Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Union Berlin and the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program
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Union Berlin and the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program.
***
[Union Berlin vs. Five Star Red Wings Event Match Ends.]
The event match between Union Berlin and Five Star Red Wings has concluded.
[Five Star Red Wings Secure Hard-Fought 2-1 Win at Home.]
[David's Rebellion? Union Berlin Nearly Topples Goliath (Five Star Red Wings).]
Domestic soccer fans were plunged into shock immediately after the event match ended. Five Star Red Wings had fielded their best eleven yet still barely scraped by with a win against Union Berlin.
Soccer communities buzzed with posts about Union Berlin's unexpected strong showing, sparking heated debates.
[Title: Is Union Berlin actually good? Or is the problem with our national team's level?]
(Union Berlin vs. Five Star Red Wings match result.jpg)
A 2-1 hard-fought win against a 3rd division league team? For real?
(Thomas Mayer failing to score in front of goal.gif)
And that one? If the pitch had been in decent condition, it would've gone in.
That would've made it a 2-2 draw.
└ Our national team getting pushed by a German 3rd division side lololol
└ No "what ifs" in soccer. They missed way more clear chances.
└ I watched the match live and can't even mock them. I'm genuinely worried about the future of Korean soccer.
└ Wait, is Union Berlin even 3rd division level? They were insanely good.
└ Yeah, they were in the 4th division last season lol
└ But isn't it more about the coaching difference than the player quality?
└ Yeah, player-wise Five Star just dominated.
└ Second half they just broke through with individual skill.
└ Thought they were hyping their own coach, but the level is worlds apart.
└ Can't we bring Tuchel on as national team coach?
└ Yeah right, why would a coach getting attention in Germany come to Korea lol
└ Who was the guy who scored Union Berlin's opener? He was nuts.
└ Yanick Feith, the player Park Chan-hyuk picked.
└ For real?
└ Union Berlin's coach even said Park Chan-hyuk has a great eye for talent.
└ But where's Park Chan-hyuk? It was Union Berlin's return flight day and he wasn't around.
└ In treatment.
└ ?
└ What treatment?
└ Hurt his knee doing a slide celebration at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
└ Oof... fuck, sliding on that pitch? My knees hurt just thinking about it.
***
Thomas Tuchel and the players headed back to Germany first.
By all rights, I, the assistant coach, should have gone with the squad to Germany too, but....
[Park Chan-hyuk Assistant Coach to Remain in Korea for Injury Treatment....]
Unfortunately, I'd gotten injured during the celebration and had to stay in Korea for treatment.
My parents were shocked when they heard I'd been hospitalized and rushed from Germany to come see me, but I assured them I was fine.
- Are you really okay?
"Yes, so please don't worry too much."
- Oh man, you have no idea how startled I was to hear you were suddenly in the hospital... So, how did it happen?
I couldn't exactly tell them I'd gotten hurt during a slide celebration if my life depended on it, so I let out an awkward laugh and changed the subject.
"Haha... Just bad luck."
Anyway, after finishing the call with my parents, I pulled up news articles on my laptop. Recently, thanks to that variety show airing, there were a ton of articles related to Union Berlin.
[Union Berlin Variety Show Airs... Viewers Rave.]
[SBK's New Challenge? Captivating Viewers.]
There was all sorts of chatter, but Union Berlin had gained a lot from this Korea trip.
'If this were in the future, there'd probably be some sadistic controversy... But everyone's loving it now.'
Favorability among Korean soccer fans had skyrocketed, of course.
And through the match against Five Star Red Wings, the players' skills had grown too.
[Name: Yanick Feith.]
Current Ability: ★★★
Potential: ★★★★★
One-Liner: A flower blooming late.
Among them, Yanick Feith's growth was so steep it made you doubt your eyes. Looked like he'd gained some enlightenment from the match against Five Star Red Wings.
'Definitely, nothing grows players faster than real matches against strong teams.'
Anyway.
The boring days dragged on in the hospital with nothing to do.
Resting without a thing to occupy you works for a day or two at most.
'Even games are getting old now.'
Five days passed, and my body started itching for action.
Finally unable to stand the boredom, I thoroughly analyzed the Five Star Red Wings vs. Union Berlin match.
