Chapter 4
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Daeyang Heir Hunts for a Football Club to Acquire
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I arrived at London Heathrow Airport.
As I stepped out of the airport lounge, employees from Daeyang Trading were waiting for me.
"You've arrived, sir? Congratulations on your promotion to Vice President—we mean it sincerely."
"At my age, no less."
Born in '72, I'd turn twenty-seven next year—and now I was Vice President of the European branch.
Kim Eun-tae, the president in charge of Daeyang Trading's existing UK branch, grabbed my luggage and guided me to the car.
"Is the integration prep going smoothly?"
"We've reorganized the office and held a get-together with everyone."
We climbed into the sedan Kim had prepared and headed to the UK branch office.
To align with the 'Daeyang Global' structure I'd pushed—merging trade, distribution, and construction—the overseas branches had undergone personnel shifts and restructuring.
On the way to the office, I asked Kim,
"President Kim, have you finished that analysis on European football clubs I asked for earlier?"
"Ah, yes—we've compiled an analysis of this season's English Premier League."
"Perfect. We can dive right in."
"Um, Vice President... the Chairman called from headquarters himself."
"!"
Kim hesitated as he looked at me, relaying what my father had said.
"Is it true that Daeyang is acquiring a European football club?"
"Yes, it's true. That's why I asked you to prepare for it."
"Hmm..."
I could guess what my father had told him.
Kim Eun-tae stayed silent all the way to the Daeyang office in the City of Westminster.
We arrived at the Daeyang London branch, and as I entered my office, Kim handed me the documents the staff had prepared.
"First, an analysis of the local teams around here, followed by breakdowns of the major clubs in the current English Premier League."
I opened the binder, pen in hand, circling familiar names one by one as I reviewed them.
The City of Westminster—near the Korean Cultural Centre and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea—was the heart of London.
And in that area, there were plenty of clubs rooted in the football-mad capital of the UK.
"The closest team to the branch is Chelsea FC."
"A solid club."
"They're currently second in the league. A lot of our local staff are fans too."
This was before Russian money flooded in—they were second in the league, with a strong reputation and squad depth.
But the club's valuation was £180 million, which at current exchange rates meant starting at least 400 billion won.
And right next to Chelsea was another familiar name.
"To the north of Chelsea, there's Queens Park Rangers. Not Premier League—they're in the Second Division, around 20th place right now..."
"Pass on that one."
Even at the cheapest price, QPR was a hard no.
"Beyond them, you've got Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Charlton, and others."
Owning any one of them would be a dream come true.
The question was whether any owner was ready to sell right now.
But I'd made the call, so it was on me.
As I pored over Kim's materials, I spotted an intriguing name.
"Ho, Fulham FC—tell me about them."
"Ah, Fulham? They're Second Division, but the chairman there is Mohamed Al-Fayed."
"I know—key client for Daeyang's UK branch, and a friend of Father's."
Mohamed Al-Fayed, chairman of London's Harrods—the UK's premier, or even the world's, department store at the time.
An Egyptian businessman, he'd made his name in '85 by acquiring Harrods for £600 million.
Then he'd bought Fulham FC, becoming the first foreign owner in English football history.
"Looks like I should meet him in person. I'll talk to the Harrods chairman."
"I'll set up the schedule."
Kim quietly left, and I checked the current English Premier League standings.
The '98/99 EPL season was in the thick of a title race featuring Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Leeds—just hearing the names felt epic.
Acquiring one of those right now was unrealistic.
But I'd buy my own club and build it into a powerhouse to rival them.
Acquire now, win the league in five years, Champions League in ten.
That night.
11 p.m. London time—8 a.m. in Korea—Branch Manager Kim Eun-tae called headquarters to report to the Chairman.
[He's really going through with it?]
"Yes, Chairman. His resolve seems rock-solid."
Kim had prepared what Dae-chul requested, but hearing it wasn't just soccer marketing—that he planned to actually acquire and run a club—he reported to the Chairman.
[I tried giving him some rope to hang himself, told him to fold... but he's pushing this hard.]
"He's scheduled a meeting with Harrods' Mohamed Al-Fayed. Says he'll seek advice on seriously acquiring and operating a football club."
[...Kim, what do you think?]
