Chapter 98 – Shocking Debut (2)

098

The European football world is held in the autumn festival, which starts in the fall and ends in the spring of the following year.
And between December and January, between December and January, there is a break before and after Christmas, which is usually called the mid-season Player Break, which means a period without an official soccer schedule for as short as a week to as long as a month.

In the past, there was a league that ran a rather tight schedule during this break.
It’s the English Premier League.

‘Boxing Day’, which originated from a truly capitalist idea that playing hard matches while everyone else is resting, multiplied the commercial gains, was famous for its rigorous schedule, boasting an insane schedule of three matches a week.

Even at the time, there was a lot of controversy over the overworked schedule.
Celebrity manager Arsene Wenger criticized “Six matches in 19 days is a murderous schedule”, Pep Guardiola “Kills players” And Jose Mourinho “Insufficient rest days reduce EPL’s competitiveness in Europe” “, He criticized.

Due to criticism from prominent soccer figures, appeals from players, and poor competitiveness in European competitions, the FA finally approved the implementation of’Winter Break’ ahead of the 2019-20 season.

However, the EPL’s winter break, which was not properly implemented for reasons such as the rematch of the FA Cup or the shortening of the season due to corona, gradually settled down over time, and now that the 32/33 season is in progress, it runs as short as about a week. And established themselves in all major European leagues.

The German Bundesliga is famous for having the longest winter break.
The English EPL, which has a one-week break, or the Spanish Primera Liga, which has a two-week break, is a league that has a one-month break, twice as long as Italy’s Serie A.

The reason this is possible is the difference in the number of teams participating in the first division.
In the case of England, Spain, and Italy, 20 clubs participate in the first division, while only 18 teams participate in the German Bundesliga.

In other words, while other countries played up to round 38, Germany was able to guarantee an ample winter break as the season ended in only round 34.

The same is true for Bundesliga 2, the second division.
Germany’s second-highest league, 2. Pusvall-Bundesliga2. The Fußball-Bundesliga is also operated with 18 teams, and although it is a second division league, its capacity is superior to that of most European first division leagues.

The average revenue of the teams participating in Bundesliga 2 is about 45 billion won, which is much higher than the average revenue of 32 billion won for the Eredivisie team, the first division in the Netherlands. Close to a whopping 19,000 people. It boasts more average crowd mobilization than most European first division leagues.

As a result, there were quite a few clubs with solid foundations in Bundesliga 2.
Just like Frankfurt.

Founded in 1899, this long-historic club advanced to the finals in the early days of the Champions League and played a famous match against Real Madrid.

However, the best record in the league is only 3rd place, and the only winning record is DFB Pokal.
At least, they won the Europa Championship in the 1979/80 season and left an unforgettable record in their long history, and the Korean player who played an active part at this time was Cha Boom.

That season, Cha Beom-geun received 2 points in kicker rating from the first game of the league and ranked 2nd in the overall striker rating, and from the next game onwards, he overwhelmingly kept the 1st place in the striker rating until 17 games, half of the 34th round of the Bundesliga.

The second and third ranked players under Cha Bum-geun at the time were Rummenigge and Kevin Keegan.
Rummenigge, who was placed under Cha Bum-geun, who was overwhelmingly ranked first, was the Ballon d’Or winner that year, and Kevin Keegan, who was third, was the Ballon d’Or winner who won the Ballon d’Or the previous year.

This continued until the 30th round, with only 5 games left in the league, and although the gap narrowed, Cha Bum-kun, who kept the top spot until the 30th round, unfortunately missed 3 out of the 5 remaining games due to an injury, and finally stayed in 3rd place in the striker rating.

However, the German kicker magazine, which is famous for its poor evaluation, posted only two foreign WK (World Class) that year, the first place being Cha Bum-kun, who won the ‘Player of the Season’, and the second place being the previous year’s Ballon d’Or winner and superstar Kevin Keegan. Was

This season saw Frankfurt lift its first European trophy for the first and last time in the club’s long history.
Thanks to the performance of Cha Bum-kun, who led the club to victory by receiving the MOM in the Europa final.

And this season was the de facto debut season for Cha Bum-kun, a 26-year-old unfamiliar Asian who came to the Bundesliga from a poor Asian football world without a professional league, played one game in Darmstadt, re-enlisted, and then returned.

Decades later, just looking at Cha Bum-keun being selected as one of the best 11 of all time announced by the club in 2013, it is enough to know how amazing Cha Bum-kun was at that time.

Afterwards, Cha Bum-kun moved to Leverkusen, which had just been promoted to the first division, and also gave Leverkusen their first and last European Cup in history.

Frankfurt, which faced financial difficulties in the 90s after the glory days were over, was repeatedly relegated and promoted, and this 32/33 season was also struggling in the second division.

“Balder. Are you really going to be okay with this one player?”
“Sure. Enough. Enough.”

Frankfurt’s general manager, Hermann, couldn’t help but worry.
It has been two years since they fell to the second division.

If they don’t get promoted even this season, even the value of ‘prestige’ that is still left will fade.
But now, halfway through the season, things weren’t looking good for Frankfurt.

