Chapter 3

You've come to the right place

"By the way, was I in the newspaper?"

I took off my hat.

This was the first time in my life that I was featured on the front page of a sports newspaper.

At that time, the surprise selection of me and Lee Dong-gyun was groundbreaking.

"Look at this. It's on the front page! How great is it for a high school student to be selected for the World Cup team!? It's like being selected for Pele or Maradona."

"Doctor, you know a lot about soccer."

"I'm a total soccer fan!"

Kim Seung-jin was so excited that he switched between formal and informal speech.

"K-League?"

"No, that's not it. I watch European football. Especially the EPL! Arsene Wenker's Arsenal is really~ wow~~ totally awesome. It's a work of art."

"Does the doctor use words like that too?"

"I got so excited talking about soccer with the World Cup team that I couldn't help but stop. As a soccer fan, it's truly an honor. I get to personally treat a player who will become the pillar of Korean soccer in the future! Hahaha."

Kim Seung-jin looked really happy.

Later, such generosity gave a lot of strength to players who were injured and intimidated.

I took my time and got to the main point.

The real reason I came here.

"Teacher, may I ask you a favor?"

"Just say whatever."

"There is a place I need you to call."

"where?"

Kim Seung-jin was embarrassed when he heard the place I requested.

But he quickly returned to his cool, professional expression.

"Oh, there? Hmm… That's right. You must have come to me to get tested because you were sick. I got too excited without thinking. I'm sorry."

"no."

"That's a really cool-headed judgment. It wouldn't have been easy to make that decision in this situation…"

"I also spent a lot of time worrying all night. That's why I searched for the best specialist doctor in the country and came to you."

"What are you talking about! I'm still far away."

The nurse came in with the test results.

Kim Seung-jin looked at the photos and charts with sharp eyes and then began to explain to me.

"The place where Gunwoo was feeling pain is this spot. As you can see, the ligament damage is progressing from here. It won't break right away, but if left like this, it will eventually lead to a major injury."

"What should I do?"

"You should avoid strenuous exercise and do knee rehabilitation exercises for at least three months."

"Wouldn't I be able to recover faster if I have surgery?"

Kim Seung-jin shook his head and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"The moment an athlete cuts into his body, his lifespan is rapidly shortened. Surgery is only done in the worst cases. You are still young and have sufficient recovery capacity. If you diligently rehabilitate, you can recover perfectly."

"okay."

I've only heard of the surgery story once.

Because I knew that rehabilitation specialist Seungjin Kim was negative about the surgery.

"You're really welcome here, Gunwoo. Can I call you that?"

"Of course. Please call me whatever you want."

If it were before, I would have hesitated like a fool, but I answered without hesitation. And the look of respect was a bonus.

"There's something called human connection. Right now, I feel like our meeting is fate."

"Me too."

"I will take responsibility and fix you perfectly. Trust me and follow me."

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"Thank you, teacher."

Of course, this is neither a coincidence nor fate.

I came here to get treatment and make connections because I know his skills and his future.

Just because Seungjin Kim feels this is fate, doesn't mean anyone is harmed?

We are a couple that can benefit each other.

Kim Seung-jin called the Korea Football Association directly and explained his diagnosis and told them that he would not be able to play.

He said he would send photos and a medical certificate if necessary.

If I had called and said I was sick, the matter would not have ended so easily.

[Orthopedic Surgeon, Seoul Osung Hospital]

Since it was said by someone with a title, they couldn't say anything.

That's just the way the world goes around.

A few words were exchanged and the call was soon over.

"Good talk."

"Thank you, teacher."

It didn't end there.

I called the number I had known in advance.

[Director Cha Beom-jin]

Coach of the Korean national team in the 1998 World Cup.

The most loved man in South Korea right now.

"Director. My name is Kim Gun-woo."

"Ah, okay. Geonwoo. How are you?"

"Thanks to you, I am doing well."

Coach Cha Beom-jin came once during the spring competition last month, and it seems he liked me then.

I politely informed the manager that I was currently in the hospital and could not join the team due to a knee injury.

"Ah… Okay. Did you tell the association?"

"Yes. The doctor who examined me contacted me."

It's subtle, but if you handle these things well, you won't have any unnecessary enemies or troubles later.

Cha Beom-jin is also human, so if he had heard my news through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, he would have felt bad.

Cha Beom-jin left a few words of encouragement and hung up the phone.

My heart ached.

He, now called a national hero, three months later.

He became a national traitor and returned to Korea alone as a criminal without being able to play in the World Cup.

And then he becomes the bullet shield of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and is crucified, taking full responsibility for the World Cup defeat.

'If I were the director, I would have naturalized as a German citizen a long time ago.'

Even though he suffered such unjust humiliation, he did not make a single word of excuse.

