Dad was a Genius - Chapter 23
Only Noblemtl
My Dad Was a Genius Episode 023
‘Son. Has the starting lineup been announced?’
I had no answer to my father’s question.
Although Cheonan is on a winning streak, Lee Su-yong is not even a substitute, let alone a starter.
‘It’s okay. Our Su-yong is so good at soccer! He’ll definitely get a chance. I’ll definitely go cheer him on in the next game too.’
Sports is a cold world.
Especially in soccer, becoming a professional and making money requires corresponding investments.
In the end, advancing to the professional league is not only about skill, but also about connections.
But Lee Su-yong didn’t have anything like that. He just had a father who worked tirelessly every day and saved up money with his sweat to support his son so that he could continue playing soccer.
‘Actually, I was a guy who couldn’t become a soccer player.’
It was a bit late for him to debut as a professional, and he was contemplating whether he should give up his dream and do manual labor like his father when he was scouted.
However, not everything dramatically improved just because he debuted as a pro.
Although he became a pro, he rarely stepped onto the field.
‘If you share the information, I’ll give you a generous reward for it.’
Lee Soo-yong thought back to the people who approached him yesterday.
‘Your task is simple. Just find out what kind of tactics Cha Seong-i is planning.’
Just as there are industrial spies, there are naturally spies on each team in sports.
What tactics the opposing team is trying to implement, what training system they are using, which players they are focusing on, etc.
Teams everywhere were looking to take advantage of the game by leaking tactics.
That’s why sports teams have always been careful about exposing their strategies.
But then that black hand reached out to Lee Soo-yong.
‘Think about it slowly. This is a very good opportunity for you too. After all, Cha Seong-eun won’t use you as a starter, right?’
Although the last remark was a bit harsh, it wasn’t wrong.
Cha Sung has never sent Lee Su-yong out as a starter until now.
Most of the games were played without even being included in the list of candidates, and as a result, Lee Su-yong was only able to step onto the field once.
That’s when I realized.
‘This director doesn’t need me.’
Although we had several personal interviews, Cha Seong-eun only told me to train well and did not show me any vision.
‘And on top of that, they only make us do strange training.’
There were more instances of individual training than training in collaboration with other players.
As a midfielder who plays the role of a left winger, he usually practices lob passes or long passes, but strangely, the coaches had Lee Su-yong practice dribbling and shooting.
And he ordered more accurate short passes rather than long passes.
It was a training that I couldn’t understand at all.
‘Have these people completely forgotten what my position is?’
It was inevitable that reasonable doubts would arise.
That’s why he was shaken.
But one word came to mind that held him back.
‘Suyong-ah. Daddy will be cheering you on today too.’
Today, too, Lee Su-yong bit his lips hard at his father’s one word.
Believing that one day I will be able to live up to my father’s expectations.
“Suyong-ah. The director is looking for you.”
The director me?
I didn’t do anything wrong, but I just feel a pang in my heart.
Are you going to tell me to train well again like last time?
Lee Soo-yong went up to the director’s office, stumbling around, as if he had no particular expectations.
“Director. This is Lee Soo-yong.”
“Come in.”
In the director’s office, Director Cha Seong-eun was there, looking stylishly at the computer screen in a neat suit as usual.
“Please sit here, Lee Su-yong.”
“Oh, yes.”
As soon as we sat down, Director Cha Sung-eun started asking questions aggressively.
“On our team… … No, to be exact, you have a lot of complaints about me, right?”
“yes?”
If I say no, you won’t believe me, right?
It seems like it’s already shown on your face.
Director Cha is smiling gently.
“I understand completely. Lee Su-yong knows that his skills are not good enough to sit on the bench.”
“… … .”
“I would have cursed inwardly. They make us do hard training all day long for no apparent purpose, and then they don’t even give us a chance to be selected.”
This director was completely looking into people.
Lee Soo-yong answered quietly.
“I didn’t swear at anyone.”
“Haha. Really?”
“Yes. You are the scariest director I have ever seen.”
“… … ?”
Cha Seong, who always sees through the other person’s heart, thoughts, and intentions.
His magical leadership and tactical ability made Cheonan the strongest team.
