Lee Dong-gook

Lee Dong-gook (Korean: 이동국, Korean pronunciation: [i.doŋ.ɡuk̚]; born 29 April 1979) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a striker for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He is a record scorer in the K League 1, and had brief spells in Europe with Werder Bremen and Middlesbrough. He has earned 105 international caps for South Korea since 1998, scoring 33 goals. He has played at two FIFA World Cups, two AFC Asian Cups and the 2000 Summer Olympics.

This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.
Lee Dong-gook
Lee in November 2009
Personal information
Full name Lee Dong-gook
Date of birth (1979-04-29) 29 April 1979
Place of birth Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Number 20
Youth career
1995–1998 Pohang Steelers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2007 Pohang Steelers 102 (38)
2000–2001 → Werder Bremen (loan) 7 (0)
2003–2005 → Gwangju Sangmu (draft) 46 (12)
2007–2008 Middlesbrough 23 (0)
2008 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 10 (2)
2009– Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 345 (158)
National team
1998–1999 South Korea U20 9 (6)
1999–2002 South Korea U23 29 (20)
1998–2017 South Korea 105 (33)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 December 2019
Lee Dong-gook
Hangul
이동국
Hanja
李同國
Revised RomanizationI Dong-guk
McCune–ReischauerI Tongguk

Club career

Pohang Steelers

Lee started playing football for Pohang Steelers and scored eleven goals with outstanding performance in his first season. He also contributed to team's title with two winning goals in the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship. He was named the K League Young Player of the Year and made his debut for the South Korea national team. In January 2001, he was sent on loan to Werder Bremen of Bundesliga but he did ot settle in Bremen and only appeared seven matches as a substitute during six months. At the 2002 Korean FA Cup, he led Pohang to the final by scoring in the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final, but failed to win. In March 2003, he left Pohang to perform his military service, joining the military team Gwangju Sangmu for two years. Early in the 2006 season, his performance was at its height with six goals in seven matches.[1] In April 2006, however, he tore the cruciate ligaments in his knee while playing in a league match that forced him out for six months, and was unable to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[2]

Middlesbrough

In January 2007, after being granted a work permit, Lee signed for Premier League club Middlesbrough on an 18-month contract.[3] On 24 February 2007, he made his debut, coming on as an 85th minute substitute for Yakubu in the 2–1 win against Reading.[4] On 29 August 2007, he scored his first goal against Northampton Town in the 2007–08 Football League Cup.[5] On 26 January 2008, he scored his second goal against Mansfield Town in the 2007–08 FA Cup.[6] However, he didn't score during 23 appearances in the Premier League and disappointed English fans.[7] His contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season and Middlesbrough decided not to extend his contract.[8]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Lee signed a contract with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2008. However, he was unsuccessful, and was transferred to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 2009 transfer window. On 15 March 2009, he scored a brace in his debut for Jeonbuk against Daegu FC. He became the top scorer in the 2009 K League, scoring 21 goals in 29 matches. Jeonbuk won the first league trophy in their history and he was named the Most Valuable Player. At the 2011 K League, he led team's second league title by recording 16 goals and 15 assists with 29 appearances. He became the Most Valuable Player and the top assist provider. He also led team to the 2011 AFC Champions League Final by scoring nine goals. Jeonbuk lost to Al Sadd after penalty shoot-out, but he was named the Most Valuable Player and top scorer. On 3 March 2012, he became the K League all-time leading scorer with 117 goals when he got two goals in the 2012 season opener against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.[9] On 15 March 2016, he scored his 30th AFC Champions League goal against Becamex Binh Duong and became the AFC Champions League all-time top scorer. On 26 November 2016, Jeonbuk won the 2016 AFC Champions League by defeating Al Ain in the final. On 2 June 2019, he scored his 200th career goal at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a match against Sangju Sangmu FC.[10]

On May 9 2020, Lee scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Suwon Bluewings, which was notable for being the first international league match, during the global COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

International career

Lee Dong-gook participated in the AFC U-19 Championship in 1998. He played with Kim Eun-jung as two top and led South Korea to win the title. Also, Lee was the top scorer and MVP of the competition.[12] Lee was a member of the South Korea national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He also took part in the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and finished top scorer with six goals.

