Chapter 24
***
The day before the match, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
'But since I was suspended as a manager, couldn't I still play as a player?'
A suspension as a manager and a suspension as a player were different, weren't they?
'I haven't been here long enough to know the rules very well.'
But I didn't know the German Football Association's rules in detail. And, to begin with, the odds of something like this happening were slim.
'To get around this, I'd have to be both manager and player.'
Because there had to be several prerequisites in order to carry out that mission.
In any case, I immediately ran to ask Dirk Zingler, the chairman who would likely know the detailed rules, and Thomas Tuchel.
"...That makes sense."
"Hmm. What exactly are the detailed rules?"
"Well. I think cases like this have been almost nonexistent, so I'll have to ask the association."
At the thought that I might have broken a first-of-its-kind record, pride swelled in my chest.
We immediately asked the DFB about it.
[The disciplinary notice specifies 'Stadium access prohibited.']
And a little later, a reply arrived from the Berlin regional football association.
After checking the contents of the document, Thomas Tuchel and Chairman Dirk Zingler turned their gazes toward me.
I quietly looked away.
'I threw it away without even reading the disciplinary document....'
In my previous life, when I was managing a pro team in South Korea.
I had received so many disciplinary penalties that I had gotten into the habit of throwing away the identical notices without reading them.
***
[Union Berlin Continues Its Donation Campaign.]
Even while I was suspended by the football association and unable to coach, Union Berlin's donation campaign continued with every match.
[Union Berlin Fined for Flares.]
As a result, Union Berlin fans were free to light flares, and the club could pay the fine and freely use the remaining donations.
'Thinking about the people who donate extra because they're drawn in by the touching story, it's actually a pretty sweet deal.'
It was a win-win for both the fans and the club.
Anyway, after being suspended, I thought I might finally get a little free time since I wasn't out there playing anymore, but...
'...When do I ever get to rest?'
The workaholic Thomas Tuchel wouldn't leave me alone, and new tasks began pouring in.
While I was being run ragged, time flew by.
At Union Berlin's home ground, the final match of the first half of the season was played.
"Chan-hyeok, eat some fruit."
"Yes!"
Banned from entering the stadium, I got to rest at home for the first time in ages.
'Getting punished might not be so bad after all....'
***
At that time, Park Chan-hyeok was taking a break.
Union Berlin's home fans filled the stadium.
Perhaps because Union Berlin was still unbeaten in the league, the fans sang their chants with flushed faces.
"Union! Union! Union!"
Amid the fans' passionate cheers, Union Berlin won a satisfying victory in the final match of the first half of the season.
***
[Union Berlin Holds Christmas Carol Event at Its Home Stadium.]
Once the final match of the first half ended, December 23 arrived, with Christmas just ahead.
Even though no match was being played that day, fans holding red hats and candles gathered one by one at the stadium.
It began in 2003, when Union Berlin had sunk to the bottom of the league, and fans started singing carols to help the club endure and overcome those hard times.
Before long, the stadium was filled with fans.
The club's staff and players also took their seats in the stadium wearing red hats, just like the fans.
"What do you think? Isn't it beautiful?"
Chairman Dirk Zingler wanted to keep the Christmas event going year after year. He believed a club that had survived thanks to the fans' love had a duty to give back.
"We're a workers' club. We've been a poor club since East German days, but we've endured hard times thanks to the fans' love. And I believe we can overcome this crisis with that same love."
I nodded at Chairman Dirk's words, which rang clearly amid the resounding Christmas carols. In my previous life, Union Berlin had not only been promoted to the Bundesliga but had even made it into the Champions League.
***
Once the Christmas event ended, the winter break officially began.
Meanwhile, the players went off on their short but precious vacation.
The work of the manager, coaches, and board members was only now truly beginning.
"There aren't any players leaving in the winter transfer window, right?"
"Well. We'll have to see about that."
Since most of Union Berlin's players were currently on amateur contracts, there was the advantage of cutting costs, but...
There was also the downside that the release clauses were small or nonexistent, meaning they could leave the club at any time.
"Thomas Tuchel, guarantee my playing time! If you won't guarantee my playing time, I'll demand contract termination!"
