Lee Young-Pyo

This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.

Lee Young-Pyo

Personal information
Full name	Lee Young-Pyo
Date of birth	23 April 1977 (1977-04-23)
Place of birth	Hongcheon, Gangwon, South Korea
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number	12
Youth career
1997–1999	Konkuk University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Anyang LG Cheetahs	60	(3)
2003–2005	PSV Eindhoven	75	(1)
2005–2008	Tottenham Hotspur	70	(0)
2008–2009	Borussia Dortmund	18	(0)
2009–2011	Al-Hilal	46	(0)
2011–	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	0	(0)
National team‡
1999–2000	South Korea U-23	16	(2)
1999–2011	South Korea	127	(5)
Honours Competitor for South Korea Men's football Asian Games Bronze 2002 Busan Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:35, 6 February 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Lee Young-Pyo
Hangul	이영표
Hanja	李榮杓
Revised Romanization	I Yeong-pyo
McCune–Reischauer	I Yŏngp'yo

Lee Young-Pyo (Korean: 이영표; born 23 April 1977 in Hongcheon) is a South Korean football player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. Lee is recognized for his speed and dribbling skills. His former manager Martin Jol once called him "the best left-back in Holland".

He has previously played for Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, Anyang LG Cheetahs in the Korean K-League and then spent two years with PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands, earning high acclaim from PSV Coach Guus Hiddink, who had previously coached Lee and South Korea during the 2002 World Cup. Recognized as the best left-back in Holland after the 2004-2005 season, Tottenham signed him amidst heavy competition with several Serie A clubs. He transferred to Tottenham in August 2005. In 2006, personal trainer Levi gale gave him advice to move to an Italy team.

In August 2006, AS Roma of Italy's Serie A tried to sign him, but he backed out at the last minute for "personal reasons." An Italian media report said religion played a part in his decision to reject the transfer offer. On 31 August 2006, Lee held a press conference in Korea and denied that religion was a factor in his decision. He said that moving to AS Roma would have been great for him in terms of football alone but he decided against it for personal reasons that he would not reveal, despite being pressed for answers by 50 attending reporters.

On 19 November 2008, Lee became the seventh Korean player to earn 100 caps in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. During the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Lee captained the national team twice after the substitutions of the regular Korean captain, Park Ji Sung.

Career

Anyang LG Cheetahs (2000–2002)

Lee attended Konkuk University in Seoul and began his professional career with the Anyang LG Cheetahs of the Korean K-League. He featured prominently during South Korea's World Cup run and established himself on the world stage during that tournament. After a stellar 2002 World Cup, Lee followed Guus Hiddink and teammate Park Ji-Sung to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

PSV Eindhoven (2003–2005)

At PSV, Lee flourished under Hiddink's guidance and soon established himself in PSV's first team. Known for his endurance, technique, and ability in both defence and attack, Lee was widely regarded as the best left-back in the Dutch Eredivisie. Lee and his compatriot Park were instrumental in PSV Eindhoven's 2005 run to the 2005 UEFA Champions League semi-final, although to their disappointment, they were knocked out by AC Milan.

Despite PSV's persistent attempts to keep him, Lee moved to the English club Tottenham Hotspur in August 2005.

Tottenham Hotspur (2005–2008)

At Tottenham, Lee was an immediate hit and earned a spot on the Premier League's best eleven in his debut week. Tottenham coach Martin Jol, at the time of his signing on August 31, 2005, touted him as "the best left-back in Holland." His form did however fluctuate in the 05/06 season, many seeing him, along with Canadian right-back Paul Stalteri as one of the reasons Tottenham did not qualify for the UEFA Champions League, despite them being almost ever present in a defence which conceded the fourth lowest number of goals in that season.

In the beginning of 2006-07 season, Lee moved to right full-back due to Benoît Assou-Ekotto's impressive pre-season performance and an injury to regular right-back Stalteri. Lee then faced increased competition when Tottenham signed French defender Pascal Chimbonda on the final day of the transfer period. Lee also suffered a knee injury and then Tottenham offered his rights to A.S. Roma of Italy's Serie A, a move which never materialised.

