Park Ji-sung vs Rüştü Reçber: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Goalkeeper, Turkey (born 1973, retired 2011)
Set Park Ji-sung alongside Rüştü Reçber and the numbers start an argument of their own. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. On production alone, Park Ji-sung posted 60 goals across 550 appearances while Rüştü Reçber managed 0 across 600. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Park Ji-sung is credited with 60 and Rüştü Reçber with 0. The honours ledger favours Park Ji-sung with 5 major trophies (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)) against Rüştü Reçber's 4 (3× Süper Lig (1996, 2001, 2007)). Park Ji-sung played with a creative that made him unmistakable; Rüştü Reçber brought a reflex-sharp that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Park Ji-sung peaked around 2008 after representing Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, while Rüştü Reçber's defining level came around 2002 across Fenerbahçe, Barcelona, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
173 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
An iconic, wild-eyed shot-stopper, Rüştü was the inspirational goalkeeper behind Turkey's surprise run to third place at the 2002 World Cup.
“A fearless, larger-than-life goalkeeper whose commanding presence and shot-stopping made him a talismanic figure for club and country.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 3× Süper Lig (1996, 2001, 2007)
- 1× Turkish Cup (2004)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 1990 Professional debut for Fenerbahçe
- 1996 Won Süper Lig with Fenerbahçe
- 2004 Won Turkish Cup with Fenerbahçe
- 2002 Reached the peak of his powers at Barcelona
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Beşiktaş
- Finished his career with 0 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 0 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Park Ji-sung the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Park Ji-sung edges it (a decisive margin)
