Trabzonspor look to Lee
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Article summary
Korean Republic midfielder Lee Eul-yong has rejoined Trabzonspor from FC Seoul for €580,000.
Article body
Korean Republic international midfield player Lee Eul-yong has rejoined his former team Trabzonspor as they prepare for their UEFA Champions League campaign.
Seoul move
Part of the Korean team that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Lee joins from FC Seoul for €580,000 on a two-season contract, one year after leaving Trabzonspor for the K-League side formerly known as Anyang Cheetahs.
Champions League carrot
Lee, currently playing in the AFC Asian Cup in China, originally moved to Turkey in 2002 for €1.5m from Bucheon SK. He said: "The fact that I can play in the Champions League was the main reason for deciding to go back to Europe. Playing in Europe will be better for me ahead of the [2006] World Cup in Germany, too."
Riga trip
Trabzonspor, who begin their Champions League bid with a second qualifying round first-leg tie at Latvia's Skonto FC on Tuesday having finished as Turkish Superleague runners-up last season, opened their 2004/05 campaign with a 1-0 victory against Malatyaspor in a testimonial match for former defender Lemi Çelik, who retired two years ago to go into coaching.