Lee Jang-Soo
Encyclopedia
Lee Jang-Soo is a South Korea
n association football manager
and a former player. As a player he had the distinction of being one of the first fully professional footballers to play in the newly formed Korean Super League in the inaugural 1983 league season, however it has been as a manager where he has distinguished himself particularly within China
where he has gone on to twice win the Chinese FA Cup
with Chongqing Lifan and Qingdao Beilaite. He has also achieved a successful spell back home within South Korea
with FC Seoul
when he won the K-League Cup
, however he has continued to return to China
where he is currently the manager of Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande whose appointment also makes him the longest serving foreign coach within China
.
when he started his professional football career at Yukong Kokkiri
in 1983 with the formation of the K-League
. Despite already being in his late twenties he would eventually play in 53 league games in his professional career which ended in 1986.
team in the K-League
. He was offered a promotion as a coaching in 1992 where he was part of the team that took them second in the league. The next few seasons saw him as part of the coaching team that would establish Ilhwa Chunma
as a successful team within the K-League
by winning the league for three consecutive seasons. In the 1996 league season when Ilhwa Chunma
decided to rename themselves as Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
, Lee Jang-Soo was again promoted to the Head coach position after the previous manager Park Jong-Hwan
left, however after a disappointing season where they were never in the title challenge Lee Jang-Soo left.
Throughout 1997 Lee Jang-Soo went to Brazil
to study coaching abroad until 1998 when Lee Jang-Soo would move to China
and manage Chongqing Lifan for four seasons. While he was there he managed to twice take Chongqing Lifan to fourth in the league in the 1999 and 2000 league season. However it wasn't until 2002 when Lee Jang-Soo had moved to Qingdao Beilaite that he rose to prominace within China
and won the Chinese FA Cup
with them. The following season though Qingdao Beilaite were to have a disappointing season when they finished the league in eleventh and Lee Jang-Soo would return to Korea
. Back in South Korea
Lee Jang-Soo would quickly find a team to coach with Chunnam Dragons
and subsequently FC Seoul
where he led them both to a Championship playoffs spot.
At the beginning of the 2006 league season Lee Jang-Soo returned to China
with Beijing Guoan who required a manager after Shen Xiangfu
left after a disappointing season. Under Lee Jang-Soo, Beijing Guoan immediately improved by coming third in the league. Despite the team's continued improvement within the league and a successful start in the 2009 Chinese Super League season where the club were currently leading the table on September 16, 2009, Lee was fired by Beijing Guoan for not using particular players that were favored by the club directors. At the beginning of the 2010 Chinese league season he was hired by recently relegated side Guangzhou Evergrande as the teams new manager.
Qingdao Beilaite
FC Seoul
Guangzhou Evergrande
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n association football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and a former player. As a player he had the distinction of being one of the first fully professional footballers to play in the newly formed Korean Super League in the inaugural 1983 league season, however it has been as a manager where he has distinguished himself particularly within China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
where he has gone on to twice win the Chinese FA Cup
Chinese FA Cup
The Chinese FA Cup is the national knockout cup competition in China organised by the Chinese Football Association. Its current format started in the 1995 season.In the new season, 2011 it was announced, that current Chinese FA Cup will start in May....
with Chongqing Lifan and Qingdao Beilaite. He has also achieved a successful spell back home within South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with FC Seoul
FC Seoul
FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group....
when he won the K-League Cup
K-League Cup
The K-League Cup or Korean League Cup is a Korean professional football competition.The origin competition is the Professional Football Championship.This tournament played in 1986 can be seen as a forerunner of this competition....
, however he has continued to return to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
where he is currently the manager of Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande whose appointment also makes him the longest serving foreign coach within China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Playing career
Lee Jang-Soo was one of the first players to play professional football in South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
when he started his professional football career at Yukong Kokkiri
Jeju United FC
Jeju United Football Club is a South Korean professional football club. The club is based in Seogwipo, Jeju of South Korea.-History:...
in 1983 with the formation of the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
. Despite already being in his late twenties he would eventually play in 53 league games in his professional career which ended in 1986.
Coaching career
After his football career he became a coach at Honam University before being offered the chance to become a trainer with the newly formed Ilhwa ChunmaSeongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma is a South Korean professional football club, based in Seongnam, South Korea, that plays in the K-League...
team in the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
. He was offered a promotion as a coaching in 1992 where he was part of the team that took them second in the league. The next few seasons saw him as part of the coaching team that would establish Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma is a South Korean professional football club, based in Seongnam, South Korea, that plays in the K-League...
as a successful team within the K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
by winning the league for three consecutive seasons. In the 1996 league season when Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma is a South Korean professional football club, based in Seongnam, South Korea, that plays in the K-League...
decided to rename themselves as Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma is a South Korean professional football club, based in Seongnam, South Korea, that plays in the K-League...
