Dad was a Genius - Chapter 87



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My Dad Was a Genius Episode 087

The European leagues have ended, but the K-League season is still in full swing.

Cheonan, without coach Cha Seong-eun and Kang Dae-ho, failed to show the same level of destructive power as last season, as everyone expected.

Cheonan attempted a complete change of color with completely different tactics and squads.

However, Lee Min-goo, who was the head coach at the time and was naturally promoted to manager, had a fatal flaw: lack of experience.

Although Cheonan’s tactics were well-planned and elaborate, they showed a weakness in responding to unexpected situations, and in the end, they were barely able to maintain mid-level rankings.

But despite this, Cheonan’s popularity remained the same.

This is because the existence of Cha Seong-eun had that much impact.

Think about it.

A single manager completely transformed a team that had been in last place for years, leading them to record an unprecedented 100 points in K-League history and even winning the championship trophy.

Anyone who vividly enjoyed that thrilling moment will have no choice but to root for Cheonan even if they are from different regions.

That’s how soccer fans are born.

“A legendary person like that is coming here now?”

“What should I do? I’m so nervous.”

People were crowding in front of the Cheonan team headquarters.

The players waiting inside kept swallowing their saliva in tension, and their hands kept getting sweaty.

Because Cha Seong-eun, who is considered the best manager in K-League history, is visiting this place.

As the news spread, fans from other teams began to gather in front of the Cheonan team headquarters.

Finally, a vehicle arrived.

The person who got off there was none other than Cha Seong-eun.

“Wow.”

“Oh… … crazy.”

A man who walks on the red carpet as if he were attending an international film award ceremony.

That graceful gait and impeccable attire.

He was a man without a single flaw in his face or body.

“I think it looks a lot better than last time.”

“How come that guy doesn’t age?”

“Didn’t you say you were in your mid-thirties? You look like you’re in your twenties.”

It was a completely understandable sight to see fans flocking in front of the headquarters.

After exchanging brief greetings with his fans, he went inside.

There, the front office staff, director Kim Tae-hwan, and the managers and coaches were waiting.

“Welcome, Director.”

“Wow. I guess foreign stuff is good. How did you become so much more handsome?”

These are people who shared many memories and affection while rising from last place to first place.

Cha Seong-eun smiled brightly.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

“Yes. I heard that Wolves got promoted thanks to you.”

“Congratulations!”

“As expected of a director.”

Then he came face to face with Lee Min-goo, who is currently in charge of the team.

“It’s been a while, Director Lee.”

“Yes, sir.”

Director Lee Min-goo’s voice was weak as he gave his greeting.

It was no different from destroying the glorious Cheonan, so he couldn’t even greet her brightly.

Director Kim Tae-hwan, who noticed the heavy atmosphere, quickly changed the subject.

“Okay. The players are waiting inside. Come meet them. There’s even a saying that meeting Coach Cha Seong is a lifelong dream for K-League players. Haha. It’ll boost everyone’s morale and be really great.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Cha Seong-eun met with the Cheonan team like that.

Players in the first team, players in the second team, and even the youth team.

Everyone was very happy just to shake hands with Cha Seong-eun.

This was a part that showed how much influence Cha Seong-eun had on Korean football and how much he was respected by many.

Director Lee Min-goo just stood from a distance and watched him like that.

The more the players liked him, the heavier his heart became.

Last season, Cheonan was truly an invincible fleet.

I felt a lot of guilt because I destroyed that team in just one season.

“Director Lee.”

“yes?”

“Let’s have a cup of coffee together since it’s been a while.”

“Oh, okay. Then… … Should I bring you something that the director usually likes?”

“Yes. I wanted to eat that anyway.”

Lee Min-goo ran out of breath and brought Cha Seong-eun his favorite mixed coffee mixed with an appropriate amount of water. Cha Seong-eun smiled with great satisfaction.

“Hmm. This is the taste. I really missed this. Strangely, European coffee doesn’t suit me.”

Lee Min-goo burst into laughter for the first time today.

As I’m here, memories of last season come flooding back.

“… … .”

There was a heavy silence for a moment.

Cha Seong-eun was the first to get lucky.

“I am very sorry.”

“Yes? No. Why did Director Cha tell me… … .”

“That’s because I left behind such a heavy burden. If you ask someone who just became a manager to suddenly take charge of a team that scored 100 points last season, it would be burdensome for anyone. Despite that, this manager willingly took charge of the team.”

It’s true that it was a burden.

But this director’s ambition was greater than his burden.

As a non-player, he thought Cheonan was the team where he could build his career and gain fame the fastest.

That’s why he immediately accepted the directorship, and Chairman Cha pushed him forward so coolly.

We bought all the players who asked for it, and we provided everything from the facilities to the coaching staff just as they wanted.

And things were going pretty well in the beginning. I had three consecutive wins and I had the ambition to lift the championship trophy as my first managerial career.

