Lee Chun-soo

Lee Chun-soo (Korean: 이천수; born 9 July 1981) is a retired South Korean football player. He played as a forward for the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup.

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Lee Chun-soo
Lee with Incheon United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Lee Chun-soo
Date of birth (1981-07-09) 9 July 1981
Place of birth Incheon, South Korea
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1994–1996 Bupyeongdong Middle School
1997–1999 Bupyeong High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Korea University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 36 (15)
2003–2005 Real Sociedad 13 (0)
2004–2005 → Numancia (loan) 15 (0)
2005–2007 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 48 (17)
2007–2009 Feyenoord 12 (0)
2008 → Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan) 3 (0)
2009 → Jeonnam Dragons (loan) 7 (4)
2009–2010 Al-Nassr 16 (3)
2010–2011 Omiya Ardija 43 (8)
2013–2015 Incheon United 67 (5)
Total 260 (52)
International career
1999–2000 South Korea U20 14 (20)
1999–2006 South Korea U23 28[lower-greek 1] (11)
2000–2008 South Korea 78 (10)
Medal record
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia
/Thailand/Vietnam		Team
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Busan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Lee Chun-soo
Hangul
이천수
Hanja
李天秀
Revised RomanizationI Cheon-su
McCune–ReischauerI Ch'ŏnsu

Club career

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

Lee recorded seven goals and nine assists during 18 appearances in the 2002 K League, showing his talent in his first professional season.[2] After becoming a World Cup semi-finalist and the top assist provider of the K League at the tender age of 19, he was named the Asian Young Footballer of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation.[3]

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.[4]

Lee failed in Spain due to the difference in level between the La Liga and the K League, but he was still one of the best South Korean footballers. Although he rejoined Ulsan in mid-season, his performance was invaluable for the capture of the 2005 league. He especially scored a hat trick in the first leg of the championship final.[5] He was subsequently named the K League's Most Valuable Player.[6]

The next year, he left a memorable game against Gamba Osaka at the A3 Champions Cup. He played only 45 minutes of the game due to a cold, but scored a hat-trick.[7]

Feyenoord

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.[8] 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.

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.[9]

Incheon United

In March 2010, he left Al-Nassr because the club did not give his wages for three months.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13]

International career

In 1999, Lee was selected for the South Korean under-20 team, participating in the Bangabandhu Cup. He scored five goals against Thailand in his debut game,[14] and also scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Brazil.

Lee was also a member of the South Korean under-23 team in the 2000 Summer Olympics. In a group match against Morocco, he almost missed a crucial penalty, but succeeded in scoring from the rebound.[15]

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.[16] 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.[16]

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.[17]

After retirement

In 2005, he took a special seminar at Goyang Baekyang Middle School with Chung Mong-joon, president of the Korea Football Association.

In June 2014, he starred in an SNL Korea episode, when he played a parody of the game Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 called "GTA Winner Eleven 2014" alongside Kim Min-kyo.[18]

In December 2015, he appeared on the King of Mask Singer show and displayed his singing skills.

As of March 2016, he is a commentator for JTBC3 Fox Sports.

In June 2021, Lee signed a contract with DH Entertainment.[19]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[1][2]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2002K League 1873200—219
2003K League 18800——188
Total 36153200—3917
Real Sociedad 2003–04La Liga 13020—60210
Numancia (loan) 2004–05La Liga 15010——160
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2005K League 1471000—157
2006K League 1850062633010
2007K League 16510102—277
Total 481720164637224
Feyenoord 2007–08Eredivisie 12020——140
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan) 2008K League 300011—41
Jeonnam Dragons (loan) 2009K League 741010—94
Al-Nassr 2009–10Saudi Pro League 1630000—163
Omiya Ardija 2010J1 League 1622200—184
2011J1 League 2761000—286
Total 43832164634610
Incheon United 2013K League 1 19210——202
2014K League 1 28100——281
2015K League 1 20200——202
Total 67510——685
Career total 2605215418512330564

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[20]
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea 200092
200171
2002161
200360
200441
200580
2006173
2007102
200810
Career total7810
Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Lee Chun-soo
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 5 April 2000Seoul, South Korea 1 Laos3–09–02000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2 7 April 2000Seoul, South Korea 2 Mongolia5–06–02000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 13 September 2001Daejeon, South Korea 11 Nigeria1–22–2Friendly
4 16 May 2002Busan, South Korea 23 Scotland1–04–1Friendly
5 8 September 2004Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 40 Vietnam2–12–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 29 January 2006Hong Kong 54 Croatia2–02–02006 Lunar New Year Cup
7 22 February 2006Aleppo, Syria 58 Syria2–12–12007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
8 13 June 2006Frankfurt, Germany 63 Togo1–12–12006 FIFA World Cup
9 6 February 2007London, England 68 Greece1–01–0Friendly
10 29 June 2007Seogwipo, South Korea 71 Iraq2–03–0Friendly

