Free Web NovelMyungsoo returned to London to continue his schedule, and I remained in Leeds to meet with Hiddink.
“I know you took over as manager right after the World Cup ended and haven’t even had a proper break since then. You worked hard this season.”
Hiddink hadn’t been given even a modest rest period before taking the helm of Leeds United.
Both a national team coach and a club manager must command people, lead them, and place them in the right positions. It was a job that consumed enormous mental energy.
But he shook his head and replied firmly.
“My memories from Korea left a very strong impression on me. Because of that, I developed a desire to take charge of a club again. If I hadn’t met you, Charlie, I might be sitting in the manager’s seat of a club in my home country right now. Either way, I would have ended up working without rest.”
Well, Hiddink had always been a passionate man.
I nodded and poured wine into his glass.
“Do you know this? People in Korea still miss you. And as soon as you grabbed the baton for Leeds United, didn’t you lift the league trophy? Thanks to that, everyone seems to be criticizing the Korea Football Association. Asking why they didn’t renew your contract.”
At my words, Hiddink burst into loud laughter.
“I did everything I could in Korea and delivered the best possible results. Even if I accepted the job again, there would’ve been nothing more I could do. So leaving when the applause is loudest was the right decision.”
Of course, the Football Association did try to renew his contract.
More accurately, they only pretended to try. Because they didn’t like a competent manager who undermined their cartel.
“And... this is a bit awkward to say, but honestly, I never want to work with the Korea Football Association again. They recommend players who have no business being on the national team, or threaten me to start certain players. The interference was unbearable...”
As expected, criticism of the Football Association spilled from his mouth.
Hiddink frowned and raised his glass, drinking his wine.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I can’t even count how many fights we had. They tried to sack me so many times. I even thought about voluntarily resigning. I endured only because of the players.”
His complaints poured out endlessly, but I didn’t stop him. The Football Association’s dirty behavior wasn’t a recent thing.
Of course he’d be sick of them. I just silently nodded.
Hiddink put down his wine glass, gave a strange smile, and spoke to me.
“More than that... reporters I’m close with keep contacting me. After congratulating me, they always ask about you, Charlie. They’re more curious about the club owner than the manager. Apparently the internet is full of rumors already.”
Ellen said something similar yesterday. She told me that Korean media outlets were bombarding the club with questions about what country the owner was from.
“So what did you say?”
It was a Premier League match broadcast worldwide.
I appeared as the club owner and spoke directly to the fans.
At the club owned by Dreamhigh Investment, it wasn’t James but me giving the speech.
Of course Korean media would be extremely interested.
Hiddink shrugged lightly and answered casually.
“I told them there was no reason for me to answer. But Charlie, even if it’s not through me, your identity will be revealed one way or another.”
He was right. That’s why I didn’t decline the broadcast yesterday and showed up publicly.
If it was going to be revealed anyway, it was better to be known as the owner of a Premier League club.
The development of the internet was completely transforming how information was spread through the media. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Even if you tried to block Korean news articles about me, there was always a limit.
“From now on, if anyone asks, just introduce me as the co-CEO of Dreamhigh Investment. You can also say that my nationality is Korean.”
Up to that point, I didn’t mind being known publicly.
Dreamhigh’s image wasn’t bad in Korea anyway.
“That much is fine.”
“Understood. I kept getting persistent calls, so I thought I should throw them something. Thank you.”
Hiddink nodded, relieved.
Enough small talk. Time to get to °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the main point. I brought up the reason I scheduled today’s meeting with him—player transfers.
“Coach, are there any additional players you want to bring in? If you have someone in mind, please tell me.”
“Hmm... for now, I plan to strengthen the defense a bit more. Ferdinand is holding the center well, but... honestly Leeds is a bit unstable defensively.”
“Really? Is there someone you’ve been watching?”
“Charlie, before that, let me ask you a question.”
Hiddink straightened his posture, met my eyes, and asked seriously.
“You’re certain you’re giving me full authority on transfer decisions, right?”
“Yes. Absolutely. You have complete authority over the squad. The management will handle the negotiation of transfer fees and such. As long as they don’t demand a ridiculous fee, we can bring them.”
I had no intention of bringing in flashy players who asked for outrageously inflated transfer fees and wages.
Not spending money wasn’t the point; I just wasn’t planning on becoming a pushover.
And bringing in a player like that could have unpredictable consequences for the club.
Finally, Hiddink nodded and carefully spoke.
“In that case, there are quite a few players the team needs. Transfer fees and wages are the problem...”
“Managers shouldn’t be worrying about money. Just build the squad you want and produce good results.”
Hiddink’s lips moved slightly for a moment, then a faint smile appeared.
“Good. Most clubs claim to give full authority to the manager, but in reality it almost never happens. Even if it’s written in the contract, the management can interfere anytime if they want.”
