S. Korean footballer signs with Saudi club

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean football's "brat" Lee Chun-soo will join
the Saudi league's Al Nassr, his Dutch team said Monday, putting an end to a
disappointing year in his native country.
The 28-year-old forward, who currently belongs to Netherlands' Feyenord
Rotterdam, was transferred to the Middle East club on a one-year contract, the
club said on its Web site. Details of the contract were not disclosed.
He will be the third South Korean to play for the Saudi league, following Seol
Ki-hyeon of England's Fulham FC and Lee Young-pyo of Al Hilal.
Al Nassr finished fifth in the 2008-09 season in the 12-team league.
Lee, nicknamed the "bad boy," is well known in South Korea for his volatile
temperament. He has been suspended in the past for aiming insulting gestures and
words at referees.
Lee joined the Dutch league in 2007 after an outstanding performance in the 2006
World Cup in Germany but failed for the second time to impress fans overseas. His
first attempt came after joining the Spanish league in 2003 but ended in vain due
to his lackluster play.
He came back to South Korea's Suwon Blue Wings on loan last year but was soon
ousted from the club after being accused of harboring an indolent attitude during
training.
Saved by Chunnam Dragons FC, he scored four goals in eight games for the new
team, but then asked that he be allowed to move to a new club after claiming he
did not agree with the coaches.
The Dragons expelled him early this month for disobedience and breach of
contract. Lee was supposed to play for the Dragons until January next year on
loan from Feyenord, but he had contacted the Saudi Arabian team last month.
brk@yna.co.kr
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