Tadanari Lee

Tadanari Lee (李 忠成, Ri Tadanari, born 19 December 1985) is a Japanese former footballer of Korean descent who last played as a striker or attacking-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Albirex Niigata FC (S). He has made 11 appearances for the Japanese national team. He is sometimes known as Chung, in reference to his Korean name, Lee Chung-sung.[2]

The native form of this personal name is Lee Tadanari. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Tadanari Lee
李 忠成
Lee with Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2010
Personal information
Full name Tadanari Lee[1]
Date of birth (1985-12-19) 19 December 1985[1]
Place of birth Nishitokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) striker, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Albirex Niigata (S)
Number 19
Youth career
1998–2000 Yokogawa Electric
2001–2003 FC Tokyo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 FC Tokyo 0 (0)
2005–2009 Kashiwa Reysol 108 (24)
2009–2011 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 70 (26)
2012–2014 Southampton 7 (1)
2013 → FC Tokyo (loan) 13 (4)
2014–2018 Urawa Reds 133 (24)
2019 Yokohama F. Marinos 10 (1)
2020–2021 Kyoto Sanga 22 (0)
2022– Albirex Niigata (S) 45 (21)
International career
2007–2008 Japan U-23 12 (4)
2011–2012 Japan 11 (2)
Medal record
FC Tokyo
WinnerJ.League Cup2004
Kashiwa Reysol
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2008
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Runner-upJ.League Cup2010
Urawa Reds
WinnerAFC Champions League2017
Runner-upJ1 League2014
Runner-upJ1 League2016
WinnerJ.League Cup2016
WinnerEmperor's Cup2018
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2015
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place2011 Qatar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:34, 18 November 2022 (UTC)
Tadanari Lee
Hangul
이충성
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Chung-seong
McCune–ReischauerYi Ch'ungsŏng
Japanese name:
Ri Tadanari (李忠成)

Lee is known in Japan for coming on as a substitute in the 109th minute of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Final held in Qatar and scoring his first international goal to secure a 1–0 win over Australia, giving Japan their fourth Asian Cup success.

Early life and family

Lee was born to third generation Zainichi Korean parents in Tanashi (present-day Nishitokyo), Tokyo.[3] He has Byeokjin Lee (벽진이씨) ancestry.[4] His father was also a footballer, who played for Yokohama Tristar FC in the Japan Soccer League.

His Korean name is Lee Chung-Sung (Korean: 이충성, Hanja: 李 忠成) and also had used pass name Tadanari Ōyama (大山 忠成, Ōyama Tadanari).[3]

Club career

Japan

Lee started playing football at Komine FC and later moved to Yokogawa Electric. In 2001, he joined FC Tokyo youth team and took second places at All Japan Club Youth Soccer tournament, Prince Takamado Cup and J.League Youth tournament. He briefly joined training squads for the South Korea U-19 and U-20 teams but not played at official games. He experienced severe discrimination from Korean teammates referring to him as a ban-jjokbari (half-Jap) with strong racial undertones.[5][6]

He was promoted to FC Tokyo in 2004 and moved to Kashiwa Reysol in 2005 and later joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2009.[7]

Southampton

On 11 January 2012, Lee secured a work permit to allow him to play for Southampton, who confirmed the free transfer on 25 January 2012.[8]

He made his debut for Southampton on 28 January 2012, as a substitute in a fourth round FA Cup match against Millwall.[9] Lee started and played the duration of the replay, failing to score as Millwall won 3–2 after a 92nd-minute winner from Liam Feeney.

He scored his first goal for Southampton in a 4–0 victory over Derby County on 18 February, with a "venomous strike into the far corner" of the goal.[10] He made his first league start one week later, a 3–0 victory away at Watford, with Lee winning a penalty for the third goal scored by Rickie Lambert. After damaging ligaments on 10 March 2012 Lee missed the rest of the season.[11]

His goal won the Southampton's Goal of the Season Award.

After 5 months out injured, he made his return to action with a goal in a 4–1 victory at Stevenage in the League Cup.

He was handed the number 19 shirt for the 2013–14 season after Southampton invited him back to the First Team. He made his first return to the Southampton team after year when starting in the League Cup against Bristol City.

On 14 January 2014 he was released from his contract at Southampton after a two-year spell.[12][13]

Return to Japan

On 14 February 2013, Lee returned to his former club, FC Tokyo on loan until the end of June.[14] He made his debut on 2 March 2013, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitutee. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 March 2013 in the 77th minute against two-time defending champion Kashima Antlers.[15]

Urawa Red Diamonds

He had a successful spell with Urawa Red Diamonds winning the 2016 J.League Cup, 2017 Suruga Bank Championship, 2017 AFC Champions League and the 2018 Emperor's Cup.

