80 – Second Semester Preparation
080
Munich, boasting a rich history and tradition since 1860, was once the protagonist of the ‘Munich Derby,’ one of Germany’s strongest teams that shook the entire country.
Of course, now it has fallen.
A few years ago, it even dropped to the third division, not even the second.
But recently, this fallen dynasty had changed.
Just as the fallen dynasty Leeds, famous during the rise, returned to the EPL and regained its status as a dynasty, 1860 Munich also seemed to be making a comeback to the Bundesliga, echoing its ‘Leeds era’ fame.
However, long-suffering fans, weary of false hopes, didn’t believe in the revival of the dynasty.
1860 Munich had returned to the Bundesliga before, but it was just a fleeting moment. It shone briefly and faded away.
Fans who had lost hope expected their team to face relegation once again, and indeed, in 1860 Munich, they were predicted to be the first in line for demotion. To make matters worse, the only signings that were somewhat promising and considered the last stronghold were two young talents from Asia.
So, even the long-time fans who didn’t harbor much hope for the team… witnessed a rocket-like surge as the season kicked off.
Being pegged as the top candidate for relegation shattered everyone’s expectations, and instead, the team embarked on a journey to claim the top spot in the league.
Regrettably, they conceded the top spot to local rivals Bayern Munich in the last game of the first half, but the fans remained unfazed. It felt more like a festival.
The team that was expected to face relegation was sitting comfortably in second place in the league until the winter break.
“Are we really witnessing this turnaround?”
“Even if we don’t win the league, a European competition spot is possible. We could make it to the Champions League… no, at least the Europa League.”
Fans who had left, worn out by the team’s seemingly hopeless performance, returned, and even those who were crafting fairy-tale stories about this miraculous team’s progress found themselves drawn to supporting it.
The success of the underdog invites cheers, while the triumph of the strong breeds jealousy.
The storm of success for 1860 Munich, previously evaluated as an overwhelmingly weak team, produced numerous fans, reminiscent of Leicester City’s surprising victory.
From long-time fans, returning fans, to newly attracted fans, even the board and the players were caught up in the sweetness of this unbelievable ascent. Yet, amid all this, there was one person who found solace in unrest.
“Goodness, I don’t even know anymore.”
It was none other than the maestro and commander of the 1860 Munich storm, Coach Willem Van Rodenbeek.
“Maybe if we pull Jo Jaeshin to the wing and arrange it like this… no, put Joo Jitae in the back and push the side defense up… or maybe raise Joo Jitae and…”
A fortnight of training to prepare for the second half.
Willem, who had sought changes in the existing tactics as analyzed and predicted, found himself shaking his head vigorously.
“It’s difficult. Too difficult. I have no idea what strategy to follow.”
If there was one significant factor that allowed 1860 Munich to excel this season, it was the acquisition of two promising Korean talents not for the present, but for the future.
Indeed, the performances of Joo Jitae and Jo Jaeshin were so remarkable that they astonished everyone.
However, the surge of Munich began before these two players were signed… more precisely, after Willem took command.
Willem, who had struggled even in the second division, revitalized the team and led them straight to promotion in the next season, becoming the driving force behind 1860 Munich’s comeback.
However, contrary to the achievements, Willem was unexpectedly unprepared as a coach.
Rather, he was closer to an unprepared coach.
After studying to become a leader following his retirement, Willem joined 1860 Munich as an ‘attack-specialized coach’ and, within just a year and a half, found himself becoming the interim coach, the only one left after the head coach and the entire staff departed.
That’s how Willem, an unprepared interim coach pressed for time, managed to overhaul the team facing relegation in the third division and secure their stay in the second division. And the transformed gameplay was a bonus.
Building on that success, he officially took over as the head coach and led them to promotion to the top division. It was an impressive achievement for an unprepared coach, pushing forward an attacking tactic that everyone had opposed… but even for Willem, enduring the recent pressure was challenging.
“Meisterchale…”
From the heightened expectations of the board and fans due to the team’s ascent to the looming Meisterschale.
“Perhaps running the game more stably than now… that might be the right thing for points.”
Amidst the pressure and unease, Willem found himself grappling with a dilemma he hadn’t encountered in his brief career as a coach: whether to prioritize defense over offense.
“Shifting Yan to the center and positioning Cho Jaeshin on the flank could maintain defensive operations while maintaining speed. Focus more on covering Ju Jitae…”
Willem, who had been contemplating abandoning his trademark ‘Duck Press’ for a defensive approach to secure points, suddenly faced an even greater dilemma.
“Ju Jitae, Cho Jaeshin.”
The driving force behind the team’s upward momentum this season, these two players, who could be considered Munich’s advancing alphas and omegas, posed a problem.
“Why on earth did they trigger the buyout… This is maddening.”
He hadn’t expected to keep a player performing at this level for long.
