Lee Young-pyo

Lee Young-pyo is a South Korean former footballer who played in three World Cups, helping the co-hosts reach the semifinals in 2002, and later starred for PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur.

Lee Young-pyo provided assists during South Korea's historic run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals — the best finish ever by an Asian nation — and went on to accumulate 127 caps across three World Cups, establishing himself as one of the most respected attacking full-backs in the history of Asian football. Selected by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink for the co-hosted 2002 FIFA World Cup, Lee provided assists in South Korea's historic run to the semifinals, the best-ever finish by an Asian nation. Following Hiddink to Europe, he joined PSV Eindhoven in 2003, helping the club reach the semifinals of the 2005 UEFA Champions League, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005, where he became a regular and won the League Cup in 2008. Lee went on to play for Borussia Dortmund in Germany and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, winning two Saudi Pro League titles, before finishing his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, where he was voted the club's Player of the Year in 2012. Internationally, Lee earned 127 caps for South Korea across three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010), and was known for his overlapping runs, dribbling ability, and quiet professionalism, retiring in 2013 as one of the most respected full-backs in Asian football history.

Overlapping, technically skilled left-back known for dribbling and crossing ability

One of the most successful South Korean full-backs to play in Europe, opening the door for future generations in the Premier League

• FIFA World Cup fourth place (2002, co-host)
• AFC Asian Cup bronze (2000)
• League Cup winner (2008, Tottenham Hotspur)
• 2x Saudi Pro League champion (Al-Hilal)