In 2002, Lee was not chosen by Guus Hiddink to represent South Korea in 2002 FIFA World Cup. Fans called him "Lazy Genius", because they felt that he did not fully use his potential. This is also because Hiddink emphasized strong stamina, great power, and agile speed, which are the categories that Lee struggles in, except power.[13][14] He later admitted that he spent his days drinking and did not watch a single game that took place during the 2002 World Cup.[15]

Lee was coach Dick Advocaat's first-choice selection at forward for Korea ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but a knee injury suffered in a K League match forced him to miss the tournament.[2] On 1 November 2007, Lee was banned from the national team for twelve months after it was revealed that he, along with team captain Lee Woon-jae, teammates Kim Sang-sik and Woo Sung-yong, went on a late night drinking spree with several female employees during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, in which Korea received third place.[16] Unlike the other members who were involved in this incident, because Lee played for Middlesbrough in England, the KFA could not ban him from his club team matches.[17]

Lee was listed onto the national team line up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute in a game against Uruguay and nearly scored a goal but his shot lacked the power to clear the line. He played in qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup but was not listed on the final team for the tournament. After the World Cup he was recalled back to the team for a friendly match against Venezuela, where he scored a brace in a 3–1 victory, the national team's first win in nearly six months. In August 2017, Lee was called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier games against Iran and Uzbekistan, being one of the oldest players on the squad.

Personal life

Lee married Lee Soo-jin, a runner up of Miss Korea 1997, in December 2005.[18] The couple have five children: twin daughters Lee Jae-si and Lee Jae-ah (born 14 August 2007), twin daughters Lee Seol-ah and Lee Soo-ah (born 18 July 2013) and son Lee Si-an, nicknamed Daebak (born 14 November 2014).

Lee, along with his five children, has appeared on the Sunday variety show The Return of Superman (aired on KBS World TV)[19] from 2015 to 2019. The Return of Superman shows famous Korean fathers taking care of their children for 48 hours without their wife. Lee is the first on the show to have five children to take care of.[20]

Career statistics

Club
As of 1 December 2019
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pohang Steelers1998K League15700942411
1999K League1570041198
2000K League740010—84
2001K League17321——194
2002K League2174300—2510
2005K League1733074—277
2006K League1070000—107
Total102389421913251
Werder Bremen (loan)2000–01Bundesliga7000—0070
Gwangju Sangmu (draft)2003K League27110000—2711
2004K League1912043—254
2005K League——10—10
Total46122053—5315
Middlesbrough2006–07Premier League902000—110
2007–08Premier League1402121—182
Total2304121—292
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma2008K League1020030—132
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2009K League29214431—3626
2010K League28122021844017
2011K League29161000893825
2012K League402622—644832
2013K League 1301322—834018
2014K League 1311320—734016
2015K League 1331311—744118
2016K League 1271200—14[lower-alpha 1]54117
2017K League 1301010——3110
2018K League 1351320—844517
2019K League 133900—814110
2020K League 111000011
Total346159179527437442207
Career total 534211321436157437676277
  1. Includes one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup

International
As of 5 September 2017[21]
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea U20 199865
199931
Total96
South Korea U23 19991412
200063
200295
Total2920
South Korea 199880
199900
2000108
200161
200240
200310
2004108
2005154
200691
200770
200800
200940
2010103
201120
201285
201350
201443
201500
201600
201720
Total10533
Career total14359
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.
DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
17 February 2000Los Angeles Costa Rica1 goal2–22000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
7 October 2000Dubai Australia1 goal4–22000 LG Cup
19 October 2000Tripoli Indonesia3 goals3–02000 AFC Asian Cup
23 October 2000Tripoli Iran1 goal2–1 (a.e.t.)2000 AFC Asian Cup
26 October 2000Beirut Saudi Arabia1 goal1–22000 AFC Asian Cup
29 October 2000Beirut China PR1 goal1–02000 AFC Asian Cup
16 September 2001Busan Nigeria1 goal2–1Friendly
10 July 2004Gwangju Bahrain1 goal2–0Friendly
23 July 2004Jinan United Arab Emirates1 goal2–02004 AFC Asian Cup
27 July 2004Jinan Kuwait2 goals4–02004 AFC Asian Cup
31 July 2004Jinan Iran1 goal3–42004 AFC Asian Cup
8 September 2004Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam1 goal2–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 November 2004Seoul Maldives1 goal2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 December 2004Busan Germany1 goal3–1Friendly
9 February 2005Seoul Kuwait1 goal2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
30 March 2005Seoul Uzbekistan1 goal2–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 June 2005Kuwait City Kuwait1 goal4–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 November 2005Seoul Serbia and Montenegro1 goal2–0Friendly
15 February 2006Los Angeles Mexico1 goal1–0Friendly
7 February 2010Tokyo Hong Kong1 goal5–02010 EAFF Championship
14 February 2010Tokyo Japan1 goal3–12010 EAFF Championship
3 March 2010London Ivory Coast1 goal2–0Friendly
25 February 2012Jeonju Uzbekistan2 goals4–2Friendly
29 February 2012Seoul Kuwait1 goal2–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 September 2012Tashkent Uzbekistan1 goal2–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
14 November 2012Hwaseong Australia1 goal1–2Friendly
5 September 2014Bucheon Venezuela2 goals3–1Friendly
14 October 2014Seoul Costa Rica1 goal1–3Friendly

