Lee Jung-soo (; born 8 January 1980) is a South Korean retired professional footballer and manager, who is the assistant coach of Thai League 2 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
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeason LeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFC Seoul2002K League910020—1112003K League18110———1912004K League200000——20Total292102000322Incheon United2004K League1101090——2102005K League910080——171Total201101700000381Suwon Samsung Bluewings2006K League23220130——3822007K League600040——1002008K League1711070——251Total463302400000733Kyoto Sanga2009J1 League32510——335Kashima Antlers2010J1 League10300005110164Al-Sadd2010–11Qatar Stars League19252—2442011–12Qatar Stars League15170302512012–13Qatar Stars League212—2122013–14Qatar Stars League22240803422014–15Qatar Stars League2421203622015–16Qatar Stars League111——111Total11210403223015112Suwon Samsung Bluewings2016K League 127340—00—3132017K League 13000—20—50Total30340002000363Charlotte Independence2018United Soccer League13000———130Career total29227904803934039230
International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea200850200911120101732011141201260201310Career total545
Results list South Korea's goal tally first. +List of international goals scored by Lee Jung-soo No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition1 5 September 2009 Seoul, South Korea 2–0 3–1 Friendly2 18 January 2010 Málaga, Spain 2–0 2–0 Friendly3 12 June 2010 Port Elizabeth, South Africa 1–0 2–0 2010 FIFA World Cup4 22 June 2010 Durban, South Africa 1–1 2–2 2010 FIFA World Cup5 25 March 2011 Seoul, South Korea 1–0 4–0 Friendly
Honours Suwon Samsung Bluewings K League 1: 2008 Korean FA Cup: 2016 Korean League Cup: 2008
Kashima Antlers Japanese Super Cup: 2010
Al-Sadd Qatar Stars League: 2012–13 Emir of Qatar Cup: 2014, 2015 Qatari Stars Cup: 2010 Qatar Cup runner-up: 2012, 2013 Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2014 AFC Champions League: 2011
South Korea U20 AFC Youth Championship: 1998
South Korea B East Asian Games silver medal: 2001
South Korea AFC Asian Cup third place: 2011 EAFF Championship runner-up: 2010
Individual K League All-Star: 2008 J.League All-Star Soccer Most Valuable Player: 2009 J.League All-Star: 2009 Qatar Stars League Team of the Season: 2013–14
References
External links
Lee Jung-soo – National Team stats at KFA
Kyoto Sanga F.C. Profile