Chapter 50

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Translator: Silver Dragon

Chapter: 50

Chapter Title: The Butterfly Effect in World Soccer Created by the Blackburn Owner

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Blackburn Rovers heavily promoted their East Asia overseas tour.

A flood of articles poured out, but the biggest buzz centered on the superstars Luis Figo, the already Korea-tested Roberto Baggio, and Yoo Sung-chul, seen as the ace of Korean soccer.

The media locked in schedules for matches against the Korean Olympic team and the Japanese Olympic team as well.

With both nations' coaches doubling as World Cup national team managers ahead of the tournament, these were essentially preemptive tests for the squads.

And leading up to those games, the bullshit proposals came flooding in like crazy.

"Still, for the sake of domestic league hype, couldn't we squeeze in some K-League teams in Seoul?"

"Ah, I'd like to recommend one player this time. How about A from Yeonsin University's soccer team, second year? He's a winner of the A Cup college tournament and backed by the association."

"Player B is gearing up for a move to Europe—wouldn't it be easier to adapt with a team that has a Korean owner? We need to create the next Yoo Sung-chul."

"Vice President, I really want a photo with those Figo and Baggio guys. Could you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make time to have someone from your office contact my clinic?"

Plough a field, tend flowers and trees, and sure, you get the sweet scents drawing bees and butterflies—but flies and maggots show up too. This, though? Over the top.

During the Korea tour planning, I nailed down three firm decisions.

1. Play the Olympic team in Seoul.

2. For the K-League friendly, only the sister-city matchup with Busan Zeus Royals after the first-half break.

3. No such thing as a neutral venue. Fighting Busan's team? We'll do it at Busan Gudeok Stadium.

I stonewalled every other proposal and focused on tour prep while scouting other transfer markets.

"Mr. Lee, Real Madrid's gone and done it."

"?"

Heinz Keiser, fresh from training, handed me a cup of premium German-brand coffee as he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke.

"Since they failed to snag Figo this season, they slashed all tickets by 30%. But he promised to bring him in within his five-year term, no matter what."

If not, he'd never run for Real presidency again. Sure, there were backroom deals, but if Figo stayed put, would Galacticos end as one Spanish tycoon's pipe dream?

"Guess they figured reimbursing season ticket holders outright would've cost more than a blanket fan discount. Revenue's gonna tank this year."

"And yet, they still shelled out 45 million euros for a big signing. Gaizka Mendieta to Real."

"Pfft!"

Mendie... who?

I hammered the keyboard, dialing up Spanish sites on the sluggish modem, and sure enough, Real Madrid news dominated the headlines.

"Wow... Mendieta to Real."

"He's not quite Figo level, but the top midfielder in Spain right now. When I coached Real, Valencia games were a nightmare because of him."

"Haha, that good?"

"Shuttles between right wing and attacking mid, bags goals, and single-handedly won them the Copa del Rey."

Perez finally landing a world-class winger this season? The guy's relentless.

"Real's grabbing a title this season, especially with Del Bosque at the helm."

Listening to Keiser, the situation got even more intriguing.

With Valencia and Spain's ace Mendieta now at Real, no grim Lazio downfall for him.

And the era's money-burning champs Lazio wouldn't bid 50 million against Real for him, dodging their financial ruin.

So Lazio keeps Nedved, Nesta, Crespo, Veron longer. Sven-Goran Eriksson sticks around or his assistant Roberto Mancini takes over smoothly?

I've gotta rethink future club vibes to predict transfers.

Sure enough, Korea match issues brought another call.

Couldn't ignore it—the caller was Daeyang Group's Chairman, my father.

[Dae-chul, Yoo the Chairman's pushing it, KFA President Jang Jun-mo too, even the Seoul Mayor's offering Jamsil Stadium for a neutral-site game against Busan?]

"Dad, that's a total no-go."

[I get the hometown loyalty thing. But marketing-wise, it makes sense.]

"!"

[While you've been obsessed with soccer, I bought that Gangnam Grancia Department Store. Cost 1.5 trillion won battling Lotte for it.]

The one in Daechi-dong I'd said was a must-buy for the next 20 years of booming Gangnam real estate—Dad acquired it.

Three years from now, with the Bundang Line opening, prime spot in Gangnam's top school district.

[Need to launch the opening big-time with your soccer team's stars—Figo, the hottest globally, and Baggio who sold out a signing event solo at Shinnuri Department Store. Perfect promo. And right next to Jamsil Main Stadium for the match?]

"Haa..."

I got exactly what he meant.

The money-bleeding K-League team I'd stubbornly acquired—might as well milk it for marketing.

Blackburn got 100 million pounds invested and 250 million in construction contracts, so fine. But Busan? Leverage it now.

"Dad."

[Why call so wistfully?]

"You're a rare chaebol scion who fought in the Korean War, right? Post-war interpreter officer, making Daeyang a company built by a patriot family."

[Why drag up that dusty history?]

"Born in Gyeongsan during Japanese rule, rejected their schools, studied at an Anglican church, built businesses in Daegu and Busan—Hyeonkyung and Nakdong Bridge projects, Busan industrial complex, first million-dollar exports through Busan Port. That's how the group grew."

