Chapter 51
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Recommendation for the Next Korean Coach After the Asia Tour
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Blackburn Rovers' squad made the most of their time in Korea after arriving.
The players held a fan signing event at the newly opened Daechi-dong branch of Daeyang Department Store in Gangnam, drawing far more fans than the signing session during AC Milan's 1996 visit to the old Shinsegi Department Store.
"Roberto, please take a photo with me."
"Figo, Figo, Figo!"
"Premier League top scorer Kevin Phillips, please sign this!"
"Yoo Sung-chul, sign this shirt please."
A massive crowd of fans of all ages had gathered, and the Daeyang Global distribution division employees were grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm not sure about Figo."
"Section Chief Park, what do you mean?"
"He loves Japanese food so much. He devoured tuna, battleship rolls, and mantis shrimp like crazy in front of the chef at the Serabeol Hotel's Japanese restaurant. And he snuck some sake without the manager knowing..."
"He'll be able to play, right?"
"Manager Hainkes said he'll make sure he plays somehow."
Portugal, black hair, winger, exhibition match in Korea, playing status...
Why did some future player who grinds his teeth at Koreans keep popping into my head, making me uneasy for no reason?
I glanced at Figo, following Section Chief Park's words—he'd been handling managerial duties for the Blackburn squad during their stay in Korea.
He was signing a cast for a limping young girl fan and even posing for photos with her on crutches, showing off his fan service.
Even as they wrapped up the fan event and some players' CF shoots before diving into proper training, swarms of Korean soccer fans never let up.
***
Dong-dong-dong-dong-dong
Dae~han~min~guk!!!!
Over 70,000 fans packed Jamsil Main Stadium amid cheers from the Korean supporters known as the "Red Devils."
After instructing the players in the locker room to give it their all, I headed to the VIP seats, where KFA President Jang Jun-mo, Kang Sam-yong, and Pro Football Federation Chairman Yoo Jung-gyu were waiting.
"Everyone's here."
We exchanged greetings, then watched the match from the soccer officials' section in the VIP area—opposite the representatives' seats packed with congressmen, the Seoul mayor, and various bureaucrats.
--Lee Dong-gu—Kim Do-hoo-Choi Tae-hoon--
Lee Young-hyo-Park Ji-seon-Kim Sam-sik-Lee Chun-soo
---Kang Cheon—Shim Dae-won—Park Jong-hyuk
------Kim Yong-tae-------
The classic 3-4-3 three-back formation featured K-League stars like Lee Young-hyo, Lee Dong-gu, Ko Jeong-soo, and even Lee Chun-soo from Anamdai.
But the standout was Park Ji-seon from Japan's Kyoto Sangga. Hainkes had urged me to keep an eye on "promising players, especially number 2, JS Park."
-Kevin Phillips-Roberto Baggio-
Duff—P. Ince—S. Parker—Yoo Sung-chul
Bridge-Southgate-Melbury-Kenya
------Peter Schmeichel---
Figo was on the bench, and seeing him constantly on the big screen made me uneasy for some reason...
Beep-
Blackburn kicked off and launched straight into attack.
Amid 70,000 roaring fans, Baggio showcased elegant dribbling, reminding everyone why he'd won the Ballon d'Or.
"That's it, Baggio!"
The 33-year-old veteran, with two knee ligament surgeries under his belt, dazzled the Korean Olympic side with feints and bursts past two or three defenders in a flash.
"Whoa, that guy Baggio!"
"Incredible—he looks just like he did in the '94 USA World Cup."
Everyone here had watched that World Cup live.
Jang Jun-mo in particular was mesmerized by Baggio's play, clapping nonstop.
Thud-
Suddenly, three players blocked Baggio's path.
Park Ji-seon, Lee Young-hyo, Kim Sam-sik.
Future World Cup members with solid defensive chops surrounded him, but Baggio glanced and charged straight ahead.
Not towering at 174cm and no physical powerhouse, Baggio shrugged off Park Ji-seon with sheer force anyway.
Park clung doggedly, both sprinting relentlessly across the pitch.
Baggio peeked back once, then slipped a side pass. Yoo Sung-chul latched onto it, drawing massive cheers despite facing the national side.
Yoo then unleashed a mid-range dribble rarely seen in the EPL—long time no see!
Goal!
"Whoa!"
"Wow, Yoo Sung-chul! That long shot's still alive!"
The crowd erupted for Yoo's goal at the 7th minute.
Even national team fans smiled and cheered—it was a Korean player, after all.
The Olympics attacked next. Lee Dong-gu took the ball and moved.
With Gattuso benched, Scott Parker manned defensive midfield, but K-League ace Lee Dong-gu got caught, losing possession in a tussle.
"Lee Dong-gu, that's not good... He's heading to Europe after this season."
Posco chairman and former Pohang Steelers owner Yoo shook his head.
The physical gap was just too vast.
They scrapped fiercely in stamina battles, but Hainkes gestured from the bench.
One signal, and Blackburn pushed the line way up.
Spear versus shield—but the shield was charging the spear first.
Center-backs advanced centrally, suffocating the Olympics' breathing room. They scrambled for possession before tiring out.
Paul Ince marked Park Ji-seon, Parker hounded Kim Sam-sik, and Southgate cut off Kim Do-hoo and Choi Tae-hoon's dribbles.
"Sigh..."
