Player Profile

The ex-Middlesbrough striker is back in the international reckoning after a 12-month suspension from international duty. He was one of four players (including World Cup team-mate Lee Woon-jae) punished after a late-night drinking spree in July 2007, which came just 36 hours before an Asian Cup game.

The 31-year-old travelled to South Africa carrying a hamstring injury. He missed the 2006 World Cup after tearing his cruciate ligament two months before the tournament, and was surprisingly overlooked in 2002, when Guus Hiddink questioned his defensive contribution.

While the Korean squad that reached the semi-finals were exempted from military service, he was obliged to serve two years in the military, although he was able to play for army side Gwangju. He made one appearance at France 98.

He has rediscovered his goalscoring form in the K-League, but Korean boss Huh Jung-moo has previously expressed doubts over whether Lee is international class. Huh also publicly criticised the striker for ignoring his pre-match instructions in the defeat by Zambia in January.

However, Lee’s goal against the Ivory Coast in March persuaded the coach to take him to South Africa.

He is nicknamed ‘The Lion King’ in Korea but he failed to roar during a miserable 18-month spell with Middlesbrough. He netted FA Cup goals against Northampton and Mansfield but failed to score in the Premier League, leaving the Riverside in 2008 with a record of two goals in 29 appearances.

He continued to struggle during a spell with Seongnam but rediscovered his form with Jeonbuk, netting 20 times in 27 league appearances in 2009. That form earned him an international recall last August.