Lee Keun-ho

Lee Keun-ho (Korean: 이근호, born: 11 April 1985) is a South Korean footballer who plays for Ulsan Hyundai and South Korea national team. His pace, work-rate, and link-up plays mark him as a highly rated forward in Asia. South Korean international since 2007, he currently has 19 goals in 84 caps. He represented his country for two Asian tournaments, 2008 Summer Olympics and 2014 FIFA World Cup.

For the younger footballers, see Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1993) and Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1996).

Lee Keun-ho
이근호
Lee in December 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-04-11) 11 April 1985
Place of birth Incheon, South Korea
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Ulsan Hyundai
Number 11
Youth career
2004–2006 Incheon United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Incheon United 2 (0)
2007–2008 Daegu FC 46 (19)
2009–2010 Júbilo Iwata 36 (13)
2010–2011 Gamba Osaka 52 (19)
2012–2014 Ulsan Hyundai 33 (8)
2013–2014 → Sangju Sangmu (draft) 43 (19)
2014–2015 El Jaish 18 (2)
2015 → Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 15 (4)
2016 Jeju United 35 (5)
2017–2018 Gangwon FC 50 (8)
2018– Ulsan Hyundai 40 (6)
National team‡
2003–2005 South Korea U20 9 (3)
2006–2008 South Korea U23 19 (5)
2007– South Korea 84 (19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 February 2018
Lee Keun-ho
Hangul
이근호
Hanja
李根鎬
Revised RomanizationYi Geun-ho
McCune–ReischauerYi Kŭn-ho
This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.

Club career

After graduating Bupyeong High School, Lee joined his hometown club, Incheon United in 2004. However, he was surplus to requirement, and usually stayed in the reserve squad. In 2006 season, he was nominated as the Best Player in the R League, the Korean reserves league for Incheon Reserves.[1] Then, Daegu FC's manager Byun Byung-joo signed him at the beginning of 2007 season.

Newly appointed manager Byun brought intensively aggressive football to Daegu, named the "Bullet Football",[2] and Lee began to claim the spotlight with his powerful dribbles.[3] In his first season, he came seventh in the top scorers chart with eight goals, then came fifth in the 2008 season with eleven goals.[1] In both seasons, he became top scoring South Korean of the league between foreign players.[4][5] In his last game for Daegu, against Pohang Steelers in the semi-final of Korean FA Cup, he played full-time even with injury, but failed to rescue his side from a defeat. Daegu wanted to keep Lee, but he was willing to move to Europe, so in December 2008, his contract with Daegu expired, meaning he became a free agent. Several European clubs showed their interest in acquiring his talents. He was offered a trial at English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, however he turned them down because he worried about the competition for a starting position in the club.[6] In February 2009, it was again rumoured that Blackburn would be interested in signing the still free agent Lee Keun-ho, but again, he rejected the opportunity.

In April 2009, he signed for Júbilo Iwata, on a nine months contract.[7][8] He made six goals and four assists in his first eight league games. In June, he left the club, with some media linking him with Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1;[9] however, the move did not materialize.[10] In June 2010, he signed for Gamba Osaka, and spent his best season in the 2011 J1 League, having scored 15 goals for Gamba Osaka at 32 matches.[11]

On 10 January 2012, he returned to K League 1, signing for Ulsan Hyundai on a three-year deal. In his first season with the club, he won the 2012 AFC Champions League that was named as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and also named as the Asian Footballer of the Year at the end of the year.[12] He was transferred on 1 January 2013 to Sangju Sangmu on loan to complete his military service as per South Korean law.

International career

Lee was selected for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands. However, for most matches, he remained in the bench, not playing a single match in the group stage, while his team-mate Park Chu-young made good impressions. He was confirmed in the Summer Olympics squad in 2006, and became the most valuable player in the squad to qualify for the Olympic games. He was selected for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, and also capped for the South Korea under-23 team in qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

On 29 June 2007, Lee made his senior team debut in a friendly against Iraq through substitution in the second half. Lee also managed to score his debut goal from an assist made by Lee Chun-Soo.[13] On 15 October 2008, Lee scored two goals in a qualification match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against United Arab Emirates. On 19 November 2008, Lee scored the most important goal in his international career yet in an away game against Saudi Arabia, which ended South Korea's nineteen-year losing spell against the Saudis. Although he played in most of the qualification campaign, he was not named for the team to participate in the 2010 World Cup.

Lee was included in South Korea's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by showing good performances with three goals in the final round of the qualification. In their first group stage match against Russia on 17 June 2014, he came on as a substitute for Park Chu-young in the 52nd minute and scored his first ever World Cup goal in a 1–1 draw when his shot from outside the box was spilled by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev over his head and over the line.[14] He also assisted Koo Ja-cheol's goal in the second match against Algeria.[15]

Personal life

Lee Keun-ho was born in Incheon, South Korea. He is well known for his friendship with Ha Dae-sung. Having played together in elementary, middle, and high school, they also played together at Daegu FC. His older brother Lee Won-ho is coaching a local side in Incheon.

