Silence of Kim Eung-yong

"No one other than manager Kim Eung-yong can save the waning Korean soccer."

That discussion happened before the birth of Korea`s World Cup hero Guus Hiddink. It may have sounded weird to baseball fans, players and coaches. But that possibility was seriously discussed among people.

This was what Samsung Lions thought in mind when it, after a long, hard time of courting, succeeded in putting Kim at Samsung`s helm. Who is manager Kim? He captained Haetae for 18 long years, and got the team up to the Korean Series 9 times and 9 championships. In the amateur league, he was the biggest slugger. As a manager, he manufactured championships to the team he has managed. Always before his name, the word "best" has been placed.

But he experienced frustration at Samsung. With all the excellence performance and records, Samsung was defeated by Doosan to no one`s expectations. About this, many people gossiped, "The spell on Samsung, the all-time second place holder, beat the charisma of manager Kim."

That`s why? Manager Kim did not look happy when it was determined that Samsung secured the first place in the pennant race for 2 years in a row. Even though he smiled at the press conference, he did not give a pep talk to his players.

Why does he spare his words so much?

It is said that, after experiencing his first defeat last year, manager Kim has asked himself many questions about his managing style. He has done everything to instill a soft image into himself. He is said to have gone cold turkey on drinking, which he really loved to enjoy.

Despite all these efforts, however, he had to undergo more agony this year. In April, right after the opening of the season, his team temporarily grabbed the first place. But, beginning of July, it went down with the 7-game losing streak, falling to the 3rd place, 7.5 games away from the 1st Kia. Deep into the middle of the season, many troubles and rumors like the doping scandal of Jin Kap-yong led to reports doubting his ability as a manager of 5-year contract.

But it seems that he does not know of giving up. In the middle of the chaos caused by the slump of Yang Joon-hyuk and the injury of one of Samsung`s aces, he has brought about a miraculous 15-game winning streak near the end of the season, silencing all the talks about his credentials.

The only thing Kim wishes more is to give Daegoo fans the opportunity to enjoy in the joy of the championship of the Korean Series. He has not mentioned the Samsung spell nor his career dream of winning the Korean Series 10 times. "I will chip in whatever I can." That was all he said.

Wondering whether an old manager will be able to break the spell on Samsung, a biggest mystery in the 21 years of pro baseball.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com