, Lee Jang-Soo was again promoted to the Head coach position after the previous manager Park Jong-Hwan
Park Jong-Hwan
Park Jong-Hwan is a South Korean football manager.-Manager:* 1980 : AFC Youth Championship with South Korea U-20* 1982 : AFC Youth Championship with South Korea U-20* 1983 : FIFA Youth Championship 4th with South Korea U-20...
left, however after a disappointing season where they were never in the title challenge Lee Jang-Soo left.
Throughout 1997 Lee Jang-Soo went to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to study coaching abroad until 1998 when Lee Jang-Soo would move to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and manage Chongqing Lifan for four seasons. While he was there he managed to twice take Chongqing Lifan to fourth in the league in the 1999 and 2000 league season. However it wasn't until 2002 when Lee Jang-Soo had moved to Qingdao Beilaite that he rose to prominace within China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and won the Chinese FA Cup
Chinese FA Cup
The Chinese FA Cup is the national knockout cup competition in China organised by the Chinese Football Association. Its current format started in the 1995 season.In the new season, 2011 it was announced, that current Chinese FA Cup will start in May....
with them. The following season though Qingdao Beilaite were to have a disappointing season when they finished the league in eleventh and Lee Jang-Soo would return to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Back in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
Lee Jang-Soo would quickly find a team to coach with Chunnam Dragons
Chunnam Dragons
Chunnam Dragons is a football club founded in 1995 in the Korean city of Gwangyang, which joined the K-League for the 1995 season at the same time as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, their Jeolla province rivals.-History:...
and subsequently FC Seoul
FC Seoul
FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group....
where he led them both to a Championship playoffs spot.
At the beginning of the 2006 league season Lee Jang-Soo returned to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
with Beijing Guoan who required a manager after Shen Xiangfu
Shen Xiangfu
Shen Xiangfu is a Chinese football coach and a former international football player. -Playing career:...
left after a disappointing season. Under Lee Jang-Soo, Beijing Guoan immediately improved by coming third in the league. Despite the team's continued improvement within the league and a successful start in the 2009 Chinese Super League season where the club were currently leading the table on September 16, 2009, Lee was fired by Beijing Guoan for not using particular players that were favored by the club directors. At the beginning of the 2010 Chinese league season he was hired by recently relegated side Guangzhou Evergrande as the teams new manager.
Club career
- 1981
Daewoo - amateur - 1981-1983 SangmuGwangju Sangmu PhoenixSangju Sangmu Phoenix , is a professional football club that participates in the K-League. The club is based in Sangju, South Korea. Sangmu is the sports division of the Military of South Korea. The club's mascot is the Bulsajo, which is translates to phoenix in English...
- army - 1983-1986 Yukong KokkiriJeju United FCJeju United Football Club is a South Korean professional football club. The club is based in Seogwipo, Jeju of South Korea.-History:...
Managerial
Chongqing LifanChongqing Lifan
Chongqing Lifan, are a professional Chinese football club who currently plays in the Chinese League One division. They play their home games at the 58,680 seater Chongqing Olympic Sports Center in Chongqing and are owned by the Chongqing based Lifan Group, which manufactures motorcycles, cars and...
- China FA Cup : 2000
Qingdao Beilaite
- China FA Cup : 2002
FC Seoul
FC Seoul
FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group....
- K-League CupK-League CupThe K-League Cup or Korean League Cup is a Korean professional football competition.The origin competition is the Professional Football Championship.This tournament played in 1986 can be seen as a forerunner of this competition....
: 2006
Guangzhou Evergrande
- China League One : 20102010 China League One-Teams:After 2009 season, Liaoning Whowin and Nanchang Hengyuan were promoted to Chinese Super League 2010 and Sichuan Meilianshu were relegated to China League Two 2010. They were replaced by Hunan Billows and Hubei Greenery which promoted from League Two 2009, Chengdu Blades and Guangzhou F.C....
- Chinese Super LeagueChinese Super LeagueThe Chinese Football Association Super League , commonly known as Chinese Super League or CSL, currently known as the Pirelli Chinese Football Association Super League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest tier of professional association football in China, operating under the auspices of the...
: 20112011 Chinese Super LeagueThe 2011 Chinese Super League was the eighth season since the establishment of the Chinese Super League, the eighteenth season of a professional association football league and the 50th top-tier league season in China. Guangzhou Evergrande F.C...