Lee Su-yong, who has only played soccer since he was young, has met many managers and coaches, but he has never met anyone like Cha Seong-eun.
Another level, another class, you might say.
That’s exactly what happened to Cha Seong-eun.
Although he resented Cha Seong-eun for not letting him play as a starter, he never doubted his ability.
“I thought there was a tactical reason why the manager didn’t use me, and of course I was dissatisfied, but I knew it was an inevitable decision for the team’s victory.”
At those words, Cha Seong-i smiled faintly.
“Thank you for saying that. But there’s one thing you need to know. It’s not that I didn’t use Lee Soo-yong because I absolutely didn’t need him.”
“yes?”
“Rather, we desperately needed Lee Su-yong.”
What does this mean?
You desperately needed it?
“I gathered the players together yesterday and said this. What we need most in our tactics right now is cracks.”
Lee Soo-yong was also there yesterday.
Crack.
A presence that moves through space and draws away defenders who are crowded around the striker.
To do so, he will need to have excellent dribbling skills and a threatening shooting ability.
That way, the defenders will be alert and rush in.
for a moment.
Great dribbling and threatening shooting?
“Do you understand now?”
Cha Seong-eun said while looking at Lee Su-yong’s face, who seemed to have realized something.
“Lee Soo-yong is the best player I have. He is a midfielder, but he has excellent penetrative ability and a sense to create decisive chances.”
As expected, Cha Seong-eun had been training him like that up until now in order to use him as a crackpot.
Then why on earth didn’t you tell me until now?
“You have a curious face.”
“Yes. If you thought so highly of me, why did you never make me a starter… … .”
“There must be a tactical reason. It was the first time in Seoul that we used a tactic of putting a striker up front. And more than anything, we judged that Lee Su-yong still needed more training.”
Was that the reason?
But wouldn’t it have been better to tell me that in advance?
“The reason I didn’t tell you in advance was because of outside intervention.”
Outside intervention?
“Have any people approached Lee Su-yong? People who asked him what kind of tactics the coach is going to use, and who he is going to use.”
“… … !”
At that moment, Lee Soo-yong’s body shook.
How do you not know that?
Does this guy really have clairvoyance?
“Actually, there were a lot of people who approached our team’s front office staff. There were even people who reached out to the players.”
As expected, the black hand did not only reach out to Lee Soo-yong.
“This happens often both domestically and internationally. In order to win, you need to know what tactics the opposing team is trying to use. That’s why we always engage in fierce information wars. That’s why I couldn’t tell Lee Su-yong before.”
Lee Soo-yong began to understand little by little.
Cha Seong-eun has trained players so far, being cautious and looking far ahead in everything he does.
“I always try to be careful not to expose my strategy, so I explain it to the players, but I only tell the details to each player. Then, even if the overall strategy is exposed, it won’t be a big blow. This time was no different. I was even more careful with Lee Su-yong because he is the best crack player I know.”
That’s what it was.
It feels like something that has been blocked up for a long time is being released all at once.
“Suwon will focus on Kang Dae-ho. But if Lee Su-yong shakes up the defense with his sharp dribbling, wouldn’t everyone be surprised?”
Suwon’s attack power that stabs one part sharply like an awl.
But if you poke hard at the place you thought was leather, you will find that there is a solid iron plate behind it.
“Suwon will be very surprised to learn that what they thought was their weakness is actually their greatest strength. And our strength is none other than you, Lee Su-yong. Please show them through this opportunity that all your training has not been in vain. I believe in you, Lee Su-yong.”
Lee Soo-yong realized this after hearing those words.
Cha Seong-eun wasn’t just a scary director.
He was a more meticulous and fearsome person than I had thought.
How far is this person looking, and how far has he finished calculating?
Maybe he had already made plans to win the K-League before taking charge of the team.
* * *
“… … .”
Lee Su-yong was leaving work after finishing his interview with the director and finishing his training.
It was a day where many thoughts passed through my mind.
As he was walking down the street like that, a shadow appeared in front of him.
“Mr. Lee Soo-yong.”
They were the very same people who approached Lee Soo-yong last time.
“Have you thought about it?”
In fact, the answer he was going to give them was already decided before his interview with the director.
