Chapter 34
***
As soon as all of our schedules in Korea were over, we headed straight to Germany. Union Berlin's opening match was right around the corner.
Well. According to the original plan, I was supposed to recover from all my injuries before coming in to work.
'It's definitely not because I'm a workaholic.'
I returned to Germany the next day and immediately reported to Union Berlin because I was worried about Thomas Tuchel and the squad.
“Chanhyuk, health comes before work, not the other way around. You're an adult now, so you need to take care of your own body.”
My parents lectured me for not taking my health seriously, but they didn't actively try to stop me.
“They say other people's kids go off the rails and give their parents trouble, so why do our kids seem to grow up on their own?”
“Exactly. Still, sometimes I do envy other people's kids.”
Perhaps because, unlike in my previous life, I had earned my parents' trust, they left what I was doing entirely in my hands.
“Well... it's not like we're short on money at home. Even if our kid fails, we won't let him starve. Let him do what he wants.”
Just as I was about to leave for work, I quietly nodded at my father's words that followed.
'Come to think of it, they say a full granary makes for a generous heart for a reason.'
Even now, the capital that was growing in real time seemed to be giving our family some breathing room.
Anyway.
First, Thomas Tuchel, who had already come back to Germany, was refining his tactics by applying them to the players.
At the same time, Jörg Heinrich, who had been appointed director when Union Berlin were promoted to the third division, began filling the club's vacant positions one by one.
'By the way, the director's face has looked oddly familiar ever since I came back from Korea?'
I stared at Director Jörg Heinrich's face and recalled an old memory.
'Ah. He's the guy who was on that football YouTube channel.'
Jörg Heinrich was a familiar face to any Korean.
'Wow. So this guy was Union Berlin's director.'
Because he had appeared as a coach on a famous football YouTube channel.
'Why didn't they introduce him as Union Berlin's director? Was Union Berlin not famous yet back then?'
Well. Anyway.
Director Jörg Heinrich was the first to revive the youth academy, which had been temporarily shut down because of costs.
It was because of the requirements for obtaining a third-division license.
There were three major conditions for obtaining a third-division license.
First, Regionalliga clubs had to be financially sound; second, their stadiums had to comply with safety regulations; and third, they had to prove that they were managing local youth players.
'Come to think of it, the stadium safety regulations are hanging by a thread too.'
Until two years ago, Union Berlin's stadium had no major problems with the safety regulations.
Recently, in line with several reforms being pushed by the German Football Association, the stadium safety regulations had been getting stricter and stricter.
'If we get promoted to the second division, we'll have to rebuild the stadium. Does the club have that much money...?'
Union Berlin's finances were gradually improving, but they weren't stable enough to spend that kind of money on a rebuild.
'At this rate, won't our promotion get rescinded even if we go up?'
As Union Berlin's assistant coach, it was only natural for me to worry about the club's future.
And unlike an ordinary assistant coach, I also had the ability to solve the club's problems.
The solution to Union Berlin's problems was extremely simple.
It would be solved if our family bought Union Berlin.
Well. The 50+1 rule was a hurdle, though.
Like Red Bull, which bought SSV Markranstädt in 2009 and renamed it RB Leipzig, there were plenty of ways to get around the rule.
However, the real problem wasn't the 50+1 rule but the backlash from Union Berlin's fans.
'More precisely, was it the backlash from Bundesliga fans?'
In fact, when SAP founder and CEO Dietmar Hopp acquired TSG 1899 Hoffenheim under a clause that had been revised in 2015 to help the Bundesliga's development,
Hoffenheim was elevated to public enemy number one by almost every Bundesliga club with a hardcore supporter base.
The hostility Bundesliga fans felt toward Hoffenheim even temporarily surpassed that directed at Bayern Munich, which was notorious for poaching players from other Bundesliga clubs.
If that happened even though Dietmar Hopp had legally acquired Hoffenheim, the criticism Leipzig received goes without saying.
'German fans are way too intense.'
Thinking of the banners condemning our family, the various racist slogans, and the red flares that went off at every match, I gave up on buying Union Berlin.
'Whatever. I'll think about the future later.'
Just like last time, when the club's finances worsened and the fans voluntarily pooled donations, the supporters might step up again this time too.
In actual history, didn't the fans step up and build the stadium themselves?
