Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Connections Met in the Netherlands
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the fierce battle with Leeds, Damien Duff was sidelined for three weeks.
The league had been rolling along reasonably well since then.
We took a hit from Liverpool, but vented our frustration with a 3-0 thrashing of the neighboring Everton. Against West Ham, it ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a joint play from Lampard and Joe Cole—guys we had been eyeing to sign. Anyway, it was a tumultuous schedule all around.
While we chased Manchester United's 21 points with our own 20, nipping right at their heels, the cup competitions were progressing smoothly as well.
And there was the UEFA Cup.
Back then, it was called the UEFA Cup, not the Europa League yet, and there was no rule granting a Champions League spot to the winner.
But since Blackburn was set to qualify for the Champions League on our own merits this season anyway, we asked Heynckes to go all out and grab a trophy in this international tournament while we were at it.
In the first round, we crushed Red Star Belgrade from Eastern Europe 5-1 on aggregate over home and away legs, then hit the road for the second round.
Away to Vitesse in the Netherlands.
I packed my bags, planning to drop by the Netherlands branch office and catch the away match.
"That's it! Run, Figo! Shoot, Baggio!"
Figo's macro-like dribble breakthrough and cross, followed by Baggio's first-touch shot—elegant yet powerful, finding the net.
Baggio opened the scoring in the UEFA Cup away at Vitesse, capping it off with his signature finger-to-the-lips celebration.
Then Yoo Sung-chul, starting as central midfielder today, linked up with Paul Ince to show the gap between the Dutch league and the English Premier League.
Especially against the Dutch players, he snuffed out attacks left and right—like getting some payback for that 5-0 in '98—before constantly feeding passes to Figo and Shaun Wright-Phillips to create threatening chances.
And if you keep hammering away, the answer comes.
Yoo Sung-chul lofted an early cross that met James Beattie's head for a goal.
Notching one assist on the UEFA Cup stage, he firmly stamped his mark with Heynckes.
We cruised through the first half smoothly, and in the second, Heynckes subbed in Scott Parker for Ince, gradually giving minutes to the prospects.
That's when the VIP room door opened, and a familiar face walked in.
"Vice Chairman."
"Executive Director Yang?"
Yang Jae-jun, executive director of the Netherlands branch, approached with a greeting and whispered.
"Sorry to interrupt your match viewing. There's an urgent matter."
"What is it?"
"Football Association folks are in Eindhoven negotiating with the next national team manager candidate."
"!"
The Sydney Olympics football saw Coach Huh Jung-moo's Korean team fall short of Japan.
Both went 2 wins, 1 loss, but Japan advanced to the quarterfinals while Korea dropped out on goal difference.
I had told FA Chairman Jang Jun-mo, "If you're thinking of a coaching change, make the call if we underperform Japan at these Olympics." Sure enough, Huh Jung-moo resigned voluntarily after.
"So the Dutch coach is taking the Korean national team job."
"That's why. FA's Deputy Director Kang Sam-yong is asking for you, Vice Chairman."
"Me?"
"He says he has a favor to ask. In return, they'll make a spot for Daeyang as an official 2002 World Cup sponsor."
"!"
Was that what Jang Jun-mo meant when he said I owed him one?
Korea's World Cup sponsors included Korean Air, Lotte Hotel, Posco, Dacom, Hyeonkyung Shipping, and now Daeyang Group could join them.
Thirty minutes left in the second half.
In that time, Scott Parker banged in a long-range shot, assisted by Luis Figo.
I checked my watch and stood.
"Hate to miss the end, but duty calls. Save the victory celebrations for Blackburn."
It wasn't ending 3-0, but with the rotation, more goals seemed likely.
Just regrettable not seeing it through.
From Vitesse's home base in Arnhem to Eindhoven was about an hour and a half.
Executive Director Yang contacted Deputy Director Kang Sam-yong to say we were en route, then reported back after a brief call.
"They're holding Guus Hiddink and negotiating. Around $1.5 million, but he's lukewarm."
"It's not just salary—gotta offer coaching staff budget and a solid vision for the team."
"Ironic, huh? The Dutch coach who smashed us 5-0 at the France World Cup coming to lead our national team."
Driver Kang picked up the pace, and we arrived sooner than expected at the outdoor café Deputy Director Kang had mentioned.
Stepping out of the car, a very welcome face sat at the café terrace.
A sturdier build than I remembered from my past life, with determined eyes—a 55-year-old Guus Hiddink.
"Hello. I'm Lee Dae-hyun."
"The man making waves in England has come."
"Vice Chairman Lee Dae-hyun, you've arrived."
Deputy Director Kang's face lit up as he set a seat for me and ordered fresh coffee.
But I sat quietly, just observing their negotiation.
