Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Stadium Built with Blood and Sweat -4
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***
Znicz Pruszków.
A small club based in the Polish town of Pruszków.
They had successfully promoted from the third division to the second division last season.
The townscape had that cozy, small-town charm, and the stadium was far from glamorous—much like Union Berlin’s.
It blended perfectly with the local vibe, giving off a humble, natural feel.
As I wandered around the stadium, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
‘Come to think of it, Union Berlin’s graffiti standing section could really become our unique signature.’
It was a symbol of the fans’ devotion, after all.
It might even help with tourism.
Wouldn’t fans want to stop by the stadium at least once, curious if their own messages were properly etched there?
‘And while they’re here watching a Union Berlin match, they might end up becoming fans.’
While I quietly toured the stadium, taking it all in.
[Name: Robert Lewandowski.]
Current Ability: ★★☆
Potential: ★★★★★★★
One young Pole appeared.
‘Here he comes. My treasure chest.’
A figure very familiar to future Koreans.
Robert Lewandowski.
He was the legendary striker who dominated an era.
Anyway, the still-boyish Lewandowski looked flustered as he asked me,
“Uh…. So, are you Park Chan-hyuk, the manager?”
***
Robert Lewandowski was flustered.
He’d heard that the manager from Union Berlin was coming to meet him, but the manager was way younger than he’d expected.
‘Is he really the manager? He looks even younger than me.’
The fact that he was an Asian—a fringe figure in European soccer—didn’t even register. Park Chan-hyuk’s age was that shocking to him.
In reality, Park Chan-hyuk was only a year older than Lewandowski. Considering that East Asians generally look younger than Westerners, Lewandowski actually appeared older.
[Union Berlin Appoints Youngest Manager Ever. From 18-Year-Old Assistant Coach to 20-Year-Old Youngest Manager!]
Lewandowski had looked up the club online after hearing they were coming to sign him, but unfortunately, the internet was full of stuff that was hard to believe.
‘18-year-old assistant coach? What’s that about? And how does a 20-year-old manage a team?’
To him, it was obviously fake news by his common sense.
So when he heard the name Park Chan-hyuk, he’d pictured a mature Asian in his prime.
“It’s an honor to meet the manager who’s been making waves in European soccer lately.”
“Oh, come on, I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Aren’t you Thomas Tuchel’s prized pupil, the one who just took over at Bayern Munich?”
But when his agent smiled and exchanged greetings with the manager beside him, it hit him.
‘…It was all true.’
Lewandowski focused on his conversation with Park Chan-hyuk.
He sensed a golden opportunity had come his way.
Germany’s second division and Poland’s second division weren’t even comparable. Lech Poznań from Poland’s first division had shown interest in him, but not aggressively enough for their manager to come in person like this.
He didn’t know what this young manager saw in him, but the fact alone that he’d flown in to sign a rookie who’d just debuted and played in the third division made his heart race.
‘But is it okay to leave the team like this?’
Znicz Pruszków was the grateful club that had signed him despite his serious knee injury and subsequent release.
“Levi, do well at Union Berlin. I’ll be rooting for you.”
But when Znicz Pruszków’s director smiled brightly and bid him farewell.
Lewandowski’s guilt vanished in an instant.
Union Berlin had offered him more than he was worth, after all.
***
Union Berlin decided to partner with Znicz Pruszków as an affiliate club. It was a proposal that benefited both sides.
‘I hadn’t planned on suggesting an affiliate deal….’
While touring the stadium, it struck me that it’d be a good spot to loan out Union Berlin’s youth players.
Znicz Pruszków was a Polish second-division club, sure.
‘But Poland’s second division is just right.’
The surrounding environment checked out in every way. A small town on the outskirts of Warsaw meant decent transport without the big-city chaos.
‘The players could really focus on training.’
Pruszków maintained that naturally quiet, peaceful small-town atmosphere.
And what I liked most was that the fans weren’t rowdy. Considering the hooligan issues plaguing some Polish clubs, Znicz Pruszków was a solid environment for Union Berlin youth on loan to thrive.
Suggesting an affiliate deal while there to sign a player was a bit overstepping.
But it was possible because I wasn’t just Union Berlin’s manager—I was an investor with shares in the club.
‘Good thing Dirk Zingler didn’t object.’
I informed Lewandowski of his join date, then headed back to Germany.
“…What the hell is this?”
Back at Union Berlin’s club house, I was greeted by a massive stack of documents.
“These are the messes you made on your Poland trip. Pick which youth players to loan out.”
“Fuck.”
***
Daniel Teixeira, who had retired after his final home game, returned as a Union Berlin coach.
I needed yes-men, so I made him a coach and put him to work. For reference, work your brain enough, and you’ll figure things out to survive.
‘Still, he’s not quite there yet.’
That said, I couldn’t ask Kim Sun-myung—who was swamped with the club’s digital overhaul—for help.
‘No, how long are we going to handle paperwork the old analog way?’
It was driving me nuts.
Kim Sun-myung had rounded up his Berlin Institute of Technology juniors, who were home on break, and they were hammering away at it.
Anyway.
With help from Daniel Teixeira and the youth coaches, we selected the youth players for loan to Znicz Pruszków.
A few Union Berlin prospects with middling talent agreed to the loan. They weren’t quite first-team material but had outgrown youth level.
With their solid potential, if Pruszków’s manager used them right, they could even push for first-division promotion.
I sent evaluation documents on the loan-bound kids to Znicz Pruszków. Included their preferred playstyles and such, to make it easier.
That way, Pruszków’s manager could get the most out of them.
Staring at my now-empty desk, I thought.
‘Maybe things will calm down now.’
But that was wishful thinking.
Starting the next day, I had to summon transfer-requesting players for talks, persuade them, sell off the ones I couldn’t, scout replacements for the spots, and so on—days felt too short.
Then, a call came from GL Group.
In short, they wanted to piggyback on Union Berlin’s budding romantic image.
A line I’d once used on Dirk Zingler chairman slipped out again.
“Chairman, how much are we talking?”
That day, “son of a bitch” came out of the chairman’s mouth as high praise.
***
Union Berlin wasn’t desperate for cash right now.
- Water Shuttle: Oppa, didn’t you say no money for the stadium?
- Me: How’d you know that?
- Water Shuttle: It was on the NEVER main page. Anyway, just tell me the amount you need.
My little sister—who’d heard the Union Berlin news—had voluntarily sent tribute money.
But more money was always better.
It meant one more safety item for the fans sweating bullets at the construction site.
[Global Giant GL Group Donates to Union Berlin’s Romance.]
While GL Group ran their media play in Korea and Germany for image control.
Union Berlin’s training ground saw players trickling back from vacation, one by one.
With Yannik Foith—newly appointed Union Berlin captain—actively leading to blend the transfers with the veterans, the players started exchanging awkward hellos.
‘It’s awkward now, but they’ll bond quick by preseason’s end.’
I eyed the squad, fattened up from the break, and launched into a speech.
I had the perfect line for Union Berlin right now—no script needed.
“Give blood, hit the construction site, and shut up!”
Preseason Day 1.
I had the players donate blood and do manual labor.
One perk of being manager: no one could stop me.