But at least, if there were no buyout, this season… with luck, they could have kept them until next year. Transferring a player with a significant time left on their contract always favored the club.
Of course, preventing player transfers could lead to significant repercussions, but ‘mid-season transfer restrictions’ and ‘European tournament qualifications’ were justifiable reasons to prevent transfers.
However, the moment the buyout was activated, all of this became nothing more than a mere dream.
A player displaying performance beyond the stipulated buyout became an absolute force in the transfer market, regardless of the contract period.
In this sense, with the winter transfer market now open, Ju Jitae and Cho Jaeshin were already absolute forces.
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They could leave the club at any moment.
Willem pondered, one dilemma after another.
His tactics revolved around the core of Ju Jitae and Cho Jaeshin. But what if these two were gone? With not just one but both core players vanished, what tactics could replace them?
The only way to prevent transfers was through persuasion… but could the young players truly resist the temptations of various prestigious teams?
Willem skimmed through the articles he had saved.
“Ju Jitae, who emerged as a global prospect in just half a season, valued like a Black Friday deal?”
“Possibility of Cho Jaeshin’s transfer surfacing! Buyout confirmed.”
“Will the pride of 1860 Munich, Korea’s super rookies, soon depart? Interest pouring in from numerous big clubs.”
It was evident even without specific mentions.
1860 Munich was not at a level where they could compete.
After much contemplation, Willem summoned the two players.
It’s tough, but there’s no way around it. It’s better to know decisively whether they’ll stay or leave to prepare for what’s to come.
Soon after entering the coach’s room, the two players noticed Willem’s troubled expression.
“You seemed to be going out for fun yesterday… What’s the matter?”
Seating the two, Willem immediately asked:
“Are you planning to transfer?”
“Yes.”
“…You are!?”
Like a spring jumping from its place, Joo Ji-tae casually responded to William’s exclamation.
“Yes, of course. I can’t retire here.”
“…Right away? I hear you’ve been receiving offers from quite a few places. Are you planning to transfer during the winter transfer window?”
Joo Ji-tae locked eyes with Jo Jae-shin.
It had been an agreed-upon story since signing the pro contract and had been discussed several times from the early stages of the season.
“No. At least, I’ll finish this season here.”
“What about next season?”
“I can’t give a definite answer to that.”
William, who wiped his mouth as he thought about avoiding the worst and still feeling insufficient, threw out a hint of ambition.
“If you advance to the European competition?”
“Obviously, I’ll consider it more positively.”
“Then… what if you win the Meisterschale?”
Meisterschale.
The championship cup of the Bundesliga.
Joo Ji-tae smiled slyly at the mention of a championship story that had not even been brought up when they were leading the league.
“Coach.”
“Uh, yeah. What is it?”
“Did you tell me and Jae-shin why we rejected other offers and chose here, 1860 Munich? Have you mentioned it?”
Coach William immediately responded.
“Because the competition for a starting position is not easy, right?”
“If you’re the coach, you should know that neither I nor Jae-shin is a player who worries about a starting position wherever we go.”
Of course, it was a lie.
One of the important reasons for choosing 1860 Munich was that the competition for a starting position was easy, and the coach promised to actively use them on the field.
“Hmm…”
This time, the answer didn’t come easily.
What could be the appealing factor of 1860 Munich to promising Asian talents? History? Tradition? Well… wouldn’t these factors be irrelevant to promising Asian talents?
It wasn’t as if there were other attractive factors, and if there was an advantage, it was perhaps,
“Is it because the hometown is in the center of Germany, Munich?”
“No.”
Joo Ji-tae smiled mischievously.
“I’ve met the director.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, you, director. Your captivating soccer seemed interesting.”
“Huh…”
Watching Willem’s surprise at the unexpected answer, Ju Ji-tae spoke.
“I know you must have a lot on your mind, but remember that the most important reason we chose this team is because of the entertaining soccer.”
Following Ju Ji-tae’s gaze, Willem soon discovered that the tactical board he had been planning for defensive strategies was scattered in disarray.
And that Ju Ji-tae had subtly given him an answer.
“That’s right. Yeah. Entertaining soccer… look forward to it. We’ll play very entertaining soccer even in the second half of the season.”
* * *
Second week of the training camp.
1860 Munich’s first sparring partner in the camp was Benevento Calcio, a Serie B team from Campania, Italy, located a bit away from Naples.
“The second Kim Min-jae… an extremely aggressive defender. Very promising.”
Having played only one season in Naples, Kim Min-jae, who left after just 33 years, appeared in another center-back position in the country that left a strong impression on Italian football fans in the short time he had shown impact.
The young and promising Domenico Lorenzo from Benevento Calcio, who was excited to face the player evaluated as the second Kim Min-jae, exclaimed,
“Ma cojoni! That’s not Kim Min-jae, it’s Piro!”
He clenched his head at the unexpected play of a defender who didn’t play like a typical defender.
