No, he’s not coming out of retirement
Former midfielder Ji-sung Park has returned to Manchester United, the club has confirmed.
The 37-year-old South Korean, who made over 200 appearances after signing for United in 2005 from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, is spending time back at the club to learn how they operate away from pitch in terms of player development.
Since retiring in 2014, Park studied for a Management, Law and Humanities of Sport MA at De Montfort University, in Leicester – even playing for the student union football team while there.
Park was in attendance at Old Trafford to see his old side lose 1-0 to Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Ahead of the game, he spoke to United’s in-house television station to explain in more detail why he’s returned to the club.
“It is great to be back at Manchester United,” he told MUTV. “I am seeing how the club manages the youth development, the coaching staff and the scouting system – the technical side of the club. I want to see how they’re doing it and it has been great to see.
“I have enjoyed it so far, seeing how they develop the players and studying women’s football as well.
“We always achieve a winning mentality and that is in our history. The players should have it, the team should have it, the youth teams and women’s team as well. It’s great to see the whole club has the same mindset to achieve the same thing.”
After leaving United in 2012, Park had a brief spell at QPR, also returning to PSV on loan before eventually announcing his retirement.