[Get to the point!]

"For a Daeyang that grew like that, if you go on national TV saying 'Thanks to Seoul citizens, Daeyang succeeded,' 'Chungcheong folks grew Daeyang,' or 'Daeyang's roots are in Honam'—what would loyal locals who've supported us forever say?"

[... ?]

"That's the situation. Playing our Busan team in Seoul, some random city with no ties, just for cash and hype."

[You punks played your finale in London, not that podunk Blackburn town, right?]

"If England's FA, royally endorsed, had the president personally ask for Seoul? Sure."

[Ungrateful brat!]

While hashing this out with Dad, scribbling options on my notepad, I hit on the solution.

"Here's the deal. I'll ask the KFA and league to swap the Olympic team friendly from Dongdaemun to Jamsil Main Stadium."

[!]

"Then, as you said, Figo, Baggio, Yoo Sung-chul—all do signings and ads at the new Gangnam Daeyang Department Store. Play the Olympic team at Jamsil."

[Yeah... that works?]

"But Busan stays in Busan. Beyond the 2002 World Cup, there's the 'Busan Asian Games' too, right? Bring in Culture Ministry folks, promo it as 'Praying for Busan Asian Games Success' at Gudeok. Soccer's main venue there anyway."

Finally, Dad got it.

[Right, makes sense. Busan's one of our top business hubs.]

"Busan gets fan signings at the Seomyeon Taehwa Daeyang Department Store you acquired, local media broadcast team for the match."

[Kid, that field's under 20,000 seats—gonna fill it?]

"I'll handle that."

Back then, networks handled events too—line up a broadcaster for coverage.

Install 'variable seating' like for singer concerts on the track—adds at least 8,000. Busan soccer averages mean 25,000 with that? Packed house.

Dad convinced at last, picture perfect as I wanted.

KFA request granted: Unlike my cousin, Hyeonkyung Heavy Industries Chairman Jang Jun-mo said 'Let's do it,' swapping Olympic friendly to Jamsil from Dongdaemun.

That day? At least 60,000 crowd, ticket revenue alone massive.

Overseas tours are brutal.

How do Man U, Real, Munich plot Southeast Asia, Middle East, US, East Asia jaunts yearly?

Blackburn Rovers touched down at Gimpo Airport.

Reporters and massive crowds cheered, shutters flashing, a grand welcome ceremony.

"Yoo Sung-chul!"

"Yoo Sung-chul, over here please!"

Amid the star squad, calls for proud Korean Yoo Sung-chul drew him over, waving warmly.

As Keiser's staff and club employees managed the flow to the federation-provided limo bus, Daeyang execs who'd come for me stood waiting.

"Vice Chairman, we'll escort you."

"Where to?"

"KFA Chairman Jang and Pro League Chairman Yoo are waiting."

Figured those two would call me out.

The team bus, with Section Chief Park aboard, headed to Korea's grandest hotel, Hotel Serabul.

I went separately to the KFA headquarters in Jongno.

KFA Chairman, Hyeonkyung Heavy Industries Chairman, and my father's successor as 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Organizing Committee head—Jang Jun-mo greeted me warmly.

Taller and fitter than most in his fifties, sharp in a gray suit, Chairman Jang extended his hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right away.

"Great to meet the Vice President shaking up soccer."

"Thank you, Chairman Jang."

"Chairman Yoo popped over to league HQ for the friendly stuff. Coffee first?"

Looks like he had words just for me.

In the reception room, a waiting man rose politely.

KFA International Director Kang Sam-yong.

Formerly Hyeonkyung Heavy Industries overseas ops head, followed owner Jang to KFA.

"Hello, Vice President Lee."

"Ah, yes."

We three sat, sipping top-brand coffee, soccer talk kicking off.

"26 billion to bring Boca Juniors with Maradona, 80 billion for AC Milan with Baggio and George Weah. I dropped 100 billion inviting Blackburn this time?"

"We'll deliver a spectacular match worth every won."

"Hahaha, good."

Jang Jun-mo sipped, cutting to the chase.

"Blackburn lads in good shape?"

"Post-jetlag, events lined up, training at Jangchungdong Dongsan University Field—should be comfy."

"You'll beat the Olympic team, right?"

"!"

Chairman Jang dropping loaded words?

Kang, sipping beside him, explained.

"Huh Jung-moo's squad, juggling national and Olympic duties. World Cup's a year and a half out—doubts on sticking with him to the end."

"Ah..."

"Public opinion? You know it well. Korea's barely scraped a win in nearly 50 years since our 1954 debut."

Famous tale.

I'd witnessed the '98 5-0 debacle myself.

"That's why this Blackburn friendly before Olympics matters."

"So it's not a national team test match? A vote of confidence for Coach Huh?"

Chairman Jang smiled silently.

Got it.

"Running a Premier League side, bringing in big-name coaches, solid network—you think foreign coaches for Korea?"

"... Asking me?"

"Recommend a top name to helm the national team? Even better."

Damn, really diving deep into soccer history ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here.

Jang's proposal left me chuckling over my coffee. No choice.