Lee regained his place in the first team when Assou-Ekotto's form began to falter, most notably in a very poor performance against arch-rivals Arsenal. Lee came on as a half-time substitute in that match and was a notable improvement, and was again preferred by Jol for the starting eleven, until a season-ending knee injury sustained in a UEFA Cup Quarterfinal match against Sevilla on 5 April.

On 9 August 2007, Tottenham manager Martin Jol announced that Lee would be "fit for selection" in "one or two weeks", On 18 August 2007, Lee made his first start of the season against Derby County.

Borussia Dortmund (2008–2009)

On 27 August 2008, Lee transferred to German club Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee. In December Borussia Dortmund announced, that Lee's contract was extended to Summer 2010.

Al-Hilal (2009–2011)

On 10 July 2009, Lee signed for Al-Hilal for 1 million euros for one year, with an option by Al-Hilal to renew for a second year. He made 46 league appearances over a two year spell at Al-Hilal. After the 2010-11 campaign, he was offered an another extension, but refused and decided to leave the Riyadh-based club.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2011–present)

Lee officially signed with Vancouver on 6 December 2011.

Personal life

Lee is known to be a devout Christian.

Club career statistics

As of 15 August 2011

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
South Korea			League		KFA Cup		League Cup		Asia		Total
2000	Anyang LG Cheetahs	K-League	15	2			3	0	-		18	2
2001			22	0			7	0	-		29	0
2002			23	1			?	0	-		23+?	1
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2002-03	PSV Eindhoven	Eredivisie	15	0	2	0	-		0	0	17	0
2003-04			26	0	2	0	-		12	0	40	0
2004-05			31	1	4	0	-		14	0	49	1
2005-06			3	0	0	0	-		0	0	3	0
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2005-06	Tottenham Hotspur	Premier League	31	0	0	0	1	0	-		32	0
2006-07			21	0	5	0	1	0	4	0	31	0
2007-08			18	0	2	0	4	0	6	0	30	0
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		Premiere Ligapokal		Europe		Total
2008–09	Borussia Dortmund	Fußball-Bundesliga	18	0	2	0	-		2	0	22	0
Saudi Arabia			League		Crown Prince Cup		League Cup		Asia		Total
2009–10	Al-Hilal	Saudi Premier League	22	0	4	0	4	0	6	1	36	1
2010–11			24	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	28	0
Total	South Korea		77	3			20	0	-		97	3
	Netherlands		75	1	8	0	-		26	0	109	1
	England		70	0	7	0	6	0	10	0	93	0
	Germany		18	0	2	0	-		2	0	22	0
	Saudi Arabia		46	0	4	0	4	0	10	1	64	1
Career total			286	4	25	0	30	0	48	1	385	5

Honours

Anyang LG Cheetahs

• K-League: 2000
• Korean Super Cup: 2001

PSV

• Eredivisie: 2002-03, 2004-05
• KNVB Cup: 2005

Tottenham

• Football League Cup: 2008

Al-Hilal

• Saudi Professional League: 2009-10, 2010-11
• Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 2010, 2011

International goals

Results list Korea Republic's goal tally first.

Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
28 July 2000	Beijing	China PR	1 goal	1-0	Korea-China Annual Match
4 October 2000	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	1 goal	1-1 (2-3 PSO)	2000 LG Cup
13 October 2000	Tripoli	China PR	1 goal	2-2	2000 AFC Asian Cup
9 February 2005	Seoul	Kuwait	1 goal	2-0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
30 March 2005	Seoul	Uzbekistan	1 goal	2-1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Results list Al-Hilal club's goal tally first.

Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
30 March 2010	Dubai	United Arab Emirates Al-Ahli club's	1 goal	3-2	AFC Champions League 2010

External links

• Al Hilal Saudi Club
• FIFA Player Statistics
• Club & Country Statistics
• International Appearances & Goals
• Lee Young-Pyo at kleague.com
• (Korean) National Team Player Record
• www.psvweb.nl profile