But as the season went on, it started to hit rock bottom.

The K-League managers, who are like snakes, were not stupid enough to be tactically defeated by a rookie manager.

They quickly adapted to Cheonan’s changed tactics and immediately started a counterattack, pushing the team back to the middle of the rankings.

The wall of Korea’s K-League was that high.

However, in the EFL, where the level is several times higher, Cha Sung forcibly pulled a team that was in crisis back into promotion.

Seriously, the more I look at him, the more I realize how amazing he is.

When I was the head coach, I always studied to learn all of his tactics, and I still review them now, but I still can’t keep up with him.

“I really don’t have any talent as a manager. I destroyed the team that the manager had built so well.”

But Cha Seong-eun didn’t get angry.

He didn’t even criticize the team he had worked so hard to win, saying that he could only run it this way.

“No. I asked you to be my director because you are the most talented director I know. And my eyes have never been wrong. Just think of this period as, what should I say? It’s like growing pains.”

“But I have to get the grades right now… … .”

“You don’t have to be obsessed with your performance right now. Just because you won last year, we won’t force you to win again this time. Our Taesan will trust you and wait until you grow.”

“Go, Director… … .”

I believe in you.

We believe in you and support you.

Lee Min-goo’s words gave me more strength than any words.

He clenched his fists, tears welling up in his eyes.

I will definitely live up to these expectations.

I will definitely return Cheonan to its glory days.

He vowed so.

* * *

After I left, Cheonan won the next game right away.

There were rumors going around that Cha Seong-eun, who was frustrated, had passed on his tactical secrets to Lee Min-goo.

But there was nothing like that.

It was just the encouragement and courage that Director Lee Min-goo needed.

He is a person with definite talent, so even if he doesn’t produce results right away, I have no doubt that as he grows, he will lead Cheonan to victory again.

“… …Who are you going to recruit?”

“This is a player named Kang Dae-ho. He contributed greatly to Dortmund winning the championship.”

“Yeah. But what if that player can’t play for a year?”

“Yes, but he is still a player worth recruiting.”

Director Richard stared at my face and burst into laughter.

“Okay, I understand. I’ll make sure to convey that message to the board.”

“… … Do you allow me to do so?”

“Well, I’m in favor. I don’t know what the board will think.”

“If the manager agrees, no executive will tackle it.”

“That’s true. Haha.”

I have prepared a lot of data to convince Director Richard.

Why Kang Dae-ho is needed by our Wolves, why he will be a key player for this team as soon as he returns, etc.

I thought it would take quite a while to convince them, but this was unexpected.

“Why would you need a reason? Everyone in Wolves, including me, trusts you. If you say it’s necessary, it’s necessary. If you say it’s right, it’s right.”

It was a very hot belief.

“I came here with the intention of persuading the director for a long time… … .”

“Then should I object again now?”

“That’s not it.”

“Haha. I sent you to Korea to get some rest, but I guess there’s a reason you came back so quickly.”

I also wanted to stay in Korea longer.

It would be nice to spend some leisurely time with family whom I haven’t seen in a long time.

But the Premier League starts in August and ends in May.

But we finished in June because of the promotion/relegation battle.

That means we only have two months left.

There is a rebuilding to be done and new training sessions have to be started.

“We don’t have much time, coach. We have to rebuild in two months.”

“Oh. Right. That’s always difficult. That’s why teams promoted from the second division struggle. There’s not much time left until rebuilding.”

There are many reasons why teams promoted from the second division to the first division struggle, but the most fatal one is rebuilding.

While other teams are halfway through rebuilding, we have to start from scratch, so time is of the essence.

Moreover, players do not want to come to a team that has just been promoted to the first division.

The majority of people want to be on a team that is doing well or a team that can stably stay in the first division, and not on a team that could be relegated at any time.

“You’re not planning on just building a team as is, are you?”

“Yes. With this squad, it would be impossible to stay in the first division.”

“That’s all? Even with your magical tactics?”

“That’s because this is the EPL. It’s a different level from the EFL. And the team that consistently changes things is the one that will eventually survive.”

“If you keep making changes, the team will survive until the end… … .”

Director Richard seemed to like what I said and kept muttering the same thing.

“From the way you say it, it looks like you’ve got our Wolves rebuilding plan all planned out.”

“Yes. In fact, I started preparing from the moment I received full authority from the director.”

“What, what? So quickly?”

“Yes, I had no doubt that Wolves would be promoted to the top flight.”

Director Richard burst into laughter at those words.

“The more I look at you… … I’m telling you, you seem like a crazy person. Your thinking is different from that of a normal person.”

“You are too kind.”

“Okay. I’ll give you as much support as I can. You can go ahead and start a new team.”

“… … Is that promise certain?”

Then, Director Richard flinched and asked cautiously.

“Well, how much money are you planning to spend?”