Time for Park to seek a central role
By John Duerden
November 1, 2010
Sitting close to Park Ji-Sung and getting a look at his legs, in a professional way of course, provides a stark reminder of what footballers go through: stud marks, scars, bumps and who-knows-what else pepper the leggy landscape like the surface of the moon.
Park Ji-sung: Despite his impressive work-rate the midfielder has not become a key player
It is a wonder how he walks but instead these appendages are the physical manifestations of an energy and stamina that earned him the nickname 'Three Lung Park' in Manchester and 'The Oxygen Tank' back in his homeland - monikers meant in good faith but ones that narrowly define and simplify the qualities that the Korean has. If you're lucky (or perhaps not) you can catch a glimpse of his mangled feet. As everyone in Korea knows, these are 'flat', a condition that didn't stop him springing into the arms of Korea coach Guus Hiddink after his well-taken goal against Portugal at the 2002 World Cup.
It was an embrace that took the player to Europe, PSV Eindhoven and cheesy instant noodle TV commercials before it was broken by the call of Manchester United in the summer of 2005. In England, Park has won trophies and achieved success that no Asian player has experienced before - three Premier League medals, Carling Cups, World Club Cups, an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final in 2009 and a pivotal role in United's march to Moscow in 2008.
I should declare that I like Park. From Kyoto 2000 to Manchester 2010, he has remained down-to-earth and generous with his time. After every game in South Africa in June, where the player became the only Asian to score at three separate World Cups, he talked at length to the legions of Korean journalists before patiently answering question after question from the English-speaking media.
As an ambassador for Asian football, he has been perfect. The fact that he has yet to be recognized for this by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) - the Player of the Year prize only goes to those who go to the ceremony in Kuala Lumpur - says more about the system than the star (though as the award comes with an offer of a trial with Chelsea, it could be slightly awkward). Recently when I put it to AFC chief Mohamed Bin Hammam that there should at least be a separate prize to honour the likes of Park, he answered that it was a good idea.
The diplomatic Qatari is a fan of Park and there are many more in England. Bryan Robson, one of Manchester United's best-ever midfielders told Soccernet in September, "He's a top player and such an intelligent footballer. Sir Alex likes him a lot and he takes on whatever role he is asked to do for the team and does it very well. He works ever so hard and he has obviously got a lot of natural talent. He's a real players' player." Arsene Wenger agreed, though perhaps through slightly gritted teeth after Park's vital goal against Arsenal in the semi-final of the 2009 UEFA Champions League: "He's a very hardworking player who sacrifices for the team but as well has good skill and scores important goals, unfortunately, against us. I'm convinced by his quality."
Maybe now though, it is time to move on for the player who looks to have done pretty much all there is to do at the club. He has proved the doubters wrong, such as Hiddink, who said he shouldn't go for football reasons (though as coach of PSV at the time, the Dutchman had a vested interest), and the cynics, who said he was going for non-football reasons. The one thing he hasn't managed - though he has come close at times - is to become a member of the team's strongest XI on a consistent basis. This season has seen just two Premier League starts.
Last weekend's performance against Tottenham may have been his best of the current campaign, as the player has admitted that he has not been in great form of late, but none would be surprised if Park plays no part against Bursaspor on Tuesday. The ultimate example, and one still not forgotten or quite forgiven in Korea, came in the knockout stages of the 2008 Champions League when Park's reward for fine displays in the quarter and semi-finals was a complete omission from the squad for the main match in Moscow.
There is no doubt that Park still has a part to play at Old Trafford if he wishes but it is one as a squad player and after more than five years, pastures new would offer more time on the green stuff. Leaving a huge club like Manchester United is not an easy thing to do and Park has publicly and recently said that he has no wish to do so. In this he has the backing of the vast majority back home. Not only are fans in Korea are delighted to see their compatriot in the famous red shirt but before the game against Argentina in Soccer City in June, journalists too spoke of the pride they still feel when they see 'Manchester United' among the clubs on the Korean side of official FIFA team sheets.
But sometimes you have to let go and, were the player to do so in search of a regular starting spot, there would be no shortage of offers. For disappointed fans in the east there is no shortage of successors either with a new generation of Korean and Asian players making the transition to European football more quickly and smootly than their predecessors, Park included, ever did. As well as the likes of Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa making headlines, Lee Chung-Yong has established himself as a crucial part of the attack at Bolton Wanderers and is likely to be on the move at the end of the season. While Park was hitting the post against Spurs - his lack of goals has been an Achilles' heel in England - highly-rated teenager Son Heung-Min marked his Bundesliga debut for SV Hamburg with a fine finish, one not a million miles away from the famous Portugal strike in 2002.
Next summer will mark the ninth anniversary of that goal, and it will be time to swap the rigours of rotation for the rewards of regular football. As lumpy as his legs may be, you know that Park Ji-Sung can handle it.
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