Chapter 9
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 9
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer
Time passes, but some things never change.
FC Korea loves sports more than anything else, yet shows little interest in the K League.
In such a climate, how many people pay attention to the K League Juniorlet alone the middle school U15 league?
It wasnt that there were absolutely none, but it wouldnt be an exaggeration to say there were hardly any.
Still, some people show tremendous interest in youth soccer.
The prime examples are parents whose kids play soccer.
Then there are the K League teams with their own youth squads.
And finally, the Korea Football Association.
Right now, the KFA had Project 2038 in place.
Nicknamed Again 2002, the plan involved selecting players from youth level, nurturing them as a single unit, and steadily promoting them to U17, U20, Olympic, and Ateam national squad starters to compete in top tournaments.
The first generation had been fairly successful, aiming for a medal at next years Brisbane Olympics, while the second generation was targeting strong results in the U20 World Cup.
But the current third generation, the U17 national team, was in poor shape.
Unlike the first and second generations, which were packed with toptier talents playing in European league youth teams or even first squads, the U17 squad could only be called a valley generationand that wasnt hyperbole.
It wasnt just Seouls youth team agonizing over this valley generation.
Amid all that, the KFAs eyes were turning to the generation just entering middle school.
They were calling them the 3.5 generation internally.
Standouts included Incheons Lee Sungho, whod lit up elementary soccer and already linked with top European clubs, Seouls prized recruits Gong Sehwan and Jin Yujunand then, out of nowhere, Yoon Taeyang.
Since the season opener, hed racked up 16 goals and 4 assists in 6 games all by himself, brutalizing opponents a head taller than him and raining goals on them. How could anyone not notice?
Wow, check out that goal.
Lee Junghoo, the national youth teams overall director, stuck out his tongue watching footage shot by his staff.
Whered this kid pop up from all of a sudden?
He says he never played organized soccer before elementary school.
And he still made Seoul?
From what I heard, hes Coach Jo Bongsus friends friends son or something.
Our Bongsus got some serious connections. Snagging a gem like this on a referral.
Lee Junghoo flipped through the footage, chewing gum with a laidback expression, as the coach asked him,
Not impressed?
Huh? Why? I said hes good.
For someone who thinks that, your reactions kinda... lukewarm.
Lee Junghoo smirked at the coachs words.
Cant be sure without seeing him in person. Even then, maybe not. Kids who shine bright and burn out quick arent exactly rare at this age.
Thats true, but... you rated Lee Sungho highly.
Lee Sungho... hes got the talent and puts in the work. Even if he flames out, hell be a K League ace.
The coach nodded at that.
Lee Sungho definitely put in more effort than his talent demanded.
It wouldnt make sense if that kind of work went unrewarded.
Maybe this kid works hard too?
Look at it. Most goals come on counterattacks, sprinting in. Those types have clear limits. Lose that speed, and their careers done.
Ah, yeah, fair point.
Still... decisionmaking like that means hes got talent. Gotta go check him out myself.
The coach checked the schedule and said in response to Lee Junghoo,
Theyre playing Suwon tomorrow, by the way. Home game. You going?
Suwon, huh? Dont they have that monster freshman too? Choi Jiwoo?
Yes, exactly.
Rookies flooding a youth rivalry match? Sounds fun. Lets go take a look.
Lee Junghoo said that, then closed his eyes and pondered.
Truth be told, these freshmen were barely old enough for U17 in a couple years, at best.
But...
There are just no players.
His worries deepened in this alltime valley generation.
Hey, no matter how I think about it, doesnt our team seem insanely good?
As we headed to the field before todays game, Gong Sehwans words made me tilt my head.
Were good?
Yeah. Six straight wins already. Win today, thats seven.
I dunno, isnt it more like Im the one doing well, not us?
Gong Sehwan shot me a what the hell, dude look at that.
What? Spill it.
Sigh... yeah, youre right. Youre carrying us hard. But hearing it from you kinda sucks. Admit it?
Its just facts. Why get salty? If it bugs you, score some goals yourself.
Ugh, weirdly, I suck at booming it long. Whys that?
Gong Sehwan glanced down at his legs as he said it.
For his age, they were perfectly conditioned for a soccer player.
Your ankles are the issue, probably. Build up that ankle strength.
Ankles? You think?
Try it. Cant hurt to have stronger ankles.
Guess I will.
Gong Sehwan grinned, then clapped his palms together and said,
Oh, forgotmy dad said if we win today, hell take us to the hotel buffet with his friends.
Hotel... buffet?
The one where its over 100,000 won a head?
Now thats tempting.
Hattrick today, done.
I hadnt pulled off a hattrick since that first days double.
After going nuts in Seongnam, defenses started marking me tight from the next game.
Even I cant do much if the ball doesnt come my way.
In the end, I just have to get better.
Through effort.
Massive effort, to become a player who scores no matter the situation.
Just pass to him more?
Ive got four assists now, but Ive sent way more than that through balls.
If theyd finished half of them properly, Id have ten assists easy.
Our teammates mysteriously come down with finishing failure disease in front of goal.
Maybe I should head to Europe after all. Seriously considering it.
Or at least play with toplevel teammates.
Is there even a middle school team at that level right now?
Deep in thought, I sighed and glanced around.
Suwon kids on the other side.