Kang Sam-yong sighed watching, while Jang Jun-mo—arms crossed—glared at coach Hur Young-moo's bench.
26th minute.
Kevin Phillips grabbed the ball, crumpled the defense, fooled the keeper—goal.
2-0.
Jamsil fans cheered throatily undeterred, but cameras fixated on Luis Figo on the Blackburn bench instead of Korea's.
Every time seated Figo appeared, 70,000 roared—thank goodness.
Figo heard, waved from the bench—the cheers swelled.
Damn, he's really getting under my skin...
Why does some Korean-hating jerk from the future keep coming to mind?
44th minute.
Whoosh-
Beep-beep!
Shim Dae-won's tackle floored Parker, who clutched his leg. Ref whistled instantly—yellow card, direct free kick.
Baggio and Ince lined up, but with the wall up, Baggio moved.
Three-man wall. Baggio blasted it high.
Wham-
Jumpers headed desperately, but the ball skimmed past—keeper Kim Yong-tae couldn't snag it. Net rippled.
Roberto Baggio's free kick made it 3-0.
Blackburn celebrated, but Baggio glanced at the scoreboard, ran on silently—no ceremony.
"They're doing well, but..."
"Vice President Lee."
Jang Jun-mo spoke up.
"What do you think? Should we keep trusting him?"
The question he'd hit me with right after arriving days ago.
Stick with coach Hur Young-moo through the 2002 World Cup?
"It's only halftime. Let's watch more and talk."
"3-0 in the first half, Figo benched—means they're toying with us even without him?"
"No, Figo couldn't play because..."
Jang's face grew graver, voice low.
"Japan's got results under Philippe Troussier. Some players shine in Europe too."
"Ah, yeah. Well..."
"Hidetoshi Nakata's killing it. Don't we need more Europe-ready players beyond Yoo Sung-chul?"
"Before signing Yoo, I asked the coach. He said build muscle to win duels first. Too many collapse from dirty tackles."
"Hmm."
Jang was seriously considering replacing Hur.
A foreigner in mind, but no clear candidate.
"Vice President Lee, speak freely. You're the only ones here who know world soccer well—me and you."
With that, sorry coach Hur, but I had to say it.
"If so, trust him through Olympics. Decide based on results."
"What results?"
"Simple. Better than Japan at Olympic soccer—keep him. Otherwise, find a new one."
"Any top European coaches coming to Korea?"
Easy answer.
"President Jang, remember the '98 World Cup?"
"How could I forget? I was KFA president—saw the 5-0 Netherlands thrashing live."
"Guus Hiddink, who gifted us that, is currently idle."
"!?"
"Maybe find answers in failure. Tried recruiting him for Blackburn next, but he's recharging in Netherlands."
"I was looking via AFC, but top European names are out there."
"Aiming for last 16? Go big—A-class coach."
"Makes sense. Barely pulled off hosting—fail as host nation, my head rolls first."
Jang eyed aide and international director Kang Sam-yong, who nodded.
He'd negotiated with Jacques, Hiddink, Blazevic—enough said.
The rest was on Jang and Kang.
In original history, Hiddink came via them. With my nudge, perfect.
Second half long started, but we'd delved deep into Korea soccer's future.
Sudden cheers—3-0, but Lee Chun-soo scrapped for a goal.
3-1, fans roared. 11th minute second half, Figo warmed up.
Subbed exhausted Damien Duff—Jamsil exploded louder.
"Alright, Figo's coming on."
"Finally, Blackburn's secret weapon Luis Figo?"
Good—you're way better than your successor, Luis.
Figo greeted away fans arms wide, shifted Yoo to left wing, took right himself.
That day's game: Wildcard Kim Do-hoo's chase goal, keeper swap Schmeichel to Brad Friedel.
Holland for Ince, Beattie for Phillips—Hainkes rotated for friendly.
Figo sealed with picture-perfect volley. Final 4-2 Blackburn win.
Jang rose for handshake.
"Great game. Blackburn's strong."
"Thank you."
Seemed calm, but sweaty palm—he'd been sweating bullets.
"Best wishes for Premier League title."
"Thanks. Wishing Olympics and nationals glory too."
Post-game cheers flooded Jamsil Olympic Stadium.
All Blackburn players greeted fans, swapped jerseys.
Captain Southgate approached underwhelming number 2 Park Ji-seon first for exchange.
***
After the Olympic team friendly.
Busan's Gudeok Stadium had local broadcasters KNC and SBC set up concert-style bleachers on the track, turning it into a clear sightline soccer venue.
Expectations met—30,000 fans, including standees.
Moving to see this soccer turnout in Busan.
Pre-game, I grabbed the mic before 30,000.
Waaaaah—waaaaaah!
Cheers and standing ovation electrified me.
Booooooo—
Massive boos.
Roars shook western Busan.
Starting Figo, steady Baggio, Yoo Sung-chul—ex-Ulsan Hyeonkyung Tiger, half-jeered half-cheered facing K-League for first time in ages.
Laid-back, fun match. Figo showed class—45 minutes, 1 goal 1 assist. 5-2 win.
I gave daily bonuses as owner to winners Blackburn and losers Busan Daeyang Royals alike, snapped group photo.
Two stellar games in Korea, then Japan—Baggio and Phillips goals beat Olympic team 2-0. Back to England happy.
Now prep Charity Shield vs. Manchester United for new season.