4 – Repaying the Teacher’s Favor
004
Hojin High School is not a prestigious institution.
While not so impoverished as to face difficulties in player recruitment, it falls short when compared to the well-known soccer teams labeled as prestigious. Starting from the unit of financial support invested in the soccer department, the level of incoming players naturally differs.
In its 20-year history, Hojin High School’s soccer department has produced a total of four professionals.
Among them, the top output would be striker Lee Hae-chan, currently playing in the Chinese league.
Why is a Chinese league player the top output instead of a K-League player? Because the development fund Lee Hae-chan donated to his alma mater far exceeds the combined donations of the other three. If someone earns more, they can contribute more.
The day when the title of the top output of Hojin High School’s soccer department changes may come, but considering the modest achievements of the second and third-year students in competitions, that day seems unlikely.
Until non-standard players like Jo Jaeshin and Ju Ji-tae entered the school.
Before their admission, Hojin High School’s soccer department, not a prestigious one, had managed to produce a “not bad” four professional players.
At first glance, it might seem strange to call a soccer department that has produced only four professionals in 20 years a “not bad” one, but Hojin High School’s soccer department is genuinely a reasonably decent team.
There are about 400 elementary school soccer teams participating in the national elementary league, approximately 280 teams in the middle school league, and around 180 teams in the high school league.
In terms of players, roughly 12,000 to 13,000 elementary school students participate based on 5th to 6th grades as a reference, about 10,000 middle school students, and 5,000 high school students are registered in the entries.
And it doesn’t end there.
Among those who failed to enter the professional realm but didn’t give up on soccer, there exists the U-League, commonly known as the University League. Approximately 90 university teams participate in the U-League, comprising around 2,700 players.
In Korea, there are a total of 25 professional teams in the first and second divisions.
Considering that only about 4 to 5 rookie players sign professional contracts each year, the number of players who can turn professional in a year is only around 100. So, out of the approximately 1,600 high school seniors and 2,700 college students who have been filtered since elementary school, they compete for these 100 spots.
And that’s only considering the achievement of a “professional contract.”
From Noble mtl dot com
The professional stage is a platform abundant with carefully selected talents. Moreover, with the addition of competition with mercenaries, even if you succeed in securing a professional contract, more than half end up rotting in the second team for the rest of their lives or never properly settling.
However, it is undeniable that the ultimate goal for youth players is a “professional contract.” After all, isn’t failure in the professional realm a possibility only after becoming a professional?
Naturally, talented youth players tend to gravitate towards prestigious soccer clubs, commonly known as professional youth teams, where the likelihood of entering the professional ranks is higher.
As the world goes, prestigious clubs continue to attract talent and remain prestigious, while lower-tier teams keep receiving only those who have fallen behind, perpetually staying in the lower ranks.
In such a situation, for a high school soccer team that is neither a professional youth team nor a prestigious soccer club to produce four professional players is an impressive feat, but at the same time, it indicates the limitations of such an unremarkable team.
For Hojin High School, such an unremarkable team,
“Wait… what’s this? They dare to attempt such tactics against us? Are these guys insane?”
“Huh. You live long enough, and you’ll see some interesting things. I heard Hojin High School has been doing well lately, but they’re just guys who perform well among high school soccer teams. But extreme attacks against a professional youth team? Crazy.”
They bombarded the league.
“Uh, what…? Why is this happening? Who are these guys, and why are they so aggressive!?”
“Is this for real… are they really getting beaten by Hojin High School…?”
As a result, at the top of the league table, marking the first place, is the name of Hojin High School.
In the region where various professional youth teams and prestigious teams are competing, Hojin High School is cheerfully racing to the top.
“What’s up with these guys? Hojin High School? Where are they from?”
“They’re not affiliated with a professional team; they’re just a high school soccer team.”
“Really? Just a regular soccer team? If I haven’t even heard of them, they’re not even a prestigious one… but why are they in first place?”
“They haven’t played many games yet. It’s probably just a temporary phenomenon.”
A mediocre soccer team leading in the region where prominent professional youth teams and prestigious soccer clubs are based. At first, they considered it a fleeting gust.
“Huh? Still in first place? Who’s their coach here?”
“Kim Seokdu… or something like that.”
“How can a person’s name be Seokdu? But seriously, what’s up with these guys? Does the coach have extraordinary tactics?”
“They just attack relentlessly.”
“…But why are they doing well?”
“Well, they’ll probably drop soon. The initial sparkle doesn’t last long.”
However, Hojin High School’s sprint, which was initially considered a gust of wind, did not stop and gained momentum as the days went by.
“What’s going on? Is the team’s win-loss record correct? Is this some kind of error?”
“It’s real.”
“Bring me the players’ records and detailed stats!”
If it were an elementary league, it might have been understandable.
Unless they were exceptionally talented players, elementary kids are still in a time when it’s challenging to distinguish the gems from the ordinary. Moreover, since it’s the age when they truly start playing soccer, teams are often a mix of talented and less talented players, leading to significant shifts in rankings.
“…Even the detailed stats are insane.”
Even in a middle school league, it wouldn’t be too strange.
By the time students reach the upper grades of elementary school, the potential of players is roughly revealed, though not perfectly. Consequently, the transition to middle school separates into prestigious and non-prestigious institutions, and naturally, the rankings become more fixed. Still, in the turbulent “second year” period characterized by the intensity of adolescence, individual players’ fluctuations are substantial, making the league rankings quite dynamic.
