2012/13 Season Kickoff
“Marco!”
“Gino!”
“How’s your condition today?”
Dortmund had just won the DFL-Supercup.
I chatted a lot with the newly joined players, gathering information.
“Good. You?”
“Same.”
Their habits, behaviors, hobbies, preferred play styles— I analyzed even the tiniest details without missing a beat.
Soccer is a team sport, after all, and understanding your teammates is the most important thing.
“Jinho, what do you do in your downtime?”
“Date my girlfriend or watch matches while reading tactics books?”
The new transfers seemed to have a lot of questions for me too.
“Jinho! Which company’s cola do you drink?”
“Water. Cola’s bad for your health.”
“...Tough guy.”
While I was building rapport with the new transfers through these conversations...
“There really is such a thing as cultural differences.”
With the club’s help, my father-in-law had gotten a long-term stay visa, and thanks to my mother-in-law and Gyeowol, he was adapting to German culture quickly.
“Aigoo. I told you to just stay in Korea.”
She said that, but my mother-in-law was happier than anyone that my father-in-law had come to Germany.
Seeing them like that, I told Gyeowol we should grow old just like them, and she replied with a reluctant expression.
“...Just not with a beer belly like Dad’s.”
Not long after the DFL-Supercup ended, news of Kang Chan’s Bundesliga transfer came suddenly.
It had been just two years since he switched from center back to striker.
After graduating high school with no Korean clubs taking him, he had to go to the J-League. There, he finished second in scoring and successfully moved to the Bundesliga.
Soccer Association’s definition = rich family and good at bribes, regardless of skill or potential.
Netizens blessed “Hyungnim” Chan’s future like he was the epitome of human victory, while harshly criticizing the rotten soccer establishment.
I felt a bit of reality hit me too. In my previous life, a talent like this had ended up as an agent.
What the hell kind of place was Korean soccer?
Well... honestly, I wasn’t without worries about Kang Chan’s Bundesliga move. Transferring and adapting are different beasts.
Countless players had challenged overseas only to crumble and return home.
Kang Chan had a great nose for goals, but he was still lacking in other areas.
That’s why even Dortmund had decided to wait for more growth before signing him, without giving up entirely.
And Kang Chan wasn’t exactly eager about Dortmund either. He’d be a sub behind Lewandowski, only playing sporadically.
For him, developing his skills and getting game time mattered more than club prestige or trophies. So his sudden Bundesliga transfer was unexpected even for me.
Anyway. I congratulated Kang Chan on entering the Bundesliga and added him to the Europe squad group chat.
The group chat, quiet for a while, suddenly lit up.
As news of Kang Chan’s transfer quieted down, the Bundesliga opener approached.
Dortmund’s first opponent was SV Werder Bremen.
Korean soccer fans tuned in late at night, rubbing sleepy eyes.
Young prospect Kevin De Bruyne fought valiantly to prevent defeat, but the gap between defending champions Dortmund and relegation-zone Bremen was too wide.
Thanks to Son Jinho’s 1 goal and 1 assist in the opener, Dortmund cruised to a 2-0 win. With the full “baby milk buff,” Jinho’s insane performances piled up points quickly.
Son Jinho shattered the second-year jinx with the baby milk buff.
After Kagawa’s departure, he shifted to attacking midfielder, aggressively hunting goals—and naturally drew even more attention than as a central midfielder.
A legendary striker commented on Son Jinho, but Hoo Gallery fans who’d watched him since childhood mocked the legend as a “soccer noob.” Still, Son Jinho’s exploits energized all of Korea.
Especially those who’d shown interest post-London Olympics felt a surge of national pride from his glory-bringing performances.
Hoo-oooo-ooo!
Massive influx into the Hoo Gallery, Son Jinho’s fan club.
Time flew, and Round 4 arrived.
The Korean Derby between Dortmund and Hamburg was approaching.