Dad was a Genius - Chapter 10
Only Noblemtl
My Dad Was a Genius Episode 10
It’s already been two months since the new manager took office.
At first, the Cheonan team was just a mess.
But now a lot has changed.
More than anything, I could feel that the team atmosphere had changed.
Through ongoing interviews, the players realized what their roles were and tried to blend into their positions.
At first, the players were shaken by the doubts about whether the coach could lead the team well, but now they trust the coach more than anyone else.
“How do you feel about the change in position? Are you feeling good?”
The biggest change in the team was the positions.
Once a player’s position is determined, it is unlikely to change.
Because I have been training only in that position since I was young.
However, coach Cha Seong-eun changed the positions of several players.
“When I actually tried it, I understood why the coach recommended this position. Should I say that it felt like I was playing much more comfortably than before?”
“That’s right. Isn’t it really amazing? Me too.”
He made changes after convincing each player which position suited them and why they should play that position, and even players who were reluctant at first were now training without complaint.
“How about Daeho hyung?”
“Me too… … Of course I like it. Soccer is so much fun these days.”
The most shocking position change among them was definitely Kang Dae-ho.
As the defensive midfielder changed to an attacking midfielder, he was given the number 10, which was given only to the ace, a number that Cheonan did not have.
This too was met with much skepticism, but soon died down.
“Daeho’s play has definitely changed compared to before.”
“From the standpoint of blocking, it’s scary when Dae-ho hyung gets the ball these days?”
Kang Dae-ho, who took on a new position, started to run around the field fiercely like an unleashed tiger.
Kang Dae-ho was also feeling a great change in himself.
“The coach said my talent is the ability to block passing lanes in advance.”
“I said it was a bold breakthrough that shook the opposing defenders.”
“I’m really good at handling incoming balls… … .”
During the break, the players were busy bragging to each other.
What kind of praise did the director give you, what kind of feedback did he give you, what changes have occurred since then, etc.
It may seem funny to outsiders that grown adults are laughing and enjoying something like that, but perhaps they needed that kind of praise.
“You have the potential to be champions. You just don’t know how to show it. I think everyone will be amazed by what you do this season.”
A single word from the coach made me endure the difficult training and made me grit my teeth even more.
The will to no longer be in last place and the competitive spirit to win began to burn within them.
Seeing such changes, scout Kim Soo-han couldn’t help but be surprised at how quickly Cha Seong-eun was able to take control of the team.
“Isn’t he really an amazing person?”
Then someone spoke next to me.
I turned my head and saw that it was Director Kim Tae-hwan.
“There’s a saying that one of the most difficult things in soccer is motivation. But our coach makes it so easy.”
Motivation.
It means motivating players to have a sense of purpose and, furthermore, to run like crazy toward that goal. And it is much harder than you think to motivate and motivate players every time.
But when I saw what Cha Seong-eun was doing, it seemed like a very easy task.
“I honestly didn’t think this atmosphere would last long. The training was so intense.”
High-intensity training that follows after explaining the tactic called gegenpressing.
When the weather gets cold or training outside can easily lead to serious injuries, they show their viciousness by renting a gym and finishing all training indoors.
“But the players are holding on well until the end. They seem to have adapted quite well now.”
Still, the players held on.
Because of their persistence and willpower?
No. Rather than standing next to them and urging them, it was thanks to the director who constantly instilled in them why this training was necessary and how this training would bring about change.
And it wasn’t just the players who were motivated.
“What our team needs right now is a build-up. The ball starts from the defensive line, especially from the goalkeeper, and slowly advances through passes between players, creating a nice picture, and eventually shaking the opposing team’s goal net.”
Often, when he would call the coaches together and explain tactics, they would diligently take notes in their notebooks, trying not to miss a single word the coach said, as if reminiscent of their school days.
They were always amazed by the new tactical explanations the manager brought in, and they were all full of enthusiasm.
When Cha Seong-i first took office as director, there was a pervasive atmosphere of disregard for him, but now no one dares to belittle him.
