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S.Korea's Park & Li Tie - Extra Asian flavour for Premiership
(thestar.com.my)
Updated: 2005-08-12 09:56
LONDON: When Manchester United face Everton in the opening match of the
Premiership on Saturday, most eyes will be on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio
Ferdinand and Roy Keane.
But thousands of miles away, millions will be following the debut of United's
four-million-pound South Korean recruit Park Ji-sung with the fixture given
extra spice by the fact that Chinese international Li Tie could be in the
Everton team.
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ASIAN FARE: When Manchester
United and Everton start their English Premier League campaign on
Saturday, South Korean Park Ji-Sung (left)and China’s Li Tie could be
lining up on opposite sides.
[thestar.com.my] |
Asian players have
clashed before in England's top league, but stars like Ji-sung and West Brom's
Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto have an extra reason to make a mark with the
World Cup Finals taking place next summer.
Li's fellow Chinese international Sun Jihai is back for another season at
Manchester City while Bolton have become the first Premiership club to put their
faith in a player from the Gulf in the shape of Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Ji-sung is the name that is exciting the region.
The 24-year-old midfielder played a major role in taking South Korea to the
semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002 and then joined coach Guus Hiddink at PSV
Eindhoven.
After helping the Dutch to the Champions League semi-finals last season, Park
has made his way to Old Trafford but insists his role will be much more than
just a marketing tool for fans in Asia.
“There are huge expectations from the Korean fans. But, just as importantly
for me, I want to show the fans in England what I can do,” said Ji-sung who
scored his first goal for United on their recent Asian tour.
“I'm here to compete for my place in the team. Sir Alex Ferguson has told me
that he thinks I can reach the standards set by my team-mates.”
Like United, Everton are also building a profile in the Far East and three
years ago signed the 27-year-old Li from Liaoning.
Keen to make an impact, they also became the third English side to launch a
Chinese website, written in Mandarin.
“Of all the sides in Europe we are probably the sixth or seventh most popular
behind clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich,”
said the club's marketing chief Andy Hosie.
United have also been tempted in China having signed 18-year-old Dong
Fangzhuo who featured on the club's pre-season tour to China.
United signed the striker in January, making an initial ￡500,000 (US$875,000)
down-payment in a deal which could rise to ￡3.5mil depending on the number of
first-team appearances he makes.
“He's a player, like a lot of our young players, who has potential and we
hope to develop that potential in the next two or three years,” said Ferguson
Dong is crucial from a commercial perspective because of the huge interest in
the club in China. Asia is a key market for a club which over the past three
years has opened at least 10 of its “Mega Stores” across the continent.
Across Manchester, Chinese defender Sun Jihai is a relatively long-standing
feature having signed for former boss Kevin Keegan in 2002.
Sun had the honour of becoming the first Chinese player to score in the
Premiership when he headed home in a 2-0 win over Birmingham in his second
season.
At West Brom, Inamoto has returned after a loan spell at Championship side
Cardiff City with manager Bryan Robson, the former England skipper insisting
that the Japanese star has a crucial role to play after seeing his career
curtailed by a broken leg on international duty last year.
“With all the international games he has come back a far fitter and stronger
player than when I first joined the club, that's why he's pushing for a regular
place here now,” said Robson.
“Ina has worked terrifically hard in closing people down and if he keeps
playing like that he has a chance to get into the team.”
If he is selected on Saturday, Inamoto could find himself up against Sun as
West Brom travel to Manchester City in their season opener.
The Premiership will have to wait until January to see Al-Habsi in action at
Bolton as he has to complete his commitments to Norwegian side Lyn Oslo.
The 23-year-old, rated the best keeper in Asia, has joined Bolton on a
three-and-a-half year deal.
“I've always wanted to play in the Premiership and it is very special that
Bolton want me to play for them,” said Al-Habsi.
“The club is going places and I was impressed with (manager) Sam Allardyce's
hopes for the future. With my strong ambition and Bolton's desire to be a top
club in Europe, the partnership fits perfectly.
“The move itself is a big step because I'm still young and I have a good
future ahead of me. This is a big deal because I will be the first goalkeeper
from my region to play in the English Premier League.”
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