Park retires on 100 South Korea caps
Reuters - Friday 28 January 2011, 19:09
DOHA - South Korea captain Park Ji-sung,
considered one of Asia's finest players of the last decade, has
retired from international football after their third place
finish at the Asian Cup, coach Cho Kwang-rae said.
Park, 29, did not play in the 3-2 victory over Uzbekistan at
the Al Sadd Stadium on Friday meaning he retires on 100 caps.
The Manchester United midfielder, who became the first Asian
to compete in a European Champions League final when United lost
to Barcelona in 2009, joins experienced full-back Lee Young-pyo,
who won his 127th cap on Friday, in stepping down from the
national team.
"Two players of our team Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo are
retiring today from international football, they've done a
remarkable job for the prosperity of Korean football," Cho told
reporters.
"It would be better if I could retain both of them in the
national team but other players have done an excellent job."
Park had earlier told reporters he had scheduled a media
conference in Seoul on Monday after again dodging questions on
his future.
Both players were tossed in to the air by other squad
members after the final whistle.
"They are really great players for 10 years and I am really
proud of them and they showed to the people all over the world
that Korean football is getting better," midfielder Ki
Sung-yeung told reporters.