"Chan-hyeok, think about your role."
Some Union Berlin players were unhappy with their playing time and were seriously considering leaving the team.
But above all else, Union Berlin's priority was renewing Yannick Voigt's contract, now that he had become the team's ace.
Before the season started, Yannick Voigt was expected to play mainly as a rotation player, but...
He developed rapidly and before long became a key player on the team.
And recently, as several clubs showed interest in Yannick Voigt, Union Berlin began to worry.
***
Yannick Voigt.
Until just before the start of the 05/06 season, he had been an ordinary worker, but lately he was enjoying the prime of his life.
[Yannick Voigt Scores in Eight Straight Games...]
Recently, he had begun drawing attention from the local press and making a name for himself in the lower leagues.
'This team is one of the top teams in the third division.'
So it was only natural that offers would pour in.
'Whoa! This is a second-division club?'
Among them were several clubs attractive enough to tempt Yannick Voigt.
But even so, the reason he couldn't easily bring himself to transfer was...
'Would I still be able to do well if I left here?'
It was because he feared the challenge and lacked confidence in himself.
So he approached teammates who could objectively assess his current ability and asked for advice.
Marx, who had once played in the second division, and Daniel Teixeira, the oldest player on the team, were selected as advisors.
"As for the advantages of transferring, you'd get to compete in a higher division than you do now."
"And of course, the facilities would be much better than they are here. Your weekly wage would also go up enough for you to focus solely on football."
"The downside would be having to compete with the existing players from the start? But competition is natural for a footballer. I don't think that's a major downside."
The two of them told Yannick Voigt the pros and cons of transferring without holding anything back.
"Then what are the advantages of renewing the contract?"
"Hmm? The fans...? German fans are passionate, but it's hard to find fans this devoted and passionate."
"Oh. And the training is well organized too. Apart from the poor facilities, the training here is quite systematic."
"What are the downsides?"
"Everything else."
After the consultation, Yannick Voigt began to think seriously.
'Where else could I go and receive training like this at my current level?'
And as for the training, well...
He liked Union Berlin's devoted and passionate fans.
'Yannick! Someday you'll be able to make your mark in the Bundesliga!'
On top of that, he also had a sense of loyalty to Park Chan-hyeok, who had discovered him.
Park's words could sometimes be a burden, but there was no denying that they had been excellent motivation for him to reach his current level.
'Still, the manager is scary. He's such a psycho.'
Yannick Voigt made up his mind about his future.
Yannick Voigt entered the place where the contract-renewal negotiations were being held, together with his agent.
Then he took a deep breath and opened the door.
In the contract-renewal negotiation room, Chief Coach Park Chan-hyeok came into view.
"Chan-hyeok!"
A natural smile spread across Yannick Voigt's lips.
***
There was no special reason I was the one who came to Yannick Voigt's contract-renewal talks in place of Thomas Tuchel and Chairman Dirk Zingler.
"Who was the one who first discovered Yannick?"
"Me, right?"
"Who trained with Yannick late into the night every day to improve his skills?"
"Me."
"Who spent the most time with Yannick?"
"That was me too, right?"
"Then who should go to the contract-renewal negotiations?"
"...Me."
"Then go right now and get the renewal papers signed."
Simply because I was the closest to Yannick.
'The contract isn't a joke—do you think he'd sign just because we're close?'
But contrary to my expectations, Yannick Voigt signed the renewal papers more easily than I thought he would.
"If it's Chan-hyeok, I can trust it."
"Calm down, Yannick! Still, you should read the contract carefully."
It got so bad that both his agent and I had to stop Yannick from signing.
***
[Yannick Voigt Renews with Union Berlin.]
As good news reached Union Berlin fans, the break came to an end.
Then the second half of the league got underway.
Union Berlin continued its unbeaten run.
Of course, there were several moments along the way when defeat seemed possible.
That was because the players, worried about the record, had grown heavy-footed under the pressure.
[Park Chan-hyeok Scores the Dramatic Equalizer! Union Berlin Maintains Its Unbeaten Record!]
Still, the team somehow managed to keep its unbeaten streak alive.
And before long, it was the 23rd round of the league.
The match that would clinch Union Berlin's league title early was approaching.