is a Japanese football executive and former player who played as a striker or attacking midfielder. He is currently the vice chairman and sporting director of Singapore Premier League club Tampines Rovers.
Lee has made 11 appearances for the Japan national team. He is known in Japan for coming on as a substitute in the 109th minute of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup final held in Qatar and scoring his first international goal to secure a 1–0 win over Australia, giving Japan their fourth AFC Asian Cup success.
Lee is sometimes known as "Chung", in reference to his Korean name, Lee Chung-seong.
Early life and family Lee was born to third generation Zainichi Korean parents in Tanashi (present-day Nishitokyo), Tokyo. He has Byeokjin Lee () ancestry. His father was also a footballer, who played for Yokohama Tristar FC in the Japan Soccer League.
His Korean name is Lee Chung-seong ( where his former name was known as .
Club career Japan Lee started playing football at Komine FC and later moved to Yokogawa Electric. In 2001, he joined FC Tokyo youth team and took second places at All Japan Club Youth Soccer tournament, Prince Takamado Cup and J.League Youth tournament. He briefly joined training squads for the South Korea U-19 and U-20 teams but not played at official games. He experienced severe discrimination from Korean teammates referring to him as a ban-jjokbari (half-Jap) with strong racial undertones.
He was promoted to FC Tokyo in 2004 and moved to Kashiwa Reysol in 2005 and later joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2009.
Southampton On 11 January 2012, Lee secured a work permit to allow him to play for Southampton, who confirmed the free transfer on 25 January 2012.Tadanari Lee secures work permit (From Daily Echo)
He made his debut for Southampton on 28 January 2012, as a substitute in a fourth round FA Cup match against Millwall. Lee started and played the duration of the replay, failing to score as Millwall won 3–2 after a 92nd-minute winner from Liam Feeney.
He scored his first goal for Southampton in a 4–0 victory over Derby County on 18 February, with a "venomous strike into the far corner" of the goal. He made his first league start one week later, a 3–0 victory away at Watford, with Lee winning a penalty for the third goal scored by Rickie Lambert. After damaging ligaments on 10 March 2012 Lee missed the rest of the season.
His goal won the Southampton's Goal of the Season Award.
After 5 months out injured, he made his return to action with a goal in a 4–1 victory at Stevenage in the League Cup.
He was handed the number 19 shirt for the 2013–14 season after Southampton invited him back to the First Team. He made his first return to the Southampton team after year when starting in the League Cup against Bristol City.
On 14 January 2014 he was released from his contract at Southampton after a two-year spell.
Return to Japan On 14 February 2013, Lee returned to his former club, FC Tokyo on loan until the end of June. He made his debut on 2 March 2013, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitutee. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 March 2013 in the 77th minute against two-time defending champion Kashima Antlers.Lee guides FC Tokyo past Antlers | The Japan Times
Urawa Red Diamonds He had a successful spell with Urawa Red Diamonds winning the 2016 J.League Cup, 2017 Suruga Bank Championship, 2017 AFC Champions League and the 2018 Emperor's Cup.
Albirex Niigata Singapore After nine years in Japan, on 1 January 2022, Lee joined Singapore-based Albirex Niigata (S) on a one-year deal reportedly earning SGD$12,000 per month.l, of which he will donate all of his goal bonus pay-outs, worth $200 per goal, to SportCares. On 19 January 2022, he made his debut in the 2022 Singapore Community Shield, netting a penalty in a 2–1 loss to reigning 2021 Singapore Premier League champions, Lion City Sailors.
He ended the 2022 season winning the 2022 Singapore Premier League title. On 12 December 2022, he extended his contract for another season, for the 20th year of his professional career playing in the 2023 Singapore Premier League season. On 14 September 2023, Lee announced via the club official page that he will retired at the end of the season. On the final league fixture against Hougang United on 16 September 2023, Lee Tadanari scored 2 goals (a brace) in the match between Hougang United vs Alibrex Niigata (S) he scored at the 49th and the 69th minute sealing the match
International career In August 2008, Lee was selected Japan U-23 national team for 2008 Summer Olympics. At this tournament, he played all 3 matches.
After becoming a regular starter for Sanfrecce and finishing the 2010 season strongly, Lee was rewarded with a call-up to Japan's 2011 Asian Cup squad and made his full international debut on 9 January 2011 against Jordan. His first international goal was in the 109th minute of the final to secure a 1–0 win over Australia and Japan's fourth AFC Asian Cup success.
Sporting director role On 13 December 2025, Singapore Premier League club Tampines Rovers announced that Lee will become the club vice chairman and sporting director. Lee managed the club's player recruitment for the season. He progressed through the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two to reach the round of 16. Lee led the team’s performances and winning results throughout the group stage.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionNippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, (p. 29 out of 289)ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFC Tokyo2004J1 League00———00Kashiwa Reysol2005J1 League80—30—1102006J2 League318———3182007J1 League30101050—36102008J1 League1944140—2752009J1 League202—53—255Total1082451173—13028Sanfrecce Hiroshima2009J1 League8020——1002010J1 League301120326341162011J1 League3215—10—3315Total70264042638431Southampton2011–12Championship7120——912012–13Premier League001021—312013–14Premier League000020—20Total713041—142FC Tokyo (loan)2013J1 League134—62—196Urawa Reds2014J1 League3460083004292015J1 League2522121503442016J1 League331010525244142017J1 League21300101043272018J1 League2032082—305Total133245124820618239Yokohama F. Marinos2019J1 League1010000—101Kyoto Sanga2020J2 League500000—502021J2 League1700000—170Total2200000—220Albirex Niigata (S)2022Singapore Premier League22106111—29122023Singapore Premier League23114010—2811Total452110121—5723Career total4081012735717269518130
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearJapan National Football Team DatabaseNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan2011102201210Total112
Japan score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lee goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Tadanari LeeNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition129 January 2011Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar21–01–02011 AFC Asian Cup27 October 2011Kobe Wing Stadium, Kobe, Japan81–01–0Friendly
Honours Sanfrecce Hiroshima J.League Cup runner-up: 2010
Southampton EFL Championship runner-up: 2011–12
Urawa Red Diamonds J.League Cup: 2016 Suruga Bank Championship: 2017 AFC Champions League: 2017 Emperor's Cup: 2018
Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League: 2019
Albirex Niigata (S) Singapore Premier League: 2022, 2023 Singapore Community Shield: 2023
Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2011 Kirin Cup: 2011
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Tadanari Lee career profile