In their iconic blue uniforms.
Suddenly, a KakaoTalk with Dad pops into my head.
Dad Son, playing Suwon? Please go easy. Theyre Suwons hope. Dont crush their spirits, okay?
Id replied to my desperate dad.
Me Sure, Ill just do a hattrick.
Dad
Rival match or not, gotta get locked in and go hard. Cant halfass it.
Huh? What?
Whats up?
Gong Sehwan asked at my puzzled mutter, so I said nothing and looked away.
Someone familiar in the stands.
Whoa, he came to a rivalry match too?
Lee Junghoo.
Koreas greatest coach ever, the soccer psycho.
Yeah, now that I think about it, hes deep in that Again 2002 or 2038 project.
The centerpiece of the national youth development program.
The results came not in 2038 but in the World Cup I played as my first and last, reaching the round of 16but on an individual level, hed built a golden generation, no exaggeration.
More players than ever thriving in top European teams.
Wait.
Hang on.
If I catch his eye, doesnt that mean more national team games?
National teams gotta be high level, right?
Plus, shining in U17 World Cup makes going overseas easier?
Howd I not think of this?
Guess elite youth path and I never crossed before.
Alright.
Chance.
Gonna hattrickno, double hattrick here to grab his attention for sure.
Seongjuns injured, so we need someone in midfield. Taeyang, mind filling in?
...But not everything goes my way.
Midfielder? In this world?
Bae Seongjuns spot was the midfielder right in front of the double pivotaggressive, pushing forwardbut not my position at all right now.
Uh... cant another midfielder play?
Jongwoos hurt too, and Seongjins the only other, but Seongjin...
Our eyesmine and the coachsturned to Seongjin sunbae at once.
Thirdyear, but failed to make Oseong High, basically career over.
What do you mean?
Hes bad.
Youve got the best attacking talent, so youll have to cover. Understand?
No choice but to nod at Coach Jo Bongsus words.
But can I play my way? First time in midfield...
...Yeah, go ahead.
Fine thengonna use dont know the role as excuse and freeroam wild.
And so the game kicked off.
Dont lose to Suwon!!
The tense vibe before kickoff ignited fiercely as soon as play started.
Even youth teams have pride.
Fight!
Amid the captains booming cheer, as we all shouted back, the Suwon kids sneered at us.
Hah, whatre these losers yapping about?
Trying to hang with us? Nanji Landfill trash?
They looked utterly baffled.
Fair enough.
Suwon invested in youth before us, and after over a decade, their Maedan Middle and High were still top youth powerhouses.
Minimum twopeats across all youth ages, U15 with four straight from the Ateam, two straight in the biennial National School King of Kings tourney.
We, floundering midtable without a single runnerup, mustve looked ridiculous.
Those punks strut like theyre hot shit.
I turned back at Gong Sehwans grumble, flashed a grin, and said its fine.
Their times almost up.
Why?
Cause Im here.
...So cocky, but damn cool. Fine, cocky or notlets wreck em.
Not wreckask me nicely to wreck them.
...Fine, wreck em for us, you dog. Win, and you know? Hotel buffet?
Know it!
What was it again?
Nearby hotel buffets 140,000 won a head?
No way Im missing that.
My fighting spirit blazes.
Of course, separate from my fire, Suwon came out fierce.
Whoa, Korean middle school teams are this good? Scary passing on display.
Tikitaka fully ingrained, absorbing advanced tactics effortlessly.
At the center Choi Jiwoo.
Choi Jiwoo was one of the guys, with me and Gong Sehwan, set to carry Koreas midfield.
Flashed brilliant talent, even hit the EPL briefly.
Bounced back quick cause he couldnt adapt, but no slouch.
Why couldnt adapt?
Fatal flaw.
Subpar physicality, leading to extreme aversion to physical battles.
Meaning total opposite of aggressive, fightingstyle Gong Sehwan.
That trait showed in middle school already.
Dodging Gong Sehwans rough press, lost flow, ball stolen instead.
Leaving the pissedoff guy glaring from his knees.
Give!!
I yelled for the ball to Gong Sehwan.
Scanning around quick as the pass came my way.
One Suwon player charging me.
Received back to goal, shielded, shook him, pushed forwardsaw our guys scrambling.
No one looked like a goal threat yet.
But pass targets were there.
Gong Sehwan and his thirdyear partner Bae Jihoon pushed up from behind.
Style aside, our midfielders dont bow to Suwon.
Used them aggressively to advance, luring Suwon.
Formation tilting slowly left.
Space opensour right winger exploits it.
Yeah, thats the least you can do.
Took the ball from Gong Sehwan and stabbed it forward.
Long pass slicing through the defense like a knife.
Perfect spotneither defenders nor keeper can react.
Missing that pass would be laughable not scoring from there is absurd.
Yes! Thats it!
Preread the run, so trapped it clean.
Now, just score.
Score!
Wham!
Argh!
What the hell.
That Fujisan mega blast or whatever?
Skyhigh, damn.
Even thumbsupped the pass like hed seen on TV.
Sigh.
I sighed, deflated from the wasted chance.
Whoa! Nice soccer!!
From way up in the stands, Lee Junghoo jumped up, thumb raised my way.
Well... guess Im starting to catch his eye?
My fighting spirit reignites.