The Legendary Soccer Phenomenon
South Korean players had plenty of world-class talent, but winning the league championship still felt like a distant dream.
Then, in his very first season as a brand-new adult, Jung Tae-woo shattered the record with a perfect undefeated campaign. The entire domestic football community plunged into absolute ecstasy.
Even though many Korean players were already respected on the global stage, there were still voices who belittled their abilities simply because they lacked a single championship trophy.
Beneath those criticisms, however, lay the raw, aching hope of every Korean fan.
They wanted to see a South Korean player lift the trophy. The frustration of knowing their players had the skill but were failing to deliver the glory had grown unbearable.
And now, on the greatest stage in the world—the Premier League—Jung Tae-woo had delivered exactly that. Headlines across every sports network screamed “Jung Tae-woo Myth.” His highlight reels exploded on every social platform.
The youth football world was shaking too.
Before, most kids dreamed of becoming strikers. Now, it was the other way around. Parents were showing up at academies asking, “Can our child become a goalkeeper like Jung Tae-woo?”
The role of goalkeeper had completely reversed.
No one at school any longer placed a player with average ability in goal. Instead, the new trend was for team captains to guard the net while executing those signature sweeping saves and sweeping attacks that Tae-woo had made famous.
But the Jung Tae-woo syndrome had its darker side.
Every single parent now believed their own child could do what Tae-woo did—stop the ball and score at the same time.
“No, Mom. Eun-chan really does have natural goalkeeper talent, but becoming a full attacking player like Jung Tae-woo… it’s probably too much.”
“Coach, you’re already killing the kid’s heart! Jung Tae-woo does it, so why can’t my son?”
These conversations were now daily life at Shinhwa Football Academy. Jung Tae-woo’s meteoric rise had accidentally fed unrealistic dreams.
The parents had never even understood football properly, so all they could think was, “That twenty-year-old goalkeeper is out there scoring goals. Why can’t my son?”
“Hah… If that play was so easy, why weren’t there a hundred goalkeepers like him back then?”
Head coach and director Yoon Dong-jun felt truly helpless.
Tae-woo was a once-in-a-generation talent that the world itself acknowledged. How could anyone seriously think anyone could do what he did?
But parents refused to accept it.
“If you can’t train us properly, then we don’t need to come here anymore. Refund all the lessons we paid for.”
“Wait, Mom, how do we even refund three months’ worth?”
“You promised to turn him into a Jung Tae-woo!”
“…Ugh, damn money…”
If he hadn’t taken out a full loan on his Mercedes E-Class, Yoon Dong-jun would have shown them the door on the spot.
He stared at the sharp, gleaming headlights of his car parked outside the window and steadied himself.
*I’m such a sucker. A complete pushover who just smiles when someone gets angry at me.*
“Oh my, you should have listened to the entire explanation… What I meant was, let’s focus more on strengthening the defensive side, building solid fundamentals, and then practicing attacks.”
“So… can he do it like Jung Tae-woo?”
*Can he?*
Yoon Dong-jun kept the disappointment hidden and answered politely.
“With Eun-chan’s current level, in my opinion he’ll finish basic goalkeeper training in no time and can transition into attack training as well. I already told you he has natural goalkeeper talent…”
Yoon Dong-jun bowed as deeply as possible.
The mother’s voice had cooled by the time she replied.
“Well… you should have said that from the beginning. Now I feel like the crazy one here.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Whatever. Let’s go, Eun-chan. Take good care of him.”
“Yes, Mom. Please come in.”
*Clang—*
The moment the office door closed, Yoon Dong-jun dropped his forehead onto the desk.
[Jung Tae-woo is currently resting at home. After his massive performance on Star Mission Big Operation, it would be wonderful if he could appear on other entertainment programs too.]
Watching the news about Tae-woo on TV, Yoon Dong-jun forced a bitter smile.
*Money keeps pouring in… but my hair keeps thinning, my stomach keeps hurting…*
He ran a hand through his thinning hair and sighed. The more he earned, the more demanding the parents became.
Yoon Dong-jun muttered toward the empty air, then suddenly remembered his Mercedes installment and laughed again, this time even more bitterly.
*Yeah… I have to hold it in. A haircut? What’s that? Besides, I don’t even have a girlfriend to show off to.*
He flipped the channel. A famous actress’s ideal type was being introduced.
*My ideal type is Jung Tae-woo.*
“Ugh… Why is the universe so unfair?”
