Ji-Sung Park : The Unsung Hero

The Unsung hero for Manchester United

Not many had heard of his name when Manchester United signed a Korean named Ji-Sung Park from PSV Eindhoven. Yes, he had some decent CL experience with PSV Eindhoven and had a remarkable WC with South Korea in 2002, the consensus among the fans was that he was largely a “commercial” signing. They saw it as Manchester United wanting to increase their sales and fans in Asia, and nothing else. Well, he soon took all United fans by surprise. He has been a prominent figure in all big games for United, and has been Sir Alex’s go to man in all these games. Frankly, I personally had never expected him to do so well at the top level. Here’s looking at what he brings to the team.

If I am asked to use two words to describe Park, I will use the words energy and versatility. Energy because well, he has got legs for like 180 minutes. One moment he will be providing assists for our strikers to score, and if by mistake, some United player or him, has misplaced a pass, or has been dispossessed, he will be among the first to get back to get the ball back from the other team and start an attack again. He is also one of the most valuable players in counter-attacks, a strategy Manchester United uses often in big games, and that is where his pace and stamina comes in useful for the team.

Versatile players never excel in one specific thing, and are good in all aspects. Park fits that bill perfectly. He can play in any attacking midfield role easily and is very useful in the 4-5-1 position Manchester United use in big games. He is like a second striker who will find space and get into gaps, who can assist as well, and is also a brilliant tracker for the team. His pace and stamina make him an outstanding player for any team, leave aside United. What also amazes me is how he is so perfect at doing what he is told to do. You rarely see mistake by him, and works tirelessly throughout the game according to plan. He is an intelligent player, and that is what comes on top of my list while watching a player. Not tricks or dribbling ability, or goals. Its the vision that matters. It is how you make your runs and pass that matters for the team. It is afterall a team game. And Park is a true exponent of that. He seems to be a great follower of total football, and that is how he plays. And that is the reason Sir Alex banks on him and Fletcher in big games.

In his career at United, he has scored 16 goals in 116 appearance, but more than that it is the passes that lead up to the attack and his runs that have drawn defenders away, and his awesome defensive abilities, that make him the second name to go on the team list after van der Sar by Sir Alex. Such has been his contribution. Players like him and Fletcher don’t really come into the limelight . They don’t have the power and tricks of Ronaldo or Nani, they don’t have the aggressiveness of Rooney , they don’t have the ball control Messi possesses, dont give in great crosses every time like Valencia but what they have is hard work and determination and most importantly, discipline and heart. And that, my dear friends, is a very lethal combination

Take for example the Chelsea match last weekend, if it wasn’t for Park, we wouldn’t have won so convincingly, we wouldn’t have got the first goal, and we wouldn’t have dominated the midfield like we did. He was always there to cover the positions which were left empty, be it Ryan Giggs runs forward to aid Rooney and Chicharito or Evra’s runs forward to give in crosses. Park will be invaluable against Barcelona in the Champions League, and he is the man who will make the difference for United.

Players like him don’t come often. These are proper team players who will sit back and enjoy their game and duties while others take the limelight. But, the dedication and heart they bring into their game is something which will turn games in our favor. I think its finally time Park should be rewarded and acknowledged by the United faithful, for serving the club without complains and being the man whom Sir Alex and the team want to see perform, and win them matches.

To sum it up, this is what RIo Ferdinand said about him :

“He’s a real players’ player. Up there with best in world for movement and so intelligent and direct with runs off the ball. His work-rate is unreal; he adds a dimension no other player brings to the team. He’s underrated a real top player.” Rio Ferdinand, March 2009.