Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 98

< Season's End >

Honestly, Johan didn’t think he’d feel much, even if they won today’s game.

Because winning only truly mattered in the league; nothing else really did.

Winning today didn’t mean he could skip next year’s grind.

He’d worked hard mainly to vent his frustrations.

But, as soon as the final whistle blew, he felt something shift within him.

“Yessssss!”

“Uwooooo!”

The fans in the stands were shouting and jumping as if Wembley [Stadium in London, a famous football venue] was about to collapse.

“We did it!”

“We won! We won!”

“We’re the champions!”

The older players were screaming, hugging each other, collapsing to the ground in tears, and looking up to the sky in prayer, completely overwhelmed with emotion.

“As expected, the team changes as soon as this body arrives!” Capello was saying it arrogantly, but he was happier than anyone else.

“Khuk…”

And even Coach Schmidt, who usually didn’t show his emotions in front of the players, had tears welling up in his eyes.

“…”

Johan watched them all.

More than the fact that they beat Manchester City and won the FA Cup [Football Association Challenge Cup, an annual knockout competition in English football], it was seeing so many people united under the name of West Ham [a London-based football club] being genuinely happy.

Johan couldn’t help but clench his fist.

“Johan!”

So, even when Harry Kane ran over and hugged him, showering him with celebratory kisses as soon as the whistle blew, Johan hugged Kane back today.

It’s the first championship for everyone, but this old man’s moment feels a bit more special.

Because it’s the moment he achieved his lifelong wish.

For him, it’s like the moment he confirmed his retirement.

Considering that, he’s being a bit too clingy, but I should probably let it go.

‘I wonder where they are.’

Johan patted Kane on the back and looked towards the West Ham stands, which were a sea of emotion.

His family must be somewhere in there.

How happy must they be?

He’s already looking forward to getting off work.

To the moment he sees his dad, brother, and mom.

*

The moment they lifted the trophy was a bit awkward for everyone.

Of course.

It’s the first time for everyone.

A bit disorganized, the players and coaching staff all gathered on the podium.

And, with the confetti exploding, captain Tim Gordon lifted the FA Cup trophy.

“Yessssss!”

“Champions!”

“Campione!” [Italian for Champion]

The players and coaching staff were jumping for joy and thoroughly enjoying the championship celebration.

Everyone looked incredibly happy.

West Ham’s last FA Cup victory was in the 1979/80 season.

That’s about 50 years ago.

The heroes of the championship after 50 years were proud and basking in the victory with happy faces.

“Hey, old man. You go first.”

“Yeah. Let’s give this old man the second spot.”

“He came here just to lift this once, of course.”

After Gordon lifted the trophy, the players all pushed Harry Kane forward for the next turn.

Kane had only joined the team for about half a year, but he had wanted this trophy for over a decade.

Everyone knew that, so even though he was the newest member in terms of team seniority, they willingly gave Kane the opportunity to lift the trophy second.

“…”

Kane carefully received the trophy from Gordon.

Finally, Kane, who cherished the trophy in his arms like a baby,

“Yessssss!”

lifted the trophy high above his head and roared, as if releasing all his pent-up emotions.

Kane, who usually doesn’t show strong emotions, was expressing his feelings as purely as a child at this moment.

He looked the happiest he had ever been in his life.

“Okay, next is…”

“Kid! Lift it!”

“It’s your turn.”

After Kane’s celebration, Johan was pushed forward by the players this time.

Johan received the trophy with a more indifferent expression compared to Kane earlier.

How great would it have been if this was the league trophy instead of the FA Cup trophy.

If it were, he would have lifted the trophy even more happily than Kane.

“…”

But, that didn’t mean he was going to put on a lackluster show.

The fans, his older teammates, and his dad and brother.

He knew how much they wanted this trophy.

He didn’t want to disappoint them.

So,

Chuck-!

“Waaaaa!”

“Bani!”

“You earned it!”

Johan lifted the trophy 멋지게 [Korean for ‘coolly’ or ‘impressively’], and everyone cheered.

It was a fantastic night.

*

It was a hectic time until they left the stadium.

The players returned to the locker room and celebrated by popping champagne, and a dance party broke out.

Even the quiet Jonathan Neeson showed off a break dance, so everyone must have been really happy.

Anyway, the season wasn’t over yet.

Even if the result didn’t matter, West Ham had a 38th round game left, so the real party was postponed until later.

The players encouraged each other and left Wembley.

“Johan!”

“Kheuheut, my brother!”

“Son!”

When Johan, who came out of the stadium, appeared in the parking lot, his waiting family greeted him.

Except for Kim Ra-hee, the faces of the other two were quite a sight.

