MIDDLESBROUGH FANS hoped they had found a new Fatty Foggon but in Lee Dong-gook, they got a lightweight, injury-prone pale imitation.
The veteran Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker looked set to miss South Korea’s clash with Greece today with a hamstring injury, but appears to have recovered.
The 6ft 1in centre forward joined Boro in January 2007. In Korea he had a reputation as a rambunctious, physical player with such a slack attitude to training and love of beer the locals nicknamed him “the Lazy Genius”.
Boro fans expecting to see an east Asian version of Alan “Fatty” Foggon were, however, swiftly disappointed. Not only did Lee fail to stay in the Yellow Rose sinking ale until 10 minutes before kick-off, he also proved to be so lightweight he seemed likely to blow away if the opposition goalkeeper farted.
Following a drink/brothel incident at the Asia Cup in 2007 Lee was banned from international football for 12 months. Sadly the ban didn’t extend to the Premier League. In 29 appearances for Middlesbrough he scored just twice. He was released without charge in the summer of 2008.
As for Greece, there is a case for arguing this is a stronger squad than that which surprised everyone, not least themselves, by winning the European Championship in 2004, but it also speaks volumes for Otto Rehhagel’s team that their attack is led by Celtic’s Georgios Samaras, a player known as (Greek) “Tragedy” during his time at Manchester City.
Greece are tactically fine-tuned and wily old Rehhagel will be aware South Korea’s weakness has been in defence since Hong Myung-bo, the “Eternal Libero,” retired eight years ago.
