Chapter 11
Most viewers watching the match between Jeonbuk and Ulsan believed that Ulsan would be the winner of this derby.
If analyzed purely based on data, it was a match between the previous season’s first and fourth place teams.
However, when considering the deeper context, Ulsan was the team that dominated the league last season and won the championship, while Jeonbuk struggled, wavering between resurgence and collapse.
So, when the unexpected happened, with Jeonbuk pressing Ulsan hard, the match was filled with excitement.
[Ulsan is struggling against Jeonbuk’s strong pressing. It seems that Coach Seon Ki-baek has instructed the Jeonbuk squad to maintain a high pressing line.]
[Yes, the intensity of the press is high, and the last defensive line is positioned very close to the centre circle. Additionally, one unique point is that even if the ball is stolen in the opponent’s half, instead of falling back to defend against the counter, they charge back in.]
[It appears that Coach Seon Ki-baek’s tactic against Ulsan is to force inaccurate passes by maintaining intense pressure. This also indicates trust in the back line, doesn’t it?]
[That’s correct. Just looking at the physique of Jeonbuk’s defenders makes it evident. Especially Baek Ian, who plays the holding role, stands out with his 191 cm height and top speed of 38 km/h, seemingly tasked with covering a wide defensive area.]
[Yes, and at this moment! Ulsan’s Jo Seung-ho has successfully taken the ball from Park Yeon-woo. He passes quickly to Oh Seo-woo! Ah… but Baek Ian was just a bit faster! Baek Ian intercepts the ball, getting there a step ahead of Oh Seo-woo!]
[Due to his large frame, speed, and strength, Oh Seo-woo is helpless when Baek Ian sets up a screen play.]
– Wow, what’s up with Baek Ian? He was in the centre just a moment ago; when did he get there?
└ The commentator said it. Baek Ian is insanely fast. You really feel it when you watch live. It’s terrifying to see him sprinting like a giant, even if he’s on the team you support.
└ There’s a reason why Maebuk fans praise Baek Ian as the real deal over Yoon Seung-hwan.
└ Oh Seo-woo’s face is turning red from pushing, but Baek Ian doesn’t budge. Ian, if you have any sense, pretend to get pushed a little…
└ Baek Ian looks like he’s about to nap, lol.
– The Ulsan front office is really something. I saw this coming when they signed Oh Seo-woo. Can’t we get a physically strong winger? Watching him get shoved around is embarrassing.
└ [Uniform purchase posts are gold here, right? I just bought a Seo-woo jersey!] Who’s this guy? Just a post ago, he was excited about Oh Seo-woo joining Ulsan and buying his jersey, now he’s criticizing him. Split personality?
[Baek Ian wins the aerial duel and advances quickly! He passes to Kim Chun-jae! Kim Chun-jae pairs with Shaferi and pushes further inside! There are many options! Kim Chun-jae, Kim Chun-jae-ee!]
[Oh no, Kim Chun-jae! How did that not go in? A narrowly missed shot from Kim Chun-jae… Wait? It’s in! What just happened!]
[It’s Yoon Seung-hwan! Yoon Seung-hwan-aaaan! Yoon Seung-hwan, who scored a hat-trick against Suwon in the previous match, shows his tenacity and scores again!]
[Wow… Yoon Seung-hwan is incredible. Kim Chun-jae’s powerful curled shot hit the goalpost, and Yoon Seung-hwan, who was already in position, headed it in! That’s true individual skill!]
[Yoon Seung-hwan lies on the field clutching his face… He gets up suddenly, looking at his teammates and shouting something. Perhaps he’s telling them to trust him?]
[It’s proof that he’s already become a core part of Jeonbuk’s attack, even at a young age. Isn’t that the spirit of a rookie?]
– Is he telling them to trust him, or is he venting about why this keeps happening to him?
– Hahaha, Yoon Seung-hwan is on the ground again after scoring.
– Why is the commentator acting like this? Are they watching a different game? Anyone can see that Yoon Seung-hwan was backing off, scared he’d get hit by the ball again like last time, but they’re talking about determination.
– How does this happen in two consecutive games? If Baek Ian had assisted, it would seem intentional, but this time it was Kim Chun-jae. Kim Chun-jae doesn’t have the skill to intentionally target Yoon Seung-hwan’s head like Ian does…
└ Hey, friend… What season is it now?
└ What are you talking about? It’s March, isn’t it?
