Park Ji-sung vs Edgar Davids: Stats Compared
Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014) · Defensive Midfielder, Netherlands (born 1973, retired 2011)
Few debates split football fans quite like Park Ji-sung versus Edgar Davids. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. By the end Park Ji-sung had 60 goals from 550 caps and club outings; Edgar Davids had 45 from 600. Creativity tells a story too: 60 assists for Park Ji-sung against 40 for Edgar Davids. In major honours Park Ji-sung collected 5 — headlined by 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) — whereas Edgar Davids amassed 4, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (1995). Their legacies diverge in texture: Park Ji-sung is remembered as creative, Edgar Davids as silky. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Park Ji-sung's landmark level arrived around 2008 with a career spanning Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers; Edgar Davids's came around 2000 across Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Internazionale, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Crystal Palace. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
163 words · comparison angle: legacy
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.”
Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his relentless tackling, Davids wore his trademark wraparound goggles and was one of the most feared ball-winners in Europe during Juventus's late-1990s dominance.
“An aggressive, tireless ball-winner whose combativeness and surprising technical quality made him a complete midfield destroyer.”
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)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1995)
- 3× Serie A (1998, 2002, 2003)
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.
- 1991 Professional debut for Ajax
- 1995 Won UEFA Champions League with Ajax
- 1998 Won Serie A with Juventus
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Juventus
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Crystal Palace
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Edgar Davids the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a stronger all-round attribute profile.
Edgar Davids edges it (a clear margin)
