Known as the “Father of Overseas Football,” Park Ji-sung, who has the nickname “Haebeoji,” was one of the stars created by the 2002 World Cup. In the group stage of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, he scored a goal against Portugal that secured advancement to the round of 16 and his heartwarming embrace with coach Hiddink remains a memorable scene.
Ultimately, Park Ji-sung achieved the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals miracle and, after the World Cup, followed coach Hiddink to the Dutch league.
“Park Ji-sung’s Time at PSV Eindhoven”
Immediately after joining PSV Eindhoven with coach Hiddink, Park Ji-sung struggled to adapt in the Netherlands, leading to poor performances. He even faced jeers from home fans whenever he touched the ball on the pitch.
Witnessing this, Coach Hiddink only fielded Park Ji-sung in away games to help him regain confidence. Eventually, Park Ji-sung adapted to the Dutch league, showing significant improvement in his skills compared to before. As a result, he was able to turn those jeers into cheers.
Starting from the 2003-04 season, Park Ji-sung’s outstanding performance began to shine, playing a key role as a starter in the 2004-05 season. He actively contributed to PSV’s dominance in the Eredivisie and showcased resolute defense against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, drawing attention across Europe.
During this period, PSV reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2000s. Park Ji-sung’s standout performances against Olympique Lyonnais in the quarterfinals and AC Milan in the semifinals caught the eye of Manchester United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Consequently, after the 2004-05 season ended, Park Ji-sung transferred to one of the world’s renowned clubs, “Manchester United.”
“Park Ji-sung’s Performance at PSV Eindhoven”
At the time when Park Ji-sung was active, information about the Dutch league was scarce. There were no live broadcasts, and it wasn’t an era like now where a lot of information is readily shared online, making it difficult to know exactly how he performed in matches.
Fortunately, we now live in an era where the internet has advanced, making it relatively easy to find related materials online.
- 2002-03 Season: 8 games (2 starts)
- Eredivisie: 8 games (2 starts)
- 2003-04 Season: 40 games (30 starts), 6 goals, 4 assists
- Eredivisie: 28 games (19 starts), 6 goals, 2 assists
- Champions League: 5 games
- UEFA Cup: 5 games (4 starts), 2 assists
- KNVB Cup: 1 game
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 1 game
- 2004-05 Season: 44 games (43 starts), 11 goals, 7 assists
- Eredivisie: 28 games (27 starts), 7 goals, 5 assists
- Champions League: 11 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
- Champions League Qualifiers: 2 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
- KNVB Cup: 3 games, 2 goals
PSV compiled and released a video titled “Park Ji-sung’s Best 10 Goals at PSV Eindhoven” to highlight his short but impactful performances in the Dutch league. His goal against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, which was the pivotal moment leading to his transfer from the Dutch league, claimed the top spot in the list.