Lee Dong-gook
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Dong-Gook | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Middlesbrough | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 January 2007 | |||
Lee Dong-Gook (Korean: 이동국, Hanja: 李東國, born April 29, 1979 in Pohang, South Korea) is a South Korean football player also known as the Lion King among his fans.
He has played for several clubs, including Pohang Steelers and Werder Bremen of Germany's Bundesliga. He now plays for English Premiership club Middlesbrough. He was a member of the South Korea national football team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After the tournament he suffered many hardships, although he shone in the 2000 Asia Cup and finished top scorer with six goals. During six months at Werder Bremen in 2001 his playing time was limited, partly due to injuries.
2002
Things worsened in 2002, when he was not chosen by Guus Hiddink to represent South Korea in 2002 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. [1][2] He later admitted to spending his days drinking and not watching a single game that took place in Korea.[3]
2003
He left the Steelers in 2002 as he began his national service, joining the military team Gwangju Samgmu. He spent two seasons there. However, his career recovered after he returned to Pohang in 2004 and he was Korea's leading scorer in 2005 and 2006. It seemed almost certain without a doubt that he was going to be seen in 2006 World Cup, until he suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Pohang Steelers, which required immediate surgery and at least six months of rehabilitation. Many said his absence was a big loss for the Korean team. He recovered in late 2006.[4][5]
2007
Lee Dong-Gook was signed by Middlesbrough in January 2007, after he was granted a work permit.[6] Lee Dong-Gook made his English premier league debut for Middlesbrough on the February 24 2007 against Reading. Lee scored his first goal for Middlesbrough on August 29, 2007 in a Carling Cup match against Northampton in the 66th minute.
Career
- Pohang Steelers 1998-2000
- SV Werder Bremen 2000-2001 (loan)
- Pohang Steelers 2001-2002
- Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix 2002-2004 (For military duty)
- Pohang Steelers 2004-2007
- Middlesbrough F.C. 2007-
Club career stats
Last update: 11 July 2007
| Season | Team | Country | Division | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pohang Steelers |  South Korea |
1 | 24 | 11 | 2 |
| 1999 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 19 | 8 | 4 |
| 2000 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 00/01 | SV Werder Bremen |  Germany |
1 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 21 | 7 | 3 |
| 2003 | Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix | South Korea |
1 | 27 | 11 | 6 |
| 2004 | Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix | South Korea |
1 | 23 | 3 | 5 |
| 2005 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
| 2006 | Pohang Steelers | South Korea |
1 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| 06/07 | Middlesbrough F.C. |  England |
1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 07/08 | Middlesbrough F.C. | England |
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
International goals
| # | Date | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-02-17 |  Costa Rica |
2-0 | 2000 Gold Cup |
| 2 | 2000-10-07 |  United Arab Emirates |
4-2 | LG Cup |
| 3 | 2000-10-19 |  Indonesia |
3-0 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 4 | 2000-10-19 | Indonesia |
3-0 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 5 | 2000-10-19 | Indonesia |
3-0 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 6 | 2000-10-23 |  Iran |
2-1 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 7 | 2000-10-26 |  Saudi Arabia |
1-2 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 8 | 2000-10-29 |  China |
4-1 | Asian Cup 2000 |
| 9 | 2001-09-16 |  Nigeria |
2-1 | Friendly match |
| 10 | 2004-07-10 |  Bahrain |
2-0 | Friendly match |
| 11 | 2004-07-23 | United Arab Emirates |
2-0 | Asian Cup 2004 |
| 12 | 2004-07-27 |  Kuwait |
4-0 | Asian Cup 2004 |
| 13 | 2004-07-27 | Kuwait |
4-0 | Asian Cup 2004 |
| 14 | 2004-07-31 | Iran |
2-0 | Asian Cup 2004 |
| 15 | 2004-11-17 |  Maldives |
2-0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 16 | 2004-12-19 | Germany |
3-1 | Friendly match |
| 17 | 2005-02-09 | Kuwait |
2-0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 18 | 2005-03-30 |  Uzbekistan |
2-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 19 | 2005-06-08 | Kuwait |
4-0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 20 | 2005-11-16 |  Serbia |
2-0 | Friendly match |
| 21 | 2006-02-08 | LA Galaxy | 3-0 | Friendly match |
| 22 | 2006-02-15 |  Mexico |
1-0 | Friendly match |
References
These references may be in Korean language
External links
- Lee Dong-Gook at Soccerbase
- Simba Lee Dong-Gook
- Lee Dong-Gook
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