DOHA: One of Asia’s greatest players will add another accolade to his already impressive resume today when he wins his 100th cap for South Korea in their Asian Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Japan.
Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung, who rose to prominence under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink at the 2002 World Cup, said it meant all the more to achieve the feat at a top international event.
“Obviously it will be a great honour to play the 100th game for the national team in a major tournament like the Asian Cup,” said the 29-year-old.
Ji-sung, his country’s most iconic sportsman, joins seven other South Koreans to have reached the landmark, but still has some way to go to better all-time leader Hong Myung-bo, who played 136 times before retiring in 2002.
Should he continue playing, his next target will be Hwang Sun-hong, who won 103 caps.
But Ji-sung’s international future is unclear.
Before the Asian Cup, he strongly hinted that he would retire at the end of the tournament to focus on prolonging his United career.
His father told Korean media it would be his last major event, and on his arrival in Doha, Ji-sung told reporters: “It will be a very special Asian Cup for me.
“I do not have much time left in the international game. This makes me want to win the Asian Cup more than ever before.”
But Ji-sung is so influential that South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae has been desperately trying to convince his captain to stay and help him build his current young, and very impressive, team into world beaters.
“I would like to congratulate Park Ji-sung on his 100 international caps,” said Kwang-rae yesterday.
“Park Ji-sung is a player with outstanding leadership, on and off the pitch. He’s done an excellent job for his country in the tournament so far and I want him to continue his excellent job until the very end of the Asian Cup.”
When quizzed by media last week, all Park had to say was: “At the moment I can’t say anything. I will talk after the Asian Cup.”
If he decides to quit, it will be be a huge loss not just for South Korea, but football on the continent in general.
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