Yoo to Raise Korea’s New Soccer Players

We met the hero of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, Yoo Sang-chul (35), at a restaurant in Gongju, Chungnam. He came to meet and congratulate a soccer player who had recently opened the restaurant.

Yoo, who left the soccer field earlier this year, has returned as the leader of youth soccer. Earlier this month, he held a “Yoo Sang-chul soccer class” at the Jamsil Sports Complex.

“I don’t want to hear any talk saying that I just lent my name and don’t coach. I go four days a week to meet with the children and directly coach them.”

Eighty children have already enrolled.

He realized the importance of youth soccer while traveling the world as a professional soccer player.

“Our country plays institutionally-regulated soccer. The athletes can do as they are instructed to do, but are lacking in creativity and improvisation. I want the children to enjoy soccer, rather than be attached to records.”

That is the same reason why he became the coach of the broadcasting program “FC Shootdori” children’s soccer team.

“Watching children, who were afraid of the ball, learning new things pleases me.”

His goal is to found an integrated soccer school, where children both study and play soccer.

Yoo did not play in the 2006 Germany World Cup, but participated as a commentator.

“The Korean team has matured a lot. But the misbalance between the players was a little bit wanting. It seems they weren’t able to fill the leader position that Hong Myung-bo, Hwang Sun-hong, and I assumed.”

We asked him how commentating was. He immediately waved out his hands.

“It was much harder than playing soccer. But watching from the outside, I was able to learn many things, such as the flow of the game, which I didn’t know when I was playing.”

Somehow, fans who found him have flocked to his side. Many elementary school age children come to him as well.

“Thank you for not forgetting and loving me. From now on, I will make it up to you by teaching how to play good soccer to the children.”

jaeyuna@donga.com