Rather, the word Cha Seong-eun was a genius that came out naturally.
“Ah. I heard you’ve been very busy scouting lately. Have you had any success?”
Scout Kim Soo-han shook his head at the captain’s question.
“As you know, there are no players who want to come to Cheonan. Not only pros, but also players who are preparing to debut. In addition, our coach has a very good eye for players, so he is also very picky.”
But scout Kim Soo-han was not discouraged.
“That’s why I feel even more motivated. I know that the substitutes’ list is the most important thing to implement the manager’s tactics.”
Gegenpressing was a dangerous tactic that required enormous physical strength and could inevitably lead to injuries if players were forced onto the field continuously.
That’s why we need to make sure we have replacement players so we can rotate the team.
Scout Kim Soo-han also knew that well, so he clenched his fists.
“So I will definitely bring in good players to make sure the manager’s tactics are implemented.”
Director Kim smiled as he looked at scout Kim Su-han, who, like the players, was burning with strong will.
A spark of hope is now burning in the Cheonan team that was thought to have no more answers.
Taesan Cheonan became a new team in just two months, centered around a man named Cha Seong-eun.
This time, I felt strongly at every moment that it was definitely different.
* * *
“Youngest. Is it hard to see your face these days?”
Starting with the eldest brother’s words, the second and third older sisters also joined in.
“That’s right. He’s a total workaholic.”
“You showed up briefly at the last New Year’s event, but then you disappeared, saying you had to go to work. You said you didn’t sleep much and just worked. Then you really collapsed?”
The third older sister then said this to Chairman Cha.
“Dad, please say something.”
But it seemed like Chairman Cha had no intention of stopping me.
“If a man draws a sword, he should cut something.”
“No. I’m saying this because it looks like you’re going to commit seppuku with that sword.”
“It’s okay. You won’t die if you work that much. If there’s something you want to achieve, you have to work hard day and night.”
The third sister muttered that her father was too indifferent to the youngest, but her mother, who had been eating quietly, opened her mouth.
“Don’t you know your father yet? He loves his youngest son so much. Your father has already prepared a health supplement and has even bought a box of medicine that he said was good for your health after consulting with your doctor.”
“Huh? Really?”
“No, Dad. What about ours?”
Then Chairman Cha put down his spoon with a slap on his face.
“You’re talking nonsense again. I just bought one while I was taking my medicine.”
“Haha. Even when I tell you to take your medicine, you always frown and make all sorts of excuses to avoid it.”
“… … Ahem.”
Embarrassed, he coughed and picked up his spoon again.
Then he glanced at me and said.
“Anyway… … I bought you some medicine, so take it well. As the saying goes, you can only achieve great things if you are healthy.”
I smiled and nodded in greeting.
“thank you.”
He may seem cold and blunt on the outside, but he really knows how to move people.
Just then someone’s cell phone rang.
“No. The phone is ringing at this hour… … . Sorry, Dad. I have to take the call.”
As Chairman Cha nodded, the second oldest brother answered the phone.
“What’s going on at this hour? Wait. What? Is that real? No. These… …!”
I wonder if something happened at the company.
The second oldest brother spoke in a somewhat agitated voice.
“Okay. Hang up for now. I’ll call you back.”
As soon as I hung up the phone, Chairman Cha asked.
“What’s going on that makes you so angry?”
“No, father. I just got a call from Daegwang Ilbo. They’re spreading articles about our youngest to all the media outlets right now.”
“What? What article?”
“Of course, they are negative articles. They are not stopping at parachuting and such, but they are preparing to do all sorts of things by bringing up his past activities.”
bang-!
As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest brother hit the table hard.
“What the heck?! How dare someone do this to our youngest… …!”
Then Chairman Cha frowned.
“First of all. Who taught you to act like that in front of adults?”
“Ah. I’m sorry, Father. But it makes me angry.”
“I guess this is all karma. Didn’t you do this knowing you’d be cursed at?”