“Hey. Are they maintaining these stats with some crazy tactics? And what’s with these stats? Jo Jaeshin and Ju Jitae, these guys are playing soccer games in real life. Who do they think they are, Messi and Van Dijk?”
However, when it comes to a high school league, it’s a different story.
As the so-called period when a player’s “potential” is discerned, the gap between prestigious and non-prestigious schools is tremendously vast.
Talented players join professional youth teams early on, while slightly less skilled players join prestigious school soccer teams.
The rest? They just scatter on their own.
Hojin High School, at best, had a mid-level soccer team.
Yet, such a team claimed the top spot in the regional league where professional youth teams and prestigious high schools gathered.
This was certainly not something to be taken lightly.
“It won’t do. I have to go see it, even if out of curiosity. Hey, Coach Kim! When is their next game?”
“Hojin High… Oh? The day after tomorrow is the King’s Middle School Soccer Tournament final.”
“Okay! I’ll just go watch the final.”
Thus, the gaze of Jang Giseok, the coach of the Under-20 national team, who was deeply contemplating the selection of members, turned towards Hojin High School.
* * *
The National High School Soccer League is the only high school soccer tournament sponsored by the Korea Football Association.
As of 2030, approximately 180 teams participate in the 13 regional leagues divided by geographical areas. The pinnacle of this competition is the King’s Middle School Soccer Tournament, where the top teams from the first and second halves of the year face off.
In other words, the King’s Middle School Soccer Tournament can truly be called the showdown of high school league champions.
It’s like the Korean version of the high school Champions League.
And for the first time in its 20-year history, Hojin High School succeeded in reaching the finals of the King’s Middle School Soccer Tournament.
“Proud Hojin High School soccer team!!”
Proud—proud—
The resounding shout of the school principal echoes across the sports field.
“The principal is deeply moved by your dedication and hard work!! As a proud Hojin, give it your all on the final stage with integrity—”
“Hey, Coach. Integrity, you say. Doesn’t that sound a bit too idealistic?”
“…?”
“……??”
“As a proud Hojin, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, reaching for the sky, right?”
“Wow… this guy has no clue what’s going on, look at that clueless expression.”
Despite a minor hiccup with the two 1st-year students, who surpassed the 3rd-year seniors and were muttering in front of the principal after being called out as representatives of the soccer team, Hojin High’s soccer team inauguration ceremony concluded successfully. The school, determined and with a big heart, boarded the deluxe bus and headed to the stadium.
Hojin High’s opponent was the prestigious Seoul United Youth Team under the K-League, Seongji High.
Even on the grand stage where numerous football officials gathered to witness the storm, Hojin High showcased its distinctive extreme attacking tactics.
“Attacking with everyone except the two center-backs.”
“With such a crazy tactic, they managed to win…?”
And win they did.
Overwhelmingly.
The match’s MVP was Jo Jaeshin, the top scorer.
After securing the top scorer title in the league with double the goal difference from the runner-up, Jo Jaeshin once again claimed the top scorer title in the final by recording a hat-trick, leading the team to victory.
Jo Jaeshin’s records were impressive, but that was it.
As Jo Jaeshin’s excellence was already well-known in the football world, officials simply thought, ‘Jo Jaeshin being Jo Jaeshin.’
The one who truly shocked the football officials was none other than Ju Jitae.
“No… Ju Jitae, the best defender? A namesake… No way!?”
“Why is the next generation playmaker leading Korea as a defender!?”
“Ju Jitae…? Why is he here? Why is he a central defender!?”
A player considered the next main player to lead South Korea alongside Jo Jaeshin as an attacking duo unexpectedly switched positions to become a defender. This angered football officials.
“Kim Seokdoo, this crazy person!! Shifting a player who was supposed to follow in Lee Kangin’s footsteps to a defender!? This guy is completely insane!!”
“That guy is ruining Korean football! The coach who forced the best midfielder into a defender!”
To Kim Seokdoo.
The fury of football officials happened to reach Ju Jitae’s ears as he passed by for an interview.
“Well, I am considered one of Korea’s greatest midfielders ever.”
Even though he’s a defender now.
…But why is this so challenging? It feels even more demanding than playing as a midfielder.
With a sense of inexplicable unease, Ju Ji-tae approached the interview and was taken aback.
Unaware of the anger among soccer officials, he simply smiled at Kim Seok-du, who was smiling brightly. A good idea flashed through his mind.
“Today, there’s someone special I want to thank.”
“Oh, your parents?”
In response to the pretty reporter’s question, Ju Ji-tae grinned and nodded.
“No, it’s the coach.”
“Ah-ha. So it’s Coach Kim Seok-du, who’s been waiting behind.”
As Kim Seok-du’s turn for the interview approached, Ju Ji-tae’s words stuck in his throat.
Turn a day I was about to casually stroll into into a day that made me run like a dog?
“Thank you for helping me become such a good defender.”
“Oh~ I heard Ju Ji-tae used to be a midfielder. The sudden change of position must have been thanks to the coach.”
“That’s right. The coach’s advice played a very important role in changing my position.”
“Wow~ It’s such a heartwarming coach-player relationship!”
People who were expecting Ju Ji-tae as a midfielder would be disappointed by this, pouring their disappointment onto Kim Seok-du.
Ju Ji-tae felt pleased.
Ah, life is good~
