강, 결승전에서 골을 넣어서 승리의 핵심선수가 되면....생각만 해도 뿌듯하네요....
차범근-나카타-박지성...
야
역시 지성팍
차범근 허정무 나카타 박지성 안되나여
팍!
와 마지막말 뭔가 소름끼치네
계속잘나가라
자랑스럽다~ ㅎㅎㅎ
아시아선수중 벤치에서 제일 잘 나가는 덩팡저우..
벤치도못나감
아 진짜 자랑스럽다 ㅠㅠㅠㅠ 현제헤드라인을 장식하는건 박지성이면 그건 한국에서만이 아니다 빠밤 !
뿌듯..:)
빅리그가 아니라곤하지만 셀틱정도에서 주전꽤차고잇는 슌스케도 꽤나 잘나가는듯; 꽤차고 맞나?ㅋㅋㅋ
남은 경기에서도 좋은 모습 보여주세요...화이팅
마지막 문단에 South Korea ... 자랑스럽다!
지성 ㄱㄱㅅ