“But it would have been better if our youngest was criticized at the beginning when he was appointed as the manager. The K-League is about to start, so it’s obvious what he’s doing now.”
The opening of the K-League is now just around the corner.
But what does it mean that the media is trying so hard to bury me?
There is a saying:
The media always acts according to corporate interests.
I understand that at the beginning of the managerial appointment, but now that it’s been almost 5 months since I became the manager of Cheonan, this must mean that someone requested an article.
“It’s not just one or two places. All the companies that sponsor the K-League have participated. And the one who took the initiative to create the situation is the Kang Sung Group.”
Is that really so?
Well, from their perspective, I must have looked ugly.
You’d think that a kid who’s the same age as your father would be dirtying the soccer field.
I intend to trample on them so that they will never be able to raise their heads again.
“… … .”
Chairman Cha took a deep breath and gulped down some water.
And the hand that put down the glass of water was shaking violently.
It was obvious that he was trying hard to hold back his anger.
Since I already knew that Chairman Cha’s blood pressure was not good, I suddenly became worried.
As expected.
“These guys, even if I chew them up and eat them, I won’t feel refreshed… …!”
Chairman Cha’s face turned bright red as the anger he had been holding in rose to the top of his head.
I got out before he could burst out screaming.
“Just a moment. There’s no need to get so worked up. Calm down. Your blood pressure isn’t good either.”
“… … .”
Chairman Cha looked at me for a moment and then calmed down.
Then the second oldest brother got angry and spoke instead.
“Youngest. Aren’t you angry? Just say something. We’ll call all the media outlets and block the article.”
“No. It’s okay. And like my father said, it’s all karma. It’s true that I got into the team by parachute, and it’s also true that I caused trouble when I was a player.”
Of course, it’s not my fault, so it’s unfair.
It didn’t matter.
Because this came to me like a new opportunity.
“Father, can I ask you one favor?”
“What is it?”
“All the K-League sponsors are publishing articles, so we can’t just sit back and do nothing. We’ll publish an article too.”
The first to react to those words was my older brother.
“Yes. I thought about it carefully. I can’t just let this happen. For the sake of our youngest, if we write about how our Cheonan has changed positively… … .”
“No. Not that. I wish you would write more vicious articles about me than other media outlets or other companies.”
“… … ?”
Everyone, including Chairman Cha, looked at me, doubting their ears.
“Hey, what is he saying now?”
“Seongeun-ah. You want me to write a bad article about you? Did I misspeak?”
“I didn’t misspeak.”
I continued with a smile.
“People will probably curse me if these sensational articles continue to come out.”
“That’s obvious, Inma!”
“In other words, does that mean those people are interested in me?”
“……what?”
“Think about it. The K-League is about to open. Each company will work hard to promote their team and run around trying to do their best. But what will happen if we continue to put out sensational articles about me and feed the media until everyone knows my name?”
They just stared at me blankly without answering.
“Everyone, from the general public to fans watching the K-League, will only mention my name. They won’t care what teams are preparing for or what players they’ve brought in for a lot of money. My name will be the only topic of conversation. Then, won’t people naturally become interested in my games? They’ll just watch how much of a mess I’m making.”
“… … .”
“But what if, on the contrary, I show a good performance and the team wins consecutive games? What if, contrary to what the article says, the Cheonan team, which has always been in last place, rises to the top ranks? How would people react then?”
Only then did the eldest brother open his mouth.
“Noise marketing… … is that what you want to do?”
“Yes. If we can attract the attention of even the general public who aren’t interested in soccer, we will be more popular than any other club.”
There was a heavy silence for a moment.
And Chairman Cha, who had been quietly listening to my story, said:
“You know that for all this to work, you have to do well, right? Not just avoid relegation, but you have to do well enough to really surprise people. That’s how reckless it is. Are you sure about that?”
If I didn’t have confidence, I wouldn’t even have started.
“Yes. From the moment the K-League starts until the end, we will make people only excited about Taesan Cheonan.”