└ When spring comes, Kim Chun-jae is the Spring Emperor. Remember that from now on.
└ What are you even saying? I really don’t get it.
***
After Yoon Seung-hwan’s unexpected opening goal, Ulsan abandoned their composed game plan and began to play aggressively.
Perhaps it was because they were trained under a coach who always emphasized the notion of crushing those who challenge their throne.
It seemed they had resolved to draw their swords and rush in, determined to trample on us, who dared to push forward without fear.
“Ulsan usually uses the highest-quality squad in the K League to suffocate their opponents like a wringer, but I didn’t expect them to come out so aggressively.”
It was quite a bold decision.
After all, it meant acknowledging and correcting their own arrogance. Admitting mistakes isn’t easy, so it must have been the result of much deliberation.
Of course, just because a difficult decision is made doesn’t always lead to a positive outcome.
“Phew, it’s hot today, isn’t it? But you’re all running hard. Is the ball in the way as you run? Let me clear it for you.”
“W-what? When did you get here!”
The opponent charging aggressively? Some players might get scared… but not me.
The reason I was able to become a world-class defensive midfielder during my career was due to my defensive stability, such as man-to-man marking and intercepting passes, as well as my top 1% passing accuracy in the league.
The strengths Ulsan recognized, like my press-resistance and accurate mid-range shots, were only auxiliary advantages, not my main assets.
If they didn’t realize that, well, too bad.
“Oh no… that’s not how you break a press. Want me to show you? Give me the ball first.”
“Ugh, this bastard!”
Ulsan players rushing towards our half fell like leaves in the wind.
If they could leverage their numerical advantage, it might work, but if they kept trying for one-on-one breakthroughs, the result would be obvious.
As the attacking squad kept getting blocked by me, Ulsan’s players, realizing that breaking through the centre or the sides was futile, tried passing long balls to the opposite side of where I was positioned to create space, but…
“Damn it! If I can just sprint now.”
“Did you know? The most successful tackles come from places the striker can’t see.”
“Oh, damn! This bastard!”
Even if they tried to break through at a half-hearted pace, all I had to do was catch up and circle around to the side they couldn’t see.
Trying to break through with a set attack would be impossible with a wall like me standing in the way, and aiming for aerial plays would mean the giant would rush in and snatch the ball.
Unable to go forward or backward, Ulsan must have been losing their minds.
Still, they say that if you strike the tree ten times, it will eventually fall. Ulsan kept hammering at the goal, and they did manage to get through once.
[Mad Green Boys, everyone! Let’s give our green warriors a powerful cheer so they can claim victory!]
“Ha… Sorry. I could have stopped that.”
“It’s fine. As long as we win, it’s not like keeping a clean sheet brings any special reward.”
“Still, I should have stopped that mid-range shot from far out…”
Whether it was their last resort or their stress finally breaking, Ulsan’s mid-range shot, kicked in frustration, was counted as a goal due to a clearing mistake by the keeper.
Tae-young hyung hung his head low, unable to forgive himself for the amateur mistake.
But moping wouldn’t change anything, so forgetting it and focusing on winning was a much better idea.
It wasn’t just me who thought that.
“Hmm? Chun-jae hyung is out, and Seung-yong hyung is coming in?”
“Ian, the coach adjusted the tactics. The pressing remains, but I’m going into holding, and you’re now playing box-to-box.”
‘It’s like during the Suwon match—trying to get one more goal at any cost. So, it means I’m free to join the attack, right?’
The coach must have been playing a gambit, as he made some adjustments to the system.
There was no problem since I could handle both roles.
Just as I repositioned myself to go for victory, it happened.
[Ulsan MR will make a substitution. Number 18, Cho Seung-ho, is replaced by number 4, Hwang Yohan.]
“…Wait, Hwang… who? Hwang Yohan?”
A chuckle escaped me at the announcement that echoed through the stadium speakers.
Hwang Yohan. I never expected to hear that name here.
And with good reason. He wasn’t just a fictional character but someone who existed in the real world.
He was someone I personally knew well.
‘Wasn’t he the guy who tried to break my leg when I was playing for Jeonbuk? He deliberately slide-tackled me from behind and got sent off, saying in an interview that it was just part of the game and he had no intention of apologizing?’
Luckily, I wasn’t seriously injured at the time, but I still vividly remembered cursing at the screen, wondering how such an unprofessional player could exist.
