Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed he signed Ji-Sung Park after going for a game to primarily scout Ghana midfielder Michael Essien back in 2005.
Ferguson in his book ‘Leading’ written with renowned investor Michael Moritz and published in 2015 recalled his amazement at the speed of the South Korean while playing for PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League game against Olympique Lyon.
The Scottish manager had traveled to watch the quarter final tie between the two clubs with the aim of scouting Michael Essien who was then with Lyon.
Ferguson however ended up signing the little but skillful and swift midfielder instead.
“I had gone to get the measure of Lyon’s Michael Essien in the Champions League in 2005 during their quarter final ties with with PSV Eindhoven, and saw the ceaseless bundle of energy buzz about the field like a cocker spaniel,” he said in his book, Leading.
“It was Ji-Sung Park. The following week I sent my brother, Martin, who was a scout for United, to watch him, to see what his eyes told him.
“They told him the same thing and we signed him [Ji-Sung Park].”
Essien had earlier undergone trials with Manchester United but the English club decided against signing the Ghanaian.
The midfielder eventually ended up at Chelsea having excelled with Lyon to go on to become one of the finest midfielders of his kind in the world.
I signed Ji-Sung Park while scouting Michael Essien, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson reveals
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