Chapter 85
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Money Pours In Because of Park Si-hyun
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Money was pouring in because of Park Si-hyun.
After sending Park Si-hyun to Korea, Rot-Weiss Essen began transforming into a club that players were clamoring to join, all in hopes of making history by shooting straight from the 2. Bundesliga to the 1. Bundesliga centered around him.
Starting with the little but crucial things.
The rundown gym, rusted equipment, subpar meals, frozen showers—Club Owner Johannes Brückner tore down and rebuilt every single one of those minor issues.
The training ground got the latest gear, and a nutritionist was assigned to the diet.
The dorms finally had fully functioning air conditioning and heating, and the players started feeling the satisfaction of being treated like pros at a proper club.
But there was just one problem.
Money.
The budget had been poured entirely into building a new stadium up to 1. Bundesliga standards and improving facilities, leaving zero funds for player signings.
The club's accounts were bone-dry, and Coach Frank Kurt was tearing his hair out.
"What kind of team aiming for promotion is this... We don't have a single immediate-impact player."
Essen's current situation meant gambling on future prospects instead of proven talent.
"Prospects are great and all... but we can't afford to wait a year."
He sighed and opened the scouting report.
Dozens of names were listed inside.
Sergio Ramos, Vincent Kompany, Cesc Fàbregas, Philipp Lahm, Dani Alves—names that would make you scream "Just bring anyone!" if you knew their futures, but back then, they were merely promising teenagers.
Frank didn't know their true potential either, which made him ponder even deeper.
"I need players who can step in right now... The future can wait."
His fingertips trembled faintly as he drummed on the desk.
Funds for just two players.
He had to change the team's future with that limited cash.
The one silver lining was that Essen already had a perfect striker.
The man who was battling Brazil's Ronaldo for the Golden Boot in the World Cup—Park Si-hyun.
No country ignored him anymore.
'If only we had another player who explodes like Park Si-hyun... but that's just greed.'
Frank sighed and flipped through the scout list.
The most urgent need was in defense.
They'd muscled through the 3. Liga, but from the 2. Bundesliga onward, it was a different story.
Defenders now needed not just physicality, but tactical awareness, skill, and organization.
The scouts recommended two names for that.
Sergio Ramos from Sevilla's youth team,
and Vincent Kompany from Anderlecht.
Ramos was already hailed as "Spain's future captain," and Kompany was a talent drawing European eyes for his build-up play and tactical sense.
Both were dream acquisitions for Essen.
But there was just one problem.
"Ha... If only we had a bit more money right now."
They were already too famous.
Their transfer fees were absurdly high for mere prospects.
The moment Frank sighed, the door burst open.
"Coach! Jackpot!"
"Don't you knock before entering the coach's office, assistant coach?"
"That's not the point... We've got investment! Massive scale, unbelievable!"
"...Investment?"
Frank furrowed his brow.
He had a bad feeling—maybe some shady group like the Red God Cult again.
But Assistant Coach Stefan Harbermann's words completely overturned his expectations.
"Catalan companies! All mentioning Park Si-hyun by name. 'Thank you to the club that nurtured our future hero,' they say, promising long-term support to Essen! This is enough for not just two, but four signings!"
"...What? Why are Catalans involved?"
Frank asked in disbelief.
He'd barely followed the news since the World Cup, so he knew nothing of the Puyol-Camacho incident in Spain or how Park Si-hyun had become Catalonia's symbol of freedom.
Stefan thrust a newspaper at him excitedly.
Frank read the article for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Catalan Companies Make Massive Investment in Park Si-hyun's Club 'Rot-Weiss Essen'. "We thank the team that raised our hero."
"...Haha, this guy... Even without him in Germany, he's helping the team."
Frank shook his head with a smile.
'The best decision I ever made in life was signing Park Si-hyun.'
A brief silence passed, then he suddenly asked his assistant coach,
"By the way... If Korea made it to the semis, who's their next opponent?"
"Germany."
"Germany, huh... That'll be interesting."
Frank chuckled and leaned back in his chair.
"Germany knows Park Si-hyun's terror best and most thoroughly. They're probably up all night scrambling countermeasures right now."
Autumn rain fell softly outside the window. Listening to it, he murmured quietly,
"Still, Si-hyun will win. That kid never bows his head to hardship."
"So... that means Germany loses?"
Frank pondered for a moment, then looked up and said calmly,
"Germany's already won it before. This time... let's yield."
A subtle smile played on his lips.
Park Si-hyun meant more than just a player to him. Even if it meant his own country crashing out of the World Cup, he wanted to see that boy soar higher.
'Bring home the World Cup trophy! Si-hyun.'
As Frank Kurt predicted, Germany was analyzing Korea—and Park Si-hyun—more thoroughly than any other team.
To neutralize the variable named Park Si-hyun, the analysis team worked day and night.
But Korea was doing the same.
Coach Hiddink knew the moment he saw the bracket.
The toughest opponent in this World Cup would be Germany.
The teams Korea had faced so far relied on individual skill, but Germany was different.
They moved as one organic entity in a tactical system.
Their tactics were solid yet flexible.
Base 4-4-2, seamlessly shifting to 3-5-2 based on the game, organically adjusting the defensive line.
Without a single moment of chaos.
Hiddink closed the analysis materials and muttered low,
"...This might be trickier than Brazil."
Germany wasn't flashy. But they were tenacious, cold-blooded, and knew how to win 1-0.
Someone once said,
"The most beautiful score in soccer is 1-0."
True to that, once Germany scored, they sealed all hope.
No team could breach their goal. Their defense was an iron wall of perfect physicality and organization.
To Hiddink, even more flawless than Italy's backline.
And their attack wasn't weak either. Instead of flashy dribbles, they wielded precise judgment, straight-line build-up, and lethal set pieces.
That made them even more dangerous to Korea.
"This'll be a tough match."
"Alright, let's hit it harder this time!"
At the attacking coach's shout, I caught my breath and fixed my eyes on the ball.
Then, without a hint of hesitation, I swung my right foot.
Bang!!
Clang—!
"Nice, Si-hyun! You're locked in today?"
"Yes."
I knew the chaos outside.
Koreans were ecstatic over the World Cup semis run, and in Catalonia, Spain, they still chanted my name, calling me a hero.
Honestly, I didn't get why...
But none of that mattered to me right now.
This match's symbolism outweighed any cheers.
Without me, the 2002 team had lost to Germany.
But now was different.
This team had 'Park Si-hyun,' and because of me, the tactics, atmosphere, and even players had shifted bit by bit.
So if Korea still lost to Germany with me playing?
It'd mean Park Si-hyun joined the national team, but nothing changed.
I couldn't accept that with my pride or self-respect.
"This time... I'll win with everything I've got."
Stamina was good—no extra time in the round of 16 or quarters. Conditions perfect.
Just one issue: the opponent was Germany.
They'd watched me longer than anyone, analyzed deeper than anyone—probably the country guarding me most warily in the world.
'Even when everyone ignored me, Germany was the one that recognized me first.'
That made them more dangerous.
Beating a careless team is easier than one that's fully prepared—common sense.
"But I have to win."
If the past repeated despite Park Si-hyun, it meant I wasn't the world's best.
My 'world's best' was a symbol that changes the future just by existing.
"I'll prove it. That I'm truly the world's best. Through this Germany match."
This game wouldn't prove me to others—it'd prove me to myself.
The reason I joined this 2002 team.
Evidence that choice changed Korean soccer's future.
When the match ended, I'd say it with utmost conviction.
With Park Si-hyun's existence, Korean soccer opened an even brighter future.