"I'll just watch your talks."
"!"
"Though if either of you has questions about the other, I'll gladly answer. Strictly business, of course."
I offered to field Hiddink's curiosities about Korea or Kang's about overseas football, then sipped my coffee leisurely.
"Guus, Korea needs you. A World Cup host crashing out of the group stage without a win? Unthinkable."
"What's the Korean team's edge?"
"Rock-solid organization, stamina, and mental fortitude. Everyone's armed with fighting spirit."
"No World Cup nation skimps on spirit or organization. That's baseline, not an advantage."
Hiddink was ice-cold realistic, and I nodded in agreement.
"Are you thinking of me as manager or head coach?"
"Ma-manager... head coach?"
Kang glanced at me, so I kindly explained in Korean.
"Manager gets full authority over all team operations. Head coach just handles training and tactics under the title."
Club football terms originally, but back then national teams often had associations handling front-office stuff like a club, leaving coaches as figureheads.
"Full authority promised. Manager it is."
"If I told Korean players to climb a tree for no reason, would they obey without question?"
"...Yes, of course!"
"Can you guarantee it?"
"I'll stake my position. Full delegation and total support."
Hiddink nodded and glanced my way.
"Among Koreans, you seem the most clued-in on European football, Dae-hyun Lee."
"Something on your mind?"
"Who can start regularly on Europe's top stages right now?"
"Yoo Sung-chul just notched two assists today against Vitesse in the UEFA Cup. Number 6 right-back from the '98 World Cup, Yoo."
"Ah, that guy."
"Plus one fresh in Division 1, one rotating in Serie A Italy, two who just joined Bundesliga Germany?"
"Not starting from total zero, then."
"Vitesse away's done today—come to our next home game? Always free for Coach Hiddink."
Hiddink smiled faintly at that.
"Give me ten days. I'll decide and contact the FA directly."
"Hope it's a good one."
Hiddink shook hands with me and Deputy Director Kang, then rose.
He hopped casually into a compact car and left first. In his wake, Kang let out a long breath and lit a cigarette.
"I'm counting on you, Vice Chairman. Looks like he'll decide after seeing your team."
"Figured as much. He'll come watch Yoo Sung-chul, then."
Needs to start, but with rotation, will he play when Hiddink visits?
"Vice Chairman Lee Dae-hyun, no need for Plan B, right?"
"We go Hiddink or bust. No alternatives."
"But just in case..."
"If not, I'll convince him come hell or high water. Trust me."
I lit Kang's cigarette as he puffed anxiously.
But everything would flow as planned.
A few days later.
"Thanks for hosting during the season, Jupp."
"Heartily welcome, Guus."
Hiddink came to Blackburn.
Not for a match, but dropping in unannounced on our training squad ahead of the next game post-UEFA Cup away.
I explained to Heynckes, who gladly allowed the visit, letting Hiddink observe his Blackburn players up close.
"Off to the Korean national team? Hosting a World Cup and landing that gig is glory upon glory."
"Jupp, no thoughts on national team managing yourself?"
"Hahaha, I've got juniors like Uli, Skibbe, Voeller, Stilicke. No spot for me with Germany."
Why'd some names drop that feel like I shouldn't have heard them???
Anyway, Hiddink keenly watched the training under Heynckes' staff: Van Basten, Brian Kidd, Peter Hermann, Ian Porterfield, and crew.
And one player in particular caught his eye.
"Fifty more!"
Fitness coach Werner Rohrwad's whistle blew, and Yoo Sung-chul ran shuttle runs.
Players trembled at Werner's whistle alone, but Yoo always endured silently, earning praise for better stamina since joining.
Hiddink nodded as he watched Yoo tirelessly shuttle back and forth.
"With two or three more like him, the potential..."
"Plenty waiting in Korea—rough gems like him for sure."
"!"
"Trust me and commit. Hiddink, you'll stun the world in two years."
Hiddink nodded and extended his hand.
Then we dined at Mario Romano's famed Italian restaurant—Blackburn's pride—with Heynckes, and he left resolved.
Soon after.
[The Dutch legend who humiliated Korea in '98 is coming as national team coach.]
[Guus Hiddink shocks with Korea move. KFA's final card for 2002 World Cup round of 16.]
[With 2002 World Cup looming, can Hiddink work miracles?]
"Told you he'd accept."
Checking Korean articles and real-time reactions from back then, I clicked through portal sites in high spirits.
National team worries sorted. And we beat the visiting Vitesse 1-0 at home for a 5-0 aggregate second-round romp.
Excitement built for our next UEFA Cup opponent amid heavyweights like Barcelona, Liverpool, Inter Milan, AS Roma, Leverkusen, and Porto.