“…Did you cry?”

“Khuk, no. Why would I cry? On such a happy day.”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. Your dad squeezed out every tear and bit of snot he had.”

“This is called tears of joy, Johan. I’m really proud of you.”

“…Brother too?”

“Hehe.”

What happened that their hair is disheveled, their faces are red, and covered in tear marks?

They must have been that happy.

Hugging his dad and brother who were holding him tight, Johan suddenly recalled the past.

“…”

There were times when he thought he was born wrong.

Why was he born into a soccer family, and why was he born with this personality in a soccer family?

There were times when he didn’t like everything and hated it.

However, after playing for West Ham for the past year.

He seems to have changed his mind a bit.

Of course, soccer is still annoying.

But, he was grateful that he had the soccer talent of his family.

Well, a little bit.

Thanks to that, he was able to make everyone happy like this.

‘One more year…’

He wanted to retire this year no matter what.

He was extremely angry that he had to play one more year because of Manchester City.

But, he vented his anger against such Manchester City.

And being with his family who are so happy like this.

Johan,

thought that playing one more year might not be so bad.

ㆍㆍㆍ

-[FA Cup] West Ham Defeats Manchester City 2-0 to Win… First Trophy Since the 2000s

└I cried…

└A championship ㅜㅜ A championship!!! [Korean emoticon indicating tears of joy]

└Thank you, Coach Shu ㅠㅠ I believed in you… [Korean emoticon indicating tears of joy]

└When is the championship parade???

└I have no regrets even if I die

└It’s too early to die yet. We still have to see the league championship and the Champions League championship

-Fantastic Goal in the Finals, Johan Ban, Strong Even in Big Games… Ascends to Superstar Status

└First goal knuckleball, second goal bicycle kick ㄷㄷ [Korean slang expressing amazement]

└Proves that he is on a different level than a chicken like Rishard!!

└This is just the difference between a star and a superstar

└I’m not a West Ham fan, and I’m not an anti-Manchester City fan either. I felt so great watching yesterday’s game. I think he will bring the national team trophy to us

-Kane Escapes No-Win Situation, Tears of Joy… Johan Ban, Breaks the Curse

└West Ham Legend Harry Kane

└Trophy ghost ㄷㄷㄷ [Korean slang expressing amazement]

└Johan really has to respect this. He won the championship with Kane. Even if Messi comes back to life, it will be difficult

└Messi is alive and well, why are you killing him

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ [Korean slang for laughter]

└Let’s break the curse of the Champions League runner-up next year… But Johan should play in the finals like this time

└Kane is also ㅇㅈ [Korean slang for ‘ 인정’, meaning ‘ 인정합니다’, which translates to ‘I acknowledge’ or ‘I agree’]. He didn’t just freeload, he carried the team to the semi-finals

└Now it’s time to break England’s no-win streak, Johan. I’m counting on you for this Euro [UEFA European Championship]

└Euro and then the next World Cup!!!

-Manchester City, Frustrated by Treble Failure Due to Final Defeat, Preparing for Summer Transfer Market Immediately? Aiming for Johan Ban Again

└The rich get richer, stop bothering him, you bastards

└I kept thinking that while watching this final. We have to bring him no matter what

└Johan destroyed Rishard to the point where he couldn’t be seen. How much will they offer for the transfer fee?

└Rishard was 160 billion, so Johan will be over 200 billion at the very least

└I think 300 billion is possible ㅋㅋㅋ [Korean slang for laughter]

└I heard that the reason why he’s trying to win the championship and retire from Weham is because of the promise to take care of his food, clothing, and shelter for the rest of his life. If I were him, I would just go to Manchester City and play soccer while receiving a salary that I can’t use until I die

└But wouldn’t he not be able to retire after winning the championship? Salary is responsibility

└Let’s only make tears of joy flow from our father’s eyes, Johan. We believe in you.

-What is Johan’s Goal for Next Season? Still, “Just Retiring from West Ham.”

└I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you

└The Root

└If you have a conscience, give him a generous bonus, owners

└It’s not your money, so why are you telling them what to do ㅋ [Korean slang for laughter]

└It’s not my money, so I’m telling them what to do ㅅㅂ [Korean slang expressing frustration]

└But anyway, we can’t beat Manchester City with money. Wouldn’t it be best to help them win the championship rather than money? For example, signing an A-class player

└If we reinforce the center back and defensive midfielder… it would be perfect. We conceded a lot of goals this season

After the FA Cup final, the soccer world was bustling with post-final stories.

West Ham fans were thrilled every day.

The daily routine after the final was to turn on the internet, watch the final highlights about 5 times, and press like on all the related articles.

