Lee Hoe-taik is a former South Korean football player and manager. Lee was nicknamed "Leopard" in South Korea because of his innate stamina, rapid pace and powerful shots. He was also proficient in creating chances and gave many key passes to other forwards in the middle. He scored 21 goals with 81 caps in the national team and won eight Asian titles, including the 1970 Asian Games. He was selected as a forward of the South Korean Football All-time Best XI by MBC and Best Eleven. He is also one of four players, inducted into the Korean Football Hall of Fame. However, he regretted his player life which had been slothful and dishonest in a 2009 interview.
Playing career
Lee started his youth career late in the high school but showed a fast development so he was selected for the South Korea youth team after 2 years and was also selected for the South Korea national team the following year. On 10 December 1966, Lee made his senior international debut against Thailand in the 1966 Asian Games. On 29 March 1967, Lee joined Yangzee, founded to the national team's development by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. In August 1967, Yangzee participated in the Pestabola Merdeka, which had high stature with the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup in Asia at that time. Lee led team's title by scoring three goals in the :ms:Pestabola Merdeka 1967|tournament. Lee was selected for South Korea for the 1968 Summer Olympics qualification and scored three goals in the five matches but South Korea was eliminated by goal difference although their points were tied with Japan, the group winners. Yangzee participated in the 1969 Asian Club Championship during January. Lee scored a hat-trick against Mysore State, the India's champions, in the first group match. Lee injured during the match against Bangkok Bank, but he appeared and assisted the winning goal against Vietnam Police in the next match. Yangzee reached the final by winning all five matches until the semi-final, but lost 1–0 to an Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in extra time of the final. In October 1969, Lee left Yangzee and joined Hanyang University. Lee played for South Korea in the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification during October 1969, but didn't prevent the team's failure by showing poor performance. He was also selected for South Korea for the 1969 King's Cup. On 19 November 1969, Lee assisted the winning goal against Laos. On 21 November 1969, Lee led team's 2–0 win by recording a goal and an assist against Malaysia. On 28 November 1969, Lee provided a crucial assist and South Korea won the tournament by defeating Indonesia 1–0 in the final. Lee played for South Korea in the :ms:Pestabola Merdeka 1970|1970 Pestabola Merdeka during August. He scored a goal against Singapore and assisted all two goals against Indonesia in the group stage. In the semi-final and final, Lee consecutively scored winning goals against India and Burma. On 5 September 1970, South Korea had a friendly match with Benfica. Lee scored the opening goal and the match ended in a 1–1 draw by Eusébio's penalty equalizer. Lee recorded a goal against Hong Kong and two assists against Malaysia in the 1970 King's Cup, which South Korea won in November. Lee also played for South Korea in the 1970 Asian Games during December. Lee scored the winning goal against Iran in the first group match. He led South Korea's 2–1 win by assisting all two goals against Japan in the semi-final. South Korea shared gold medals by drawing 0–0 with Burma in the final. Lee was named the Korean Footballer of the Year by contributing largely to the national team's three titles in that year. Lee participated in the 1972 AFC Asian Cup during May. Lee scored the winning goal against Khmer Republic in the group stage. He assisted the equalizer in the final but South Korea lost 2–1 against Iran after extra time. On 2 June 1972, South Korea had a friendly match with Santos, for which Pelé was playing. Lee scored a goal, but South Korea lost 3–2 in the match.
Managerial career
Lee managed Pohang Steelworks from 1987 to 1992 and won two K Leagues. Lee also managed the South Korea national team from 1988 to 1990. He led South Korea to finish as a runner-up in the 1988 AFC Asian Cup, and recorded 9 wins and 2 draws without a loss in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification. Lee aimed to win one game in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, but South Korea lost all three matches in the group stage.
