Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: 2010 South Africa World Cup -5
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***
[South Korea Crushes Greece 3-0!]
[Korea Dominates Greece in Stats—Not Just Luck.]
└ Wow, who was it that called Korean soccer a bubble?
└ For real, they're playing amazingly.
The match between South Korea and Greece ended with a goal from Son Heung-min, who came on as a substitute in the second half.
With their first win at the South Africa World Cup, South Korea instantly turned into a festival atmosphere.
[South Korea's Historic Away Run to the Round of 16 in Sight?]
└ At this rate, are they really gonna top the group and advance to the round of 16?
└ Nah, Argentina's got this Messi kid who's insanely good.
└ Come on, it's not like that guy's Maradona or Pelé—what's so unstoppable about him?
└ They call him the Second Coming of Maradona.
└ Second Coming of Maradona, sure—but he's not Maradona. I think we've got a real shot.
Even though Lionel Messi's Argentina—the team that would come to be called soccer gods—lurked in the same group, Korean soccer fans watched the games with a mindset of "we still don't know yet."
It had only been eight years since the 2002 World Cup.
At that time, the belief that giving it your all until the end meant you could do it was strongly rooted in Korea.
[South Korea National Team to Round of 16? Not That Hard.]
└ Round of 16? What's that—let's go Again 2002!
└ South Korea is a soccer powerhouse! Sign the petition!
The 2002 World Cup had rapidly boosted soccer's popularity in Korea while simultaneously inflating fans' expectations and scrutiny to excessive levels.
South Korea's first-ever advancement past the round of 16 had been in 2002. But after that World Cup, the Korean public began demanding at least a round of 16 from the national team.
The baseline expectations from fans for the national soccer team had risen.
Of course, that didn't mean the 2002 semifinal miracle was a bad thing.
The 2002 World Cup had completely transformed the gloomy social atmosphere in South Korea amid the IMF crisis.
[Son Heung-min Blasts World Cup Debut Goal! Monumental Strike for Korean Soccer!]
└ Man, that last play with Son Heung-min and Lee Sung-jae was artistic AF, right?
└ Yeah, he hasn't quite meshed with the team tactics yet, but that final moment was gold.
└ (Park Chan-hyuk photo .jpg) <<< Alright, time to worship?
[Korea's Steep Rise in Soccer. World Cup Win by 2030?]
└ Ugh, keep developing those prospects and appoint Park Chan-hyuk as manager later—World Cup title is totally doable, right?
Anyway, the Korean public looked optimistically toward the future of South Korean soccer. A World Cup championship felt not so far off.
"This is scary—Korean soccer's development is too rapid. They might win the World Cup soon, who knows."
"You're right! Following that young punk Park Chan-hyuk, Manager Heo Moo-jeong has proven that Korean soccer works on the world stage!"
This was because they were unaware of the dark clouds looming over Korean soccer.
***
The Korea Football Association was the happiest about South Korea's first win against Greece.
It proved that not only Park Chan-hyuk but also a Korean manager could succeed on the world soccer stage.
They believed Park Chan-hyuk wasn't some freak mutation—that Korean soccer had advanced that far.
"What did I tell you? I said our Koreans' potential is nothing to scoff at!"
After honorary president Jung Joon stepped down from the Korea Football Association presidency in 2009, Vice President Cho Kwang-hyun had taken over the role.
Cho Kwang-hyun cheered wildly at the Greece match result.
"Haha! Today, Manager Heo has made a huge contribution to Korean soccer's progress!"
Even amid the strong backlash against appointing Heo Moo-jeong as national team manager, the reason the association steadily backed him was simple.
He was Korean. He was a manager who could prove that Korean-led soccer worked abroad.
After the World Cup's first win, the KFA's soccer officials began to gain real confidence. They'd become convinced that Korean soccer could compete on the world stage.
Park Chan-hyuk was a returnee from overseas study, so he was a bit ambiguous—but Manager Heo Moo-jeong's coaching career had been centered in Korea.
"A Korean manager should be better suited to the mentality of Korean players than a foreigner, right?"
"Yes! Exactly!"
In truth, the KFA's strong preference for a Korean manager wasn't just about protecting their rice bowls or costs.
