Save 9. New Home
Not long after the official announcement dropped, Leeds United fans also got wind of the news. But they soon tilted their heads in confusion.
Sin Uison?
What the hell?
So much so that there were even West Ham fans hearing that name for the first time.
Of course, those hearing of Sin Uison for the first time weren't limited to the fans of those two teams.
On the other side of the globe, in Korea as well, the name was becoming a topic of conversation in its own way.
-Yo, did you guys see this?
-Did the official announcement for Torres's release finally come out?
-That's not it! Go check the Leeds United official homepage right now!
-Why would I care about official news from a second-division team that isn't even the Leeds of old...
-Sin Uison? Could it be that naturalized player, Sin Uison?
Korean football fans who checked the transfer news expressed their doubts.
Sin Uison was a name that anyone who followed the K-League couldn't possibly fail to know.
He was a legendary goalkeeper of Soviet origin who had dominated the K-League in the '90s, and when he naturalized, he took the name Sin Uison.
But it couldn't be the same person.
-No way, how could it be!
-Then who is it?
-That's exactly the problem.
Who is he?
Football fans in England and Korea drew question marks in their minds.
Of course, there is no such thing as an eternal secret.
Moreover, information that came up with a quick internet search was revealed to the public before long.
-They say Sin Uison is that guy's younger brother?
-That guy?
-Sin Hagi!
-What?!
A brief commotion broke out in the online communities of England and Korea.
Sin Haji.
There was no one in Korea who didn't know him, and his name was famous in England too.
From a promising prospect whose future was anticipated, he had become a wonderkid now playing in the Champions League.
He was already playing as a core member of the South Korean national football team.
-He had a younger brother?
-And he was even a football player?
-West Ham is still a big club, so why hadn't anyone heard of him until now?
Truthfully, when Sin Uison was young, it wouldn't have been difficult for football fans in Korea to have heard of him.
Articles about the brothers advancing to Europe together had drawn quite a bit of interest.
Of course, being the younger brother of a star player was, in itself, quite a decent topic of interest.
However.
When his older brother Sin Haji exploded into his full potential.
His younger brother Sin Uison suffered a cruciate ligament injury, and people's interest grew distant as well.
-Wasn't he a midfielder?
Those who even remembered the name could only tilt their heads, wondering if their memories were wrong.
'No wonder my ears are itchy.'
Sin Uison scratched his ear for no reason, as if someone were cursing him. He soon sighed and looked around.
A small studio apartment.
Today was the last day in this place where he had been indebted all this time.
Since the transfer was confirmed, he had to prepare to move.
"So this is the end."
[You don't have much luggage?]
"Well, not really."
As those words suggested, there wasn't much to take.
It was a space without even memories worth taking.
Sin Uison, who was checking if he had forgotten anything, paused.
A West Ham uniform hanging in the corner caught his gaze.
"Ha."
Sin Uison turned the uniform over and smiled bitterly.
His name was printed on the back, but he had never once stood on the pitch while wearing this kit.
"Taking just one should be fine, I suppose."
It was a uniform without any memories to speak of, but Sin Uison folded it neatly and put it in a box.
That was the end of packing.
He had finished preparing to leave for Leeds in West Yorkshire.
***
"Now, look here! Smile!"
"Haha...."
Sin Uison smiled awkwardly at the camera.
The manager was beside him, and behind him, the Leeds United emblem hung large.
He was currently taking his official photos.
He had taken photos when signing the contract at a London hotel, but he had yet to take photos wearing the Leeds kit.
Today's photos would be uploaded to the club's homepage and official social media.
"Sin is a good player. A player with a promising future."
In the interview, Leeds manager Brian McDermott had praised him, but there was no way he didn't know it was lip service.
"I've always wanted to come to Leeds. I'm very happy to be at this club."
It was a lie. Sin Uison too gave a canned answer.
But there was no one picking at him for that either.
The short interview ended, and Brian McDermott hurriedly stood up.
"The coach will give you a tour."
"Ah, yes."
Sin Uison watched his receding figure as he left in a rush.
'He had his own neck to save.'
Brian McDermott, who had recently been the subject of dismissal rumors, must have been under immense psychological pressure.
As such, it was highly likely he wouldn't pay much attention to Sin Uison.
It might take a long time before he got his first chance.
'Still, what I have to do is set.'
To receive even that chance, he had to etch his presence onto the training ground.
Sin Uison turned his head and looked at the pitch.
Elland Road, the home ground of Leeds United.
From now on, this place was his new home.
***
[Sports Korea] A Name Forgotten Unlike His Brother, Sin Uison.
Meanwhile, in Korea, his name was being covered, if only slightly.
Sin Uison on his own wasn't enough to inspire national pride.
So journalists blew up the sympathy angle to use as material for their articles.
"What is this now?"
Sin Uison, the very subject of the articles, had also seen them.
As the person in question, it was a rather unpleasant article.
Given his cynical personality, he didn't like them pitying him.
Of course, he didn't commit the folly of revealing his displeasure on social media. In fact, the biggest factor was that he didn't use social media at all.
[So you have no friends. How pitiful.]
"Noisy."
Sin Uison answered listlessly and waved his hand off. It was true that he had no friends.
He was currently walking toward Leeds United's training ground.
Thorp Arch.
It was a place connected to Leeds's troubled history.
It had been their training ground for a long time, but unable to pay off their debts, they had sold it to Leeds City and still hadn't gotten it back. Currently, they were renting it.
