Post by Holyjoe on Dec 6, 2004 9:13:41 GMT -5
Kim Tae-young Retires From National Team
times.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200412/kt2004120617142511630.htm
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
Kim Tae-young, a veteran defender who lifted South Korea into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, said he is to retire from the national football team, after 12 years of representing the country.
The 34-year-old defender told reporters he wants to hand over the spot to young players, as he walked out of the stadium after his club the Chunnam Dragons were defeated by the Suwon Blue Wings in Sunday¡¯s K-League semifinals on Sunday.
"I told the Korean Football Association that I want to retire from the national team," Kim was quoted by the Yonhap News Agency. "I would make the friendly match with Germany my last game, if I can get a chance to play."
The Dragons admitted they tendered an official letter to the KFA on Sunday.
Since 1992, Kim capped 101 times for the South Korean national team and scored three goals. Only four others - Cha Bum-keun, Hwang Sun-hong, Hong Myung-bo and Yoo Sang-chul - had played more than 100 international matches so far.
With Hong and Choi Jin-chul, he was one of three defenders of the national team when they made their way up to the semifinals in 2002 World Cup in Korea. He also made a big impression in the event by wearing a red protective mask in the quarterfinals and the semifinals, after Italy's Christian Vieri broke his nose during the round-of-16 match.
He last played for the national team in last summer's Asian Cup tournament, but since then missed three games of the 2006 World Cup¡¯s regional qualifier due to injury.
South Korea will play a friendly match with Germany on Dec. 19 in Pusan, the team they had lost to in the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup.
times.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200412/kt2004120617142511630.htm
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
Kim Tae-young, a veteran defender who lifted South Korea into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, said he is to retire from the national football team, after 12 years of representing the country.
The 34-year-old defender told reporters he wants to hand over the spot to young players, as he walked out of the stadium after his club the Chunnam Dragons were defeated by the Suwon Blue Wings in Sunday¡¯s K-League semifinals on Sunday.
"I told the Korean Football Association that I want to retire from the national team," Kim was quoted by the Yonhap News Agency. "I would make the friendly match with Germany my last game, if I can get a chance to play."
The Dragons admitted they tendered an official letter to the KFA on Sunday.
Since 1992, Kim capped 101 times for the South Korean national team and scored three goals. Only four others - Cha Bum-keun, Hwang Sun-hong, Hong Myung-bo and Yoo Sang-chul - had played more than 100 international matches so far.
With Hong and Choi Jin-chul, he was one of three defenders of the national team when they made their way up to the semifinals in 2002 World Cup in Korea. He also made a big impression in the event by wearing a red protective mask in the quarterfinals and the semifinals, after Italy's Christian Vieri broke his nose during the round-of-16 match.
He last played for the national team in last summer's Asian Cup tournament, but since then missed three games of the 2006 World Cup¡¯s regional qualifier due to injury.
South Korea will play a friendly match with Germany on Dec. 19 in Pusan, the team they had lost to in the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup.
