Park Ji Sung's Fighting!

He’s struggled with rejection simply because he was considered too short( only 5 feet 8 inches) to make it big on the soccer pitch. He’s experienced disappointment when relegated to the bench for many matches and sometimes even passed over for other players even though he’s proven to be a strong team player. He’s had to live with the pain from a knee injury and operation and perhaps even worse, the humiliation from rude club supporters of PSV Eindhoven who thought it was a waste to bring him to Europe. He’s struggled to master English in his determination to play for Man Utd.

Back home, he’s affectionately known as Mickey Mouse or Sweet Potato. Among his teammates, he’s “Three Lungs” and “Oxygen Tank”. Rio Ferdinand who captained the Manchester United team in Moscow describes him as a “real player’s player”. Gus Hiddink, his former coach, expressed his appreciation for the way he does “dirty work for the bigger stars”. He also acknowledged how this smart player who’s very determined “is tireless and can go for 90 minutes”. His present boss, Alex Ferguson characterises him as “a bright little lad (whose) courage got him the goal.” His Man U fans have a ditty based on the tune of Achy Breaky Heart dedicated to him, “ If you sell my Park, my lovely Ji Sung Park, you’re gonna have a riot on your hands.”

Early on, he had told his father he wanted to play for Man Utd and no other club – “even if I have to sit on the bench. I want to learn.” When he was dropped from the final match in the European Cup tournament in Moscow and his team won, he simply said, “ The team won so I am happy. Personally it is frustrating not to play in such a big game. But there will be other opportunities.” The modest and hard-working boy from Suwon has already won international fame and considerable fortune but is apparently planning to spend his retirement coaching young Koreans in his own football academy in Gyeonggi-do. Now, THAT’s more impressive than his recent header that gave Man Utd sweet victory over its long-time rivals.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Ji-Sung
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/mar/01/park-ji-sung-manchester-united
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article7070431.ece
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259581/Manchester-United-2-Liverpool-1-Park-Ji-sung-heads-champions-Liverpool-suffer-10th-defeat.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/21/manchester-united-liverpool-premier-league