Of course, the same was true for their home ground, Elland Road.
"No one's here."
Sin Uison muttered as he looked at the empty training ground.
The January transfer window opens mid-season, so players transferred at this time join training immediately without any break.
Since he couldn't see any other players yet, it seemed he had arrived first.
'There's nothing to do alone anyway.'
Sin Uison changed into training gear and warmed up. Not much time had passed before other players began to appear one by one.
"So you're the new guy."
"Hello."
"Let's do our best."
Exchanging greetings with the existing players wasn't that awkward.
Probably because it wasn't a direct competition position to begin with.
"A young friend has come."
Paddy Kenny, a 35-year-old veteran and current Leeds United starting goalkeeper, also welcomed Sin Uison with a smile.
"Ooh, the new kid?"
Just then, someone spoke up with a brash tone.
It was a face Sin Uison knew as well.
El Hadji Diouf.
A Senegalese forward whose talent was acknowledged but who couldn't grow further due to his trash-tier mentality. He especially didn't get along with Liverpool.
"Um, hello."
Even if he hadn't gone out of his way to learn, the man was so constantly embroiled in rumors that they reached one's ears.
"What's that on your knee? A fashion item?"
"No."
"Yeah? Anyway, do your best~."
Diouf passed Sin Uison with an indifferent face.
He had initially shown improved conduct when he first joined, raising some hopes.
But as they say, a dog can't change its spots; his antics flared up, and he hadn't played a single match this season.
'I shouldn't end up like that.'
Sin Uison shrugged and refocused on training.
All his attention was solely on training.
In reality too.
And in his dreams too.
Especially, there was a strange habit he had picked up recently.
[Are you talking to your shadow?]
'.......'
[How pitiful.]
'Shut up.'
And so, the first training at the new team began.
Adapting wasn't very difficult.
Naturally, there was a qualitative difference compared to West Ham senior team training, but he had been prepared for that.
But one thing was certain.
El Hadji Diouf was indeed a player one shouldn't get close to.
"Hey, Diouf!"
From afar, the coaches could be seen getting angry.
El Hadji Diouf paid no mind and turned away.
'Now I see why he causes trouble wherever he goes.'
Sin Uison sighed but snatched the ball coming toward his side.
At that sight, Paddy Kenny burst into hearty laughter.
"The young lad's hopping about energetically!"
"Old man's still alive too, I see."
Since he didn't outright reject him, Sin Uison could interact with a much lighter heart.
It was around the time today's training was coming to an end.
"Hmm."
Paddy Kenny let out a sudden groan and grabbed his knee.
Then he raised his hand and signaled to the coaches.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just feeling a bit of load."
Team doctors rushed over and checked Paddy Kenny's knee. After a brief examination, they nodded and stood up.
"No major problems."
"That's a relief. Must be the age catching up."
With Paddy Kenny's coarse laugh, training ended just like that.
And a few days later.
A Championship match day approached.
"Now then, the match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest is beginning."
"In Leeds's case, their recent form hasn't been good, so they need a win to turn the atmosphere around."
At that moment, the camera caught one person sitting on Leeds's bench.
A slightly youthful face, now beginning to shed its boyishness.
It was Sin Uison.
"The goalkeeper Leeds newly signed."
"Yes. He's also a rare Asian-born goalkeeper, but actually there was another reason this player became a topic of conversation."
"Haha. You're talking about player Sin Haji."
When it was revealed that his older brother was Sin Haji, the reaction was even bigger than when Sin Uison was first signed.
The next-generation Ballon d'Or winner.
The next football deity.
That weight was anything but light.
"Now, Nottingham pushes deep!"
"Leeds's recovery is a little late!"
Nottingham's central midfielder threaded a pass, and the winger who received it ran down the flank with excellent movement.
Even though Leeds's right fullback was tracking back, the difference in speed was noticeable.
Eventually, as Nottingham's winger began to cut inside, instead of Leeds's center-back stepping out to press directly, the defensive midfielder tried to cover that gap.
That's what should have happened.
"Ah, he's beaten him!"
"Leeds is cut open way too easily!"
Leeds's center-back, fooled by a simple feint, ended up making a tackle in entirely the wrong direction.
The penalty area wasn't far now.
"You stupid bastard!"
An emergency broke out in Leeds's defense. Paddy Kenny cursed the center-back for his stupid mistake.
But there was no time to just blame others.
Nottingham's attacker was rushing in.
"Nottingham Forest's decisive chance!"
"Will he shoot directly? Or will he pass?!"
"Shooooot!"
The answer was to take the shot himself.
Nottingham's winger, who had taken up a position on the side of the penalty area, curled the ball straight away.
"He—he saved it!"
"What a fine save by Paddy Kenny!"
"Phew!"
Brian McDermott, having survived the crisis, let out a sigh of relief.
But it didn't take long for his face to contort.
Because Paddy Kenny, having made the save, staggered for a moment before eventually collapsing on the spot.
"Damn it, medical team!"
"Where are the team doctors!"
At the words of the manager and coaches, the team doctors hurried onto the pitch. While they examined Paddy Kenny's condition, McDermott, his expression still rigid, shouted.
"Sin!"
"Yes."
"Warm up."
At those words, Sin Uison stood up and unzipped the jacket he was wearing.
The large screen on the scoreboard captured the sight of his back as he took it off.
Squad number 11.
Sin Uison.
Opportunity had arrived suddenly.