Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

47 – Victory

047

From Noble mtl dot com

Having experience doesn’t necessarily mean having high leadership.

Like any other talent, leadership is innate.

However, just like other talents, it can be improved through experience. While having a lot of experience doesn’t necessarily mean high leadership, it is natural that the probability of a player having high leadership increases with abundant experience.

And Jun Ji-tae, despite appearances, was a veteran among veterans with a professional career spanning 16 years.

Ten years on the European stage, and if we consider his experience in the top four leagues in Europe, known as the Big Leagues, it adds up to eight years.

Well, most of his European experience had nothing to do with leadership, but still, in Germany, the culmination of his European career, he was considered a player with some “name value” and took on the role of a seasoned player.

But he had never served as captain.

That was natural.

From an external perspective, the captain’s position might not seem like a big deal, but in reality, it demands a lot.

It’s improbable for a minority, even a minor Asian, and not someone with exceptional skills or exemplary personal life, to take on such a position.

Rather than an example, Jun Ji-tae should be more of a “counterexample.”

No matter how seasoned and experienced a player is, a normal team wouldn’t appoint a troublemaker like Jun Ji-tae as captain.

Even at the end of his career, when returning to the domestic league and preparing for retirement, he briefly took on the role of vice-captain. Still, that was a time when he could demonstrate leadership with the end of his career in sight… But what kind of influence could a reject player, accompanied by all sorts of personal rumors, exert in the locker room?

In the end, despite his long career, Jun Ji-tae had no opportunity to demonstrate leadership worthy of his experience.

Of course, his long foreign life, player experience, mental and perceptual skills developed through various rumors, could be considered excellent assets. But originally, that alone was insufficient for him to be entrusted with the captain’s armband.

But standing here wasn’t an aging veteran on the verge of retirement.

Far from retiring, it was a player on the brink of starting his professional career, full of vitality.

If such a player possessed mental strength and adaptability, along with perception, equal to or surpassing a veteran, what then?

What if I possessed overwhelming skills?

In the realm of professionals, skill ultimately speaks for itself. Even without innate leadership, outstanding skills bestow authority. Not to mention when combined with the experience of a seasoned veteran.

That is the essence of an excellent leader.

“Huh? Jitae is the captain?”

“Joo Jitae as the captain…?”

Therefore, after Coach Jang Giseok decided to pass the captain’s armband to Joo Jitae instead of the vice-captain Song Hoon following his injury departure, the players had no objections.

“Well… if it’s Jitae, isn’t it okay?”

“He’s acknowledged. He’s not just young; he’s skilled and has a good personality.”

Everyone agreed without any complaints.

“Why is Jitae the captain? Ah, this is a bit… This isn’t right.”

… Of course, there was one dissenting voice, Jo Jaesin.

* * *

‘A captain.’

Jitae’s emotions were complex as he toyed with the yellow armband on his forearm.

A troublemaker, a rascal, considered a waste of talent, and the embodiment of (negative) “Houdini.” On the other hand, he, who was once hailed as the representative player of the corrective teacher, never imagined the day he would wear the captain’s armband.

He never expected it.

Even after Captain Song Hoon was injured, and it was confirmed he couldn’t play in the final, Jitae naturally thought the vice-captain would take over. He never imagined he would be chosen as the new captain.

This was an ingrained belief built up over the course of his life since the first round.

The fixed notion that he was a player who could never, and should never, become a captain.

Even though he had regressed, even though things had changed, he didn’t consider himself as someone with the aura of a captain.

“Playing 16 years as a pro, and this is the first time I’ve worn the captain’s armband.”

Once appointed as captain, the feeling wasn’t as bad as he had thought.

…Rather, it was good.

Now, the passion and enthusiasm he thought had completely faded were rekindled.

Just because he had earned one armband, a sense of responsibility emerged—

‘As a captain, I should showcase a performance to be proud of.’

Yes.

His heart fluttered.

As if he were starting to play football for the first time.

And the expression on Jitae’s face, filled with excitement—

“That guy is Korea’s ace? He looks tougher than in the pictures… Is he really 17?”

“Don’t let his face fool you. He may look young, but his skills are legit.”

“…Even with that foolish expression?”

“Haha, it’s for real. It’s like he’s making that face after having a drink with a girl for the first time yesterday.”

Uruguay turned into a nightmare.

Uruguay was quite familiar to Ju Ji-tae.

Or, to be precise, Uruguay’s ace, Fernando Alvarez, was familiar. He had risen to a level that any soccer player would recognize.

Fortunately, Fernando Alvarez didn’t participate in this U-20 World Cup.

It’s not that he lacked the skills. On the contrary, he was so outstanding that he refused the call-up from Real Madrid.

He was not just a promising talent.

Last year, at the age of 18, he scored an impressive 13 goals for Real Madrid, already shedding the label of a promising player.

