Lee Jung-soo (Korean: 이정수; born 8 January 1980) is a South Korean retired professional footballer and manager who is the head coach of Thai League 1 club Kanchanaburi Power.

Club career

Career in South Korea

After graduating from Kyung Hee University in 2002, Lee started his professional career at a K League club Anyang LG Cheetahs. (renamed FC Seoul since 2004) He was originally a forward, but Anyang's manager Cho Kwang-rae advised him to change his role to a defender. He played for Anyang LG Cheetahs/FC Seoul, Incheon United, and Suwon Samsung Bluewings as a defender in the K League, and won a league title with Suwon in 2008.

Career in Japan

In 2009, Lee joined J1 League side Kyoto Sanga. He scored five goals in the 2009 season, showing his scoring ability. Lee also participated in the Jomo Cup, contested between K League and J.League all-star team, and was named the MVP of the game. Lee joined another J1 League club Kashima Antlers the next year, playing for it for half a year. He transferred to a Qatari club Al-Sadd after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Al-Sadd

In the 2011 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg against his former club Suwon, Lee was involved in a heated argument with Al-Sadd teammates following Mamadou Niang's controversial second goal, which was scored after Suwon claimed to have put the ball out to allow treatment to injured players, thus inferring possession should have been returned to the Korean club. Lee said that the goal was "unfair" and suggested Al-Sadd should give a goal back although the idea was rejected. The situation prompted Lee to walk off the pitch requiring his manager Jorge Fossati to substitute him with Ibrahim Majid for the remainder of additional time.

Al-Sadd won the AFC Champions League final against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties. Lee was chosen to take a penalty but his shot hit the crossbar, making him the only Al-Sadd player to miss in the penalty shootout.

In June 2012, a Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande confirmed their interest in signing Lee and, according to the Jinghua Times, claimed that they signed him following his contract rejection from Al-Sadd. However, Lee rejected the Guangzhou's offer and signed a one-year extension with Al-Sadd.

Retirement

In the 2015–16 season, Lee suffered hand and calf injury, and Al-Sadd showed a poor defence due to his absence. His team needed a new centre-back to replace him, and offered him a job as a coach instead. However, he wanted to continue his playing career, courteously declining it. After leaving Al-Sadd in January 2016, he rejoined Suwon the next month, and announced his retirement the next year.

In February 2018, Lee joined Charlotte Independence of the United Soccer League unexpectedly. He started his coaching career after playing for Charlotte for a while.

International career

Lee was one of South Korea's major contributors when his country reached the knockout stage in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He largely helped South Korea's attack by scoring two set-piece goals in the group stage.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 September 2018

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Seoul2002K League910020—111
2003K League18110———191
2004K League200000——20
Total292102000322
Incheon United2004K League1101090——210
2005K League910080——171
Total201101700000381
Suwon Samsung Bluewings2006K League23220130——382
2007K League600040——100
2008K League1711070——251
Total463302400000733
Kyoto Sanga2009J1 League32510——335
Kashima Antlers2010J1 League10300005110164
Al-Sadd2010–11Qatar Stars League19252—244
2011–12Qatar Stars League1517030251
2012–13Qatar Stars League212—212
2013–14Qatar Stars League2224080342
2014–15Qatar Stars League242120362
2015–16Qatar Stars League111——111
Total11210403223015112
Suwon Samsung Bluewings2016K League 127340—00—313
2017K League 13000—20—50
Total30340002000363
Charlotte Independence2018United Soccer League13000———130
Career total29227904803934039230

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea200850
2009111
2010173
2011141
201260
201310
Career total545

Results list South Korea's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Lee Jung-soo
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
15 September 2009Seoul, South KoreaAustralia2–03–1Friendly
218 January 2010Málaga, SpainFinland2–02–0Friendly
312 June 2010Port Elizabeth, South AfricaGreece1–02–02010 FIFA World Cup
422 June 2010Durban, South AfricaNigeria1–12–22010 FIFA World Cup
525 March 2011Seoul, South KoreaHonduras1–04–0Friendly

Honours

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Kashima Antlers

Al-Sadd

South Korea U20

South Korea B

South Korea

Individual

External links

  • – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean and English)
  • (in Korean)
  • – FIFA competition record (archived)
  • at National-Football-Teams.com
  • at J.League () (in Japanese)
  • (in Japanese)