I wasn’t exactly a saint known for fair play myself, but at least I never recklessly endangered another player’s career.
‘I thought I’d get my payback if we met again, but he retired the next season, and I moved to Juventus, so I never got the chance.’
They say a gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years.
A madman never forgets a grudge, even when transported into a novel.
Now that we were meeting again, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to pay him back properly.
‘Of course, breaking his leg would ruin my reputation… Maybe I should just leave him with a humiliating memory.’
Grinning, I glanced at Hwang Yohan as he stepped onto the field and spoke to the players.
It seemed like it was time for me to become Kang Yoon-ho, Newcastle’s bruiser, heir to Guimarães, and a prodigy from Professor Charlie Adam’s Football School of Hard Knocks.
***
Objectively, Ulsan’s situation wasn’t great.
They had barely scored an equalizer, but only because a long-range wonder goal had gone in by sheer luck due to a keeper’s mistake. The momentum was still with Jeonbuk.
If they wanted to win, they needed another goal. But their only viable path to scoring was through another fluke long shot.
How likely was it to happen again? No professional keeper would make the same mistake twice.
That’s why Ulsan’s coach, Ando Jin, had no choice but to make a cold decision.
“We need to lock it down.”
With Baek Ian as an unexpected obstacle, Ulsan was struggling in the midfield battle. And since this was their first encounter with Seon Ki-baek’s high pressing, the team was having a tough time.
They couldn’t respond immediately to such an unforeseen tactic with the little time they had.
It was unlikely they would win this match.
Having assessed the situation, Coach Ando Jin decided it would be better to secure at least one point.
“Yohan, do whatever it takes to shut them down. That’s your job, understood?”
“Yes, Coach.”
He concluded that sending in an experienced veteran to guard the goal was the best move.
Despite his age, Hwang Yohan still had stamina to spare. More importantly, his presence as a veteran would give the rattled players facing Jeonbuk’s onslaught some much-needed stability.
Though he was set to retire after this season, the coach still believed in Hwang Yohan.
And Hwang Yohan was determined to meet those expectations.
He was still thirsty for the game.
Even after more than five years as a starter, he hadn’t complained when he was reduced to a backup, and this was why.
He was grateful just to play, knowing he had been overtaken by younger talent.
Compared to those who warmed the bench until their retirement ceremonies prepared by the club, his situation was much better.
Still… why did he feel this way?
“I wanted to score at least one cool goal before retiring, but I guess that’s just wishful thinking.”
Feeling a sudden pang of emotion, Hwang Yohan bowed his head and let out a deep sigh.
Even just once would be enough. He wanted to repay the fans for their support before he retired.
The ideal would be scoring a spectacular goal at his home stadium, Munsu Stadium, and bowing to the crowd. But as a defender, those chances were rare.
Perhaps the reason he worked so hard, even at his age, was for moments like this.
Maybe, if he took just one more step forward, that chance would come.
‘You never know. There might be a moment in this crucial match where I get my chance to score the winning goal.’
At that moment, while reminiscing about his long football career, Hwang Yohan’s ears picked up a subtle voice.
“Do you really want to score that badly?”
‘What?’
The voice sounded like something from the beginning of a time-travel novel he read before bed last night. Almost shouting, “Status window!” out of instinct, Hwang Yohan managed to calm his startled heart and slowly turned his head toward the source of the voice.
“Phew. Hey, no matter what, it’s a bit much to chat with an opponent during a match, isn’t it?”
“Oh, come on. It was just a joke. Why do you look so serious? It’s terrifying.”
Hwang Yohan gritted his teeth at Baek Ian, who was grinning mischievously.
What kind of player is this guy, who’s even chatting with an opponent all the way up where the holding midfielder is?
More importantly, does this guy feel relaxed enough to banter with me, his opponent?
“Let’s focus on the match. I know you’re excited since you’re a rookie, but is messing around like this okay? I might sound like an old-timer, but joking during a match isn’t something I see in a good light.”
“I didn’t say anything serious. You just looked so wistful, muttering to yourself. Anyway, don’t you want to score a goal before you retire?”
“A goal, huh. Yeah, I’d like to. My role model was a player like Sergio Ramos.”
It had been a life full of hardships.
In high school, he had been singled out by the coach and barely got into university. After graduation, he moved around the K4 League before finally getting lucky enough to play for Ulsan, the best team.
