Prologue
"Lee Hoetaek, Cha Beomgeun, Choe Sunho, Hwang Seonhong, Choe Yongsu, and even Lee Dongguk—our country's forward line was strong compared to other Asian nations. This was also what Japan envied most about us."
Jang Unhyeong couldn't quite understand why Coach Jo, his senior, was saying such things.
'He always emphasized defense. Why is he talking about goal-scorers?'
Coach Jo was a former national team defender, a man who advocated the so-called defend-first, attack-later philosophy—that a team with weak defense could not win.
So for such a coach to be reciting the names of the national team's forward line was inevitably strange.
When Jang Unhyeong tilted his head in confusion, Coach Jo spoke again.
"I'm talking about the last World Cup. Wasn't it a disgraceful performance?"
Jang Unhyeong thought that while it was true the national team had underperformed, they had still gained something from it.
"This tournament gave young players like Son Hyeongmin plenty of experience. We'll be able to achieve better results in the next World Cup."
Coach Jo said in a biting voice.
"The World Cup is not a place to gain experience. That may be true for some rookies, but the World Cup is a place to produce results. A coach must never forget that."
Unlike Coach Jo, Jang Unhyeong did not have much experience playing for the national team.
So he truly thought that Coach Jo was angry at the national team players' disgraceful performance.
But that was not the case.
Coach Jo had been going on about the forward line because he had another agenda.
It was only after a few minutes had passed that Jang Unhyeong realized this.
Coach Jo pointed to a boy running on the artificial turf and said,
"That kid. He has tremendous talent. He'll become a great center forward in the future."
"Pardon?"
"You can look forward to it."
Jang Unhyeong focused his gaze on the child Coach Jo was pointing at.
He had a frame not much different from the other kids his age.
His movements were agile, but not to the extent that one would feel he was on a different level—what people call 'class.'
'Just what is he thinking?'
Coach Jo continued to praise the boy.
"What do you think? He definitely catches the eye, doesn't he?"
"Well, his movement is good."
Coach Jo gestured at Jang Unhyeong's lukewarm reaction and said,
"Come on, be honest. That kid's shooting is extraordinary."
Jang Unhyeong clicked his tongue inwardly at Coach Jo's words.
'Ah, hyung... That kid hasn't taken a single shot until now. How could I know the shooting ability of a kid who hasn't even taken a shot? And no matter how fast he is at that age, how fast could he be...'
Jang Unhyeong's thoughts stopped the very next moment.
The ball that left the boy's foot split the net like a bullet.
Swish!
The boy spread his arms as if he had become a commentator, shouting the word 'goal.'
"Gooooaaaal!"
The other children ran after him, shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Gooooaaaal!"
The opposing goalkeeper was scolding his defenders' formation, just as adult goalkeepers do.
Jang Unhyeong's eyes widened at the shot the boy had produced, and he said,
"He's no ordinary kid."
Only then did Coach Jo smile.
"Right?"
"Yes."
"So? Do you want to take him?"
Jang Unhyeong was the coach of Gangnam Middle School in Seoul.
As its name suggested, Gangnam Middle School was a place where the children of the wealthy gathered.
Therefore, the soccer team was in better shape than those of other middle schools.
"You mean that kid is transferring to our school? That won't be easy. Housing prices around there are too high."
"No, that's not it. I'm saying I'd like you to take him and raise him."
Jang Unhyeong shrugged his shoulders as if to say it was difficult.
"Hyung, I'm married."
"But I heard you live in quite a large house. I heard you invested well with the money you earned as a pro?"
Jang Unhyeong bit his tongue inwardly.
'Ah, that's that and this is this, isn't it? If I take in such a big kid, would my wife stay still? And it would be uncomfortable for me, too.'
Jang Unhyeong shook his head and said,
"Hyung, this is too much, isn't it? I have two children of my own."
"Aren't you going to ask that kid's name?"
Jang Unhyeong wondered why he would ask the name of a child he wasn't going to take in.
"Why? Is his name Hong Gildong or something?"
"Do you remember the name Choe Mincheol?"
The moment he heard the three syllables "Choe Mincheol," Jang Unhyeong froze.
'Don't tell me Mincheol-hyung had a child?'
Choe Mincheol was three years older than Jang Unhyeong. He was a center forward who struck powerful shots based on excellent positioning.
But Choe Mincheol was never able to make his name known to the world.
The reason was a knee injury during his third year of university.
He had been selected for the national preliminary squad, but his name soon disappeared from the list.
Thanks to his reputation, he had received a scout offer from a semi-pro team around graduation, but he couldn't play for long.
The reason Jang Unhyeong knew quite a bit about him was because he had been his high school junior.
"What happened to Mincheol-hyung?"
Coach Jo answered,
"He died seven years ago. Liver cancer."
"Mincheol-hyung died?"
"I suppose he tried to live an ordinary life, but it seems that didn't go well. He left behind only that child."
Jang Unhyeong let out a light sigh and asked,
"If there's a child... what happened to Mincheol-hyung's wife?"
"They divorced three years before he died. She went abroad, and now her whereabouts are unknown."
Jang Unhyeong realized the real reason Coach Jo had come to see him.
He wanted to entrust Jang Unhyeong with Choe Mincheol's son, who had nowhere else to go.
"Mincheol-hyung's life didn't work out, but... my wife won't be able to accept this. I wasn't even that close to Mincheol-hyung."
"I'm not telling you to take him and raise him. I'm asking you to look after him until I get settled."
Jang Unhyeong tilted his head.
"Hyung, don't tell me..."
"Yes, that's exactly it. I'm going to China on a one-year short-term contract. Just until I get back."
Though it came with the condition of one year, it was hard to accept readily.
"Hyung, no, Coach-nim..."
"How about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll cover the boy's living expenses."
Jang Unhyeong said it wasn't a matter of money. He had plenty of money himself.
When Jang Unhyeong kept repeating that it was difficult, Coach Jo narrowed his brows.
"Can't you help out a bit for Korean football? It was Korean football that raised you. I heard your interview with the broadcasting station. You said you love Korean football more than anyone. That child will soon become a national team player and dominate the field. Can't you, who love Korean football, take some interest?"
It was an appeal to the greater good, completely out of the blue.
But that speech about the greater good moved Jang Unhyeong's heart.
'It wouldn't make sense for me, who claims to work for the future of Korean football, to turn a blind eye to a child who might become that very future. It's only a year; somehow I'll manage.'
He spoke as if extracting a firm promise from Coach Jo.
"Only one year exactly. Whether you return to Korea or not, it won't be more than a year."
Coach Jo's face brightened.
"Yes, exactly one year."
Coach Jo soon called the boy over. And then introduced him to Jang Unhyeong.
The boy proudly stated his name and position.
"My name is Choe Sangu, and my position is center forward."
Jang Unhyeong looked into Choe Sangu's shining eyes and nodded.
"I'm Jang Unhyeong."
"I've seen you on TV."
Jang Unhyeong smiled at Choe Sangu's answer.
"Won't you try playing soccer on our team?"
Choe Sangu answered without hesitation.
"I will."
Jang Unhyeong saw a thirst for soccer in Choe Sangu.
'This kid... just as Coach Jo said, he might become a pillar of Korean football.'