In other words, I started doing assistant coach work voluntarily.
'...Am I a workaholic?'
It was all Thomas Tuchel's fault. Hanging out with him so much, I'd picked up his habits.
'Still, might as well finish the analysis since I started.'
Anyway, reviewing the squad's overall abilities and how well the players understood Thomas Tuchel's tactics.
'Feels like we could compete in the 2nd division.'
At this level, direct promotion via back-to-back wins seems doable.
***
While I was stuck in the hospital.
[Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler Proposes Elite Youth Overseas Study Program to Soccer Association.... "Send them to Union Berlin and we'll develop them well. Wouldn't it be better to entrust them to a place with a Korean assistant coach over somewhere else?"]
Union Berlin President Dirk Zingler had begun negotiations with the soccer association regarding the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program.
[Soccer Association on Union Berlin Proposal... "We'll consider it positively."]
With both the club and association having clear goals, talks progressed quickly.
Union Berlin wanted good players at a low cost, while the association was satisfied with avoiding on-site staff complaints and saving on lodging expenses.
Plus, having a Korean coach on the same team meant they'd pay extra attention to the prospects. Parents would trust it more too, since the assistant coach was Korean.
The only sticking point in negotiations was Union Berlin being a 3rd division team.
But their solid performance against Five Star Red Wings seemed to earn positive reviews within the association, and the deal went through fast.
Negotiations with the staff wrapped up, leaving only the contract.
"So, why am I being dragged along?"
"The association president wants to see you."
Suddenly summoned by the soccer association president, I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
'Why does the association president want to see me?'
Unlike the future president known for incompetence.
Current president Jeong Jun had successfully bid for the Korea-Japan World Cup co-hosting and even invested his own money into improving Korean soccer infrastructure. He was a capable leader.
'Didn't he even dip into his own pockets to bring in Hiddink?'
Sure, he got flak later in life, but he was a legendary figure in Korean soccer history you couldn't leave out.
'No, why would someone like that want to see me?'
As I pondered.
"Oh. You're Park Chan-hyuk, the assistant coach, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Jeong Jun, president of the Korea Football Association."
The association president entered, greeting me warmly with a smile.
'Ah. He's rich.'
Even with that casual greeting, my back bent on its own.
'Is this the aura of a chaebol?'
Honestly, I nearly peed myself.
Felt like a halo was shining behind his head.
"Park Chan-hyuk assistant coach, you went to Germany young and got your coaching license, right? How do European soccer and Korean soccer compare?"
I couldn't answer the president's question.
'Is he asking me to do Yongbi the Invincible or something?'
I couldn't read his intentions.
"I'm not looking for Yongbi the Invincible. Tell me sincerely, for the development of Korean soccer."
As if reading my mind, President Jeong Jun chuckled and added.
Answering sincerely to the president's genuine question about Korean soccer's growth, I thought of the future association president.
'But why did the future soccer association president turn out like that....'
***
After wrapping up with photos with the president, the contract between Union Berlin and the soccer association was sealed.
'This should prevent that bad incident coming up soon.'
Truth be told, the issues with the association sending prospects overseas for soccer studies had always been consistent.
Namely, the care for the prospects.
No major problems had arisen yet, but soon an accompanying staffer meant to handle youth care would get arrested for theft.
It was devastating for the youth players. Not only were kids who needed guardian care half-neglected, but.
Korean evaluations at the clubs tanked, and reports came in of the students getting bullied.
'Well, can't argue if the association sends a rep as a sign they're paying attention, and that person commits theft.'
And with that cohort, the overseas soccer study program vanished into history. Multiple reasons for its end, but the staffer's arrest was one of them.
'Finding a soccer coach with good character in Korea is harder than it seems.'
Anyway.
The Elite Youth Overseas Study Program schedule for this year was already set.
Union Berlin decided to take on Korean exchange students starting next season.
As I wondered which player would come study next year.
'Uh....? Hold on.'
A realization hit me.
'Next year... isn't that when Son Heung-min comes to Germany for soccer studies?'
History had diverged quite a bit, so no guarantee he'd go to Hamburg as before.
'Still, we'd be top choice.'
Would be great if he came to Union Berlin.
'Hyung will take good care of you. Come to us.'