They genuinely believed a Korean manager was superior to a foreigner.
Of course, some were involved in backroom deals or corruption.
But most soccer officials truly believed in the "potential" of Koreans.
And the atmosphere in Korea at the time was much the same as the KFA's. It was only natural for the association's executives to act this way.
"So, Manager Heo says he'll re-sign after the World Cup ends?"
Anyway, the KFA directors began discussing post-World Cup matters.
The most pressing issue now was who would take over as national team manager after the World Cup.
"He mentioned wanting to set a precedent of stepping down while people are still clapping..."
"But what's his real intention?"
"He's faced so much criticism... Even his family got attacked, so he seems fed up."
The KFA directors sighed.
They recalled how the media had viciously hounded him in the past.
"Then how about Manager Cho Hyung-rae as the next national team boss? He's excellent at scouting and developing prospects—could create great synergy with Park Chan-hyuk. His nickname is Post-Park Chan-hyuk, the Park Chan-hyuk of the K League, right?"
"Come on, Manager Cho is way more senior—'Post-Park Chan-hyuk' feels off."
One of the association directors cautiously brought up the next manager topic. Regretting not re-signing a successful manager was one thing, but they had to prepare for after the World Cup.
"How about Manager Lee Kwang-hyun instead?"
"His recent results have been pretty lackluster."
"If we're being picky like that, wouldn't Park Chan-hyuk be better for next manager? He won the European Champions League."
"Hmm. Park's salary is on a whole different level."
"Hey, when the nation calls, he should come with a spirit of service!"
As Park Chan-hyuk's name came up for the national team manager role, the president hurriedly interjected.
"Park is making his name known across world soccer right now—let's exclude him."
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, he does lack a bit of gravitas for a national team manager."
They feared his backer, Gotten.
"Still, just in case—make one more offer to Manager Heo. His mindset might have changed during the World Cup."
The president looked at the directors as he continued, and the KFA directors meekly nodded in agreement.
***
[KFA Comments on Appointing Park Chan-hyuk as National Team Manager: "He Still Needs to Gain More Experience. But Someday, He'll Lead the Team."]
I shuddered as I looked at the Korean news. The article gave off a slightly ominous vibe.
'What the hell. The guy's not even thinking about offering me the job, but they're already sipping the kimchi soup.'
As I shivered, Charlotte, nestled in my arms, spoke up.
"What are you looking at?"
"Korean news?"
"Oh? Then I'll shower first?"
Charlotte headed to the bathroom to wash up, and I kept monitoring the Korean reactions.
Korea was an important market for Union Berlin.
It was the foothold for breaking into Asia.
While I checked community sentiments, Charlotte finished her shower and snuggled up to me.
The scent of her shampoo tickled my nose.
That night felt exceptionally long.
***
The next match I attended in person after Korea vs. Greece was Germany vs. Australia.
I went to see Germany vs. Australia because Germany was Charlotte's homeland, and it was the national team with the most players we'd produced at Union Berlin.
Well, since Union Berlin was in the Bundesliga, it was only natural they'd send the most national team players.
"Hey, it's Park Chan-hyuk."
Spotting the camera on me and my face on the Jumbotron, I gave a light smile and waved. I'd gotten used to it as a superstar.
Meanwhile, Charlotte shyly slipped out of frame when the camera caught her.
'What's this? She's ridiculously cute.'
***
"Ah, there's Manager Park Chan-hyuk on camera."
"Yes. It's Park Chan-hyuk, the first Asian to win the European Champions League just a month ago!"
As Park Chan-hyuk appeared on camera, Korea started buzzing.
-Wow, Park Chan-hyuk is a legit world-class? Even the stadium cam picks him up ;;
└ But like, what's Park Chan-hyuk's status at this point?
└ He's been picked alongside Pep and Mourinho as one of the next-gen soccer masterminds.
└ Who's the beauty next to him?
└ Heard he's marrying a German woman soon—probably her.
└ Ah fuck, Park Chan-hyuk is now the worst soccer manager on Earth starting today.
└ I'm starting to study soccer tactics right now. Don't stop me.
└ Yeah, go get racially abused and boomerang back home—99% chance.
└ What's the 1%?
└ The chance you prove your talent and survive.