Lee Keun-ho

Lee Keun-ho (Korean: 이근호, born: 11 April 1985) is a South Korean footballer who plays for Daegu FC and South Korea national team. His pace, work-rate, and link-up plays mark him as a highly rated forward in Asia. South Korean international since 2007, he currently has 19 goals in 84 caps. He represented his country in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

For the younger footballers, see Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1993) and Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1996).

Lee Keun-ho
Lee in 2023
Personal information
Full name Lee Keun-ho
Date of birth (1985-04-11) 11 April 1985
Place of birth Incheon, South Korea
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Daegu FC
Number 22
Youth career
2004–2006 Incheon United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Incheon United 2 (0)
2007–2008 Daegu FC 46 (19)
2009–2010 Júbilo Iwata 36 (13)
2010–2011 Gamba Osaka 52 (19)
2012–2014 Ulsan Hyundai 33 (8)
2013–2014 → Sangju Sangmu (draft) 43 (19)
2014–2015 El Jaish 18 (2)
2015 → Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 15 (4)
2016 Jeju United 35 (5)
2017–2018 Gangwon FC 50 (8)
2018– Ulsan Hyundai 52 (6)
2021 → Daegu FC (loan) 30 (3)
2022– Daegu FC 26 (1)
International career‡
2003–2005 South Korea U20 9 (3)
2006–2008 South Korea U23 19 (5)
2007–2018 South Korea 84 (19)
Medal record
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Silver medal – second place 2015 Australia Team
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia/
Thailand/Vietnam 		Team
EAFF Championship
Gold medal – first place 2008 China Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Japan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 September 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 February 2018
Lee Keun-ho
Hangul
이근호
Hanja
李根鎬
Revised RomanizationYi Geun-ho
McCune–ReischauerYi Kŭn-ho
In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Club career

After graduating from Bupyeong High School, Lee joined local side Incheon United in 2004. He stayed in Incheon's reserve team for three years, but got a chance to play for a K League club after winning the Best Player award in the R League contested between reserve teams.[1] Daegu FC signed him at the beginning of 2007 season.

Daegu FC manager Byun Byung-joo brought the fast and extremely aggressive "bullet football" tactic to his team.[2] bringin Lee into the spotlight.[3] He became the top scorer among South Korean players in 2007 and 2008 K League.[1][4][5]

Lee wanted to leave for Europe after the end of the contract with Daegu in December 2008. Several European clubs showed their interest in him, and he was offered a trial from Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. However, he turned it down because he worried about the hard competition for a starting position in Blackburn.[6] He signed for J1 League club Júbilo Iwata on a nine-month contract in April 2009.[7][8] He tried to move to Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain in June after playing for Júbilo Iwata for two months,[9] but failed to negotiate with Paris. He finally signed a contract extension with Júbilo Iwata until July 2010.[10]

Lee joined Gamba Osaka in June 2010. He scored 15 goals while playing 32 matches for Gamba in the 2011 J1 League.[11]

On 10 January 2012, he returned to South Korea, signing for Ulsan Hyundai on a three-year deal. During a year in Ulsan, he led his team to the AFC Champions League title, winning the Asian Footballer of the Year award and the Champions League MVP award.[12] The next year, he was transferred to Sangju Sangmu to perform his military service as per South Korean law.

International career

Lee was selected for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands. However, for most matches, he remained in the bench, not playing a single match in the group stage, while his team-mate Park Chu-young made good impressions. He was confirmed in the Summer Olympics squad in 2006, and became the most valuable player in the squad to qualify for the Olympic games. He was selected for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, and also capped for the South Korea under-23 team in qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

On 29 June 2007, Lee made his senior team debut in a friendly against Iraq through substitution in the second half. Lee also managed to score his debut goal from an assist made by Lee Chun-soo.[13] On 15 October 2008, Lee scored two goals in a qualification match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against United Arab Emirates. On 19 November 2008, Lee scored the most important goal in his international career yet in an away game against Saudi Arabia, which ended South Korea's nineteen-year losing spell against the Saudis. Although he played in most of the qualification campaign, he was not named for the team to participate in the 2010 World Cup.

