Field Commander - Chapter 57
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57.
Chapter 57.
Chapter 57.
– Lee Sang-cheol’s team, South Korea’s historic Olympic gold medal triumph!!
– Lee Sang-cheol’s team!! Victory!!
– As expected, Lee Sang-cheol!!! The myth of the 2002 World Cup semifinals!!
– Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s thoughts and behind-the-scenes stories from the London Olympics gold medal journey
– Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s amazing Tactical Substitution in the second half of the final turned the game around.
– Who are Manager Lee Sang-cheol’s crown princes Jang Jin-woo and Kim Sang-hyuk?
– Lee Sang-cheol gets green light for National Team manager position…
As soon as Hwang Ki-ho saw that article, he tore up the newspaper with an irritated expression.
“Green light for National Team manager? What, crown prince Kim Sang-hyuk? Who was it that built that team?”
Deep in his heart, he felt a quiet regret wondering what would have happened if he had rejected the National Team manager offer when it came and taken the Olympic Team instead.
However, since the salary difference was almost 5 times more, he couldn’t refuse.
Hwang Ki-ho, who had been furious after the 2002 World Cup ended, watching his much younger juniors play overseas earning salaries he couldn’t even imagine.
Although he was selected for the World Cup Best Eleven, Hwang Ki-ho was already at retirement age in the football world at that time.
If a prestigious club had called for him back then…
Perhaps his obsession with money over honor started from that time.
The tremendous jealousy he felt whenever his juniors surpassed his career.
– Football Association to pay 3.5 billion won in gold medal prize money to the player squad… 300 million to Manager Lee Sang-cheol, 150 million to coaches… Will distribute to players based on their contribution to matches.
Seeing the headline visible between the torn football articles, Hwang Ki-ho kicked at them.
“Damn it. I should have finished the Olympics and taken the National Team manager position.”
Hwang Ki-ho’s image created through the media was that of a very cold and intellectual person.
Most people don’t know that his only goal and desire is to be more successful than anyone else, to receive more spotlight than anyone else, and to earn more money than anyone else.
“How dare that bastard Lee Sang-cheol ignore my words?”
He had told him not to use Kim Sang-hyuk in the final.
Because all the other players except Kim Sang-hyuk were selected by him.
Lee Sang-cheol should have always been his shadow, achieving results with the players he had chosen.
That way, he would have something to say when meeting with journalists.
“Incompetent bastard who can’t even do what he’s told properly.”
Kim Sang-hyuk…
Because of that one slippery eel, all the glory of the Olympic gold medal triumph was directed toward Lee Sang-cheol.
“I spent years carefully building that team!!!”
His anger wouldn’t subside.
It felt like everything had been stolen from him.
This feeling was absolutely unbearable.
His face gradually turned red like a radish.
As if painted with bright red paint.
– Trrrrrrring…
His mobile phone, set to vibrate, shook, and he snatched it up.
But seeing the text displayed on the phone, he completely changed his expression.
After taking a few breaths, he pressed the call button with the demeanor of a herbivore in front of a predator.
– Ah, yes, Association President.
* * *
Jung Joo-young said he had business to attend to before joining the club and parted ways at the departure gate, while I rode in Jung Seung-jin’s car heading to the dormitory.
“You really worked hard.”
Jung Seung-jin, who always had a generous expression except when negotiating contracts.
Even though it was dawn, he didn’t mind the trouble and came all the way to the airport to pick me up.
“Thank you, hyung.”
“I honestly didn’t expect you to perform that well. Your performance in Division 3 and 4th Division… I really didn’t know if it would work at that level.”
Although the Olympic Team is a U-23 team, most of the players are starters playing in their country’s top leagues.
“Of course… It was my first time facing players of that caliber too. But it was manageable. It didn’t deviate much from my expectations. Ah, except for one person.”
“Who?”
“Aubameyang from Gabon?”
That was definitely acceleration beyond my predictions at the time.
“I thought it would come from Mexico, but wasn’t Gabon a team you beat quite easily?”
“Exactly.”
“Aubameyang, huh. I should remember that name.”
The distance from the airport to the dormitory wasn’t very far.
We had a very brief conversation about the Olympics.
“Several advertising requests have come in.”
“Advertising?”
“Not major ones, mainly from small health food companies.”
“Health food?”
“They say the image of overcoming injury and rehabilitation is good. But the amount isn’t much, and I think it would be better to focus on adapting to the first team for now.”
I thought that kind of thing would be profitable for an agent.
