How can a famous footballer deal with the trauma that marks the end of his international career? If he’s Korean, he could, for example, become an honorary ambassador for his country’s candidate in the New7Wonders of Nature final, Jeju Island .
And that’s exactly what Park Ji-sung has done.
Asia’s most famous footballer says that his decision to retire from international football was the “toughest” of his career, but the South Korean midfielder is not ready yet to hang up his boots. He’ll continue to play for Manchester United in the English Premier League, and he has been appointed as an honorary ambassador for the National Commission for Jeju New7Wonders of Nature.
Park’s rise to international fame began in 2003 when he moved from Kyoto Purple Sanga to the Dutch team PSV Eindhoven in 2003. After two years in the Netherlands under the watchful eye of manager Guus Hiddink, Park joined one of world’s most famous clubs, Manchester United. He became the first Asian to play in the UEFA Champions League final in 2009, and he has helped Manchester United to win three League titles.
“I think I can keep playing at the big clubs at least four more years,” he told The Korea Herald.