Go to the Manchester City article and tease them for taking away the treble [winning three major trophies in a single season], and why didn’t they win.

Even if you get scolded by your boss at work, fight with your girlfriend, or even if your stock drops a little.

West Ham fans could laugh.

Why?

“I’m a proud fan of the 2027/28 FA Cup winning team, West Ham. Because I’m a Hammer [nickname for West Ham supporters].”

The fact that gloomy London has become brighter is not just a matter of mood.

And,

That highlight was the championship car parade.

“This day is finally here.”

“A championship car parade. In front of my house. Is this a dream or reality.”

“Oh? Jimmy, you came out too? What about the store?”

“Hey, man. Can I watch the store now? Of course I closed it.”

“Good job. You can’t miss this moment. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? We’re going to do it next year, and the year after that.”

“Huh? Ah, hahaha! That’s right. I misspoke.”

The streets of London Stratford [district in East London] are crowded.

The road from Stratford Station to the home stadium, London Stadium.

The entire area was filled with fans wearing West Ham uniforms.

It was like a festival.

The fans, each with a can of beer in their hands, chatting and waiting for the parade to begin, looked happier than ever.

I wonder what fun they’ve been watching soccer for, when everyone is so happy.

“Oh, there! It’s coming!”

“Oh, it’s coming! Wow!”

As the club bus appeared, the street began to get even more noisy.

And, when the street got close enough and the faces of the players on the bus were visible,

“Waaaaaa!”

“Hammers! Hammers! Hammers!”

“It was 멋있었어! It was really 멋있었어!” [Korean for ‘cool’ or ‘awesome’]

The street was filled with a frenzy.

It was a fantastic atmosphere.

The fans who filled the streets waved and cheered at the players, coaches, and staff,

The players and coaching staff on the bus also responded by waving or roaring.

“Tim Gordon! Tim Gordon!”

“Berkeley! Berkeley!”

“Capello! Capello!”

The fans began to chant the names of the players one by one in turn.

Then, the players whose names were chanted came to the front and enjoyed the moment of becoming champions by holding up the trophy.

“Bani! Bani! Bani!”

Soon, Johan’s name begins to be chanted.

But,

It wasn’t Johan who appeared in the front.

“Huh? It’s not Bani Junior, it’s Bani Senior?”

It was Ban Seok-ho who appeared.

He was a little embarrassed, but soon a huge shout erupted.

“The Father of West Ham!”

“Father of the Year!”

“I told you to have a son, but you gave birth to a trophy, you!”

“You’re not you, you’re just God!”

Ban Seok-ho’s popularity goes without saying.

He is almost worshiped as the father of West Ham.

However, anyway, Ban Seok-ho didn’t get on the bus today to realize his popularity.

The reason he’s here today is only to replace Johan.

Attending the car parade is not mandatory… he just said he was going to sleep at home.

But, honestly, Johan is the one who made this car parade possible today, so it’s not right to just pass it over.

Ban Seok-ho had something prepared.

Chuck-!

“…Huh?”

When Ban Seok-ho lifted something other than the trophy, the fans tilted their heads for a moment.

What Ban Seok-ho lifted was a life-size panel of Johan.

-Johan is unable to attend today due to unavoidable personal circumstances. Johan is currently sleeping soundly at home.

At the sound coming from the loudspeaker on the bus, laughter erupted from the fans.

“Wahahahaha! That’s a personal matter worthy of him!”

“Okay! Sleep well! You worked hard!”

“He’s sleeping, he’s sleeping, he’s sleeping!”

Perhaps Johan will not have such controversies in the future no matter what happens.

Controversies such as losing his original intention and changing people.

Even after winning the FA Cup, Johan was Johan.

ㆍㆍㆍ

In the last game of the league this season, the 38th round against Brentford, West Ham achieved a clean end to the season.

It wasn’t a game that affected the league standings, but all the starters started to celebrate a successful season, and they won 3-0, finishing the season.

Also, the games of other teams were also finished, and the 2027/28 season of the Premier League [top level of the English football league system] also ended.

Usually, at this time of year, soccer fans are worried about what to do until the next season starts.

Summer without soccer is the hardest time of the year.

However, there was no need to worry about that this year.

2028 was a blessed year to play soccer all year round.

-Euro 2028 Final Participants All Confirmed! Group Draw Next Week!

-England, the Country with the Best Striker in Europe, Johan Ban! Emerges as the Top Candidate for the Championship!

-What is the Worst Group and the Best Group for England?

Some say it’s harder to win than the World Cup.

The UEFA Euro 2028 was about to begin.