Lee was included in South Korea's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by showing good performances with three goals in the final round of the qualification. In their first group stage match against Russia on 17 June 2014, he came on as a substitute for Park Chu-young in the 52nd minute and scored his first ever World Cup goal in a 1–1 draw when his shot from outside the box was spilled by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev over his head and over the line.[14] He also assisted Koo Ja-cheol's goal in the second match against Algeria.[15]

Personal life

Lee was born in Incheon, South Korea. He is well known for his friendship with Ha Dae-sung. Having played together in elementary, middle, and high school, they also played together at Daegu FC. His older brother Lee Won-ho is coaching a local side in Incheon.

Lee is the inaugural president of FIFPro Korea, South Korea's official players' union, since it gained Candidate Member status.[16]

He has been supporting a former football player who suffered a heart attack during a match in 2011.[17][18]

In 2015, he was appointed as the promotional ambassador of the Purme Foundation, which helps disabled children in their path of rehabilitation and is based in Gangneung.[19][20] During his fellowship with the association, he organized several charity football matches and clinics to help the child patients by providing them with scholarships and appropriate equipment.[18][20] In 2017, he also donated a correspondent of ₩100 million (about $90,200) to the foundation.[20]

Following the forest wildfire that brought severe damages all over the Gangwon Province in 2019,[21][22] Lee offered financial support to help the process of recover and rebuilding.[17] He also made donations to the local health services in order to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

Thanks to his leading attitude both on and off the pitch and his charity activities, Lee was nominated for the 2020 FIFPro Merit Awards, three special prizes assigned to the footballers who distinguished themselves the most for their impact out of the playing field and their activism.[17][18]

Career statistics

Club
As of 18 September 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Incheon United 2004K League 001000——10
2005K League 001050——60
2006K League 200010——30
Total 202060——100
Daegu FC 2007K League 2082072——2910
2008K League 26113262——3515
Total 461952134——6425
Júbilo Iwata 2009J1 League 24121110——2613
2010J1 League 1210041——162
Total 36131151——4215
Gamba Osaka 2010J1 League 2045100——255
2011J1 League 3215100072—4017
Total 5219610072—6522
Ulsan Hyundai 2012K League 33821—1242[lower-alpha 1]14914
Sangju Sangmu (draft) 2013K League 2 251520———2715
2014K League 1 18400———184
Total 431920———4519
El Jaish 2014–15Qatar Stars League 182??—20??202
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 2015K League 1 154——20—174
Jeju United 2016K League 1 35510———365
Gangwon FC 2017K League 1 37820———398
2018K League 1 13000———130
Total 50820———528
Ulsan Hyundai 2018K League 1 22451———275
2019K League 1 18200—30—212
2020K League 1 12030—80—230
Total 52681—110—717
Daegu FC (loan) 2021 K League 1 30351—71—425
Daegu FC 2022 K League 1 26110—83—354
Career total 438107357245491021548130
  1. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[23]
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea 200731
2008115
2009132
201050
201172
201285
2013113
2014121
201550
201760
201830
Career total8419
List of international goals scored by Lee Keun-ho
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
129 June 2007Seogwipo, South Korea Iraq3–03–0Friendly
211 October 2008Suwon, South Korea Uzbekistan2–03–0Friendly
311 October 2008Suwon, South Korea Uzbekistan3–03–0Friendly
415 October 2008Seoul, South Korea United Arab Emirates1–04–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
515 October 2008Seoul, South Korea United Arab Emirates3–14–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
619 November 2008Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia1–02–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
74 February 2009Dubai, United Arab Emirates Bahrain2–22–2Friendly
828 March 2009Suwon, South Korea Iraq2–12–1Friendly
925 March 2011Seoul, South Korea Honduras4–04–0Friendly
1011 November 2011Dubai, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates1–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1129 February 2012Seoul, South Korea Kuwait2–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
128 June 2012Doha, Qatar Qatar1–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
138 June 2012Doha, Qatar Qatar4–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1415 August 2012Anyang, South Korea Zambia1–02–1Friendly
1515 August 2012Anyang, South Korea Zambia2–12–1Friendly
1626 March 2013Seoul, South Korea Qatar1–02–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
176 September 2013Incheon, South Korea Haiti3–14–1Friendly
1810 September 2013Jeonju, South Korea Croatia1–21–2Friendly
1917 June 2014Cuiabá, Brazil Russia1–01–12014 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Júbilo Iwata

