Lee Chun-soo (Korean:이천수;born 9 July 1981) is a South Korean retired football player. He played as a forward for the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Early in his career he was regarded as one of the most talented forwards to have emerged from South Korea.[2]
In July 2003,he joined Real Sociedad,the runners-up of the 2002–03 La Liga,becoming the first Korean to play in La Liga. However,after a mediocre season,he was loaned out to fellow La Liga side Numancia,and ultimately returned to South Korea. He was unable to score in the La Liga in his two years there.[5]
Lee rejoined Ulsan in mid-season. He especially scored a hat trick in the first leg of the championship final.[6] He was subsequently named the K League's Most Valuable Player.[7]
In the summer of 2008,Lee joined Feyenoord of the Eredivisie. He got the second chance to play in Europe,but failed to adapt to the Netherlands. While he competed in Feyenoord,he was scammed in his country,and took a two-week vacation to solve the problem.[9] He had difficulty concentrating on football due to his case of fraud,and Feyenoord officially announced Lee's loan to South Korean team Suwon Samsung Bluewings on a one-year deal in July 2008.
Loan spells
Even in Suwon,his stint was ill-received:he performed poorly,had clashes with the coaching staff,and was banished from the K League. After a few months,Suwon released him from the banishment,and he could be loaned to Jeonnam Dragons on 26 February 2009.[citation needed]
In June 2009,he claimed he couldn't reject his transfer according to his contract with Feyenoord if another club suggest a high salary to him,and he joined a Saudi club Al-Nassr in the middle of the season. However,the dual contract did not exist in reality,and he was prohibited from joining the K League again after Jeonnam got to know the truth.[10]
Incheon United
In March 2010,he left Al-Nassr because the club did not give his wages for three months.[11] He joined a J1 League club Omiya Ardija,and played in Japan for a year and a half.
After leaving Omiya Ardija,Lee did not join any foreign professional club for a year,and hoped to play in South Korea. Jeonnam Dragons released his indefinite banishment after watching his behavior including three apologies at the stadium.[12] On 31 March 2013,he came back to the K League with Incheon United in a game against Daejeon Citizen 1,381 days after the last game with Jeonnam.[13]
On 5 November 2015,he announced his retirement as a player. His retirement ceremony was held at half time of a World Cup qualifier between South Korea and Lebanon in March 2016.[14]
In the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in his country,Lee was a substitute of the South Korean national team,but showed good dribbles and defense when appearing.[17] After main players were injured,Lee got an opportunity as a starter in the semi-finals against Germany. In this game,however,he was criticised for displaying a greediness for goal with little regard for teamwork,although he made a memorable shot saved by Oliver Kahn.[17]
Unlike in the 2002 World Cup,Lee played as a starter in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored South Korea's first goal with a free kick against Togo in a 2–1 win.[18]
On November 5,2015,when he was about to retire from active duty,he appeared on JTBC Newsroom. During the broadcast,Lee confessed that he intentionally hit Paolo Maldini in the head during the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Italy.[21]
In December 2015,he appeared on the King of Mask Singer in Episode 38 as (with the stage name "Know Thyself Socrates") show and displayed his singing skills.[22]
In 2019,He was appointed as the head of strength and conditioning for his hometown team Incheon United ahead of the 2019 season,[24] but resigned from the position in August 2020.[25]
In January 2021,he was appointed as the Chairman of the Social Contribution Committee of the Korea Football Association.[26]
In June 2021,Lee signed a contract with DH Entertainment.[27]
In October 2024,he participated in the Nexon Icon Match in Korea as a striker team.[28]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club,season and competition[1][3]
↑ Ahn, Tae-hyun (15 September 2021). 축구 유망주 발굴 '골든일레븐' 시즌2로 돌아온다['Golden Eleven', the discoverers of football prospects, will return as season 2.]. Naver (in Korean). News1. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
↑ Park, Jin-hee (22 October 2021). 이천수-심하은, MBC에브리원 예능 '브래드PT&GYM캐리' 제작발표회[Lee Cheon-soo and Shim Ha-eun, a presentation of MBC Every1's entertainment show 'Brad PT & GYM Carry']. Naver (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
↑ Jang, Jin-ri (11 February 2022). 이천수, '살림남2' 합류…쌍둥이 폭풍 성장 근황 공개[Lee Cheon-soo appeared in 'Mr. House Husband 2'...the twin's recent lives after the explosive growths were released.]. Naver (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
↑ Ji, Seung-hoon (14 April 2022). WC 레전드 VS 강철 군대 격돌...'군대스리가', 5월 첫방 (공식)[WC Legends VS Steel Army...the 'Gundesliga' (Military Bundsliga) will premiere in May. (Official)]. Naver (in Korean). YTN. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
↑ Choi, Na-young (9 December 2021). 김이나♥︎조영철→야옹이♥︎전선욱, 파격 예능 동반출격('쌍쌍 인비테이셔널')[Ina Kim ♥︎ Jo Young-cheol → Yaong-i ♥ Jeon Seon-wook, simultaneous sortie into a preposterous entertainment show ('Ssangssang Invitational')]. Naver (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
↑ "Fanzone". AFC Asian Cup. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2020. "Official All-Star XI". BigSoccer. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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