Knowing the future, I wanted to tell the director a way to survive.

At that time, even if Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola came as coaches, it would not have been possible for Korean players.

"Did you just… talk to Director Cha Beom-jin…?"

"Yes. Should I have changed it for you?"

"No! What the! I was so nervous I couldn't say anything."

"Is that it?"

"Of course! He was truly the best. A hero of the Bundesliga. He is still revered as a legend in Germany. I'm saying that only Koreans don't know about it."

As expected, he is a proper person.

Afterwards, I looked around Kim Seung-jin's office and it was so full of sports newspapers and various foreign soccer magazines that I wondered if it was really a doctor's office.

"Teacher. Do you speak German by any chance?"

"Yeah. I'm not very good at speaking, but I can read and write. But I can speak English a little bit. That's because I got my PhD in the US."

"okay…"

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"why?"

"…because I want to learn a foreign language."

Kim Seung-jin was so happy to hear what I said that he almost jumped for joy and said, "I've never seen a soccer player as awake as you," and immediately called me and connected me to a foreign language academy.

"He was a friend of mine from the same soccer club in college. He's a total idiot, but he's really good. When I mention your name, he gets excited and starts making a fuss to send you right away. It's a mess."

"Really? Did you play soccer in college too, teacher?"

"Of course. Don't you know about the legendary S University soccer team? They haven't won a single official competition in four years. But everyone's passion for soccer is the best. Hahaha."

We chatted about this and that without realizing how much time had passed.

Kim Seung-jin treated me like his own little brother and even put off work to drive me to Gangnam. From the first day, I felt like we had a very deep bond.

At the heart of Judea was [football].

When I arrived at Gangnam Station and went to the address that Seungjin Kim had given me, I found a language school building.

[Barcelona Language School]

The name itself reeks of a weirdo.

As I took the elevator up, an FC Barcelona uniform with Cruyff's autograph was displayed at the entrance.

"Welcome! Kim Geon-woo!"

"hello."

"I'm Kevin Kim."

He was a stocky man with a tanned body and yellow-dyed hair. I can't believe this punk graduated from S University's English Department.

I couldn't believe it.

"I heard the news. I am honored to know you."

"no."

"But you want to learn a foreign language?"

"yes."

"Good idea! Koreans may not know this, but soccer is already a global business. If you have the skills, you can make money in any league in the world. But what's the problem? It's the language."

"okay."

"If you can overcome the language barrier, you can get more opportunities than others in your career as a player. Compared to the rest of the world, the salaries in the K-League are really bad. And with the excuse of the IMF, the clubs are being even more stingy."

You could tell Kevin Kim's skills just by mixing in a few words.

In 1998, there were hardly any people in Korea who could watch soccer with this level of vision.

"Haha. I talked too much when we first met."

"No, that was a really good point."

"So… what language do you want to learn? English? Spanish? Italian? German?"

"First… I want to learn Japanese."

"Japanese!?"

Kevin Kim's face contorted, then straightened again.

"Good idea! Mr. Gunwoo! Right now, the value of the won has completely collapsed, so it's relatively more profitable to earn yen."

"I see. I want to learn Japanese first, then English. Then Spanish…"

"Geonwoo…"

Kevin Kim chuckled and clapped his hands in approval.

"You're so greedy! I really like it! It's a great plan, just like a real professional player. I think I know what Gunwoo is thinking."

"Please help me, teacher."

Kevin Kim immediately returned the call and connected me to the Japanese language school on the lower floor of the building.

[Barcelona Language School] only offered classes in English, Spanish, and German.

He personally contacted the best teachers to arrange for Japanese lessons, and arranged for English lessons at his academy.

"The Internet is now being installed all over the world."

"yes."

"The day the whole world becomes connected to the Internet, the business of soccer will also evolve."

"okay."

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"Once leagues around the world are connected to the Internet, they will be able to make a lot of money from broadcasting rights. Later, an era will open where players can be bought and sold online."

Kevin Kim could see into the future with chilling accuracy.

"Then what will happen to the soccer field?"

"well…"

"Player Gunwoo, do you know about the Bossman verdict?"

"… no."

How could I not know that?

My career as a player almost went up in smoke because of the K-League's shitty draft system.

But at this point, wouldn't it be better to pretend not to know?

"Simply put, it is a strong regulation that protects the rights of players in European football leagues. It has been changing the football business in Europe for some time now."

"Really? How?"

"It is the cause of the rapid increase in the transfer fees of players. If the Internet becomes active, this atmosphere will become even more heated. It is like adding fuel to the fire. Because the soccer market will become global. The value of players may skyrocket 10 times, 50 times, or even 100 times."

Kevin Kim finished speaking and pointed confidently at me.

What is this guy?