Chapter 118
Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Bayern Munich - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Argh! Why did they have to fire him right before our match…!’
Park Chan-hyuk had done everything in his power to help Jürgen Klinsmann keep his job as Bayern Munich’s manager.
Unfortunately, Jürgen Klinsmann was ultimately sacked from his position at Bayern Munich.
It was an unavoidable situation.
With the season drawing to a close, Munich was teetering on the edge of Champions League qualification, mired in fourth place in the league.
[Bayern Munich Sacks Klinsmann!]
The news was met with regret by all 17 other Bundesliga teams excluding Bayern Munich.
Munich’s board began searching for a manager for the next season while reaching out to a savior pitcher.
[Retired Jupp Heynckes Returns to Bayern Munich as Manager!]
Bayern Munich’s eternal savior, Jupp Heynckes, was appointed manager.
Jupp Heynckes quickly restored order within Bayern Munich.
Under Jupp Heynckes’ leadership, Munich’s players united as one.
Philipp Lahm’s expression began to brim with vitality, unlike during Klinsmann’s tenure.
‘…Whoever it is, they’ve got to be better than that damn guy.’
By Philipp Lahm’s standards, a proper manager had finally arrived.
***
January 31, 2007.
Jupp Heynckes stepped down from his role as Borussia Mönchengladbach manager and announced his retirement.
He was shocked by the realization that his tactics no longer worked and that he had fallen behind the times.
He decided to set soccer aside and rest in his hometown.
But even as he quietly rested in his hometown, Jupp Heynckes discovered a lingering regret deep in his chest.
He felt it was too soon to retire as a manager.
To soothe his lingering emotions, Jupp Heynckes watched soccer every single day.
‘…Is it because they’re young? Such impressive creativity.’
The most memorable team he watched was none other than Union Berlin.
Heynckes soon found himself analyzing Union Berlin’s tactics.
He realized his passion for soccer was reigniting.
And then.
“Manager, please help our team!”
As if by fate, Bayern Munich—the club that had just sacked Jürgen Klinsmann—approached Jupp Heynkes.
‘Would it be okay to return as a manager…?’
As Jupp Heynckes pondered Bayern Munich’s offer.
“Woof! Woof!”
The dog he had raised barked twice.
“…You want me to return as a manager too, huh.”
Jupp Heynckes took it as a sign to make a comeback.
Jupp Heynckes declared his return to management with Bayern Munich.
Starting with restoring discipline to the squad that Klinsmann had shattered, he began reorganizing Bayern Munich.
‘…Union Berlin, huh.’
And Jupp Heynckes’ next opponents were Union Berlin.
“Our next match is against Union Berlin. If any of you fools still think of them as a mere promoted team, speak up now—I’ll leave you out of the squad.”
Having diligently followed soccer matches even after retiring, Jupp Heynckes gave his players a stern warning.
Union Berlin was no pushover.
***
I clutched my head upon hearing the news of Jupp Heynckes’ return.
Personally, I believe Jupp Heynckes before and after his retirement are completely different people.
The pre-retirement Jupp Heynckes was undoubtedly a good manager, but he wasn’t yet regarded as the legendary figure we know today.
‘…In fact, he retired due to poor results after returning to the Bundesliga.’
And the most frightening part was not knowing how much he had changed since retiring.
I couldn’t assume he’d simply rely on the tactics from his previous stint.
Things had changed a lot since then.
‘To begin with, my influence has spread everywhere.’
In other words, I was in the insane position of not knowing my opponent’s tactics while they knew all about me.
The one-sided advantage Union Berlin had enjoyed until now was now tilted toward the opponent.
[Bayern Munich’s Jupp Heynckes Shows Respect to Park Chan-hyuk… “Union Berlin’s soccer was the most impressive.”]
All I could do was infer what tactics Jupp Heynckes might bring based on his interviews.
‘…I’d love to fly a drone over Munich’s training ground.’
Well. That didn’t mean I lacked confidence.