“You’ve already proven yourself with your results. The management gains nothing by shaking a man who’s doing well. The current Leeds management genuinely loves the club.”
“That’s true. Clubs like this are rare. As the league develops and the market grows, managers who truly love the club are disappearing. Everyone sees clubs as money now.”
He was right. Times were changing. The Premier League, and European leagues in general, were becoming a money war.
Whether a club qualified for the Champions League or not meant a tremendous financial gap.
Clubs stopped trying to grow and instead clung to survival.
They bought cheap prospects, raised them well, then sold them to rich clubs—a vicious cycle.
That was when managers’ authority weakened and the management’s influence increased.
“That’s why I like this team. I’d like to hold the baton here for a long time.”
“Unless you say you want to quit, I have no intention of dismissing you. So just do as you desire. Ah, and I’m planning to bring Chelsea’s Lampard this time. What’s your opinion?”
When Lampard’s name came up, Hiddink brightened instantly.
“Lampard? Of course that’s good. But is Chelsea even willing to sell him? I doubt it. He has great stamina, great scoring ability—there’s no way they’d sell such a good player. Their owner is pouring massive funds into the market. Because of that, overall transfer fees have risen a lot.”
I raised the corner of my lips.
“I made a small bet with Chelsea’s owner. Depending on the match result, we could take one player we wanted. Thanks to your hard work, we can now bring Lampard.”
“Hmm. Charlie, trading players like that is a bit...”
From a manager’s point of view, it probably looked like a reckless gamble.
If we’d lost, one of our players would have been taken.
“I understand you. I know you care deeply about the players. But there’s no need to see it so negatively. In the end, we won, and now we can bring in an excellent player like Lampard. If we’d done it the standard way, it might have taken a long time. Ah—unless is there another player at Chelsea you’d rather have?”
Hiddink shook his head. He only disliked the method, not the player.
“I also like Lampard. He’s still young, and he fits perfectly with the team I want.”
“I thought so. He’s a good midfielder. I chose him because he fits your tactics well. Do you like it?”
“I do. Just a moment.”
He took out a small notebook and pen from his coat on the hanger and began scribbling something.
He was probably checking his transfer list again after learning he could get Lampard.
I smiled warmly and waited for him to finish.
“Ah, sorry. Just organizing my thoughts.”
“No need to apologize. It’s better this way. So—how is it?”
“If we can sign Lampard, I can try many things tactically.”
“Really? Then we’ll proceed.”
“Thank you.”
So Lampard would go through the transfer process as planned.
Now it was time to ask about the player Hiddink wanted most.
“Then let’s hear your opinion now. Is there a player you absolutely want to bring?”
Hiddink hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“Do you know a player named Wayne Rooney from Everton?”
“Wayne Rooney? Of course. Isn’t he the young player who debuted this season?”
“Yes. That’s right. I see him as a promising talent who can someday replace Ronaldo. But there are rumors he’s been linked with Manchester United.”
Wayne Rooney... as expected of a legendary manager, his eye for talent was extraordinary.
I had heard Ferguson at Manchester United was already interested in signing Rooney, even at his young age.
“You want him?”
“Yes. We have Ronaldo for now. He can play for a few more years... but I want to build a team not just for the next few years, but with a long-term vision.”
“If he’s linked with United, it will cost a lot. It might be a hefty transfer fee for just one prospect. Do you still want him?”
Hiddink nodded firmly.
“Yes. Even if I have to give up several other players, I want him. If we raise him while Ronaldo is still active and let Ronaldo tutor him, he can become one of the best strikers in the world.”
It was astonishing. Where did he even see that kind of potential?
I knew because I remembered—Rooney would indeed become a legendary striker.
But Hiddink had sensed his potential after just one debut season.
Give up other players just to bring him... that was genuine conviction. We had to bring him.
“Understood. I’ll bring him by any means necessary.”
“Will that be okay? If we enter a transfer war with United, our club’s name still doesn’t carry enough weight.”
If you asked anyone the strongest Premier League club right now, they would answer Manchester United.
“It’s fine. The club’s name isn’t always what matters in transfer wars. We’re the club that just lifted the Premier League trophy. We’re not too far behind in history or prestige. And unlike United, we have massive funds. No matter the cost, I’ll bring him.”
“Then I’ll trust you, Charlie.”
We spent a long time discussing transfers after that.
The night before my departure, I was sitting with Wayne Rooney and his agent.
Ellen was seated beside me.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Charlie, the owner of Leeds United.”
Wayne Rooney—who would one day be called the brat of the pitch—was still a baby-faced boy.
“Hello. I’m Wayne Rooney.”
“I’m Paul Stretford, his agent.”
After brief greetings, we got straight to the point.
“I want to bring Wayne Rooney to Leeds. What would it take for him to join us?”
I tried to soften the wording, but in reality, the question was:
How much will it cost to bring him to our team?
