Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 11

< 010. An Unwanted Call-Up >

“Ah, you won’t allow it?”

“That, I cannot allow. That’s a one-way ticket to becoming an irredeemable fatty!”

At his father’s firm words, Johan couldn’t help but fall into deep despair.

He scored four goals.

He scored four goals, yet no Nutella!

If he can’t have Nutella, then what did he run for 90 minutes for!

Johan felt a sense of unbelievable betrayal, as if his knees were buckling.

“Tell me something else instead. I’ll grant you anything you want.”

“…Then I’ll quit soccer.”

“Th-that’s not allowed. Something else.”

“Nutella. Or retirement. I want nothing else.”

“That kid…”

Watching Johan sprawled out on the grass from the stands, Ban Seok-ho sighed, then burst into a hearty laugh again.

He couldn’t allow Nutella no matter what, but right now, he felt like granting him anything.

Ban Seok-ho had come to the stadium to watch his son’s game.

Ban Seok-ho watched the entire game without sitting down once.

It was an inevitable reaction to the game.

Just seeing Johan wearing the West Ham uniform and running around on the field made his heart burst, but he even scored goals, four of them.

“He’s my blood, after all.”

Watching today’s game, he felt regretful for his own lack of ability to capture Johan’s heart sooner.

If he had managed to get him focused even a year earlier, he could have debuted in the Premier League as the youngest player.

‘A first-team debut…’

People’s greed is endless.

Just a few days ago, Ban Seok-ho was overwhelmed just by Johan being on the field.

And yesterday, he couldn’t sleep just knowing that Johan would be playing in a game.

But,

Seeing him perform so well today.

He started to get greedy again.

First team, professional debut.

When would it be?

With Johan’s talent, wouldn’t it be possible as early as next season?

These days, it’s not uncommon for seventeen or eighteen-year-olds to debut in the first team.

‘Of course, it’s a father’s greed.’

But even if it didn’t happen right away, it didn’t matter.

It hadn’t even been a week since he joined the academy.

For him to start in a youth league game was already amazing, unbelievable.

It would be a miracle if he continued playing soccer until next year.

He was ready to watch Johan with plenty of patience.

Ban Seok-ho didn’t know yet.

That his greed would be fulfilled much sooner than he thought.

***

“Alright. I’ll check it out when I have time. Huh? Check it out right away? Alright, alright.”

The gray-haired first-team coach of West Ham United, Michael Schmidt, hung up the phone and let out a bland laugh.

It was a call from Maxwell, the manager of the U18 [Under 18 years old] team.

There was a youth league game against Chelsea today, and he sent a video of the game, asking him to check it out.

“That guy is too impatient.”

Maybe because he’s a young coach, Maxwell is impatient.

Some might call it passionate.

What’s the rush to have him check it out right away?

“Let’s see.”

Well, since he asked him to check it out, he should check it out.

Coach Schmidt grumbled but turned on his laptop and put on his reading glasses.

“Number 19, he said.”

What Maxwell wanted him to pay attention to in the video,

Was the striker wearing number 19.

“Hmm.”

Since the player he wanted to show was a striker, he understood why Maxwell was in such a hurry.

Striker.

The position that has been a chronic problem for West Ham recently was the striker position.

West Ham is currently ranked 9th in the league.

It’s not a high ranking, but it’s not a low ranking either.

In today’s PL [Premier League], which is virtually called the Super League.

9th out of those 20 teams isn’t a bad result.

However, the fans were quite dissatisfied with the 9th place ranking.

Because it seemed like they could go higher than 9th.

There’s no problem with finishing 9th with a team that deserves 9th, but if you finish 9th with a team that could be 6th, that’s definitely a problem.

However, the fans weren’t blaming Coach Schmidt or the players.

There was no problem with that.

Coach Schmidt, who is being praised for showcasing German practical soccer with his own style, was even nicknamed “Old Man” and was receiving support from the fans.

The team also had plenty of decent resources.

However, there was only one problem.

If there was one problem, it was the absence of a striker.

The absence of a traditional striker.

It’s not that there were no forwards at all.

There were wingers with scoring ability, and there were players who could play in all attacking positions.

But the problem was that there was no traditional striker that people usually think of when they think of “number 9.”

A traditional striker.

Even though the concept of a traditional striker is becoming increasingly blurred in today’s trend,

In the end, the difference between having a striker and not having one is clear.

West Ham had lost points many times because they lacked a finisher to seal the deal.

It’s good for the attackers to score evenly, but having one reliable source of goals is also a great weapon.

That’s why they couldn’t help but feel a thirst for a striker this season.

The club was well aware of that.

Coach Schmidt had also been consistently voicing the need for a striker to the club.

As the end of the season approached and the summer transfer market was approaching.

The club had already promised Coach Schmidt a big signing.

They decided to invest the maximum amount of available funds to bring in a reliable striker.

“Number 19… Number 19… Ah, here it is.”

That was the situation.

Even after playing the video, Coach Schmidt didn’t seem very focused.

Of course, using a player raised in the youth system is better than investing a huge amount of money to bring in a player.

Moreover, West Ham’s youth academy has been consistently producing good players.

However, what West Ham needed now was a striker who could be used as a starter right away.

The club had already promised to bring in such a striker.

So,

It was natural that Coach Schmidt wasn’t very focused on the video.

“My eyes are getting blurry every day, this is a problem.”

Coach Schmidt was handling other tasks while watching the video.

There were many things to take care of besides watching the video.

However,

It wasn’t long before.