A single question from Chairman Lee Won-gyu.
Kim swallowed dryly before answering.
[You've been in that seat nearly fifteen years. You're our Europe expert—surely you have thoughts based on what you've seen.]
A conversation between Daeyang Group's Chairman and his second son, Vice President Lee Dae-hyun.
After some thought, Kim spoke his mind.
"Chairman, Europe is football-crazy—especially the UK. Their passion and buying power represent a massive potential customer base."
[Can one sports team rebrand our image? You think that'll work?]
"With Vice President Lee Dae-hyun's determination, absolutely. Local businessmen and multinational CEOs in the UK pour sponsorship into Premier League clubs—it's proven marketing gold."
A bold statement, staking everything before the Chairman.
Moments later, the Chairman's voice broke the silence on the line.
[That's your take, huh?]
"Yes, Chairman."
[Fine. But make no mistake—if Dae-hyun tanks this venture, your seat's gone too.]
The Chairman hung up. Kim exhaled, sweat beading down his face.
He'd gotten roped into something huge, but from what he'd seen, Vice President Lee Dae-hyun had far superior talent and business sense than his older brother, Lee Dae-chul.
Korea was reeling from the IMF crisis, but Daeyang had stockpiled pounds through its trading arm ahead of time—making restructuring smoother than other chaebols. That was his doing.
Kim gathered his papers in the office.
Harrods department store, smack in central London.
Eight stories tall—its scale was staggering, even on a second look.
We'd sold off our distribution arm back then and ignored it, but Korea would soon have four or five bigger ones.
Hoping Daeyang Group's distribution division would build something comparable, I stepped out of the car.
I'd scheduled ahead; Harrods staff escorted me to the Chairman's office.
"Long time no see, Chairman Al-Fayed."
"Mr. Lee's second son, are you?"
An devout Egyptian Muslim, yet he ran Britain's top luxury department store in perfectly tailored Burberry suiting—a true gentleman.
Al-Fayed led me to the sofa; his secretary brought Earl Grey tea and sweet Arab cookies.
"So, you're here about football."
"That's right."
"A meeting with me—not for trade deals between our companies, but to buy a club. Ha ha ha ha."
Al-Fayed sipped his tea and asked,
"When do you plan to acquire?"
"I could do it right now."
"How much capital do you have ready?"
"I've got about two million pounds on hand for operating funds."
"!"
Al-Fayed eyed me closely after that.
Through countless deals between Harrods and Daeyang Trading, he'd always thought well of me.
"Will Daeyang acquire directly?"
"I'll buy in my name initially. Later, Daeyang branding goes on uniforms, stadium naming rights—the main sponsorship."
"Right away?"
"Yes."
"Scouting Premier League teams... the big ones will be tough."
"Exactly the problem. Looking for clubs open to immediate sale talks."
"London clubs won't sell if their lives depended on it. Go for provincial small-city teams."
Al-Fayed gave practical advice from experience.
"Last year, I bought Fulham FC for about £6.7 million. Third Division then, but they're set for promotion to the Second this season."
Al-Fayed had taken over the club in posh west London and lifted them to the Premier League, running them solidly in the mid-to-lower table.
"Even that faced massive pushback."
"Against Harrods' owner?"
"The FA didn't like foreign money in English football. Brits are proud—Londoners even more so."
It was par for the course.
Industries steeped in history and tradition always saw insiders turn vicious against outsiders trying to shake things up.
Al-Fayed became tabloid and FA fodder, but Fulham's good results won fan support and quieted the noise.
"Provincial clubs in relegation danger are your best bet."
"Ones saddled with bank debt, right?"
"Spot on."
Premier League clubs typically ran on loans from domestic commercial banks for transfers and operations.
Splash big on stars, climb the table—jackpot. But flop those big signings and drop? British bankers swoop in like redcoats to collect.
"Provincial team in relegation trouble, ideally with an owner losing the will to run it."
"There's one."
"!"
Al-Fayed handed me a business card.
"Club's in the drop zone. Owner had drive—won titles even—but he's old, ill, selling off his main company to pass to his kids."
Blackburn Rovers.
Jack Walker, Chairman.
Taking the card, I couldn't help but grin.
With the first half of the Premier League season done, I could close the deal before the winter window.