But for Jung Seung-jin to tell me not to do it himself…
As expected.
“You remember the club bringing up contract renewal, right?”
“Yes.”
“I think they’re trying to prevent other clubs from hijacking you.”
His face looked extremely tired, but Jung Seung-jin’s voice was full of energy.
“Is that so?”
“If you hadn’t shown that kind of performance at the Olympics, the contract renewal talk wouldn’t have come up either. In conclusion, your performance seems likely to lead to good results.”
I should understand this as meaning they’ll give me a lot of money.
“The club started rebuilding this time. With many key players leaving, there’s considerable room in the salary structure. So I requested that they treat you as a starter-level player, and it seems to be progressing quite positively.”
“How much would that be?”
“The weekly wage would probably fluctuate around 20,000 euros.”
20,000 euros?
Roughly 30 million won in Korean money?
Per week?
Then that would be 120 million won per month?
I think I was working at a convenience store earning 5,000 won per hour a year ago…
Even now I’m earning 5 million won per week…
That amount doesn’t quite register with me.
“That’s the basic weekly wage, and we need to add bonuses and options too. And I’d like to set a buyout clause thinking about moving to a bigger team in about 2 years, would that be okay?”
A bigger club in 2 years?
Of course.
“Yes.”
To have more influence on Korean football, the higher my reputation and position rise, the better.
“Got it. Then I’ll try to get the best contract possible without hurting feelings between us and the club.”
Since Jung Seung-jin became my agent, I really haven’t had to worry about anything other than football.
“Oh, and did you happen to see the news?”
“What news?”
“The prize money.”
“Not yet.”
“From my rough estimate, it looks like about 150 million won will come out as prize money. Prize money has no taxes, so you’ll get the full amount. Is there anything you want to do? You could save it. If there are any financial products you’re interested in, let me know.”
I looked around Jung Seung-jin’s old car that was making noisy engine sounds.
“Ah, I want to buy a car.”
“A car? Do you have a license?”
“I need to get one.”
“It’ll be faster to get it in Korea.”
“Yes. I’ll have to do it when I go on vacation later.”
“What kind of car?”
“A car about this size.”
“What’s your price range?”
“It’s fine to spend all the prize money.”
“Will you drive it in Korea?”
“No. In Germany.”
“Not a sports car or anything like that?”
“Actually, I’m not really interested in cars. As long as it’s comfortable to drive around in, that’s fine.”
Jang Jin-woo’s Ferrari flickered before my eyes, but I have no reason to show off like that bastard.
I’ll use it more productively.
That’s my way.
“Got it.”
* * *
“Thank you so much!”
Cheongju FC manager Park Chang-yeol patted Park Sang-il, whose eyes were reddening.
“What are you thanking me for?”
He had been performing well in the Third Division League, and his social service period was ending, with his transfer to a K League 1 team decided at the same time.
“It happened because you worked hard.”
Whether it was Kim Sang-hyuk’s influence or not, Park Sang-il had grown tremendously this season.
His lifestyle and eating habits, which had always been problematic, were all improved, and he lost about 5kg in weight.
And thanks to his improved agility and stamina, he dragged Cheongju FC, without Kim Sang-hyuk, all the way to winning the championship on their own.
This season in the Third Division League: 28 goals and 9 assists.
Top scorer unless something unexpected happens.
“You know K League 1 has much tougher competition than here, right?”
“Yes!”
“Go adapt well, and you need to make the National Team, right?”
“Of course.”
“You’ll have to reunite with Sang-hyuk there.”
“That guy… I don’t really want to see him.”
“Why?”
“He’s scary, isn’t he?”
Park Chang-yeol burst into laughter.
A big guy who’s 190cm tall and weighs nearly 80kg making such a cute expression while saying he’s scary.
“Really?”
“No. I want to play with him quickly. When I play with that guy, I feel like I can do anything.”
“You understand well.”
“You know too, manager, that Kim Sang-hyuk basically did everything in this Olympics, right?”
“It was achieved through everyone’s sweat and hard work. That’s what a manager should say.”
“Hahaha. Yes.”
“Go on.”
“I’ll contact you later.”
After Park Sang-il left with a deep bow, the office became truly quiet.
Cheongju FC’s championship was certain even if they lost all their remaining games, and they had recently received permission from the Association for promotion to the Second Division League.
From now on, they would have to work on strengthening their squad through signings as well.
‘It would have been convenient if that guy was here…’
A little later, someone knocked on the quiet office door.
“Yes.”
When Park Chang-yeol answered, the door opened and a young woman entered.
