Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Union Berlin's Promotion to the 1st Division League -2
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Union Berlin versus Freiburg. The match had begun.
“Union Berlin versus Freiburg! The match is underway now!”
Even though it was the crack of dawn in South Korea, a huge number of soccer fans were tuning in to watch the game.
[Title: You guys watching Union Berlin in the early morning? They promote if they win.]
└ Why wouldn’t I watch this lololol?
└ For real lol. I’m definitely watching today’s game no matter what.
└ Whoa… it’s already the promotion clincher?
└ Yeah.
└ Direct promotion from 4th division to 1st? Insane;;
└ Isn’t this a record?
└ Probably.
└ But it’ll probably just go down as a club record. Thomas Tuchel was the manager in 4th and 3rd divisions.
└ Ah….
└ Didn’t someone say they gave their ticket to an elder earlier?
└ That was me fml ㅠㅠ Regretting it now.
└ It’s hard not to give it away, but you did a good deed, so good things will come your way.
Today was a crucial match where Union Berlin’s promotion was on the line.
“If Union Berlin wins today, they’ll clinch promotion, right?”
The broadcast team was buzzing with excitement too.
Union Berlin advancing to the 1st division would accelerate growth in the overseas soccer market even faster.
“That’s right. In fact, even without today’s game, Union Berlin’s promotion feels like an inevitable fate. But Union Berlin will want to seal it with a win here.”
And from the start, the broadcast team had become fans of Union Berlin’s story.
“By the way, Union Berlin fans are holding up photos right now…?”
“Yes…. It looks like photos of family or friends who passed away before they could see Union Berlin’s promotion to the 1st division.”
“That’s right. The stadium management is even listing the crowd as 45,000 instead of 40,000.”
“There are 45,000 spectators here with us right now.”
***
We could have clinched promotion in another match even without this one.
But we had a small selfish desire to seal it as soon as possible at home and share the joy with the fans.
“Let’s win this no matter what!”
Well.
It wasn’t just my desire, apparently.
Union Berlin’s players were fired up with a do-or-die resolve.
This match was advantageous for Union Berlin in many ways.
The atmosphere from the packed home stadium was overwhelmingly intimidating.
But even so, the game wasn’t easy.
Freiburg, sitting 6th in the league, was no pushover.
Then, in the 35th minute of the first half.
“Fuck! What are you doing!”
A fatal pass error occurred in the Union Berlin area.
Thwack—.
In a perilous situation that could have led to a Freiburg goal, defender Ivan Petrovic fortunately threw himself to block Freiburg’s shot.
Even with blood flowing from his nose, Ivan Petrovic immediately got up and chased after the ball.
Only after confirming the ball had gone out over the touchline did Ivan Petrovic collapse to the ground.
The team doctor from the bench rushed onto the pitch.
“Petrovic!!”
Cheers and applause for Ivan Petrovic echoed from the stands.
Fortunately, Ivan Petrovic got up without serious injury, and the match resumed with the referee’s whistle.
“Don’t be scared—push forward!”
Union Berlin and Freiburg clashed fiercely throughout the first half.
But neither team managed to rattle the opponent’s net.
Strangely, both sides kept missing shots by a hair.
And then halftime arrived.
- Union! Union! Union!
I didn’t say much to the players. Instead, I showed them footage of the fans outside the stadium on the screen.
That alone was enough to awaken them.
***
The second half unfolded just as intensely as the first.
Freiburg hadn’t given up on their own promotion dreams yet.
The points gap between 1st/2nd and 3rd was wide, but between 3rd and 6th, it was narrow.
As a result, both teams played extremely aggressively.
The ball zipped back and forth from one end of the pitch to the other in an instant.
‘For some reason, I keep thinking about the old days today.’
In the heat of this fierce match, Yannick Foite recalled the moment he tried out for Union Berlin.
He never imagined that the loser who had fled in fear and given up on his dreams would become a beloved soccer player like this.
Yannick Foite’s gaze turned to Park Chan-hyuk, who was issuing instructions to the players from the touchline.
Sure, he was a boss who stole celebrations, but Yannick was grateful for Park Chan-hyuk.
He was the one who had led the once-defeated loser onward without ever giving up.
If not for Park Chan-hyuk’s unbelievable trust, Yannick thought he would have quit again before seeing the light.
“Yannick!! Become our legend!”
At the fans’ plea for him to become Union Berlin’s legend, Yannick burst into laughter. That was exactly what he wanted most right now.
Yannick Foite loved everything about Union Berlin—the fans’ passion, dedication, and unique rebellious spirit.
And the other players felt the same.
‘That’s why some are trying to become coaches after retiring.’
A few who felt they had reached their limits as players had decided to become Union Berlin coaches next season.
In fact, they were already asking Daniel Teixeira lots of questions and learning from him.
For the record, they hadn’t told the boss (Park Chan-hyuk) yet.
No need to distract him before an important match.
Anyway, while Yannick Foite was lost in past memories.
Thomas Mayer intercepted the ball, sparking Union Berlin’s counterattack.
Thomas Mayer calmly began transporting the ball.
Even though he had switched to midfielder, as a former winger, he had solid dribbling skills.
The dribble to protect the ball as a midfielder differed slightly from a winger’s to beat opponents, but Thomas Mayer had developed his own style playing both positions.
“Thomas Mayer!! Fußball Gott!!”
Attempting to break through Freiburg’s defenders, Thomas Mayer reached the edge of the penalty box.
This could be his moment to shine—he had every reason to be greedy.
In that situation, Thomas Mayer’s choice was… a pass.
The pass slipped under the legs of the Freiburg defender who had dived expecting a shot.
Thomas Mayer’s pass connected to Yannick Foite breaking into the penalty box.
“Yannick Foite!!! Fußball Gott!!!”
The moment the crowd’s roar hit his ears.
Yannick Foite calmly slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs, shaking the net.
After scoring, Yannick Foite ran to the corner flag, faced the broadcast camera, and shouted.
“Scheiße! Wir fahren nach Bundesliga!!! (Fuck! We’re going to the Bundesliga!!!)”
***
[GOOOOOOAL—! It’s in! Union Berlin’s solver! Yannick Foite’s opener!]
[Yannick Foite charges to the corner flag and roars! Union Berlin fans are shaking the stadium!!]
After Yannick Foite’s game-winner, time flew by.
Freiburg pressed Union Berlin hard to equalize.
[This is dangerous!! But it’s saved! Saved! Manuel Schmidt’s fantastic save!]
[Wow, that save is as good as a goal!!]
But Freiburg couldn’t breach the goal guarded by Manuel Schmidt.
Before long, added time ended. The moment Son Hong-min cleared the ball that dropped in front of him.
[Son Hong-min boots it away! And…! And!!]
Tweet! Tweeet! TWEEEEET—!
The referee’s full-time whistle echoed through the stadium.
[It’s over!! The match is over! Union Berlin defeats Freiburg 1-0 and clinches promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in club history!!]
[Union Berlin’s manager Park Chan-hyuk is writing a new chapter in the club’s history!]
[Just two years ago, the club was on the brink of bankruptcy due to financial woes! But with the fans’ dedication, it’s made a perfect comeback! Unbelievable! Incredible! And it symbolizes German soccer’s 50+1 rule! Where will this Union Berlin fairy tale end?!]
“Jaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
And at that moment.
“FC Union Du sollst leuchten, wie der hellste Heiligenschein. (FC Union, you shall shine like the brightest halo.)”
Union Berlin’s fans poured onto the pitch in an instant.
Union Berlin’s fans, staff, and players all shared the joy of the club’s first-ever Bundesliga promotion.