Biography
Who is Lee Woon-jae?
Early life and education
Lee Woon-jae was born in Cheongju, South Korea. He attended Kyung Hee University before pursuing a professional career in association football.
His early international experience included a selection for the 1992 Summer Olympics squad, though he did not appear in the tournament. In 1994, he received his first senior international call-up and made his debut during that year's FIFA World Cup. He replaced captain Choi In-young at half-time during a match against Germany, conceding no further goals as his team narrowed the deficit.
International career and World Cup success
Throughout his career, Lee experienced a long-running competition with fellow goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji for the starting position. Manager Guus Hiddink eventually selected Lee as the primary choice for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played every minute of South Korea's seven matches during the tournament. This included a well-known quarter-final penalty shoot-out against Spain, where he saved a kick from Joaquín to help his team reach the semi-finals.
Lee maintained his status as a key player for several years. He captained the national team during the 2004 AFC Asian Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the 2006 tournament, he made a critical one-on-one save from Thierry Henry during a draw against France. By the end of his career, the Korea Football Association credited him with 133 senior international appearances.
Club football and later years
Lee Woon-jae played for multiple clubs throughout his career, including Gimcheon Sangmu FC, Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC, and Jeonnam Dragons FC. His time with Sangmu was part of his mandatory military service, which did not stop him from playing internationally. During his first seasons with Suwon, he faced challenges including limited playing time and health issues such as hepatitis, which impacted his recovery and consistency.
In 2007, Lee faced a suspension from the national team for one year following an investigation into team behavior during the Asian Cup. After his suspension ended in November 2008, he returned to the squad for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign. He was selected for his fourth World Cup in 2010 but served as a reserve goalkeeper. He announced his retirement from international play following that tournament and participated in a farewell match against Nigeria in August 2010.
Personal stats and physical details
Lee Woon-jae stands 182 centimeters tall. During his early career, he dealt with weight fluctuations, once reaching over 93 kilograms. Following advice from Olympic team manager Anatoliy Byshovets, he successfully lost nearly 10 kilograms to improve his fitness for tournament play.
Beyond his playing days, Lee transitioned into coaching. He has worked as a goalkeeping coach for the Vietnam national football team. His career is marked by his longevity, having represented his country across nearly two decades of international competition.
Birthday and age
Lee Woon-jae was born on April 26, 1973, which makes Lee 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Lee shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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