Lee Eul-yong (Korean: 이을용; born 8 September 1975) is a South Korean football coach, manager and former player.
Early life
Lee was born in Taebaek, Gangwon, and attended high school in Gangneung. He continued his football career during his school days, but he failed to join a university football club. He stopped playing football for a while before receiving an offer to join semi-professional club Korea Railroad.[1][2] His son, Lee Tae-seok, too is a football player.
In September 2006, after a match against Chinese Taipei, Lee announced that he would retire from the national team to focus on FC Seoul and also to make way for younger players in the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup.[4][5]
Lee is well known by most South Koreans and other Asian football fans for a famous incident which is sometimes referred as "Eul-yong Ta (을용타)," and roughly translated as 'Eul-yong Strike/Smash'. The incident occurred during a match against China in the inaugural East Asian Cup in December 2003.
During the second half of the game, Chinese forward Li Yi kicked Lee in the shins immediately after he finished his pass. Visually upset with Li's violent play, Lee slapped Li on the back of his head. Li Yi started rolling on the pitch grabbing his head in an apparent exaggeration. For a while the entire Chinese and Korean squad ran toward the scene but further conflict did not occur, as the referee awarded a yellow card for Li and red card for Lee. Korea defeated China in the match, and Lee became the source of a popular internet meme after the incident.
Career statistics
Club
As of 23 October 2011
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Yoo, Gyeong-sang (21 September 2022). 골때녀’ 이을용 감독 합류 “하프라인 넘어와 때릴라” 백지훈 긴장 ['Goal Girl' Director Lee Eul-yong joins "I'll cross the half-line and hit you" Baek Ji-hoon nervous]. Naver (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
^고종수 프로축구 올스타 최다득표 (in Korean). SBS. 1 August 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^수원 4인방, 2004 K리그 올스타전 출장 (in Korean). Suwon Samsung Bluewings. 4 July 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^Lee, Min-ji (17 December 2022). 골때녀 잔칫날’ 감독진 11명, 올해의 리더상 [2022 SBS 연예대상] [Leader of the Year Award [2022 SBS Entertainment Awards], 11 directors]. Naver (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
^Lee, Seung-gil (18 December 2022). 유재석, 감격의 '대상' 영예…통산 19번째 트로피 품었다 [2022 SBS 연예대상] (종합) [Yoo Jae-seok had the honor of the "Grand Prize"...won his 19th trophy in his career [2022 SBS Entertainment Awards] (comprehensive)]. Naver (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2022.