[KS] Korean and other Asian footballers in England

Afostercarter at aol.com Afostercarter at aol.com
Sun Oct 1 04:15:05 EDT 2006


Dear friends and colleagues,

This may be of interest, on several levels;
not least to students of image and representation.
(Highlightings are mine.)

Much as we academics deplore national stereotyping,
this Singaporean journalist evidently has no such compunction.
Or might some of it even be true, as he evidently believes?

(I don't follow sport at all, so for all I know people may
talk like this all the time in such circles, quite unaffectedly. Do they?)

Chusok greetings to one and all,
Aidan

AIDAN FOSTER-CARTER
Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Sociology & Modern Korea, Leeds University 

Home address: 17 Birklands Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3BY, UK 
tel: +44(0)  1274  588586         (alt) +44(0) 1264 737634          mobile:  
+44(0)  7970  741307 
fax: +44(0)  1274  773663         ISDN:   +44(0)   1274 589280
Email: afostercarter at aol.com     (alt) afostercarter at yahoo.com      website: 
www.aidanfc.net
[Please use @aol; but if any problems, please try @yahoo too - and let me 
know, so I can chide AOL]

________________


http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.70300a17785a04285f53bcd7d3a0a0a0/?vgnextfmt=vgnartid:9758b054fcffd010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&
vgnextoid=9758b054fcffd010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD



MAKING A NAME IN THE MOST POPULAR FOOTBALL LEAGUE, South Koreans Park Ji Sung 
(above), Lee Young Pyo and Seol Ki Hyeon have commanded a regular place in 
the starting line-ups of their respective clubs. -- PHOTOS: AP, REUTERS


Oct 1, 2006 
Why Koreans are hot in EPL      [English Premier League - AFC]
Their superior fitness and speed make them more successful than their 
Japanese and Chinese counterparts 

By Leonard Lim 


TIDBIT No 1: Park Ji Sung is flat-footed, but has played for two top European 
sides and in two World Cups so far. 

Tidbit No 2: He has been nicknamed 'Three-lung Park' by Manchester United 
fans for his endless running. 

His pace, stamina and determination are attributes typical of Korean 
footballers. 

Not surprisingly, he and compatriots Lee Young Pyo (Tottenham) and Seol Ki 
Hyeon (Reading) have been able to settle into the Premiership better than other 
Asian players. 

Their attributes are well suited to the English game, which is characterised 
by quick attacks and an open running style. 

With cup (and sometimes European) games thrown in, players can be asked to 
play two or three matches a week. 

This calls for a very high level of fitness, which the Koreans have no 
problem matching. 

Two other Asians currently play in the Premiership. They are China's Li Tie 
(Sheffield United) and Sun Jihai (Manchester City). 

Both have yet to start this season. 

Other Asians who have made forays into the EPL, albeit unsuccessfully, 
include Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata, Akinori Nishizawa (both Bolton) and Junichi 
Inamoto (Arsenal, Fulham and West Brom), and China's Qu Bo (Tottenham). 

So what sets the Koreans apart from the other Asian players? 

Their high-tempo football, which allows them to adapt quickly to the 
Premiership. 

Said Robert Alberts, former director of coaching at the South Korean Football 
Association: 'If you look at the respective national teams and leagues, you 
would notice that the Korean style of play is very fast and aggressive. 

'This is very similar to the English game. 

'The Japanese employ a slow build-up when attacking. The emphasis is on 
tactical and technical play. 

'As for China, they are still finding the right structure. A lot of their 
play is based on individual skill.' 

Because of their different styles, the Japanese and Chinese players take time 
to blossom in the EPL. A few simply rot. 

Not so the Koreans. Their searing pace is something fans have come to expect 
since Guus Hiddink's super-fit team surprised many at the 2002 World Cup. 

They reached the semi-finals with a combination of tireless running and 
lightning-quick attacks, claiming Italy and Spain's scalps along the way. 

Said ESPN presenter John Dykes: 'Koreans are physical, competitive and 
hardworking. This makes them better suited for the physical demands of the EPL than 
perhaps the more creative but less physically dominant players.' 

Because English teams adopt a fast and physical approach, players have to 
cover a lot of space. Hence the need for speed and stamina, which suits the 
Koreans fine. 

Alex Ferguson said at the start of this season that Park 'has been blessed 
with good stamina, a great attitude and good character'. 

That the 25-year-old has been able to command a regular place at Old 
Trafford, where competition is keen, speaks volumes of his talent. 

Seol, a pre-season signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, has played a key 
role in newly promoted Reading's success so far. 

In the club's Premiership debut against Middlesbrough, the forward had a hand 
in two goals in their stunning 3-2 comeback win. 

Said Reading skipper Graeme Murty: 'Seol was fantastic. When we gave him the 
ball, he caused problems. 

'For his first game at this level, it indicates what a good signing he is.' 