A straightforward type wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
“Ah, hello. I’m reporter Shin Ye-ra from Daily Sports.”
The general public might not know, but Park Chang-yeol knew this reporter.
When he was a coach at a K League 1 club, several K League 1 soccer players went down due to gambling and match-fixing.
She also covered celebrities’ school violence cases and sent several stars to ruin.
In this industry, she’s known as the grim reaper, a veteran reporter.
Her appearance is so outstanding that people tend to let their guard down, but in reality, she’s a married woman in her mid-thirties.
‘Why did this grim reaper come looking for me?’
Park Chang-yeol felt uncomfortable but tried not to show it.
“Yes. I have a few things to ask you, could you spare some time?”
He decided not to make her uncomfortable, worried she might dig into something unnecessary if he refused.
“Ah, well, sure. Please sit on the sofa over there.”
When she sat down, Park Chang-yeol said,
“Would you like coffee? Or tea?”
“Ah, coffee would be good.”
While she looked around the office, Park Chang-yeol made two cups of coffee and sat on the sofa.
“It’s been years since I’ve dealt with a reporter…”
“You can be comfortable. I heard you’re being promoted to the K2 League?”
“Yes. That’s what happened.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Park Sang-il was the player who played a decisive role in the promotion, right?”
Park Chang-yeol answered.
“All the players worked hard.”
“Right. It’s a team sport after all. But Kim Sang-hyuk was there during the early winning streak, wasn’t he?”
Kim Sang-hyuk?
Why?
Did some scandal break?
Could it be that guy got involved with someone?
All sorts of thoughts came to mind.
But he answered calmly.
“That’s right. Kim Sang-hyuk played during our 8-game winning streak.”
She took a sip of coffee.
“How was he? Kim Sang-hyuk back then.”
“Are you covering Kim Sang-hyuk?”
“Yes. He’s a player who suddenly appeared like a comet in the Olympics, and he has bad blood with Jang Jin-woo… I think people would be very curious.”
I couldn’t figure out her intentions at all.
Because of her background, I couldn’t help but keep worrying.
“Actually… I’m a bit concerned about doing this interview. I only had him for a short time…”
When Park Chang-yeol tried to cut it short appropriately, Shin Ye-ra interrupted.
“He’s definitely a very rare character with overflowing personality in Korea. Was he always like that?”
“Um…”
Did he come here with a plan?
These kinds of people are the hardest to deal with.
Park Chang-yeol cared deeply for Kim Sang-hyuk.
He was worried that any information coming from his mouth might be used to attack him.
“Um… you look like you know about me?”
“Yes… a little.”
Then Shin Ye-ra opened her mobile phone and showed him a video inside.
It was Kim Sang-hyuk laughing and chatting while giving a high five to a little child.
“Seeing this made me personally develop a fondness for this player.”
“Ah, fondness?”
This grim reaper has fondness?
Park Chang-yeol couldn’t help but find it hard to believe.
“It’s purely fondness as a human being.”
“Please tell me exactly.”
“There’s a nurse I know, and she knew player Kim Sang-hyuk.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She said he was in a coma for 6 months at the hospital where she worked. He had a major car accident. That was about a year ago? An irreparable leg injury, followed by 6 months in a coma…”
She paused for a moment.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t have even thought about playing soccer… It feels like a human triumph over impossible adversity. I’m doing some personal coverage regardless of the editorial department.”
Editorial department?
So she’s blaming everything she’s done so far on the editorial department’s intentions?
But Park Chang-yeol didn’t believe her.
“If you promise not to publish any unfavorable reports about Sang-hyuk, I’ll cooperate with the interview.”
All that’s needed is a promise.
She nodded immediately.
“Of course.”
* * *
I rested completely for a day.
Really doing nothing and just lounging around on the bed.
Ah, of course I did basic warm-up exercises though.
Then memories from my high school days flashed by, and one person came to mind.
‘Ah, Master.’
He wasn’t just a simple soccer coach.
He was truly my first real teacher in life.
During my 3 years in high school, I learned so much that calling it enlightenment wouldn’t be strange.
And if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have even been able to work part-time at a convenience store.
He covered most of my hospital expenses…
‘Why was I forgetting? What is he doing now…’
I jumped up and grabbed my mobile phone.
He must have watched the Olympics match, right?
That number was saved in my mobile phone, and I hesitated for a moment.
Out of guilt.
But what’s life about?
You just face it head-on.
I pressed the call button, and not long after, I heard the sound of someone answering the phone.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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