Ulsan Hyundai

Sangju Sangmu

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

South Korea

Individual

References
  1. 이청용-기성용 등 축구 유망주 키운 ‘R리그’의 반가운 부활 (in Korean). Dong-A Ilbo. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. 후퇴를 모르는 변병주의 ‘총알 축구’ (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  3. 이근호, 토종 골잡이 자존심 세운다 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  4. 대구FC '킬러' 이근호 "올림픽 메달 따고 싶어요" (in Korean). Sports Hankook. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  5. [월드컵축구] 또 두 골!…이근호 '해결사란 이런 것' (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  6. "Free agent Lee Keun-ho ponders Blackburn move". Tribal Football. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  7. 이근호, 주빌로 이와타 이적확정…계약기간 9개월 (in Korean). Sportalkorea. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. "李 根 鎬（イ グノ）選手の移籍加入内定" (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  9. "Lee Move in Doubt". The Korea Times. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. "Lee Keun-ho Rejoins Jubilo Iwata". The Korea Times. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  11. "選手詳細 - イ グノ" (in Japanese). J.League. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  12. "Lee Keunho crowned Asian player of the year". FIFA. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  13. 베어벡호, 이라크에 3–0 완승…이천수 1골 1도움. Daum.net (in Korean). Mydaily. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. "Russia v South Korea: World Cup 2014 – as it happened". The Guardian. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. [한국 알제리] 이근호 `정확한 택배 어시스트` (in Korean). MBN. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  16. 이근호 프로축구선수협회장 "프로축구연맹·축구협회와 협력" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 26 February 2019.
  17. "Eight nominees for the 2020 FIFPRO Merit Awards - FIFPRO World Players' Union". FIFPRO. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  18. Neat, Paul (17 February 2021). "Lee Keun-ho Nominated For FIFPRO Merit Award". kleague.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  19. "Striker Lee Keun-ho to Promote Charitable Foundation". english.chosun.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  20. "Footballer Lee Keun-ho Donates W100 Million to Charity". english.chosun.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  21. "Massive wildfire wreaks havoc on Gangwon towns". koreatimes. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  22. "Wildfire Rips Along South Korea's Eastern Coast, Prompting National Emergency". NPR.org. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  23. "Lee Keun-ho (1985) at Korea Football Association" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  24. K-리그 베스트11 선정 발표…감독상은 파리아스. Naver.com (in Korean). YTN. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  25. 이운재, MVP 영예...신인상은 이승렬, 감독상은 차범근 감독. Naver.com (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 9 December 2008.
  26. 데얀, K리그 MVP..감독상은 최용수 '서울 천하'. Naver.com (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 3 December 2012.
  27. [2017 K리그 어워즈] 표심 분석…과반수 ‘MVP’ 이재성, 90% 지지 ‘영플’ 김민재. Naver.com (in Korean). SPOTVNEWS. 20 November 2017.
  28. "Livewire Lee name MVP". AFC. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
  29. Pierrend, José; Garin, Erik (18 January 2018). "Asian Player of the Year". RSSSF.
  30. <프로축구> 이근호 챌린지 MVP·득점상·베스트11 '싹쓸이' (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  31. 손흥민, 팬이 뽑은 '올해의 선수'…'올해의 경기'·'골'은? (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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