Big Game Player -1
The conversation with Association President Jeodo-cheol wrapped up, and the next day...
When I told the family that my return to the national team was on positive terms, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Chairman Hwang Geum-sun were thrilled but couldn't hide their worries.
I'd expected these fiercely patriotic folks to cheer, but it seemed the association branding me a traitor had wounded not just me, but the whole family.
After getting pummeled without a mediator for a while, a sulky Han Gyeowol huffed. I approached her cautiously and pulled her into a hug.
Snuggled in my arms, whimpering for a good long while, Gyeowol finally shared her thoughts tentatively.
"...But staying at Dortmund isn't so bad."
"Then don't transfer?"
"No, I'll respect your choice like Mom and Dad. You don't have to force yourself to Invincible Hwang Yu for my sake."
"Hmm... Real Madrid okay?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"Barcelona too?"
"Of course. Totally fine."
"Arsenal?"
"They can't afford you."
"Chelsea?"
"I'll sulk for two years."
"Man City?"
"Cut the bullshit."
"Liverpool?"
"Hey. Son Jinho. Don't cross the line, seriously."
Wait...
It was just a joke—did she really have to get serious?
"Hey. Son Jinho, you mad?"
"..."
"Is our cutie pie daddy angry~?"
After a long silence, Gyeowol resorted to aegyo.
As if my anger would melt from a little cuteness...
"Wanna grope my chest?"
"Yeah."
October 20, 2012. Bundesliga Round 8.
Match day against Schalke. Train services to the away side were halted, and police swarmed the stadium and surroundings to prevent clashes.
"Scheiße! Schalke!"
Local Dortmund fans visiting the stadium hurled curses and jeers at Schalke supporters.
"Scheiße! Scheiße! Scheiße! BVB!"
Schalke fans didn't take it lying down. The chanting battle heated up Signal Iduna Park.
Korean fans there to watch Son Jinho live were stunned by the electric atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park.
"Scheiße! Schalke!!!" They say madness is contagious?
Before long, the Korean fans were blending in, jeering Schalke with the locals.
That's when the stadium announcer began reading Dortmund's lineup.
- Sooooon!!
The moment Son Jinho's name left the announcer's lips.
" Ginooooooo─!!"
A roar distinctly louder than for the others echoed through the stadium.
Fans who'd come live felt their chests swell with emotion.
Peep─!
Time passed, and with the ref's whistle, the first Revier Derby of the 12/13 season kicked off.
"Fucking A-matches."
Jurgen Klopp muttered under his breath as he watched Dortmund getting pushed back by rivals Schalke at home.
"Gotta punch Löw that bastard in the jaw next time I see him."
Ahead of the Revier Derby, Dortmund's key players called up to their national teams—Schmelzer (Germany), Gündoğan (Germany), Götze (Germany)—returned with minor injuries.
For a squad as thin as Dortmund's, losing three cores hurt bad.
They switched from a back four to a three-back defense.
No one to fill left-back Schmelzer's shoes.
Klopp had no choice but to slot Sven Bender alongside Hummels and Subotić in the three at the back, with Ivan Perišić and Piszczek as left and right wing-backs.
Ivan Perišić grumbled at playing wing-back instead of forward, but after Son Jinho's strong persuasion—knowing Perišić would hit a second peak there—he accepted, and had shown decent form so far.
Son Jinho paired with Sebastian Kehl in midfield.
Up top: Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski, Kevin Großkreutz. Not their usual 4-2-3-1, but a 3-4-3.
Unfamiliar formation plus injured starters meant Schalke pressure, but no goals conceded yet. Lucky.
'At least holding thanks to Gino.'
After observing the flow, Klopp's eyes landed on Son Jinho directing teammates' positions with his fingers.
'Germany to Korea is about 10,000 km? Thank god he quit the national team.'
A boy too young who'd retired from his national team despite his youth.
As an ex-player himself—even from the second division—Klopp knew rejecting the honor of representing your country was no small feat.
He too had dreamed young of joining Die Mannschaft—the German national team's nickname meaning "the team."
'Means the wounds from Korea run deep...'
As Klopp's misunderstanding of Son Jinho deepened, Huntelaar's shot just shaved the crossbar.
Corner kick: Bender headed clear to Huntelaar. Dortmund barely escaped.
Roman Weidenfeller's goal kick restarted play. Weidenfeller hoofed long; Kehl won the aerial duel and passed instantly to Son Jinho.
Son Jinho took his first touch, dropped deep to shield from Schalke pressure, then passed to overlapping Ivan Perišić on the left flank.
Perišić burst down the wing and whipped a cross toward Son Jinho crashing the penalty box.
Son Jinho's header rippled Schalke's net.
"Hooooooo─!"