Unlike Hermann, who anxiously looked over the league table in 6th place, the expression of old coach Franz Balder was bright.

“Heh heh, I’m looking forward to it. So, when did you say you arrived?”
“The staff said they picked it up at the airport, so it should come soon.”

Looking at the old gentleman with a big smile, as if the contract with the player he was looking forward to was so good, Hermann became brusque for no reason.

“Is it that good?”
“Okay then!
“What the hell are you looking at? The player he showed at Barcelona is just disappointing.”
“That’s why I suddenly grew taller.”
“Isn’t that the problem, my friend?”

At Hermann’s concern, director Noh smiled kindly.

“Hey Hermann, do you know how many years I’ve been in football?”
“Well. Including active duty, is it about 40 years?”
“20 years as a leader.”

Although this is his first managerial career, Franz Walder is a capable coach and has played in numerous leagues.

“I also spent 10 years in Spain. Among the connections I met there is a Barcelona coach.”
“Whoa. Is that what you said? That Hong Min-joon has already regained his old form?”
“Of course! His form in training is already perfect!”
“Don’t you think there’s a reason the Barcelona coach doesn’t use that player?”
“I don’t know.”

Hermann sighed deeply at the face of the old director, who smiled emptyly.

“Yeah. I guess we’ll have to look forward to the activity we recruited.”

Looking at the Asians through the window, Hermann muttered quietly.

* * *

The contract was made in an instant.
After filming the signing of the contract that the lawyers arranged by O’Harin carefully checked the contents, they took another picture at the stadium with Frankfurt’s uniform.

‘Official’ photos, so-called ‘clothes official’.
As soon as the official photo was posted on the public website, reporters poured in.

『An Asian from Barcelona joins Die Adler (Eagle Corps) on loan!』
『What is the identity of the new face that will appease fans who are dissatisfied with the club that had a quiet winter transfer window?』
『Is Frankfurt aiming for promotion?』
“Frankfurt, which was relegated two years ago, unfortunately lost in the promotion match last season, and this season also started in the second division.

Amid growing doubts about coach Franz Balder (64), who took the baton last season but has no results, this season also maintains a close 6th place and worries about promotion are growing. The club, which had a quiet winter transfer market, moved its heavy body.

The new recruit is 20-year-old Hong Min-jun (20. Barcelona).
The unknown Asian, who rose to stardom through the Australian Olympics that ended half a year ago, proved his skills through two matches against Spain at the Olympics and headed to Barcelona in a splendid way.

However, after the transfer, Hong Min-joon, who became taller and out of balance, was sluggish.

Coach Franz Balder did not hide his expectations, saying, “Recruiting a player of such quality as Hong Min-jun is an unbelievable achievement. He will become the second Cha Boom!”

The local press spread a tone of half doubt and half worry, but unexpectedly, the fans were quite welcoming.

—It’s been a long time since I’ve been Asian!! Welcome friend from the East!!
ㄴ He’s an Asian to look forward to after Makoto Hasebe, who served as vice-captain for season 22!
Do you remember that player? Coming from the same country, this player will also perform well, right?
B such a friend… This newbie is Korean. Please don’t say that you are of the same nationality as Hasebe in front of newbies.
You? Why?
— I like the way he smiles. Are you like an innocent boy?
Do I look like a girl?
Hey, that’s discriminatory language
Calm down my friend. I was just complimenting you for being pretty
Um… I can’t argue
—Why is everyone just saying weird things? Does anyone know anything about this player’s skills? What’s your play style?
ㄴI looked it up, and he’s an Olympic athlete. I think your play style is similar to Cha Boom?
It’s a car boom!! I’m so excited!!
ㄴPlease lead us to promotion, New Cha Boom!!
ㄴBut I’ve never seen Cha Boom play… What style is it?
Oh my God! There was a real newbie here!! Haven’t seen Cha Boom’s game… You are not the true Eagle Corps!! Come see us!!
—So you’re good at it? Can I expect
Um… I don’t know how different I was at the Olympics and in Spain.

Frankfurt fans, who were bored without signing or even releasing while other clubs were busy, were excited about the signing of the first club after the transfer market opened.

Even though that player is a 20-year-old young player, that is, he is an ambiguous player to be called a former player, isn’t he from the first team in Barcelona?

The general expectation is that it will at least help in the promotion competition.

After the winter break, it didn’t take long for the fans, who had been calming their boredom with stories about the only recruit in the short period of time when the Bundesliga was awakened from hibernation, to witness the true character of an unfamiliar Asian player.

January 20, 2033.
Frankfurt, who advanced to the round of 16 of the Pokal Cup, played at home against Bochum in the second division.

It took less than 5 minutes for Die Adler (Eagle Corps), who was generously cheering for the Asians who were unfamiliar with their debut match, to become truly enthusiastic.

“Goal! It’s a goal!! An unbelievable wonder goal from a young player from Korea!!”
“For this player, 5 minutes was enough for his debut goal. Hong Min-joon scoring a great debut goal in his debut match!!”