Legendary Soccer (3) – The Moment Jung Tae-woo Shines as the City’s Keeper
The training session had finally ended, and the moment we had all been waiting for arrived.
Our opponent was Black Dragon FC, led by retired player Kwon Beom.
Kwon Beom had once been a regular starter in Seoul FC’s attack before retiring, so he was no pushover.
Everyone gathered for the pre-match talk, and Senior Ahn Jung-hyun began explaining the game plan.
“First, Kwon Beom is really sharp as a forward, so we’re going with a counter-attack strategy.”
Senior Ahn pointed at each of us one by one and assigned positions.
“GK will be Dongheon… Tae-woo, you kept saying during training that he’s really good, so let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Got it!”
“Heh heh, Dongheon’s got that fire today.”
Legendary baseball player Yang Jun-hyung chuckled and added, “Jun-hyung, you better listen to me today.”
“Alright, I’ll trust the player who taught me this stuff—Jung Tae-woo.”
The tactics briefing finished, and Senior Ahn walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Oh, and in the second half, Tae-woo will come on for the last five minutes or so. Remember that.”
“Whoa, you were playing Premier League and now you’re jumping into an amateur club match. The gap is insane.”
Laughter erupted from the entire squad.
“I’ll do my best.”
Senior Ahn gave my shoulder a playful tap. “Hey, Tae-woo, if you go too hard the other team will complain. Go easy, go as easy as you can.”
“Haha, haha.”
The whole group laughed warmly, and the match was officially about to begin. The production crew had already warned the Black Dragon FC players that I would only play the final five minutes.
To everyone’s surprise, the opposition’s reaction was electric.
“Playing on the same pitch as the Premier League keeper, Jung Tae-woo himself? That’s a dream!”
“We’re finally getting to put one in the City keeper’s net and show the kids what’s what!”
“I’d buy everyone drinks if I score today!”
“Then I’ll buy the eel!”
The news that I was even on the roster had completely lifted their spirits. For them, scoring against a Premier League goalkeeper on this exact pitch was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Their eyes burned with pure, genuine football passion for the rest of the day.
Black Dragon FC lined up in a 2-3-2 formation—the classic early-football style, but with Kwon Beom leading a rock-solid forward line.
We went with the 4-3-1 I’d been taught: the so-called “long-ball” counter. Defensive solidity feeding into rapid transitions—the exact plan Senior Ahn Jung-hyun had preached.
While I sat on the bench watching the first half, I kept my eyes on Kim Dong-heon.
His movements during training had already hinted at something beyond normal amateur level. The athleticism of a former MMA star combined with professional goalkeeper training turned his play into something far more impressive than I’d expected.
“What’s he going to do in the real thing…”
* * *
The match kicked off with Kim Seong-jun’s familiar voice booming over the speakers.
[Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s practice match—Legend FC versus Black Dragon FC. And today we’ve got a special guest, right?]
The MC replied with a playful tone.
[Yes, we do! No, how did he end up here? Today our special one-day coach and the last-five-minute hero of Manchester City, Jung Tae-woo of the City is here!]
[He trained one-on-one with Jung Tae-woo himself. And Jung Tae-woo said he’s really good. I can’t wait to see how much he’s improved.]
A sharp whistle split the air.
Whistle—!
[The whistle blows! Black Dragon FC kick off.]
[Black Dragon’s got Kwon Beom up top, looking for a thunderous counter.]
[We’ll get to see just how good Kim Dong-heon’s become under Jung Tae-woo’s coaching.]
The instant Kwon Beom received the ball he lifted his leg without hesitation.
Pang!
A crisp mid-range shot rocketed toward goal, but the distance was too great. Dongheon caught it exactly as if he’d predicted the arc.
[Whoa, Kwon Beom starts with a rocket from distance! But… that’s way too far. Isn’t he underestimating Dongheon just a little?]
[This Kim Dong-heon is no ordinary Kim Dong-heon! He’s been training under the Premier League’s best keeper!]
Senior Ahn Jung-hyun, watching from the bench, smiled and muttered, “Look at that. Kwon Beom thought he could bully Dongheon right off the pitch.”
There was clear anticipation mixed with light-hearted amusement in his voice.