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Note(s) Ref.
2021 Golden Eleven 2 Himself [21]
2021 Brad PT & GYM Carry Himself [22]
2022–present Mr. House Husband 2 Himself [23]
2022 Gundesliga Himself [24]

Web series
Year Title Role Ref.
2021 Ssangssang Invitational Himself [25]

Honours

Player

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

Feyenoord

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Incheon United

South Korea U23

South Korea

Individual

Television personality
List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Lee Chun-soo
Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
KBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Top Excellence Award in Reality Category Mr. House Husband 2 Won [38]

Notes
  1. Includes six appearances and one goal as an overage player in Asian Games.

References
  1. Lee Chun-soo at Soccerway
  2. Lee Chun-soo – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)
  3. "Asian Player of the Year". RSSSF. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  4. "(LEAD) Controversial footballer Lee Chun-soo returns to pro league". Yonhap News Agency. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  5. 골…골…골 '이천수의 날' 챔프결정 1차전 해트트릭에 1도움 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 27 November 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  6. 2005 삼성 하우젠 K리그 대상 열려, MVP에는 이천수. Naver.com (in Korean). Sportalkorea. 28 December 2005.
  7. 이천수 '해트트릭' K리그 기살렸다 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 6 August 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  8. 이천수 축구인생 망친 사기사건 전말 (in Korean). Ilyo Shinmun. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. 이천수, 사우디 알 나스르에서 끝내 방출 (in Korean). Gyeonggi Ilbo. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  10. 이천수, 사우디에서 비밀 귀국...임금 체불한 알 나스르와 결별 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. [단독]이천수, K-리그 복귀 확정, 인천행 유력. Naver.com (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. 1381일 만에 복귀전… "이천수 살아있네" (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  13. Kim, Woo-jong (24 March 2016). '아듀 풍운아여~' 이천수, 24일 레바논전서 은퇴식 '작별 인사' (in Korean). Starnews Korea.
  14. "Lee Chun-soo at Korea Football Association" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  15. [올림픽] 한국축구 모로코에 1:0 첫 승 (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. 17 September 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. <대표팀결산:한국축구 내가 이끈다> ⑥이천수. Naver.com (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. "이천수! 환상적인 오른발 프리킥 동점골!" 2006년 독일 월드컵 토고전 (다시 보는 골장면) (in Korean). SBS. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  18. "SNL Korea - GTA Winner Eleven (GTA 위너일레븐)". SNL Korea (English subtitles by Bumdidlyumptious2) – via YouTube.
  19. Kim Mi-hwa (22 June 2021). "이천수·현영민→'정답소녀' 김수정, DH엔터 한솥밥 [공식]". naver (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  20. "Lee Chun-soo at Korea Football Association" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  21. 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.com (in Korean). News1. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  22. 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.com (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  23. 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.com (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  24. 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.com (in Korean). YTN. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  25. 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.com (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  26. Lee, Seung-soo; Schöggl, Hans; Trevena, Mark (13 May 2020). "South Korea - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  27. Lee, Seung-soo; Trevena, Mark (8 April 2020). "South Korea - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  28. Nakanishi, Masanori; Lee, Seung-soo (14 June 2007). "East Asian Champions Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  29. van Seventer, Mark (1 September 2005). "Netherlands Cup (Amstel Cup) 2004/05". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  30. "Football Men's (Final Result) - Match Schedule". Busan Asian Games. Archived from the original on 10 January 2003. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  31. Stokkermans, Karel (7 February 2019). "Asian Nations Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  32. '득점왕' 에드밀손-'도움왕' 이천수 선정 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 18 November 2002. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  33. 2002년 K-리그 시상식 21일 개최. Naver.com (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 20 December 2002.
  34. "Lee chun Soo, of South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai, receives 'MVP' at the closing ceremony of the A3 Champions Cup 2006 at the National Stadium, in Tokyo, Japan, on August 8, 2006". Alamy. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  35. 울산 현대 'A3컵' 안았다…이천수 MVP·득점왕 (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  36. "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.
  37. 축구팬 '그리스전 이천수 프리킥골이 올해 최고' (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  38. Bae, Soo-jung (25 December 2022). [종합] ‘KBS 연예대상’ 신동엽, SF9 찬희의 ‘대상 10년 주기설’에 설마‥2002-2012년 이후 10년 만에 또 대상 “얄궂다 [Grand Prize winner of the KBS Entertainment Awards Shin Dong-yeop has won the Grand Prize every ten years since 2002.] (in Korean). Topstarnews. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
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