Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Last Classic 10 of Modern Soccer
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South Korea's resounding 5:2 victory over Spain.
Ban Yeager's performance, which was at the center—and could even be called the entirety—of that triumph, spread like wildfire across news articles and online communities.
Every single moment is insanely detailed.
He's mixing in micro fakes with almost every move... mind blown.
How is this real? Lmao.
Dribbling past them like kids lololol.
Nutmegging like it's breakfast.
U-17 World Cup debut.
No records except for the Korean middle school league.
A player like that absolutely demolished Spain's youth squad made up of Real Madrid and Barcelona talents, drawing massive attention.
"Ban Yeager! Time for the MOM interview!"
"Yes. I just follow that guy?"
"Yeah... You already changed clothes?"
"Yep, let's go."
I brushed past the coach and followed what looked like a tournament official to the interview area.
The stage where I'd introduce myself to the world for the first time.
First impressions are everything—gotta keep it clean.
——
Back out to the pitch for the touchline interview.
"Hello! Mr. Yeager! Can I call you Ban? Your celebration was so impressive."
"Sure, call me whatever's comfortable."
"Great, Ban! First off, congrats on South Korea's win. What's your take?"
"I think it's thanks to my teammates moving exactly how I wanted."
"Wow! Such a humble response! Let's dive into the key moments and I'll ask questions as we go. Starting with that first touch..."
...
With five goals and assists to cover, the interview dragged on quite a bit.
"Whew! Even just the goal clips took forever! Shows how incredible your performance was."
"Thank you."
"Where on earth did a talent like you come from? Not just us, the whole world wants to know."
"That's... an honor. Soccer players live off fans' love, after all."
"Haha... Fans won't be able to help loving you, Ban."
It has to be that way.
I have to become the centerpiece of South Korean soccer.
"We've looked at all the key plays! Evaluations are pouring in already. Perfect performance drawing rave reviews, but some point out your lack of work rate..."
"Team-oriented organized soccer where even forwards need defensive skills. Thoughts on the assessment that you can't adapt to modern soccer?"
The question I'd anticipated.
I organized my thoughts and answered calmly.
"I always play for the team's victory."
"I don't think running a lot always creates more chances. Free yet constrained play can inject creativity into the team."
"That's almost like... a trequartista..."
Ban Yeager's answer and the reporter's awed mutter echoed across the world.
——
Ban Yeager's interview generated as much buzz as the match itself.
Articles and news flooded in.
Positive views saw it as a great challenge from brilliant talent, while negatives labeled it the arrogant attitude of a flashy star.
The revival of the trequartista in modern soccer.
Almost every soccer expert declared it impossible.
But regardless of feasibility, it won massive cheers and popularity from casual fans.
Me first lol.
A player pouring everything into attack, even stealing from defense.
From a viewer's perspective, it's an endlessly fascinating style.
The more it got trashed as a relic of the past, the more romantic the narrative became.
The global soccer world dismissed it as impossible.
Soccer fans were tired of modern soccer's robotic, coach-dictated play.
They desperately wanted a player to outright reject it and prove them wrong.
——
South Korea secured a big win over Spain but was eliminated from the tournament.
With the schedule over, the national team hurried back home.
Incheon International Airport.
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!
"Whoa... all these people waiting for us?"
"This many? Is a celeb here or something?!"
The cheers erupted first for the coach and players who'd gone ahead.
I deliberately hung back to be the last one through immigration.
"They're not here to yell at us, right...?"
"N-no way!"
Lee Do-ran and Ki Dae-ryong fussing ahead of me.
"Nah, it's not like that, so give 'em those autographs hard."
Excluding me, they'd be the biggest names on the U-17 squad, so better drill it into them early.
"Fans are why we get paid to play. Hustle."
"Got it, Yeager..."
"We know that much!"
"Alright, let's go."
The moment we passed the gate.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!!!
A roar incomparable to before exploded.
Ban Yeager! Ban Yeager! Ban Yeager!
Ban Yeager!!!
Fans packed both sides of the path.
I immediately went over to sign for them.
"Gasp...! Ban Yeager!!!"
"Hey, hi~"
"You're so handsome...! Uh, autograph..!"
She stammered in excitement, then handed me a national team jersey and a Sharpie.
Sure enough, SON 7 was printed on it.
"Here..."
"It's fine~"
I signed the jersey and handed it back.
"Mind if I borrow the marker a sec?"
"Oh, sure! Thank you!!"
I stood there for a good while, diligently signing jerseys.
SON, LEE, PARK, KIM...
Mostly jerseys of Korea's established stars.
"Waaah... thank you..!!"
"Thank you~"
Ten seconds per person max.
Ten seconds of my time could make someone's day.
Doing good.
Glancing around, Ki Dae-ryong and Lee Do-ran were hustling too—good.
"Eutcha~ Hi~"
"Y-yes! Hi!"
A kid even smaller than the barrier.
I knelt to take the jersey.
"No marking yet?"
"Nope!"
"Want me to do it?"
"How?"
The kid looked skeptical.
I checked with the presumed guardian nearby.
"Parents? Can I add my number and name to the jersey?"
"Y-yes!!! What an honor! Really!!"
With permission, I knelt again, rested the jersey on my thigh, and started writing carefully.
B A N
10
Taking time and care to make it neat.
Signed it too for good measure.
"Here."
"Thank you!"
The kid took it and started jumping for joy.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!!"
Standing up, the dad bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Gotta do dad's too."
"Huh? Oh... yes! Thank you!!"
Did he think the kid's was enough?
He was clutching two jerseys—practically snatched one to sign it.
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!
"Over here too!!"
More coming in real-time?
Some fans stuck around post-signature, but the crowd was visibly swelling.
Even better.