Of course, Legend FC still needed work and Black Dragon FC played with excellent team cohesion, so the half produced several tense moments.
[Left side is wide open! Yang Jun-hyung’s covering. Central shot from Kwon Beom!]
Thud!
[Super save! Kim Dong-heon has done it again! Super save! Is this the effect of Jung Tae-woo’s coaching?]
Kim Dong-heon launched himself in the exact diving position I’d shown him during training. The stadium hummed as the ball was punched clear with perfect timing.
“Nice!”
“Insane!”
“He stopped that!”
[That was Kwon Beom’s best effort yet, and he punches it away!]
I found myself smiling on the bench too. The same focus and reflexes that had impressed me in training were now flawless on the real pitch.
“Nice! We’re going clean sheet today!!!”
Kim Dong-heon’s voice thundered across the ground. The usual calm had vanished; pure excitement at finally seeing what a real goalkeeper could do filled his tone.
After all, until now his goal had been “the ball goes in if it’s aimed there.” That was only natural for an MMA fighter who’d never properly learned the position.
But today was different. He wasn’t just stopping shots anymore—he was creating spectacular saves.
The frustration of knowing he wanted to be the best and train harder but not knowing exactly how had been crushing. The years he’d had to survive on raw physicality alone had been exhausting.
That made today’s performance hit even harder.
He learned at an astonishing rate, but the way he treasured every word I gave him—like it was pure treasure—made me push even harder.
I wanted to teach him everything: the basics of goalkeeper stance, the split-second decision-making, the footwork. Everything.
The man on the grass right now was living proof that when you put your whole heart into it, the results speak for themselves.
[The ball comes in on the right! Ryu Jae-seung! Ryu Jae-seung! He takes it, lifts it… Ah! Keeper punch! Ball deflects, second shot… no, he clears it! Black Dragon keeps coming!]
[Three saves already! Kim Dong-heon is on fire!]
Even in the frantic commentary, Dongheon’s movements never faltered. It was as if he’d been a keeper his whole life.
Senior Ahn looked at me with wide eyes. “Tae-woo, how did you teach him that? He’s incredible!”
“He’s got natural talent and an amazing learning attitude. I just gave him everything I know.”
Before I finished speaking, Dongheon produced another beauty.
[He lifts it over! Long ball! Heading! Ah! Keeper punch again! Jung Tae-woo, what did you actually teach him to make him this good?]
But the relentless pressure from Kwon Beom eventually forced him to concede.
[Kwon Beom’s mid-range shot! Ah! He just touched it but it’s in!]
No one blamed Dongheon. Everyone knew he was holding them to just one goal with an unbroken string of saves.
We headed into the second half 1-0 down, and they kept pressing. By the end the score was 3-0.
Beep—!
[Goal kick! Legend FC substitution! The player who’s been showing the highest level of performance today, Kim Dong-heon, is coming off, and Jung Tae-woo, our one-day player and coach, is coming on!]
I stood up and gave Dongheon a high-five. His face was drenched in sweat, but the emotion on it was satisfaction rather than disappointment.
“Tae-woo, thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I was subbed in as goalkeeper, but I immediately pushed forward. We still had to claw a goal back.
[Ah! Jung Tae-woo takes the pass meant for Kwon Beom and explodes forward!]
Kwon Beom chased me with stubborn persistence, trying to tackle. But my body was already moving. I dragged the ball back elegantly and slipped past him. The crowd erupted.
The small pitch meant defenders swarmed in immediately, but that only made it more fun.
I used the Phantom Dribble to beat one man, then a Marseille turn to leave two defenders in the dust. A perfect pass was delivered straight to Park Tae-wan.
Park Tae-wan’s eyes widened.
The ball wasn’t just a pass. It was a perfect weighted, angled delivery that needed no control at all—sent running so he could take a shot in one stride.
It was flawless. Nothing like the passes I’d seen him receive before.
[Park Tae-wan shoots! Goal! It’s in! Legend FC has pulled one back! That’s why they said Jung Tae-woo could be a world-class attacker too!]
[Insane dribble, then an insane pass!]
Senior Ahn, watching from the bench, turned to the rest of the players. “Look at that. That’s real football.”
He was right.