The versatile Korean defender/midfielder Young-Pyo Lee was signed by Spurs for around £1.36 million in August 2005.
Lee starred in Korea's World Cup finals campaign in 2002 in his home country, where they reached the semi-final. His pacy runs up and back down the touchline give him an advantage over opponents in being able to attack without a fear of leaving his marker too much opportunity to break away.
Tottenham needed cover at left back, but at the same time of the signing, Erik Edman left to gain regular first team football (with a World Cup approaching the following summer) at Rennes in France.
Lee had started his career at Aynang Cheetahs in Korea, where he won the 2000 K-League title, making his league debut on May 14th that year against Sungham Ilhwa Chunma. This came in the first season as a professional, with his debut only in April 2000, after he had graduated from Konkuk University in Seoul, wanting to complete his studies before committing to football. His performances brought him a place in the national side, including a place in the Korean Olympic team and under Guus Hiddink, he developed as a regular in the South Korean team.
When Hiddink left the national manager's job, he took Young-Pyo to PSV Eindhoven with him and there he became a firm favourite of the Dutch fans. The player helped PSV to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were unlucky to lose to AC Milan.
His move to Tottenham cam about because of Lee's ambition to play in the Premier League against some of the best players in the world, following his national and PSV team-mate Park, having joined Manchester United earlier in the summer of 2005.
His second season began with a place behind new signing Benoit Assou-Ekotto, having had a World Cup campaign with South Korea that took him back to Spurs late for pre-season training. Came back into the side to prove his versatility at left or right back, but his crossing when in advanced positions left the Spurs forwards frustrated. He faced a further challenge for his place in the side when Tottenham bought the talented young Welshman Gareth Bale for £10 million at the end of the 2006-07 season.
Left Spurs to play for Borussia Dortmund after he turned down a move to AS Roma in January 2008.
Went on to play in Saudi Arabia in 2009, winning top honours there with Al Hilal.