I decided not to worry about the future.
'It's not like I'll be at Union Berlin forever.'
Looking at both the future and the past, it was quite rare for a manager to stay at one club for life.
Only Sir Alex Ferguson had kept his managerial post for decades at a big club like Manchester United, after all.
A manager is a job that comes with responsibility for results.
If the results don't come, you have no choice but to leave the club, even if you don't want to.
'That would be the same even if I bought the club.'
In fact, with 'my money' on the line, I had to be even more cold-blooded. If we got relegated, my assets would shrink.
I don't know how long I'll be a manager.
I didn't have the childish idea that I would stay at one place as manager for my whole life.
'Besides, I even have a goal I have to achieve.'
As I absentmindedly checked the players' condition at Union Berlin's training ground,
“Chanhyuk, if you have time, could you go take a look at the youth team for me?”
I accepted the club executives' request to take a look at the youth players and headed to where they were training.
It was also important not to needlessly get on the board's bad side.
European football was smaller than you'd think, and most of it was made up of connections.
These little evaluations could become valuable assets for me later on, when I became a manager.
'They're only people in the third division right now, but you never know where or when you'll meet them again.'
And I was curious about the potential of Union Berlin's youth players, too.
A moment later.
I couldn't hide my disappointment when I saw the youth players training.
For one thing, most of the talented prospects had already left for other regional clubs when Union Berlin's youth facilities were shut down because of the club's worsening finances.
Union Berlin had to recruit new youths from the local area.
Needless to say, there were hardly any prospects with standout talent among the newly recruited players.
'Well... it's not like there are none at all.'
Even if someone had excellent potential, that didn't mean they would definitely debut as a professional.
Using Korea as an example, the chance of a prospect making a pro debut was 0.7 percent.
Well. Germany probably wasn't much different.
'No, come to think of it, the odds of making a pro debut might be even lower?'
There would be that many more young players aiming to become footballers.
Anyway.
When it came to evaluating a player, potential wasn't the only important thing. Mental stats like professionalism and fighting spirit were also very important.
To succeed as a pro, patience and self-restraint were essential.
Wanting to become a pro while eating whatever you wanted and playing whenever everyone else was out having fun was too greedy.
[Name: Manuel Schmidt.]
Current ability: ★
Potential: ★★★★★
Recommended position: Goalkeeper.
One-line assessment: Excellent mentality. Recommended as captain.
At the very least, the good news was that I had found one.
'With a name like Manuel, he looks like the type to leave the goal wide open and run off.'
***
[Union Berlin, 3 days until the league opener.]
[Union Berlin's opening-match opponent is... 'Hertha Berlin II.']
[Predicted rankings selected by experts... Union Berlin is a strong title favorite.]
[Thomas Tuchel on this season's goal... “Union Berlin's promotion to the second division.”]
[Union Berlin challenges for back-to-back promotions.]
[SBK, continuing its relationship with Union Berlin? Broadcast of Union Berlin's opening match confirmed.]
└ They're even broadcasting the third division now, lmao.
└ So you're not gonna watch?
└ No, I'm saying thanks for broadcasting the third division, haha.
└ Union Berlin's story is so romantic. I love it.
└ I became a fan because watching Park Chanhyuk act like a lunatic is hilarious.
└ Special One: I became a fan because Park Chanhyuk is handsome.
└ Chanhyuk, is your knee okay?
└ Special One: What are you talking about? I'm not Park Chanhyuk.
└ I'm Park Chanhyuk's younger sister, and this is Park Chanhyuk.
└ Special One: ...You're really Park Jung-ah?
***
The club gave me one last vacation before the league opener.
Since I knew I'd be busy to the point that I wouldn't even be able to catch my breath for a while once the league started, I accepted the club's kindness.
“Son, is there anything you want to eat?”
“No.”
“Don't say that—just tell me anything, and Mom will make it.”
“...How about we just eat out?”
Since my mother wasn't good at cooking, I gave an awkward smile and suggested eating out.
“Yeah, Chanhyuk's going to get busy again after today, so let's go out and eat something delicious.”
“The place we ate at last time was good! Let's go there!”
My father and younger sister also enthusiastically agreed with my suggestion.
And so, the last vacation with my family came to an end, and time passed quickly.
August 6, 2006.
The opening match against Hertha Berlin II drew near.