Filmography

Variety show
Year Title Network Role Note
2015–2019 The Return of Superman KBS2 Cast Episode 88–298

Honours

Player

Pohang Steelers

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

South Korea U20

South Korea U23

South Korea

Individual

Entertainer
YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2015 14th KBS Entertainment Awards Best Entertainer Award The Return of Superman Won
Male MC Newcomer Award Nominated
2016 15th KBS Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show Won
2018 16th KBS Entertainment Awards Daesang (Grand Prize) Nominated

References
  1. 이동국 ‘악’ 무릎 부상. Naver.com (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 5 April 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. "South Korea star out of World Cup". BBC Sport. 14 April 2006.
  3. "Middlesbrough complete Lee deal". BBC.co.uk. BBC Sport. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. "Middlesbrough 2–1 Reading". BBC.co.uk. BBC Sport. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  5. "Middlesbrough 2–0 Northampton". BBC.co.uk. BBC Sport. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  6. "Mansfield 0–2 Middlesbrough". BBC.co.uk. BBC Sport. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  7. "The worst strikers in the Premier League". Metro.co.uk. Metro. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. "Trio Move On". Middlesbrough FC. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  9. ‘라이언킹’ 이동국, 통산 최다 골 경신… 살아있는 전설 썼다. Hyundai-MotorsFC.com (in Korean). 3 March 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. Noh, Joo-hwan (2 June 2019). [K리그1현장리뷰]문선민 환상 발리골+이동국 200호골 전북 1위 탈환, 2-0 수적우위 상주 제압했다 [Moon Sun-min's fantasy volley ball plus Lee Dong-gook's 200th goal, recaptured Jeonbuk's No. 1 spot, and defeated Jeonbuk's 2-0 superior Sangju] (in Korean). Sports Chosun.
  11. McCurry, Justin (8 May 2020). "It's back: all eyes on Jeonju as football returns with K-League kick-off". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. "U-19 Championship Roll of Honour". AFC. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  13. 이동국, 이젠 더 높이 비상하라!. Daum.net (in Korean). OhmyNews. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  14. 이동국 '더 이상 '국제용' 꼬리표 사절'. Daum.net (in Korean). JoyNews24. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  15. 이동국 "내 몫까지 잘 싸워다오". Daum.net (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  16. "South Korea ban Boro's Dong-Gook". BBC Sport. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  17. “K-리그는 괜찮아?” 음주파동 4인방 형평성 ‘논란’. Dailyseop.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  18. 축구선수 이동국 결혼 (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  19. "New Family with Two Sets of Twins Confirmed to Join "Superman Returns"!". Soompi. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  20. "'Superman Is Back' to add another family to the show – soccer player Lee Dong Gook and his five kids!". allkpop.com. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  21. "Lee Dong-gook's official record of the national team" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  22. 한국,일본꺾고 청소년축구 2연패 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 2 November 1998.
  23. -올스타축구- 6만관중 환호속 남부팀 대승 6-2 (in Korean). Yonhap. 16 August 1998.
  24. -프로축구 올스타전- 이동국, 생애 두번째 MVP (in Korean). Yonhap. 5 August 2001.
  25. K리그 올스타전, MVP 이동국 (in Korean). SBS. 15 August 2003.
  26. MVP 이동국… 히딩크 앞에서 해트트릭 (in Korean). Kyunghyang. 5 July 2012.
  27. 고종수 MVP 베스트11 뽑혀'겹경사'이동국은 신인왕 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 8 January 1999.
  28. "Asian Nations Cup 2000". RSSSF. 4 March 2011.
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  32. [2009 K리그 대상] 이동국 '별중의 별' MVP 수상 (in Korean). Best Eleven. 22 December 2009.
  33. [K리그]전북 이동국 2년 만에 MVP…신인왕은 이승기 (in Korean). Newsis. 6 December 2011.
  34. [K리그 대상] 이동국, 클래식 MVP 수상...3관왕 영예 (in Korean). Sportalkorea. 1 December 2014.
  35. K리그 대상 이동국 MVP·이재성 영플레이상 수상 (in Korean). SBS. 1 December 2015.
  36. 데얀, K리그 MVP..감독상은 최용수 '서울 천하' (in Korean). Yonhap. 3 December 2012.
  37. Match & Result. EAFF. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
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