I had built a good team.
I trusted the players I had nurtured at Union Berlin.
An offer came from Bayern Munich.
They wanted me to take over as their manager next season.
In the past, I might have been tempted.
Unfortunately, it held no appeal for me now.
I immediately turned down Munich’s offer.
[Union Berlin’s Park Chan-hyuk… Firmly Rejects Bayern Munich’s Offer. “Union Berlin is the Bundesliga champions. There’s no reason to manage a team ranked lower than Union Berlin.”]
With stronger wording than usual.
***
Rivals weren’t a bad thing from a club’s perspective.
In fact, creating rivalries was key to boosting club revenue.
‘More precisely, it matters who the rival is.’
When Real Madrid invested astronomical sums in star players as part of their Galácticos policy to elevate their brand image.
Barcelona succeeded in becoming players’ dream club purely because they were rivals.
Of course, Lionel Messi’s emergence and Barcelona’s results at the time helped.
But the massive returns Barcelona gained compared to their investment were possible only because of their rivalry with the giant club, Real Madrid.
‘And Real Madrid wouldn’t have grown that big without Barcelona.’
Anyway, this kind of growth wasn’t impossible in the Bundesliga.
Union Berlin’s rivals had been lackluster so far, but it would be unreasonable to expect that to continue.
‘Hell, we can just make a rivalry.’
[Union Berlin’s Park Chan-hyuk… Firmly Rejects Bayern Munich’s Offer. “Union Berlin is the Bundesliga champions. There’s no reason to manage a lower-ranked team than Union Berlin.”]
Provoking Bayern Munich in my interview was all part of that process.
It absolutely wasn’t because I wanted to run my mouth or bag-snatch.
[Bayern Munich to Union Berlin Manager… “We are Munich.”]
[Park Chan-hyuk to Bayern Munich… “Then I am Union Berlin.”]
In fact, Bayern Munich’s board responded immediately, and tensions between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich began to escalate.
“Wir werden alles zerlegen, bis wir Deutscher Meister sind.”
Naturally, people from East Germany (excluding Dynamo fans), those from the north, and anyone who just hated Munich started cheering for Union Berlin.
***
A few days after the war of words with Bayern Munich.
The Bayern Munich vs. Union Berlin match took place at Union Berlin’s home stadium.
With the league title on the line, injured Yannik Foight made an appearance at the stadium.
Cheers erupted from the crowd toward Yannik Foight.
“Yannik Foight!! Fußball Gott!!”
Longtime Union Berlin fans quietly wiped away tears as the match began.
Just four years ago, the club had been relegated due to financial woes—it was hard to believe they were now challenging for the Bundesliga title.
On top of that, the club had invited fans who had devoted themselves to the team over the years.
They looked around at each other, strengthening their bonds. From the moment they had sold their blood to save the club, they were like blood brothers.
One fan holding a photo of a friend who had passed away first broke down in quiet sobs.
The fans’ emotions spread contagiously, even bringing tears to the eyes of fans who had traveled from Korea.
That was the power of atmosphere.
It moved you without your consent.
The fans’ chants grew louder and louder.
Even if the title slipped away due to a losing streak after today’s match, it wouldn’t matter.
For them, the fact that their near-bankrupt team was contending for the league title was enough.
“Chan-hyuk!! Fußball Gott!!”
One Union Berlin fan recalled Park Chan-hyuk’s playing days and shouted his name.
Soon, Park Chan-hyuk’s name echoed throughout the Union Berlin home stadium.
The fans knew who had created the Union Berlin of today.
Buoyed by the crowd’s fervent cheers, Union Berlin pressed Bayern Munich hard from the opening whistle.
And the first goal.
Exploded from Roberto Lewandowski’s head.
Lewandowski perfectly redirected Cafu’s cross into the net.
“Yannik, come back soon! You’re the one who has to lift the trophy!”
He roared toward where his friend Yannik Foight was seated.