The mere mention of Tae-woo made the fragile pride he’d been clutching onto with his Mercedes break apart.
Yoon Dong-jun laughed hollowly and looked up at the sky.
*Why are you so unfair, God…*
The tears welling in the thirty-five-year-old academy director’s eyes felt as heavy as his Mercedes payments.
---
Four days had passed since his return to Korea.
During the week of rest, he had missed Da-min terribly, but he had enjoyed simple home-cooked meals with his mom and a relaxed family life.
Today, he had planned to arrange his schedule at a café near home and met with his agent Ga-young.
“Tae-woo, how about we skip the commercials and decide on the variety show?”
His value had skyrocketed after the undefeated season.
He could have earned a fortune filming every incoming ad, but most of them required pairing him with actresses or idol groups. He had been carefully avoiding those.
*If it was with Da-min, I would have said yes immediately…*
But Queendom was currently on tour overseas, so not only could they not film together, they couldn’t even meet.
*Ah, that’s why long-distance relationships are so tough.*
Whenever someone mentioned how difficult long-distance couples found it, he would think, “It must just be lack of love.” He had never imagined how painful it could be to see the person he loved every single day.
“Lots of offers for variety shows?”
“First, we got contacted about Star Mission again…”
He had already done Star Mission once. If he participated now, he wanted to try something different.
“Hmm, I’d like to do it once more and then pick something else.”
“How about this one?”
Ga-young held out her phone. A brand-new variety show called **Legend Soccer** had just become extremely popular.
*Oh, this was exactly the one I wanted to appear on…*
Legend Soccer gathered retired legends from every sport and formed an amateur football team to play against other clubs. Director Ahn Jung-hyun led it, and because everyone was an athlete, the matches were surprisingly competitive yet somehow entertaining. The show had taken the country by storm.
“Actually, many people said it would flop at the start, but thanks to you, football’s popularity rose and it benefited from that. So if you appear, the fans will be thrilled.”
Legend Soccer was different from other shows. Retired stars from various fields came together to play serious football with fun chemistry.
Especially since all the legends had reached the peak in their own sports, viewers might learn something valuable too.
“I’ll do Legend Soccer.”
“Great. You really thought it through. The fans are waiting to see you on TV.”
*Even if I said I didn’t want to do variety shows anymore, this is football…*
The aura of athletes who stood at the absolute top of their fields—it sounded incredibly intriguing.
---
Today was the day for Legend Soccer filming.
Ga-young had originally been scheduled to drive, but something came up, so Chan-kyu stepped in instead.
“Hyung, sorry. You were supposed to be on your day off.”
“Eh, what are you apologizing for? Driving you around is my job. I told the representative I would handle it myself. No need to apologize.”
The warmth in Chan-kyu’s words made Tae-woo’s chest feel lighter.
*Everyone around me really is too kind.*
A small smile tugged at his lips.
The filming location was already buzzing when he arrived. He first spotted Ahn Jung-hyun.
The former 2002 World Cup hero, the same man who was always mentioned when casting handsome actors.
Even after all these years, his dignified presence still radiated.
“Jung Tae-woo, I watched your match and really enjoyed it. Congratulations on the championship.”
Treating a younger player like him with such respect on their first meeting felt both humbling and touching. Ahn Jung-hyun’s genuine character shone through completely.
“Thank you. Please call me Tae-woo.”
“Sure. But seriously, you’re an incredible goalkeeper. How did you dribble and shoot so well?”
Talking football with Ahn Jung-hyun flew by in no time. Soon the filming time arrived.
“Ah, it’s filming time. Tae-woo, wait a moment.”
“Yes!”
Tae-woo watched from a distance as the opening ceremony began. Legends from baseball, basketball, swimming, fencing, shooting, and boxing had gathered in one place.
“Yes, to nurture your skills, we have invited a special coach.”
“No way?”
“Really?”
The players’ faces showed faint hope that their guest might be a famous name, though they were still waiting for confirmation.
“Today’s special coach is Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper and the man called ‘the striker’s nightmare’ across Europe. Debut season undefeated champion, Jung Tae-woo!”
Ahn Jung-hyun’s announcement sent Tae-woo walking onto the set.
“Hello. I’m Jung Tae-woo, known as the striker’s nightmare but also called the goalkeeper who attacks better than most strikers.”
*That’s not because Ahn Jung-hyun’s explanation was lacking at all.*
He simply felt the second title fit him better and said it aloud.