Like Argentina’s Rodrigo Sivio or England’s Andrew McNeil, exceptional talents who played as regulars in the first team, he was a special nutrient for Ju Ji-tae’s body, but if it was him, Fernando Alvarez, even Ju Ji-tae couldn’t guarantee victory. He was a true genius, difficult to predict even for Ju Ji-tae, who had witnessed him competing against Cho Jae-shin even after his body broke down during his time in Spain.

If he had been called up, predicting the outcome of the final would have been difficult, but with Uruguay without him, it was a different story.

Ju Ji-tae had a sense of victory before today’s game even started.

And that was clearly proven as soon as the game began.

True to a team on the brink of victory, the Uruguayan players launched an aggressive attack from the start.

The dazzling passing play of three attackers, skilled in South American technical and unconventional play, and three creative midfielders supporting them, was undoubtedly impressive.

It was a high-level play that clearly explained why Uruguay had reached the final stage and why they could aim for victory.

“Jae-min, on the left! I’ll cover, so press forward!”

“My ball! Spread out!”

“Get the one going back! Kyun-oh, follow him!”

“I’ll take care of it! Hold your position!”

No one could penetrate the excitement of Ju Ji-tae, who took on the role of captain for the first time in his life.

“Ji-tae seems unusually excited today.”

“He’s full of energy in his plays. It’s much easier when he’s playing like that.”

Even brilliant dribbles, sharp passes, and even subtle fouls didn’t get through to Ju Ji-tae.

Today’s Ju Ji-tae was an impenetrable wall.

Having successfully repelled the early offensive, Ju Ji-tae continued with his characteristic aggressive play.

“Push forward!”

“Gong Ji-hoon! Back me up!”

Starting from the pass that split the defense on the ground to the dribble breakthrough crossing the half-line.

And,

“Uh, uh…?”

Kicking the flowing ball as it is, he successfully scored an incredible long-range goal from 35 meters.

It wasn’t that Uruguay lacked strength or was unprepared.

It’s just that Joo Ji-tae was too strong.

“At last, the long-awaited wish is fulfilled!! Korea, U-20 World Cup Champions!!”

“Joo Ji-tae 1 goal, Cho Jae-shin 2 goals! Korea crushes Uruguay 4-0!”

“Pink love blossoming in the final, the beauty who witnessed Joo Ji-tae from the stands?”

“Asia’s first, Korea’s first record achieved by Jang Ki-seok-ho”

“The unprecedented attacking points recorded by the center-back with ‘2 goals and 4 assists'”

“6 games, 4 MOM! The amazing performance of Joo Ji-tae!!”

“Joo Ji-tae, the second Golden Ball for Korea after Lee Kang-in! Cho Jae-shin with 9 goals takes the Golden Shoe!”

There was no turning back.

Uruguay, aiming for victory, knelt before South Korea led by Joo Ji-tae, losing 4-0. Joo Ji-tae received the ‘Golden Ball’ awarded to the best player of the tournament, and Cho Jae-shin, with 9 goals and 3 assists, received the ‘Golden Shoe’ as the top scorer, achieving the best results both as a team and individually.

The Korea Football Association, with the success of the long-term youth project, experienced a boom, and Coach Jang Ki-seok, who achieved victory in the World Cup following the Asian Cup, was already mentioned as a leading candidate for the next senior national team coach, becoming a ‘master.’

Players like Song Hoon, who had shown outstanding performance as the team captain, and Yoo Gi-tae, the former ace of the national team, were called up to the first team and rose from the bench to become key players, while other players used their dazzling careers as a stepping stone for advancement during this busy period.

The two players who should have been the most talked about, Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin—

“World Cup heroes who entered hiding, witnessed in Germany”

“Where are Joo Ji-tae and Cho Jae-shin heading?”

“Considered destinations for the two players?”

“Top agency representative Jung Seon-woo witnessed in London, creating a stir towards the EPL!”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Sevilla club owner Lopez hints at acquisition, saying ‘Korea’s two gems are suitable for La Liga'”

They were finally enjoying a comfortable break.

In Germany.

* * *

“Alright, the fire has ignited.”

Joo Ji-tae laughed satisfactorily as he sifted through the pouring transfer rumors.

Not only in Korea but also in Germany and beyond, from the UK to Spain and Italy, transfer rumors were pouring in.

The domestic agencies are doing quite well. While transfers don’t happen solely based on a mix of rumors and gossip-filled articles, the sensationalism is undeniably trustworthy.

Sensationalism must be reciprocated; if it’s one-sided, it loses its sparkle.

In that sense, this level of sensationalism requires the convergence of public, media, and club attention toward the player.

“Should we raise the contract terms more than expected?”

That’s when it happened.

The vibrating interruption on Joo Ji-tae’s joyful reverie came from his smartphone.

It was a single photo.

“Huh? Oh. Is it already time? Let’s see… Today, what about Yejin noona’s panties—oh?”

A snapshot of a flight ticket to Germany.