Albirex Niigata Singapore

After nine years in Japan, on 1 January 2022, Lee joined Singapore-based Albirex Niigata (S) on a one-year deal reportedly earning SGD$12,000 per month.l,[16] of which he will donate all of his goal bonus pay-outs, worth $200 per goal, to SportCares.[17] On 19 January 2022, he made his debut in the 2022 Singapore Community Shield, netting a penalty in a 2–1 loss to reigning 2021 Singapore Premier League champions, Lion City Sailors.[18]

He ended the 2022 season winning the 2022 Singapore Premier League title. On 12 December 2022, he extended his contract for another season, for the 20th year of his professional career playing in the 2023 Singapore Premier League season. On 14 September 2023, Lee announced via the club official page that he will retired at the end of the season. On the final league fixture against Hougang United, Lee scored a brace in a 5–0 home victory striking his trademark celebration as his team retain the league title.

International career

In August 2008, Lee was selected Japan U-23 national team for 2008 Summer Olympics. At this tournament, he played all 3 matches.[19]

After becoming a regular starter for Sanfrecce and finishing the 2010 season strongly, Lee was rewarded with a call-up to Japan's 2011 Asian Cup squad and made his full international debut on 9 January 2011 against Jordan.[20] His first international goal was in the 109th minute of the final to secure a 1–0 win over Australia and Japan's fourth Asian Cup success.[21]


Club statistics
As of end of 2018 season[22][23]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
2004FC TokyoJ1 League00---00
2005Kashiwa Reysol80-30-110
2006J2 League318---318
2007J1 League30101050-3610
20081944140-275
2009202-53-255
Sanfrecce Hiroshima8020--100
201030112032634116
20113215-10-3315
2011–12SouthamptonChampionship7120--91
2012–13Premier League001021-31
2013FC Tokyo (loan)J1 League134-62-196
2013–14SouthamptonPremier League000020-20
2014Urawa RedsJ1 League306008300389
2015242212150334
201633101052524414
20172130010104327
20182032082-305
2019Yokohama F. Marinos1010000-101
2020Kyoto SangaJ2 League500000-50
20211700000-170
2022Albirex Niigata (S)Singapore Premier League22106111-2912
2023Albirex Niigata (S)Singapore Premier League23110100-2411
CountryJapan 322781855115269417107
England 713041-142
Singapore 45 21 6 1 1 1 - 53 23
Career total 330792155516269432109

National team statistics

[24]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
2011102
201210
Total112

International career statistics

Appearances in major competitions
Team Competition Category Appearances Goals Team Record
Start Sub
 Japan2008 Summer Olympics qualificationU-22724Qualified
 Japan2008 Summer OlympicsU-23120Round 1
 Japan2011 AFC Asian CupSenior021Champion

Goals for senior national team
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 January 2011Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar Australia0–10–12011 AFC Asian Cup Final
2.7 October 2011Kobe Wing Stadium, Kobe, Japan Vietnam1–01–0International Friendly

Honours

Club

Sanfrecce Hiroshima[25]

Southampton

Urawa Red Diamonds

Yokohama F. Marinos

Albirex Niigata (S)

International

Japan[25]

References
  1. "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017: List of Players: Urawa Reds" (PDF). FIFA. 29 November 2017. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017.
  2. "Tadanari Lee". SaintsPlayers.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. "五輪ピッチに「新日本人」…在日のルーツと誇り胸に". Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  4. Kabe, Kiwamu (2008). Tadanari : Umaresodatta nihon no tameni : Tamashii no sutoraikā chunson. Goma Bukkusu. p. 18. ISBN 978-4-7771-0987-6. OCLC 675486671.
  5. "Lee wants a crack at Korea in AFC Asian Cup Qatar". JoongAng Ilbo. 10 January 2011.
  6. "'반쪽발이가 여긴 왜 왔느냐'는 말에 한국대표 꿈 접은 이충성" ['Why did half-Jap come here in Korea?' lost dream of a Korean national team member]. The Chosun Ilbo. 30 January 2011.
  7. "BRIEF-Soccer-Japan under-23 striker Lee joins Hiroshima". Reuters. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  8. Tadanari Lee secures work permit (From Daily Echo)
  9. "Millwall 1 – 1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  10. "Southampton vs Derby County". Southampton FC. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  11. "Striker Tadanari Lee misses rest of season". BBC Sport. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  12. "Lee departs". Southampton F.C. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  13. "Tadanari Lee: Japan striker released by Southampton". BBC Sport. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  14. "Chung Makes Japan Return". Southampton FC. 14 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  15. Lee guides FC Tokyo past Antlers | The Japan Times
  16. Lee, David (28 December 2021). "SPL's Albirex Niigata sign former Japan striker Tadanari Lee". Straits Times. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  17. David LeeSports (23 April 2022). "Football: Albirex's Tadanari Lee to donate goal bonuses to SportCares". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  18. Auto, Hermes (19 February 2022). "Football: Dream debut for Kim as his brace helps Sailors beat Albirex 2-1 to win Community Shield | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  19. "Tadanari Ri Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  20. "Zaccheroni names Asian Cup squad". FIFA. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  21. "Australia 0 – 1 Japan". ESPN Soccernet. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  22. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 29 out of 289)
  23. Soccerway profile
  24. Japan National Football Team Database
  25. "Japan - T. Lee - Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
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