Chapter 100
We began preparing in earnest for the away match against Hertha Berlin.
Well. It was a derby, but the match against Hertha Berlin wasn't particularly stressful.
That was because we only shared Berlin as our home base; there was no bad blood between us.
No, if anything, we had warm feelings for each other.
Hertha and Union even had a slogan, 'Herta und Union – eine Nation'—'Hertha and Union – one nation.'
But lately, since Union Berlin had been promoted to the top flight, the atmosphere had slowly begun to change.
That was an unavoidable problem for clubs sharing the same city.
On top of that, there simply weren't enough fans supporting Hertha Berlin.
Their numbers were about the same as Union Berlin's, a club that had just been promoted from the second division.
If Hertha Berlin's fan base had been overwhelming, they could have crushed Union Berlin by sheer force.
Unfortunately, Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin were about the same size.
Actually, Hertha Berlin didn't have that few fans.
Their average attendance was 40,000.
It was just that the Olympiastadion Berlin, their home ground, was so huge that their support looked smaller than it was.
'And Union Berlin's scale is also enormous for a team that just came up from the lower leagues.'
But it had to be remembered that Hertha Berlin was the only top-flight team based in the capital city of Berlin.
For the record, the reason Hertha Berlin failed to capture Berlin's fanbase was entirely the fault of its executives.
'They even tried to appoint Jürgen Klinsmann as manager after seeing him completely screw up at Bayern Munich.'
And beyond that, there were management problems caused by a lack of leadership, as well as financial difficulties.
'...Come to think of it, talking about financial trouble in front of Union Berlin feels a little shameful.'
But the most fatal of all, and the worst blunder the executives ever made, was this.
It happened back when Germany was still divided into West and East.
In the past, when east and west were split by the Berlin Wall, there had been a secret gathering of Hertha fans in East Berlin, and the club knew about it.
The problem was that they inserted it directly into the club's promotional copy, and as a result, East German Hertha Berlin fans ended up being dragged off by the Stasi.
That was an all-time screwup in Hertha Berlin's management history.
Well. Even so, after reunification, many fans from East Berlin did support Hertha Berlin.
But... that was before Union Berlin was promoted to the first division.
The reason the two clubs, who had once gotten along well, were drifting apart was simple.
Unlike in the past, Hertha Berlin no longer looked kindly on Union Berlin.
[Hertha Berlin executives: “Union Berlin is no longer our brother, but our enemy.”]
It was because the Berlin residents they had viewed as potential customers had been stolen away by Union Berlin.
'It's just the usual fight over a bigger slice of the pie.'
Well. It was understandable that Hertha Berlin was reacting so sensitively to it.
In fact, most of the fans from East Berlin were supporting Union Berlin.
And if Union Berlin were to win the league title this season...
their absorption of East German fans would accelerate even more.
Because no East German club had ever won the league before.
If that happened, Union Berlin could even claim the title of Berlin's top club.
[Union Berlin manager Park Chan-hyuk: “Hertha Berlin? Sorry, but our goal is the league title. Starting this season, the title of Berlin's best club will belong to us.”]
I began fanning the flames of a rivalry that was slowly starting to burn.
For the record, derbies aren't bad for clubs and fans.
A proper derby is a valuable tool for getting people way too invested.
In fact, famous derbies can even generate commercial value simply by existing as derbies.
'El Clásico is the perfect example.'
Well. As Union Berlin's derby opponent, Hertha Berlin was a little weak, but...
If Union Berlin kept performing consistently, it wouldn't be impossible for a rivalry with Bayern Munich to emerge.
'Then it would be a clash between the north and the south.'
By then, we might even end up using the title of the Star of the North.
'Or maybe the Steel of the North....'
Well. That was a story for the distant future, so Hertha Berlin was enough for now.
***
The day before the match against Hertha Berlin.
After wrapping up the players' training, I headed to Berlin Tegel Airport.
“Huh? That's Park Chan-hyuk!”
“Where? Wow, it really is him!”
It was a little uncomfortable hearing the casual way they spoke, but...
it looked like that guy was probably older than me, so it would be hard to walk up and say, 'Am I your friend or something?'
