LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 256
Roy Hodgson, the manager, looked at Son Jinho, whose expression was clearly one of bewilderment.
There was no special reason for him to want to make Son Jinho the captain.
It was simply because, as he had stated, Son Jinho was the perfect candidate for the captain of the England National Team.
Son Jinho possessed exceptional football skills and had the best career, being a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, acknowledged by other players.
While the former captain, Wayne Rooney, also had great skills and a stellar career,
there was something important that Son Jinho had which Wayne Rooney did not.
[Right after the match, Son Jinho smilingly greeted Pep Guardiola.]
That was, of course, his rivalry spirit.
Son Jinho had a less pronounced rivalry ethos compared to other British players toward their home clubs.
Although he owned a club called Manchester United, it was rare to see him show affection for it.
Instead, he seemed to have a greater affection for Dortmund.
While Son Jinho was suitable in every aspect, not everyone welcomed his appointment as captain.
– “Manager, no matter what, having an Asian represent British football seems a bit… The frogs might look down on us.”
The issue arose due to his skin color.
– “Can you say that to Jinho’s face?”
But who would dare openly discriminate against him?
He had enough resources to own Manchester United.
[Media identifies Son Jinho as the most difficult player to interview.]
└ It’s no surprise, he’s the owner, lol.
└ I still remember the reporter being super polite while asking Son Jinho, lol.
└ What happened to that reporter who made those discriminatory comments last time?
└ I heard Manchester United permanently banned the newspaper for any discriminatory remarks.
└ The staff of Manchester United must have been shocked to see a reporter being racist to the owner, lol.
└ Wow, just imagining it leaves me dizzy.
It was no wonder that even the notoriously unfriendly British press approached Manchester United cautiously after his takeover.
The moment skill, wealth, and authority combined, everything else became special.
From the moment Son Jinho took over the big club Manchester United, he was more special than any football player.
If he lacked leadership, perhaps there would have been a bit of hesitation in appointing him as captain,
– “Jinho? Hmm… he has excellent leadership. The younger players follow him well.”
– “Chris is the captain, but… most of them follow Jinho’s cues better.”
I heard from the Manchester United players that Son Jinho was fulfilling the role of captain at the club. Whether that was out of consideration for the owner, I couldn’t say.
[Marcus Rashford comments on Son Jinho: “I respect him as a football player before anything, even as the owner.”]
However, based on interviews and other sources, it appeared that Son Jinho was indeed respected by the younger players, which was more than sufficient for performing the duties of the England captaincy.
‘The football player’s football player.’
At present, if I were to summarize Son Jinho’s status, that would be a fitting description.
Perhaps, akin to how Lionel Messi stands today, in the future, Son Jinho might become the icon of the sport of football.
Anyway, Son Jinho was a necessary figure for England, plagued by faction issues.
God had indeed sent Son Jinho to the England National Team at a perfectly timed moment.
‘No, it was South Korea that sent Jinho.’
I wished I could write a thank-you letter to the nation of South Korea that sent Son Jinho to England and post it on social media.
‘If only the faction problem could be resolved… we could actually win the Euro this time.’
Roy Hodgson started quietly dreaming of winning a major tournament.
*
I agreed to wear the captain’s armband for England following Roy Hodgson’s proposal.
Initially, I panicked thinking he wanted me to split the England team to eliminate factions, but after receiving the armband and reflecting on it more, I realized Hodgson had no alternatives besides me.
It wouldn’t look good for the owner of a mega club like Manchester United to be under the orders of just any player.
After all, Wayne Rooney, who wore the captain’s armband before me, must have felt uncomfortable taking orders from the club owner too, right?
No matter how much more individualistic Europe is than Korea,
it wouldn’t be easy to command the highest authority of a previous workplace.
And in reality, my taking on the captain’s role was accepted more easily than expected.
Although we were on the same national team, as the owner of a major club, I had to maintain a level of ‘respect.’
Of course, there were a few grumpy racist folks with sour faces, but when I quietly observed, they had to manage their expressions.
*
[Son Jinho appointed captain of the England National Team.]
└ Our little bro became captain? Are they nuts?
└ He’s not the youngest, there’s Rashford and Dele Alli, lol.
└ Still, the youngest line has a captain, lol.
└ True, he is from the youngest line, but he’s a two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
└ Damn, that’s a massive gap in career, lol.
└ Not to mention, he’s the owner of Manchester United.
└ For real, they have to give him the captaincy, lol.
[Roy Hodgson on Son Jinho’s captaincy… “He is the right fit to solve England’s problems.”]
[Is Jinho about to solve England’s chronic faction issues?]
*
Not long after being appointed captain of the England National Team, we transitioned to France, the host country of Euro 2016.
Ahead of the tournament, Roy Hodgson permitted the wives and girlfriends (WAGS) to visit.
– Winter: Ah… I want to go too!!!!
– Winter: Why can’t I go!!!
But Winter decided to stay in England to ensure the safety of baby Haseong.
– Cheolmo: Haeun wants to watch football, so I’ll take her to France.
– Father-in-law: Hmm? I can take Haeun to France too, you know?