Lee is the inaugural president of FIFPro Korea, South Korea's official players' union, since it gained Candidate Member status.[16]

Career statistics

Club
As of 28 September 2019
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Incheon United 2004K League 001000——10
2005K League 001050——60
2006K League 200010——30
Total 202060——100
Daegu FC 2007K League 2082072——2910
2008K League 26113262——3515
Total 461952134——6425
Júbilo Iwata 2009J1 League 24121110——2613
2010J1 League 1210041——162
Total 36131151——4215
Gamba Osaka 2010J1 League 2045100——255
2011J1 League 3215100072—4017
Total 5219610072—6522
Ulsan Hyundai 2012K League 33821—1242[lower-alpha 1]14914
Sangju Sangmu (draft) 2013K League 2 251520———2715
2014K League 1 18400———184
Total 431920———4519
El Jaish 2014–15Qatar Stars League 182—20202
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 2015K League 1 154——20—174
Jeju United 2016K League 1 35510———365
Gangwon FC 2017K League 1 37820———398
2018K League 1 13000———130
Total 50820———528
Ulsan Hyundai 2018K League 1 22451———275
2019K League 1 18200—30—212
Total 40651—30—487
Career total 37010326624526621448121
  1. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Korea U20 200323
200410
200560
Total93
South Korea U23 200620
2007113
200862
Total195
South Korea 200731
2008115
2009132
201050
201172
201285
2013113
2014121
201550
201600
201760
201830
Total8419
Career total11227

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
129 June 2007Seogwipo, South Korea Iraq3–03–0Friendly match
211 October 2008Suwon, South Korea Uzbekistan2–03–0Friendly match
311 October 2008Suwon, South Korea Uzbekistan3–03–0Friendly match
415 October 2008Seoul, South Korea United Arab Emirates1–04–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
515 October 2008Seoul, South Korea United Arab Emirates3–14–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
619 November 2008Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia0–10–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
74 February 2009Dubai, United Arab Emirates Bahrain2–22–2Friendly match
828 March 2009Suwon, South Korea Iraq2–12–1Friendly match
925 March 2011Seoul, South Korea Honduras4–04–0Friendly match
1011 November 2011Dubai, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates0–10–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1129 February 2012Seoul, South Korea Kuwait2–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
128 June 2012Doha, Qatar Qatar1–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
138 June 2012Doha, Qatar Qatar4–14–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1415 August 2012Anyang, South Korea Zambia1–02–1Friendly match
1515 August 2012Anyang, South Korea Zambia2–12–1Friendly match
1626 March 2013Seoul, South Korea Qatar1–02–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
176 September 2013Incheon, South Korea Haiti3–14–1Friendly match
1810 September 2013Jeonju, South Korea Croatia1–21–2Friendly match
1917 June 2014Cuiabá, Brazil Russia1–01–12014 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Incheon United Reserves

Júbilo Iwata

Ulsan Hyundai

Sangju Sangmu

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

South Korea

Individual

References
  1. 이청용-기성용 등 축구 유망주 키운 ‘R리그’의 반가운 부활 (in Korean). Dong-A Ilbo. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. 후퇴를 모르는 변병주의 ‘총알 축구’ (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  3. 이근호, 토종 골잡이 자존심 세운다 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  4. 대구FC '킬러' 이근호 "올림픽 메달 따고 싶어요" (in Korean). Sports Hankook. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  5. [월드컵축구] 또 두 골!…이근호 '해결사란 이런 것' (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  6. "Free agent Lee Keun-ho ponders Blackburn move". Tribal Football. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  7. 이근호, 주빌로 이와타 이적확정…계약기간 9개월 (in Korean). Sportalkorea. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. 李 根 鎬（イ グノ）選手の移籍加入内定 (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  9. "Lee Move in Doubt". The Korea Times. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. "Lee Keun-ho Rejoins Jubilo Iwata". The Korea Times. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  11. 選手詳細 - イ　グノ (in Japanese). J.League. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  12. "Lee Keunho crowned Asian player of the year". FIFA. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  13. 베어벡호, 이라크에 3–0 완승…이천수 1골 1도움. Daum.net (in Korean). Mydaily. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. "Russia v South Korea: World Cup 2014 – as it happened". The Guardian. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. [한국 알제리] 이근호 `정확한 택배 어시스트` (in Korean). MBN. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  16. 이근호 프로축구선수협회장 "프로축구연맹·축구협회와 협력" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 26 February 2019.
  17. K-리그 베스트11 선정 발표…감독상은 파리아스. Naver.com (in Korean). YTN. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  18. 이운재, MVP 영예...신인상은 이승렬, 감독상은 차범근 감독. Naver.com (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 9 December 2008.
  19. 데얀, K리그 MVP..감독상은 최용수 '서울 천하'. Naver.com (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 3 December 2012.
  20. [2017 K리그 어워즈] 표심 분석…과반수 ‘MVP’ 이재성, 90% 지지 ‘영플’ 김민재. Naver.com (in Korean). SPOTVNEWS. 20 November 2017.
  21. "Livewire Lee name MVP". AFC. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
  22. Pierrend, José; Garin, Erik (18 January 2018). "Asian Player of the Year". RSSSF.
  23. <프로축구> 이근호 챌린지 MVP·득점상·베스트11 '싹쓸이' (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
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