Ji-Sung Park, the former Manchester United and South Korea midfielder, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33.
Park spent his final season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, a club he originally joined in 2003, from Queens Park Rangers.
He joined United for £4 million from PSV in 2005, and won five Premier League titles, three League Cups and the Club World Cup at Old Trafford.
Park won five league titles at United
A national icon in Korea, Park played, and scored, for his country at three successive World Cup finals, memorably hitting the winner against Portugal when Korea was the joint-host nation for the 2002 championship.
Championed by Sir Alex Ferguson as a big game player, Park was harshly excluded from United's 2008 Champions League final squad, despite starting both legs in the quarter and semi-finals.
Park did, however, play in United's two forgettable final defeats to Barcelona in Rome in 2009 and at Wembley three years ago. His United career ended disastrously when Ferguson suddenly started him in a decisive Premier League title match at Manchester City two years ago.
In 2012, Park joined QPR for £2m but endured a miserable season as the club were relegated.
The Korean also had a knack for netting vital United goals. He was prolific against Arsenal, scoring the tie-ending away goal in the 2009 Champions League semi-final, and a winner against the Gunners in 2010-11.
Ji-Sung Park
Manchester United's South Korean footbal(01 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean footballer Park Ji-Sung lifts the trophy after his side beat Aston Villa 2-1 during the 2010 Carling Cup Final at Wembley, in north London, on February 28, 2010. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(02 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park (L) and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (R) celebrate with the English Premier League trophy after United clinch the title with a 0-0 draw against Arsenal in the English Premier League football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, north-west England, on May 16, 2009.The club's third title in a row equals Liverpool's record of 18 League championships. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League(03 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic, Ji-Sung Park, Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on May 16, 2009 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(04 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park (L) celebrates with the English Premier League trophy after United clinch the title with a 0-0 draw against Arsenal in the English Premier League football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, north-west England, on May 16, 2009.The club's third title in a row equals Liverpool's record of 18 League championships. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's Patrice Evra (L), C(05 of42)
Manchester United's Patrice Evra (L), Carlos Tevez (C) and Park Ji Sung are all smiles as they hold the trophy of the FIFA Club World Cup in Yokohama on December 21, 2008. Manchester United defeated Ecuador's Liga de Quito 1-0 in the final. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(06 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (C) celebrates with the trophy after beating Chelsea in the final of the UEFA Champions League football match against Manchester United at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on May 21, 2008. The match remained at a 1-1 draw and Manchester won on penalties after extra time. AFP PHOTO / Paul Ellis (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(07 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung celebrates scoring his goal during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on January 28, 2012. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool v Manchester United - FA Cup Fourth Round(08 of42)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Patrice Evra during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on January 28, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(09 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (up) celebrates with captain Patrice Evra after scoring during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on January 28, 2012. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(10 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (R) celebrates with captain Patrice Evra (L) after scoring during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on January 28, 2012. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(11 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (3rd R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on December 26, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League(12 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates with Ashley Young after scoring his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 28, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League(13 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates after scoring his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 28, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's English forward Wayn(14 of42)
Manchester United's English forward Wayne Rooney (R) and Mexican forward Javier Hernandez (L) congratulate goal scorer South Korean forward Ji-sung Park during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 12, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean players throw midfielder Pa(15 of42)
South Korean players throw midfielder Park Ji-Sung in the air as they celebrate after beating Uzbekistan in their 2011 Asian Cup football match for third place at Al-Sadd Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha on January 28, 2011. South Korea won 3-2. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(16 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (L) celebrates scoring against Arsenal during the English Premier League football match at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on December 13, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(17 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung celebrates scoring against Arsenal during the English Premier League football match at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on December 13, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League(18 of42)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 13: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 13, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers - Premier League(19 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with team mate Dimitar Berbatov (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on November 27, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League(20 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mate Javier Hernandez (L) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on November 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League(21 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on November 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League(22 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on November 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League(23 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the winning goal with team mates Patrice Evra (L) and Edwin van der Sar (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on November 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League(24 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the winning goal with team mates Patrice Evra (L) and Edwin van der Sar (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on November 6, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Scunthorpe United v Manchester United - Carling Cup 3rd Round(25 of42)