– Cheolmo: ^^?
– Father-in-law: Oh, I suddenly remembered I have plans with a friend.
– Cheolmo: Honey.
– Father-in-law: Yes?
– Cheolmo: Be good ^^.
Meanwhile, my mother-in-law used Haeun’s desire to watch football as an excuse to come to France.
She spent time touring Paris with Haeun.
On the day before the Euro 2016 event commenced, Roy Hodgson provided the players with the opportunity to meet their families.
I headed straight to a hotel near the England team’s accommodation to see my daughter.
“Daddy─!!”
Haeun spotted me in the hotel lobby and ran over to hug me, chattering nonstop with her little voice.
“I climbed super high today!”
“Oh my, really? Were you scared?”
“Nope! Haeun loves high places! I’m all grown up! I’m an adult!”
I let out a light laugh and playfully pinched Haeun’s cheek.
“Hehe.”
Haeun giggled as well.
As I spent precious moments with my daughter, suddenly—
Vroom─!
I heard the vibration of my phone. The culprit was Cristiano Ronaldo.
– ‘Ballon d’Or 1’: Son Jinho!!
– ‘Ballon d’Or 1’: Finally, the time has come!
– ‘Ballon d’Or 1’: In this tournament, we’ll determine who the true Ballon d’Or winner really is, you or me!
– ‘Hiking Ballon d’Or’: I’ll be waiting at the top!
– ‘Dummy Ballon d’Or’: Come up!! Son Jinho!!
Well, I didn’t feel the need to reply.
– ‘Understanding Ballon d’Or’: Hmmm.
– ‘Understanding Ballon d’Or’: Looks like he went to bed early for condition management.
He would understand on his own without a response.
That evening, after spending precious time with Haeun, I returned to my accommodation and went to sleep.
The next day.
The UEFA Euro 2016 tournament kicked off with the match between host country France and Romania.
*
Thanks to Roy Hodgson allowing us to spend time with family?
[England wins all group stage matches! Advances as group leader to the Round of 16.]
England emerged victorious in all their group stage matches.
Although they struggled slightly against Wales, narrowly securing the win,
after all, a win is a win.
[England National Team facing criticism for repeated poor performances….]
Despite the win, the dismal performance drew criticisms that could make one’s eyes rot.
Yet, Roy Hodgson didn’t bat an eye.
“The tournament has just begun, and we will prove ourselves with results in this competition.”
He always kept me, the captain, by his side, and I managed to suppressed the intensity of journalists’ remarks by simply being present.
“Jinho, you alright? Anyway, British media can be too extreme.”
In any case, despite the media’s concerns, the atmosphere within the England National Team was increasingly improving.
Now even players from Liverpool and Manchester United were dining at the same table.
Although I still needed to be the stabilizing force, that was good enough.
Remembering the struggles of the past, I quietly wiped away a tear.
*
Meanwhile, at that moment.
[Portugal to be eliminated in the group stage?]
[‘Underperforming’ Cristiano Ronaldo, needs to awaken.]
Ronaldo’s Portugal, which aimed for the top, was facing elimination with two draws.
Upon reading the article, Son Jinho immediately messaged Ronaldo.
– Ho-woo: ?
Sending a single question mark at this unexpected situation, but was it what triggered Ronaldo?
Awakened Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Hungary, securing a self-advance to the Round of 16 in second place in the group.
*
[England wins 2-0 against Northern Ireland.]
[England 2:1 Belgium.]
We faced Northern Ireland in the Round of 16 and overpowered Belgium in the quarter-finals.
“Kevin.”
“Jinho?”
“Coming to Man U?”
I sneakily persuaded Kevin, who was considering a transfer after the match against Belgium. After Jürgen Klopp stepped down from the manager position at Dortmund due to burnout, Kevin De Bruyne was contemplating a return to the Premier League.
Well, from our conversation, it seemed his heart was leaning towards Manchester City,
but I still hoped he would come to Manchester United. I wanted to play alongside him on the same team.
In any case, after winning against Belgium, we met Lewandowski’s Poland in the semi-finals.
[England National Team wins 4-0 against Poland.]
[Jinho, scores a multi-goal performance.]
[England National Team grows stronger as time passes.]
[UK media: “There aren’t enough matches; they should have started from the Round of 64…”]
We cruised to victory.
– Lewandowski: Jinho, since you’re up, go ahead and win it all.
– Ho-woo: Yeah. You recover well from injury too.
Lewandowski, who missed the Champions League final due to injury, participated in the Euro while taking painkillers but, not being in proper condition, couldn’t showcase solid performances and failed in preventing his team from losing.
[Portugal defeats host country France to reach the final.]
And the final opponent for England was set as Portugal.
I had come first, but it seemed I kept up my end of the promise with Cristiano Ronaldo.
[Cristiano Ronaldo raises allegations about Son Jinho’s Ballon d’Or win. “In this final, we’ll determine the true owner of the Ballon d’Or.”]
[Son Jinho responds to Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or controversy… “If Chris had performed better in the Champions League final, he would have won the Ballon d’Or, right?”]