[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: [nas] FW: GALAXY ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO KOREAN WORLD CUP DEFENDER HONG MYUNG BO
Title: FW: GALAXY ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO KOREAN WORLD CUP DEFENDER HONG MYUNG BO
Does
this mean that Califf will be shipped out? Surely they will keep
Alexi?
LOS ANGELES GALAXY ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO KOREAN
WORLD CUP
DEFENDER HONG MYUNG BO
PASADENA, CA (Monday, November 4, 2002) - The
Los Angeles Galaxy of Major
League Soccer (MLS) have acquired the rights
to Korean defender Hong Myung
Bo, it was announced today by Galaxy Vice
President/General Manager Doug
Hamilton. Hong, the first Korean
player in MLS history, joins the Galaxy
from his club team the Pohang
Steelers in Korea's K-League. No financial
terms of the MLS contract were
announced.
"As one of the top 25 rated soccer teams in the world, the
Galaxy clearly
are not only building a team to capture the domestic
marketplace but are
continuing to assemble a team with major
international appeal," said Timothy
J. Leiweke, President AEG.
"Because of his ties to soccer, his strong
desire to play in the
United States and his strong commitment to being a
visionary leader for
the growth of Korean soccer in the United States and
the growth of the
Galaxy in Asia, Hong Myung Bo was a natural fit for
the
Galaxy."
The move provides the Galaxy with an experienced
international defender, who
is known for a no-nonsense, self-assured
approach and a keen eye for
distribution out of the back. Hong will not
be eligible to join the Galaxy
until the end of the 2002 season and is
expect to be with the club for
preseason training camp next year.
"We are pleased to welcome Hong Myung Bo to Los Angeles and to the
Galaxy
family," said Hamilton. " His proven experience and commitment to
the sport
will undoubtedly benefit our organization both on and off the
field. We
thank the Korean American community in Southern
California for their support
in helping us make this transaction
possible."
A veteran of four World Cup finals (1990, 1994, 1998 and
2002), Hong made
his most significant impact by helping lead the Korean
National Team to the
semifinals and a fourth place finish at the 2002
World Cup in Korea/Japan,
playing in all seven games.
"I am
thrilled and honored to be the first Korean to play in the MLS, and
for
the passionate Southern California soccer fans'' said Hong from Korea.
"I
want to be a part of making the L.A. Galaxy and Major League Soccer
one
of the most recognized clubs and leagues in the world."
The
6-0, 161-pound Hong was awarded the adidas Bronze Ball for
his
outstanding performance during the World Cup finishing just behind
Oliver
Kahn and Ronaldo. Hong made his international debut on February 4,
1990 vs.
Norway, and went on to become a member of the South Korea squad
that
participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
The
33-year-old Hong, who began his professional career with the
Pohang
Steelers in 1992, became a fixture in the Korean League (K
League). He
earned MVP honors in 1992 and was named to the League
Best Eleven in 1992,
1994, 1995 and 1996.
"One of the things that
drew us towards Hong, just like it did toward Carlos
Ruiz, was the desire
to be here. He wants to be a part of the L.A. Galaxy,"
said Galaxy Head
Coach Sigi Schmid. "Hong has shown good leadership
capabilities wherever
he has played, which is underlined by him being
captain with his team in
the J-League and with the Korean National Team in
his fourth World Cup.
We expect those leadership qualities to be of great
benefit to the
Galaxy."
Following a series of outstanding performances
for both club and country,
Hong switched to Japan's J-League and Belmare
Hirasseuka in 1997. He led the
club to an Asian Club Championship, before
moving on to Kashiwa Reysol. In
1999, Hong was named J-League Most
Valuable Player.
In 2000, Hong became the first-ever Korean to
captain a Japanese club with
Kashiwa Reysol of the J-League. He rejoined
the Pohang Steelers of Korea's
K-League in 2001.
Hong becomes the
Galaxy's 11th all-time Allocation following Luis Hernandez
(2000), Marvin
Quijano (1999 Pro-40), DaMarcus Beasley (1999 Pro-40) Jaime
Caicedo
Estupinan (1998), Martin Machon (1997), Jorge Campos (1996),
Dan
Calichman (1996), Mauricio Cienfuegos (1996), Eduardo Hurtado (1996)
and
Cobi Jones (1996). Cienfuegos and Jones are the only Allocated
Players who
are still with the squad.
For more information
regarding Los Angeles Galaxy tickets, please call the
Galaxy toll free at
(877) 3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com.
The following is a brief
biography of Hong:
HONG MYUNG BO
Full Name: Hong Myung
Bo
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 161
Date of Birth:
February 12, 1969
Citizenship: Korea Republic
International
Appearances: 135
International Goals: 9
First International Cap:
February 4, 1990 vs. Norway
Last Club: Pohang Steelers (Korea)
Former
Club's: Pohang Steelers (KOR: 1992-97, 2001-2002), Bellmare
Hirasseuka
(JAP: 1997-98), Kashiwa Reysol (JAP: 1999-2001)
TRANSACTION: L.
A. Galaxy acquires Korean World Cup Defender Hong Myung
Bo.