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Lee Jong-ho, Enjoyed 13 Years in the K-League
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Lee Jong-ho, Enjoyed 13 Years in the K-League, Retires: “The Nickname ‘Gwangyang Rooney’ was a Source of Pride”
‘Gwangyang Rooney’ Lee Jong-ho (32), who has been aggressively roaming the professional soccer K-League grounds for 13 years, took off his soccer shoes.
Jong-ho Lee announced his retirement through social media on the 12th.
It is known that he, whose contract with Seongnam FC of the K League 2 (Second Division) ended last year, has been discussing contracts with multiple clubs, including Seongnam, but was unable to narrow the gap in the end.
Lee Jong-ho decided to leave the field without any regrets. 메이저사이트
He said, “I lived a happy life as a soccer player.
He wrote, “I was loved by many memorable nicknames by fans, such as Gwangyang Rooney and Lee Jong Tiger, and those were also my pride as a player.
As I think about retiring, the memories from the beginning of my career as a soccer player to the present flash by like a flash of light.”
“I have grown a lot by experiencing life through soccer.
“On the one hand, I feel relieved and sad,” he said.
Lee Jong-ho, who debuted as a professional with Jeonnam Dragons in 2011, has played in the K-League for 13 years, except for a loan spell at Japan's V-Baren Nagasaki in 2019.
He recorded 68 goals and 26 assists in 296 games in the K League, including 49 goals and 22 assists in 218 K League 1 games, 19 goals and 4 assists in 74 K League 2 games, and 3 League Cup games.
The one that left the strongest impression on fans was at Jeonnam Dragons, where he made his professional debut and where he played for seven seasons.
From 2011 to 2015, and from 2020 to 2021, he played 195 games wearing the Jeonnam uniform, scoring 48 goals and 15 assists.
Fans nicknamed him Gwangyang Rooney because of his aggressive play at Gwangyang Soccer Stadium, the home stadium of Jeonnam.
Lee Jong-ho contributed to Jeonnam winning the FA Cup (now Korea Cup), the first ever for a second-division club, in 2021.
He enjoyed enough 'winner clothes', including winning the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) with Jeonbuk Hyundai and the 2017 FA Cup with Ulsan Hyundai.
Jong-ho Lee is also a member of the gold medal winning team in men's soccer at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
With the A national team, he recorded 2 games and 1 goal.
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