Ji-Sung Park Earns a New Contract
By: Taylor Rockwell | September 14th, 2009
Manchester United have confirmed that a new contract has been given to Park Ji-Sung. The South Korean was set to be out of a contract at the end of the season, but this new agreement will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2012.
Sir Alex Ferguson has often stated his respect and appreciation for 28-year-old Park, sentiments which were echoed in an improved deal. The Korean will earn £3.6m per year, a pay rise of around £800,000. This agreement will almost certainly make Patrice Evra happy, but will have mixed results from United supporters.
Park is a workhorse midfielder who seems to accept his role as a squad player. He doesn’t appear to make a whole lot of fuss, and can be counted on for a random goal on rare occasions. Nevertheless, he isn’t the most delicate player, and one could argue that a 28-year-old winger won’t be getting any better once he gets to be the wrong side of 30.
I have often mocked Park for being less-than-stellar when it comes to the technical components (first touch, second touch, third touch, etc) and for his inconsistency, but I think what it boils down to is that Park isn’t a “sexy footballer”. He isn’t going to give you electric runs or moments of genius (something I think a lot of people are still hoping to see from United this season). He is going to give you a lot of effort and a lot of loyalty. Remember that Park chose to sign for United in 2005, while other buyers were expressing a lot of interest. I certainly don’t rate him nearly as high as Fergie does, but I think it will end up being a useful extension over the next two-ish years.
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Comments | Add your comment
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The reason he’s been given a new contract presumably is the shirt sales in the far east factor though, isn’t it?
Posted from
United States
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Rob, if you’re insinuating that Manchester United would do something strictly for the money… well… I won’t even entertain the notion…
Oh wait… http://www.e-football.com.au/catalog/images/manchester-united-dog-bowl-large.jpg
Posted from
United States -
Guys, i bet you all forgotten he score some important goals. Also for the champions league semi final against Arsenal he score the first goal, without his goal could we be able to go to final? 2 years ago against Barcelona in the semis, he is one of the best player who make us win the semis. I pity you all for being so vein as to see nice football. If so, maybe you can support Ronaldo. Go find your new club.
Posted from
Singapore -
no one’s discounting his contributions to the team, kel…just wondering whether we’d be better served in the long run with someone else in his place.
I for one think he deserves the new contract as working as hard as he does has its uses in some games. Do I think he should start most/any games? not really..but he does play his part and I generally like him when he’s subbed in.Posted from
United States -
3.6mil pounds? Wow, that’s as much as Del Piero earns, are salaries that inflated in the EPL that a mediocre player like JSP earns that kind of cash?
Posted from
United States -
JSP Mediocre? Wow, u certainly don’t watch much soccer, esp since u r from the states. He’s one of the fastest asian player around and can trouble any premier league teams in att or def terms and u say hes mediocre.
Posted from
Australia -
A much-deserved reward for Park’s work rate, his commitment and his consistency. Not every number should be a ball-wizard. Park — and any player like him who makes so few mistakes — is crucial to United’s success.
Posted from
United States -
The fact that you just described Park as ‘mediocre’ really does prove the point that Americans don’t know anything about football. And yes, I will call it football, not ’soccer’ because I’m English. He’s a quality player and deserves his contract, thought last season was his best ever in a United shirt, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if he wins a starting spot on the right off Valencia. Fair play to the man.
Posted from
United States -
Sam, while I echo your sentiments about Park, I don’t think there’s any need to do the anti-American thing. There are plenty of uninformed Englishman out there, just as there are every other nationality (I know a few too many who still find the Crouch-a-tron celebration hilarious).
Posted from
United States
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