SCUNTHORPE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring to make it 4-1 during the Carling Cup 3rd Round match between Scunthorpe United and Manchester United at Glanford Park on September 22, 2010 in Scunthorpe, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung cel(26 of42)
South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung celebrates after scoring during the Group B first round 2010 World Cup football match South Korea vs Greece on June 12, 2010 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. NO PUSH TO MOBILE / MOBILE USE SOLELY WITHIN EDITORIAL ARTICLE AFP PHOTO / LIU JIN (Photo credit should read LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korea v Greece: Group B - 2010 FIFA World Cup(27 of42)
PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12: Park Ji-Sung of South Korea celebrates scoring the second goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group B match between South Korea and Greece at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League(28 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring the winning goal with team mate Nani during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 21, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League(29 of42)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates scoring to make it 2-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 21, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(30 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (L) celebrates scoring against AC Milan during their UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg football match at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on March 10, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(31 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung (L) celebrates scoring the third goal during their English Premier League football match against Arsenal at the Emirates in London, England on January 31, 2010. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(32 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung celebrates after scoring the third goal during their English Premier League football match against Arsenal at the Emirates in London, England on January 31, 2010. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(33 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park (R) celebrates in front of Middlesbrough's English defender David Wheater (L) after scoring the second goal during the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Manchester United at The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, north-east, England, on May 2, 2009. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean midfiel(34 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park (2nd R) celebrates with Federico Macheda (R) after scoring the second goal during the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Manchester United at The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, north-east, England, on May 2, 2009. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's player South Korean(35 of42)
Manchester United's player South Korean player Ji-sung Park celebrates after scoring the fourth goal of the match against Fulham during their FA cup match at home to Fulham at Craven Cottage football stadium on March 7, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Carl de Souza FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Fulham v Manchester United - FA Cup 6th Round(36 of42)
LONDON - MARCH 07: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates with his team mates after he scored during the FA Cup sponsored by E.on 6th round match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on March 7, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(37 of42)
LONDON - SEPTEMBER 21: Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United celebrates as he scores their first goal in front of travelling fans with Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on September 21, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean footbal(38 of42)
Manchester United's South Korean footballer Ji-sung Park celebrates on the pitch after the 2009 Carling Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, north London on March 1, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Glyn Kirk - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Additional licence required for any commercial/promotional use or use on TV or internet (except identical online version of newspaper) of Premier League/Football League photos. Tel DataCo +44 207 2981656. Do not alter/modify photo. (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Bolton Wanderers(39 of42)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 17: Ji-sung Park of Manchester United celebrates with team mate Ryan Giggs after scoring his team's third goal during the Barclays Premiership match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on March 17, 2007 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's South Korean forward(40 of42)
Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United's South Korean forward Ji-Sung Park celebrates scoring aginst Aston Villa during their English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, in Manchester, north-west England, 13 January 2007. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
South Korean midfielder Park Ji Sung cel(41 of42)
Leipzig, GERMANY: South Korean midfielder Park Ji Sung celebrates his goal against French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez (L) during the World Cup 2006 group G football game France vs. South Korea, 18 June 2006 at Leipzig stadium. The two teams tied 1-1. AFP PHOTO / DDP / MICHAEL KAPPELER (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Group G France v Korea Republic - World Cup 2006(42 of42)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - JUNE 18: Ji Sung Park of Korea Republic celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group G match between France and Korea Republic played at the Zentralstadion on June 18, 2006 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
His finest season at United was that 19th-title winning campaign. Park, often accused of lacking composure in the final third, hit a pivotal when Wolves visited Old Traffiord in early November in stoppage-time. Park also vanquished Liverpool in the Premier League and Chelsea in the 2011 Champions League quarter-final.
Yet his best performance under Ferguson was against AC Milan in the 2010 Champions League round-of-16 second leg. Deployed in a defensive midfield position, Park nullified the inspirational Andrea Pirlo and also scored in a 4-0 United win.
"The midfielder must have been the first nuclear-powered South Korean in history, in the sense that he rushed about the pitch at the speed of an electron," Pirlo said of the match last month.