bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Jeremy Walker

When Gert Engels first saw a youthful Park Ji-sung on a few video tapes, nothing really stood out.

'He didn't score a goal and he didn't have an assist,' recalls Engels, who has coached in Japan for over 10 years.

'In fact there was nothing eye-catching, nothing special, about his game at all.'

So what made Engels sign the unknown Park for Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga in June 2000 when he wasn't even with a professional team in his native South Korea?

'The thing that impressed me the most was that he was very stable and very cool,' adds the German coach.

'He was only 18 or 19, and the form of most players that age goes up and down.

'But not Park. He never made a mistake, which was surprising because of his age, and he showed great tactical discipline wherever he played.'

Engels was manager of Kyoto at the time and Park quickly became a coach's dream: A player who would put the good of the team before individual glory, and who would never have a bad game.

It's no surprise to Engels, therefore, that Park has graduated from Kyoto to Manchester United, via PSV Eindhoven.

'I am very happy for him. No one deserves it more,' he said, when the #4 million ($54.5 million) transfer from the Dutch league to the English Premiership was concluded last month.

'He has proved in the Champions League against teams such as AC Milan that he can perform at this higher level ... and PSV went further than Manchester United last season.'

Engels feels that Park is still maturing, and the form he produced in Guus Hiddink's South Korea team at the 2002 World Cup can be improved upon.

'He is a player who is still developing. He showed this at Kyoto Purple Sanga, day by day, week by week and month by month, and then at PSV. The move to Manchester United is the next logical step in his career, his next challenge.

'There are eight to 10 tough games a season in Holland but there are lots of not so tough games, but at Manchester United he will have two tough games every week. Now he needs to prove himself at a higher level, and I think he is good enough because he listens and understands, and is a very quick learner.'

Park was one of Hiddink's unsung heroes at the 2002 World Cup.

He did not possess the movie-star looks of Ahn Jung-hwan, the high-speed dribble of Lee Chun-soo, the charisma of Yoo Sang-chul or the elegance of Hong Myung-bo, but he produced a series of consistent, no-risk performances which helped Korea into the semi-finals.

Playing on the right side of attack in Hiddink's dynamic 3-4-3 formation, he scored only one goal, but it was a candidate for 'goal of the tournament' as he showed the touch and finishing quality of Dennis Bergkamp to beat Portugal 1-0 in the last group game.

When Hiddink returned to PSV after the World Cup, Park, still at Kyoto, was high on his shopping list, and the pair were reunited in January 2003 at the end of the Japanese season.

Park, who is still only 24, played a total of 76 league games for Purple Sanga between June 2000 and November 2002, scoring 11 goals, and exactly half of those appearances were in Kyoto's second division championship-winning season of 2001.

With 12 teams playing each other four times in a marathon 44-game campaign, there was plenty of opportunity for Park to gain match experience.

'We were not a very strong team at the time but he played in nearly every game,' says Engels, who is now assistant coach to fellow German Guido Buchwald at Japan's best-supported club, Urawa Reds.

'Some players need a rival to give them competition, but not Park. He was so ambitious and had no fear of losing his place in the team, and just played every game at a normal, stable level.

'He played 38 league games in that second division season and it was a big advantage for him because he developed into a dynamic player who was very hard to stop. There were many fouls against him, as the statistics from the World Cup will show.'

Those stats reveal that Park was fouled 24 times during Korea's seven games, committed six fouls himself and made 31 tackles. In the modern game, where so many matches are decided by set-piece moves, that fouls-against count makes Park a valuable member of the team. If only David Beckham were still at Manchester United to fire home all those inviting free-kicks.

Engels describes Park as a quiet person but predicts he will be popular with the other players at Old Trafford.

'He still keeps in touch with some of the Kyoto players, and was always well-liked and respected.

'On a personal level, I will always appreciate what he did for the team at the end of the 2002 season.

'We were still in the Emperor's Cup, but Park had an Achilles tendon injury. He had agreed to sign for PSV in the new year, and many players would not have risked the injury as the transfer might have fallen through. But Park played in the last three games, and Kyoto won the Emperor's Cup on New Year's Day 2003. No one will forget that.'

If Manchester United supporters think the signing of Park is some kind of gimmick to boost their Asian fan base, they had better think again.

After all, how many current Manchester United players have appeared in a World Cup semi-final and Champions League semi-final?

factfile

1981 - born February 25 in Seoul.

1999 - joins Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga.

2000: wins first cap against Laos.

2002, June 14 - scores winner in South Korea's defeat of Portugal which knocks the Europeans out of the World Cup.

June 25 - plays in World Cup semi-final as South Korea lose 1-0 to Germany.

December 21 - Signs for PSV Eindhoven.

2003 - PSV win Dutch league with Park making eight appearances.

2005 - scores seven goals in 28 matches as PSV win league and cup double.

May 4 - scores  in PSV's 3-1 win over AC Milan in Champions League semi-final but the Dutch side go out on away goals.

June 8 - scores final goal as South Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 to secure qualification for next year's World Cup finals.

June 22 - confirmed as a Manchester United signing.

July 5 - granted work permit to play in England.



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