Chapter 1
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue
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June 2023. On the TV screen, Zlatan Ibrahimović's retirement ceremony was unfolding at AC Milan's San Siro Stadium.
"Zlatan is retiring after all..."
Park Si-hyun, sunk deep into the sofa as he stared at the TV, wore a wistful smile.
At thirty-eight, hailed as a K League defender legend with ample fame and fortune to his name, he felt nothing but emptiness.
And in that void, his one guiding light had been Zlatan.
'When people ask who the greatest footballer is, they'll say Messi or Ronaldo. But for me, it's always been just Zlatan.'
Si-hyun's eyes locked onto Zlatan's image on the screen.
A towering 195 cm frame, an overwhelming presence born of unshakeable confidence grounded in his skill.
Park Si-hyun and Zlatan were similar in height.
193 cm versus 195 cm—a mere 2 cm difference.
But everything else was worlds apart.
'If I'd had Zlatan's confidence in my own abilities... no, if I'd stuck to my guns as a striker from the start, would my career have turned out differently?'
Park Si-hyun hadn't started out as a defender.
He'd been switched to defense in high school at his coach's insistence—more command than request.
Back then, as a high schooler, he'd been praised as a striker with his tall frame, physical prowess, technical footwork, dribbling, and shooting ability.
That day, too, as he was about to join striker training as usual, the coach had called him over with a grave expression.
"Si-hyun, if you keep playing striker, you won't make it as a pro."
"Pardon?"
"Think about it. How many tall players like you have succeeded as strikers? With your height and physicality, defense is a perfect fit. Switch positions, and you'll become a K League legend for sure."
At the time, he didn't even know of any successful tall strikers over 190 cm.
In 2001 Korea, few people knew much about European soccer, and cable TV was just getting started, so information was scarce.
Besides, the coach's words touched on Si-hyun's own private worries.
It was only later, as interest in European soccer grew, that he learned of giants like Jan Koller, Oliver Bierhoff, and Peter Crouch thriving at the top level. But back then, he truly had no idea.
Of course, he'd ended up called a K League defender legend, so in hindsight, the coach's judgment seemed spot on.
That's why he'd always regarded the man as his mentor throughout his career.
But on the eve of his own retirement, he'd learned the sickening truth: the position change wasn't for his benefit, but payback for a dirty backroom deal.
Straight from the coach's mouth, no less.
On his retirement day, he'd met up with the man he'd thought was his mentor and shared drinks.
The drunken ramblings from that night still haunted him vividly.
"Ugh... Who knew you had defender talent too. Truth is, I took money and had no choice but to do it."
The real story was this:
A third-year senior, furious at being benched for a junior, slipped the coach cash to force Si-hyun into defense, clearing the starting striker spot for himself.
In that moment, Si-hyun realized his entire life had been derailed for a handful of filthy money.
The man he'd trusted as a lifelong mentor had sold his dreams for pennies—a betrayer.
'If I'd refused the switch back then and stuck with striker... could I have become a great like Zlatan?'
Truth be told, no one could know.
He might have ended up just another average player.
But if he could go back, even if it meant mediocrity, he wanted to play striker.
At least it would have been a life of his own choosing.
'Sigh... What am I even thinking? Time for bed.'
Si-hyun switched off the TV and headed to the bedroom.