Anyway.
'There are a lot of Korean tourists.'
It really did feel like there were more Korean fans visiting Berlin lately.
I could understand why there was constant talk about direct flights between Berlin Tegel Airport and Korea.
'Tsk. This airport is really run-down.'
For the record, Tegel Airport had opened in 1948.
In Berlin, there was also Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which had been under construction since 1991 to replace the aging Tegel Airport.
If history had gone as originally intended, this airport was supposed to open in 2020.
It took 29 years... because of politics and various other problems, to put it simply.
Sure enough, people are the same wherever you go.
If the airport had been built in Köpenick, where Union Berlin is based...
as the ruler of the Köpenick district of Berlin, I would have stepped in.
Unfortunately, the airport was being built in a different area, not Köpenick.
For reference, the borough of Treptow-Köpenick had the lowest population density, but...
recently, as Park Jeong-ah's investments continued, the population had been growing rapidly.
It seemed universal that the best way to attract people was with good jobs.
“Ah, there he is!”
Anyway.
The reason I came to the airport was simple.
“Ji-won!”
“Manager!!”
Because today was the day Union Berlin's 'Black Diamond,' Jo Ji-won, would be joining the club.
***
Jo Ji-won's family headed to Berlin together as a group.
His father, who was a soldier, was still in Korea, but he would be coming to Germany soon, following the family.
Since Korea was still under an armistice, serving in the U.S. Forces Korea was advantageous for promotion, so transfers were easy.
And there was also the distinctly American emphasis on family.
Anyway.
News that a new prospect had arrived from Korea had Union Berlin's training ground, Eisen und Blut (Iron and Blood), buzzing with talk about Jo Ji-won.
That was because the Koreans Park Chan-hyuk had picked were out on loan and excelling in the second division.
“A real Korean?”
“Doesn't look like the Koreans I've seen?”
“Probably mixed-race, like Leon.”
Union Berlin's prospects approached Jo Ji-won and started talking to him.
Jo Ji-won felt overwhelmed by the attention.
Then a rescuer came to Jo Ji-won's aid.
“Do you... not speak English?”
“No, I can speak it.”
It was Leon Han, who could now speak Korean fluently.
When Leon Han heard that Jo Ji-won was Park Chan-hyuk's pick, he felt a sense of kinship.
He approached first and started talking to him.
“Yeah? I'm Leon. Nice to meet you.”
After that day.
Although they looked different on the outside, the two boys had similar circumstances and quickly became friends through their shared connection to Park Chan-hyuk.
***
The two future stars of Union Berlin, Leon Han and Jo Ji-won, seemed to be getting along well.
I was looking forward to seeing the Union Berlin those two would play for.
'The important thing is to develop them without injuries.'
Union Berlin hadn't tightened its belt and poured a fortune into medical tests for nothing.
It would have been heartbreaking to see the prospects they'd worked so hard to secure disappear to injury.
'Grow up healthy and strong, kids.'
Anyway, the German national team was actively showing interest in Leon Han.
Naturally, the Korean national team lagged behind Germany in terms of prestige.
'If you had any sense, you'd choose Germany—who would choose the Korean national team?'
Personally, I didn't mind Leon choosing Germany either.
That way, he'd be a little less worn down during international duty.
I heard Leon was currently torn over which national team to play for.
He had been influenced by the Korean players, but he also strongly wanted to play for the country where he grew up and his mother's homeland.
'...We'll have to go to Korea together later.'
Probably, after a 12-hour flight, his thoughts would change quite a bit.
***
[Hertha Berlin shows confidence ahead of the derby. "We're on a different level from a club that only just got promoted to the first division. We are a traditional powerhouse."]
[Union Berlin manager Park Chan-hyuk responds to Hertha Berlin's provocation. "There is no storied club in this world without a league title. Hertha Berlin will be blocked by the Berlin Wall."]
[Park Chan-hyuk on the controversial remarks. "I also came from a divided country. I didn't mean it that way, but I apologize to the Germans who were hurt."]