Lee Seung-yeoul

A graduate of Shingal High School, Lee entered the 2008 K League draft and joined FC Seoul. He scored five goals including three winning goals while playing 31 matches as a striker in his first professional season. He was named the K League Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. On 7 March 2009, Lee scored a goal in Seoul's season opener against Jeonnam Dragons, which ended in a 6–1 win. He made 21 appearances and 5 goals at the 2009 K League, while concentrating on the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2010, Lee simultaneously played for Seoul and the national team. During the 2010 season, he had 10 goals and six assists in 28 matches, and won a K League title. He was evaluated as one of the best South Korean talents at the time, and played a match against Greece at the 2010 FIFA World Cup under Huh Jung-moo, the national team manager. Contrary to expectation, Lee's capability was in decline since 2011. He scored only one goal in 2011, and transferred to several K League clubs as well as J1 League club Gamba Osaka to find a turning point in his career. He finished his professional career without a reversal after leaving Suwon FC in 2016. After retiring, he criticised his agent for sending him to clubs, who did not consider him as a main player. According to him, he complained to the agent about dogmatic negotiations and his lack of playing time, but a 20-year unfair contract with the agent caught up with him.

On 9 January 2010, Lee made his first international cap for South Korea in a 4–2 friendly defeat to Zambia. Lee scored his first and second international goal against Hong Kong and Japan, respectively, at the 2010 East Asian Football Championship. He became the tournament's joint-top scorer with two goals. Lee played as a 87th-minute substitute in South Korea's opener against Greece at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Afterwards, he was benched for the next three matches. Despite playing only five minutes, he expressed a deep impression he felt at that moment in an interview after the competition.

Club

International

FC Seoul

K League 1: 2010 Korean League Cup: 2010 Ulsan Hyundai

AFC Champions League: 2012 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

K League 1: 2014, 2015 South Korea

EAFF Championship runner-up: 2010 Individual

K League Rookie of the Year: 2008 EAFF Championship top goalscorer: 2010 K League All-Star: 2010