“I won’t do it.”
They looked puzzled at Lee Soo-yong’s blunt remark.
“No. Why on earth? Were you so loyal to the team?”
“Is it because the amount we offered is too little? We can give you more if the quality is good.”
Lee Soo-yong thought that they looked like they were struggling.
“Just give up.”
“What, what did you say?”
“With your skills, even if you came back from the dead, you wouldn’t be able to understand the director’s tactics.”
Their faces began to turn red.
“Where are you guys from? Suwon? Ulsan? Or Pohang?”
“… … .”
“Well, it doesn’t matter where. In the end, it will be our Cheonan that wins.”
Then they got angry and started swearing at Lee Soo-yong.
“A guy who can’t even be selected or even a candidate is just living his life with his mouth open!”
“Eventually, the Cheonan whirlwind will end soon. When all the foundation is revealed, do you think you will have a place to go?”
“We’ll just have to wait and see. Whose true colors will be revealed?”
Lee Soo-yong passed them by, the corners of his lips twitching.
Perhaps, besides Lee Su-yong, the same black hand was extended to other players and coaches as well.
But Lee Soo-yong trusted the Cheonan team. Even if someone had fallen for the trick and sold the information, he trusted Cha Seong-eun.
I knew that the manager would have anticipated something like this and planned out his tactics accordingly, so no, now I was even less worried because I was sure of it.
“It’s a crack… … .”
A new position given to himself by Cha Seong-eun.
I will adapt to that position as soon as possible and show everyone.
He said that he was absolutely essential to this team.
and,
“Oh, Dad. It’s me.”
There was a place where this news had to be delivered first.
[Oh. Okay. My son. Is your training finished?]
“Yeah. Dad. I’m here… … .”
Lee Soo-yong suddenly felt a surge of emotions.
“I… … am a starter for the next game.”
[What? Really?!]
I could hear my father sobbing over the phone.
This is because he knew how much his son had suffered emotionally.
And Lee Soo-yong also held his breath for a while and shed tears.
* * *
“In 2003, Seongnam set a record of 7 consecutive wins in the K-League. Since then, that record has not been broken in the 10 years since. This means that there are a few teams that have won 7 consecutive games, but no team has won 8 consecutive games.”
Seongnam’s seven-game winning streak, first established in 2003.
That record remains intact to this day.
And our Cheonan team also achieved 7 consecutive wins and was now looking forward to an 8th consecutive win.
The media was interested in whether we could achieve the record of 8 consecutive wins.
“People are saying that our miracle will be broken by Suwon. But in the Seoul match, they said that we would never beat Seoul. But we overcame Seoul as if it were a miracle. This time too, I dare to say with confidence that their predictions were wrong.”
I asked the players who were focused on me.
“Do you agree with me? Do you think we can break the record today?”
Then, as if they had been waiting, everyone stood up from their seats and shouted.
“Yes, Director!!”
“I will definitely break it today!!”
Our team’s morale was very high.
But today, we must arm ourselves mentally.
“You must not forget that today is the home stadium of Suwon, the team with the highest winning percentage in the K-League. Even if Suwon’s supporters fiercely attack us, never give up. With an unwavering spirit, if we just do as we have trained, we will definitely win.”
Suwon’s home stadium has the highest winning percentage in the K League.
How many teams have fallen here?
The power of the supporters cheering for Suwon was that great.
The tremendous roar they produce will assault our minds endlessly.
It was our job to endure it, overcome it, and silence the other party.
“… … .”
I looked at the players one by one as they left the locker room.
They advanced with determined eyes, and the most notable among them was Lee Su-yong, who was making his first start today.
It would be understandable for him to be nervous since it had been a long time since he was selected, but no such nervousness could be seen on his face.
Rather, it was an expression that seemed to want to step onto the field as soon as possible.
and-.
“Coach. I will definitely score a goal today and make it eight wins in a row.”
Finally, my father, leaving the locker room, strengthened his resolve in front of me.
“Yes. I will believe you.”
I patted my father on the back and left the locker room with him.
Today, we will set a new record of 8 consecutive wins at Suwon’s home stadium, which is called the graveyard of the K-League.