For someone who lived to become a football player, it was a life he could be proud of.
But humans are greedy creatures. The memory of Ramos’s header goal from his youth never faded from his mind.
If he could do that just once, he could leave the field with no regrets.
‘Don’t get impatient. It’s only the first round of the league… there’s still plenty of time this season to try.’
There’s no such thing as impossible. Living by that motto, Hwang Yohan had no intention of giving up easily.
Clap!
Shaking off the intrusive thoughts, Hwang Yohan picked up speed again.
He needed to focus since the game was still on.
When he checked the scoreboard, there were about seven minutes left. If you added injury time, there were about 13 to 15 minutes remaining. But if they conceded a goal during this attack, recovering would be difficult.
‘So, I must block them at all costs.’
He had to carry out the orders of the coach who trusted him enough to give him this chance.
As the oldest veteran on the team, he needed to show a respectable example to his younger teammates.
With that resolve, Hwang Yohan applied all the experience he’d gained throughout his professional career to defend.
When he saw Baek Ian charging into the half-space, he rushed forward.
‘The ball is too far from his feet! This is my chance!’
Believing he could intercept it, Hwang Yohan quickly extended his leg and charged.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, the ball that Baek Ian had been controlling disappeared.
‘…What? What just happened?’
No, it hadn’t disappeared. The moment Hwang Yohan lunged, Baek Ian had kicked the ball forward, and it had bounced off Hwang Yohan’s own head!
Time seemed to slow down. Everything except for the frantic pace of his thoughts felt frozen.
‘Did… did I stop it?’
As he felt momentarily relieved in the slow-motion world, Hwang Yohan’s eyes instinctively turned to Baek Ian’s expression.
‘W-What! He’s smiling?’
Baek Ian’s lips were curled upward, almost touching the sky.
Why was he smiling? Even after a critical opportunity was blocked, he looked so relaxed.
‘Wait, that guy’s mouth…!’
Hwang Yohan’s head spun from the confusion, but as Baek Ian’s mouth moved, his eyes followed the words being formed.
“Con-grat-u-la-tions. You. Scored. A. Goal?”
Scored a goal? What on earth did that mean? The nearest goal was Ulsan’s.
Hwang Yohan’s eyes trembled at the words he couldn’t comprehend. At the same time, the world resumed its normal pace.
Thud!
“Ugh! What? What’s going on… gasp!”
Swoosh!
[Goal! Let’s give a big round of applause to our proud green warriors, Mad Green Boys!]
When he turned his head, Hwang Yohan could see the disaster he had caused.
“Ah….”
“Ha… it’s over.”
Teammates holding their heads, groaning.
“Senior, it’s okay. Really, I’m fine, so don’t feel too bad…. Alright?”
The goalkeeper, patting his shoulder and trying to console him.
And finally, the scoreboard showing the replay of the moment.
“Ah… damn it.”
Baek Ian’s kick had deflected off Hwang Yohan’s head and curled into Ulsan’s goal with a perfect trajectory.
The ball, spun with top-spin, was too well-placed for the keeper to stop. He dove, but by the time he did, the ball was already in the net.
“Did he mean that goal… was what he was talking about?”
In disbelief, Hwang Yohan turned his gaze to Baek Ian.
Sitting on the advertising board, laughing and chatting with his twin teammate, Baek Ian’s words echoed in Hwang Yohan’s mind.
“Hey, Ian. Shouldn’t we comfort that senior? He looks really sad.”
“Well, would you be happy if you scored an own goal? Still, I made sure he had a memorable farewell. Look at that—if it weren’t an own goal, it would have been a Puskás contender. He could probably live off that once he retires. Former Ulsan player Hwang Yohan, header specialist soccer coach. Isn’t that awesome?”
“Now that you mention it, it is kind of cool. Who would have thought I’d see such a goal with my own eyes? It’s something you couldn’t do even if you tried.”
“Right? Right? By the way, Ian, can you set me up for a goal like that, too? Seung-hwan’s done it plenty of times, so let me try just once.”
Those guys were laughing and watching his own goal as if it were a movie.
It infuriated him that these rookie players had mocked him so shamelessly… but.
Hwang Yohan couldn’t do anything.
‘D-Damn it… even I have to admit it was beautiful….’
He had seen backs arch like bows before, but never a header that spun the ball into the top corner like that.
Even in his long football career, which was now coming to an end, it was a first.
—
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