Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae has publically announced that he will retire from his sixteen-year Korean national team career. The 2002 World Cup hero will suit up one last time to play his farewell game for Korea against Nigeria on the 11th.
“It’s now time for me to step away from the team and make room for the younger players. It’s important to know when to leave, and I think now is the time for me to leave.”
Lee will earn his 132nd cap in the upcoming match, making him the second most capped player for Korea, right behind current U23 national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, who has represented the national team 135 times.
An official from the KFA said, “By agreement with head coach Cho Kwang-rae, the upcoming friendly against Nigeria will serve as Lee Woon-jae’s retirement match. We are considering holding his retirement ceremony during half-time after Lee Woon-jae plays in the first half.”
The 2008 K-League MVP debuted for the national team on March 5th, 1994 in a friendly match against the United States. He participated in the 94 World Cup that same year and played in his first World Cup match when he was substituted in the second-half during a match against Germany.
I am really gonna miss this man… he was my favorite goalkeeper