Ji-sung Park will return to Manchester United. (©GettyImages). Manchester United have left supporters in suspense after tweeting that they have ‘exciting’ news about Ji-sung Park, and the club will announce an Old Trafford role for their former midfielder on Wednesday.
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Ambassadorial role
Park retired at the end of last season two years after leaving Manchester United for Queens Park Rangers, but the former South Korea captain has been afforded a return to the club in a non-playing capacity.
GiveMeSport understands that Park will be confirmed as a new club ambassador, which means he will attend various events across the globe to enhance Manchester United’s global appeal and promote their numerous partners.
It is quite an accolade for the 33-year-old, who becomes only the seventh former player to be appointed an ambassador after Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Bryan Robson, Gary Neville, Andy Cole and Peter Schmeichel.
Manchester United history
Park signed for Manchester United from PSV in 2005 and made over 200 appearances for the club in seven seasons. During this spell he won four Premier League titles, four League Cups and recorded a Champions League final triumph.
He was never able to establish himself as regular starter in a team packed with stars, but was notably favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson for the club’s most important matches, with his industry and attitude highly valued assets.
"The great thing about Ji-sung Park is he's one of the best professionals we've had here,” Ferguson said of Park. “He was truly fantastic, and particularly in big games.
“Park had roles that only a disciplined and selfless player could have. That’s exactly what Ji-sung was, selfless.
“He played for the team and whatever role you gave him, he would stick to that role. So he was a really wonderful, disciplined professional for us."
Post Old Trafford
A lack of first-team opportunities eventually proved too much to bear, and led Park to pursue a transfer elsewhere, with the South Korean moving to Queens Park Rangers where he was immediately appointed club captain.
Park was, however, unable to prevent QPR from avoiding relegation to the Championship after only one season at Loftus Road, and their drop from the top tier resulted in the player moving to the Eredivisie to join PSV.
Eindhoven was Park’s first destination when he arrived in European football from Kyoto Purple Sanga 11 years ago, so it was somewhat fitting that he was given a chance to finish his career at the Philips Stadion.
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