On Sept 16, Seol scored his first Premiership goal as Reading won 2-1 at 
Sheffield United. 

Korea Herald sports editor Shin Yong Bae told The Sunday Times: 'Seol seems 
to be exceptional in adapting to life in the EPL.' 

Spending the past two seasons in the English Championship, another physically 
demanding league, with Wolves certainly helped. 

Lee, Park's former team-mate at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, took just one month 
to establish himself in the Spurs defence last season. 

He started 31 league matches and helped Martin Jol's side to fifth spot and a 
Uefa Cup place. 

Jol had tracked Lee since his PSV days, and was full of praise for him. 

'Lee is quite small, but very strong. His energy levels are such that, as 
they say in Holland, he could play three games at once,' the Dutchman once said. 

In today's modern game of tight schedules and high-octane matches, the 
importance of stamina cannot be over-emphasised. 

Said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez two weeks ago: 'Two days ago, I was 
watching Arsenal versus Liverpool from 1998. It was unbelievable, the difference 
in tempo. 

'They played well but it was very different. Now the players fly. You need to 
think quicker, run quicker, do everything quicker.' 

Because of their lack of endurance, the Japanese and Chinese have struggled 
with the punishing schedule and pace of the EPL. 

For the Chinese, this has caused them to be injured easily. 

In the 2003-04 season, Li Tie, then at Everton, was benched with injuries 
after an impressive season earlier. He was never able to break into the first 
team again. 

Since moving to the Blades on a free transfer in the summer, Li has appeared 
in only one Carling Cup game. 

In the Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore on Sept 6, the defensive 
midfielder struggled to impose himself and looked short of match fitness. 

Sun, who moved to City in 2002, has been plagued by hamstring, knee and ankle 
injuries. 

The 2003-04 campaign was his best season. Since then, he has never commanded 
a regular slot. 

As for the Japanese, their talent is unquestionable. But they lack 
consistency. 

Take for instance Nakata, arguably Japan's most famous football export. His 
play was characterised by excellent set-pieces and pinpoint passes, but he was 
unable to reproduce this week in and week out. 

At Arsenal and Bolton respectively, Inamoto and Nishizawa appeared in only 
the Carling Cup. At Inamoto's other EPL clubs, he often faded after bright 
starts. 

The Japanese players' strength lie in their technical skills, making them 
more suitable for slower leagues such as Italy's Serie A. 

Before his move to Bolton, Nakata had shone at Roma and Parma, winning the 
league title and Italian Cup respectively. 

Physical attributes aside, the Koreans' culture of deference may also have 
won them friends. 

According to Dykes, many Premiership managers say the Koreans are disciplined 
both on and off the pitch. 

Almost always, they are respectful to their manager, teammates, fans and the 
media. 

Park and company can certainly teach bad-boy Wayne Rooney a thing or two 
about courtesy. 

limze at sph.com.sg



_________________




English Premiership's Korean contingent

Park Ji Sung
Age: 25 Height: 1.73m Weight: 70kg 
Position: Attacking midfielder /winger 
Transfer: June 2005 from PSV Eindhoven for £4 million (S$12 million). 
Playing history (appearances, goals) 
2000-2003: Kyoto Purple Sanga (76, 11) 
2003-2005: PSV Eindhoven (64, 13) 
2005-present: Manchester United (37, 2) 
Out for about three months after injuring his ankle in the 1-0 win over Spurs 
on Sept 9. His ability to command a regular place last season despite the 
keen competition at Old Trafford, speaks volumes. The first Korean in the EPL, he 
made his debut on Aug 13 last year in Man U's 2-0 win over Everton. 
________________________________________
Lee Young Pyo 
Age: 29 Height: 1.78m Weight: 67kg 
Position: Left-back 
Transfer: August 2005 from PSV Eindhoven for £1.4 million 
Playing history 
2000-2002: Anyang LG Cheetahs (70, 3) 
2002-2005: PSV Eindhoven (82, 1) 
2005-present: Tottenham (34, 0) 
Hailed as ''the best left-back in Holland'' by Spurs manager Martin Jol 
following his switch from PSV Eindhoven, Lee is also comfortable in central 
midfield. He took only a month to establish himself as a regular in the Spurs 
backline following his transfer last year. 
________________________________________
Seol Ki Hyeon 
Age: 27 
Height: 1.83m Weight: 73kg 
Position: Striker 
Transfer: July 2006 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £1 million 
Playing history 
2000-01: Antwerp (25, 10) 
2001-05: Anderlecht (72, 18) 
2004-06: Wolverhampton Wanderers (69, 8) 
2006: Reading (6, 1) 
Started in all of Reading's Premiership matches, setting up two goals in 
their surprise opening-day 3-2 win over Middlesbrough. Scored his first 
Premiership goal in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sept 16. 
 
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