“…”

Coach Schmidt’s hand had stopped at some point.

The same was true for his gaze.

At some point, Coach Schmidt’s gaze was fixed on the laptop screen.

Coach Schmidt frowned and looked at the laptop over his glasses.

“…Hoo.”

The number 19 in the video that Maxwell mentioned.

The play that number 19 was showing was catching his eye.

“Jamie! Jamie, are you there?”

“Yes! What is it, Coach?”

“Zoom in on this, make it bigger!”

“Oh, come on. I’ve told you several times that you can press here for full screen, Old Man.”

“When you get to this age, there’s no room to remember things like that, you rascal.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

“It’s easier to call you than to press that button.”

“Sigh. But, what is it? Who is this kid?”

Jamie, who is called the head coach outside but is called a volunteer who takes care of the Old Man in the team, sits next to him.

And,

They naturally began to be fascinated by the play that number 19 was showing in the video.

***

“Phew. I should eat just one more plate.”

“You’re eating again?”

“I’ve only had four plates.”

“Should I tell Dad about this…”

“Sigh. If you touch this, I won’t come to the training ground?”

“Ah, okay. Okay. Eat as much as you want.”

Since joining the academy,

Everything was 싫었지만 [sireotjiman – disliked it], there was only one thing he liked.

The club provides meals.

The West Ham Academy was running a buffet for players who were growing up.

And Johan was the major shareholder of the buffet.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

“The other kids barely eat, but you eat so well. It’s good to see.”

Not long after joining, Johan was monopolizing the love of the cafeteria ladies.

Mothers’ hearts wanting to feed them anything more are universal.

They couldn’t help but adore him because he would clean up even the leftovers after he came.

“Shall we start again?”

“You brought more than the first plate.”

However,

There was someone who was watching Johan with worried eyes.

“It’s okay to eat like that now, but he shouldn’t eat like that when he becomes an adult.”

“It reminds me of a player who loved hamburgers.”

“If he doesn’t reduce his appetite or increase his exercise, something really bad will happen.”

“I’m surprised that he’s in that shape now, even though he’s at that age.”

Maxwell and the coaches, who were eating in one corner of the cafeteria, said while looking at Johan.

He doesn’t train the most, but he eats so much that they can’t help but worry.

Even if his basal metabolic rate is high, his body could swell up in an instant if he keeps eating like that.

Maxwell shrugged his shoulders.

But he didn’t seem to need to worry too much.

A master of player management was waiting for Johan.

“Johan! Can you come here for a second?”

Maxwell called out to Johan, who was about to leave the cafeteria after finishing his meal.

He had something important to say.

“Why?”

“Johan. Well, it was a good time, even though it was a very short time. I hope you train a little harder and exercise harder in the future.”

“?”

Maxwell said, patting Johan on the shoulder.

Why the sudden farewell?

“Coach, did you get fired?”

“What? Why would I get fired?”

“You’re talking like you’re leaving suddenly.”

“It’s not that I’m leaving, you idiot. You’re the one who’s leaving. You don’t have to come to work here from next week.”

“…!”

You don’t have to come to work from next week?

Johan’s pupils widened more than ever.

Really?

Is it real?

The moment Johan was about to shout for joy.

Maxwell continued.

“Instead, go to the first team training ground. Coach Schmidt called you.”

“…Yes?”

“That’s what it means. He called you to the first team.”

“…Why?”

“Why? I showed him the video of the last game, and he called you to see you. So, do well there too. Train a little harder.”

“…”

Johan’s arms, which were about to shout for joy, fell limply.

No, really.

Since coming here, he’s only heard desperate news every day.

He was told to go to the game three days after joining, and now what? He’s told to go to the first team?

The intensity of the first team’s training was definitely incomparable to the academy.

Here, they train after school.

Don’t they have to train there from morning?

“Can… Can’t I not go…”

“What do you mean you can’t go? You have to go when they call you. Other kids are waiting for them to call them.”

“I don’t want to go…”

“Hey. Don’t say things like that when you’re full. Well, you’ve been eating so much, so you can’t be full.”

He wanted to leave so badly until just now, but now everything here looks lovely.

He doesn’t want to leave.

Johan begs them not to send him.

However,

Maxwell dismissed it in one word.

“The food is better in the first team than here.”

“…”

Seriously.

Is the food better?

Do you think that’s so important?

“…Thank you for everything.”

It is important.

Johan bowed and left the cafeteria.

“That kid.”

Maxwell smiled as he watched Johan’s back.

Maxwell thought while sipping his coffee.

As the league is heading towards the end.

The first team’s ranking was almost confirmed.

Therefore, the remaining games were not very meaningful in terms of winning or losing.

It was a good time to test promising players.

Coach Schmidt called Johan right away, probably thinking of seeing him at this time.

This was not a rare case.

Giving promising players the opportunity to train with first-team players can give them a lot of experience.

Players who have tasted the first team, even for a short time, definitely have different skills.

But,

What should I say.

Johan, that kid, seemed like he would be a different case from those kids.

“Coach Smith. Wanna make a bet?”

“A bet? What kind of bet, Coach?”

“Johan, that friend. How long will it take for him to come back to our team? Let’s guess.”

“Hmm. Well? Won’t he come in a month when the season ends?”

“Really?”

One month later.

Maxwell’s thoughts were different.

“I don’t think he’ll come back. That friend. I don’t know why… I just have a feeling.”

He had a feeling that Johan wouldn’t come back.

To the under 18 team.