Director Kim Ki-dong is always fresh. I feel the energy. He laughs haha while talking with a smile on his face. Compliments pour in from all around him. Then, when the door of one season closes, his face hardens. He sighs and ponders how to prepare for the next season.
In January 2023, the Pohang Steelers are based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Unlike Thailand, which is chosen by many K-League clubs, Hanoi’s January weather is moderately maintained at 20-25 degrees during the day. There was a variable that suddenly made it impossible to use the training ground that had been recruited in advance, and Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo came to the rescue. Coach Park Hang-seo, who was aware of the situation, handed over the training ground for the Vietnamese national team to Pohang.
In fact, Pohang’s preseason pattern is obvious. Ace suddenly disappears. The director grumbles with the like-minded veteran. The newly joined players stick out their tongues at Kim Ki-dong’s physical training. The first professional contractors are busy paying attention in the ‘Strong World’. In the meantime, the main players use the pride of Pohang football as fuel. Director Kim Ki-dong says, “I am gnawing my bones.” Only the calendar and location are different, but ‘Kim Ki-dong’s Pohang’, which started in 2019, has always been like that. I am reminded of the words of <The youngest son of a conglomerate family> that a shrimp must grow in size in order not to explode in a whale fight.
Q: You must have received offers from domestic and foreign clubs that could set high goals. Please explain why you decided to renew your contract with Pohang.
I once said that I would consider it if a team with a chance to win would choose me. It was also an indirect request that the club invest a little more and bring in a player who can play the soccer I want. I am one of 13 players who ended their careers in Pohang and were inducted into the Hall of Fame. He always thinks of Pohang as special and has affection for it. I served 4 years as a director. I want to establish more football for this team, my football, and get at least one more thing out of it.
Q: There must be many temptations?
Haha, honestly, there were a lot. There were offers for the Olympic team, and there were also offers from other clubs. I thought a lot. However, I immediately thought that this was not the case in this situation. I am still lacking and studying about football. With this year’s players, ‘Is there a law saying that we should not win the K-League? Let’s set the goal a little higher,’ he said. When I was a player, when I went back to Pohang from Yugong, I found a little more justification. As a director, it’s the same. The cause is important.
Q: What is the soccer you want to do the most as a manager?
Any manager will tell you that he wants to play football in Spain or Manchester City. If there is a good squad, I want to do that too. My way of coping with the situation is to set only the big frame. It seems to be a bit closer to Liverpool. All players attack, defend, and play for one goal. I think that such a team is right. It is not soccer played by a specific player, but a style in which everyone moves together.
Q: How do you resolve when the manager’s idea is different from the coach’s?
Always ask for the coach’s opinion. Taking the Clinical Cooperation as an example, no matter how many times I looked at the video, the location was too bad. I ask the coaches, ‘I think the player is in a position where he can’t use his strengths at all. What do you think?’ Coaches also give their opinions. I try to run on the spot during the practice game, and I try to run again as I thought. After that, we gather opinions at the meeting again and make a final decision.
Q: Isn’t it too much for the director to prepare and judge alone?
For the first two years, I did everything by myself from start to finish. It was really, really hard. I felt like dying. From 2021, the analysts and coaches watched the video and submitted their thoughts to me. Then I sorted it out by contrasting my thoughts. After that, it became relatively comfortable. For the first two years, I ran around during training and I did all the demonstrations myself. From 2021, the plan is communicated at the pre-training meeting and left to the head coach. If the point doesn’t seem to have been conveyed properly in the middle, I go in for a while and explain, then come out and watch it again.
Q: Will it help if the club budget is increased and investment is made in the field of coaching staff?
The coach and I go abroad to watch training, but it is at the level of watching only from the outside. So I want to learn a lot by inviting really good foreign coaches. I have a desire to improve the quality by bringing in a foreign coach.
Q: Do you have time to learn something new while coaching the K-League?
Frankly, there are very few I am sometimes asked if I watch European football, but during the season it is impossible. You have to plan your training after watching not only our video, but also your opponent’s video. It is difficult to watch other soccer videos except during vacation or A-match period. If the team’s performance is not good, there is no time to think about it, so it becomes difficult.
Q: If you had to pick a team that looks the most interesting in the European leagues, Qatar World Cup, etc. these days?
Well, soccer is tough. Who would have thought Argentina would make it all the way to the final? At that time, there are many variables depending on the situation and condition. From the group stage, France was cool. Because there are fast players, soccer is ‘exciting’. Fans love that. So, I always ask our players how to quickly go forward and solve it. 온라인카지노
Q: Did you watch the Qatar World Cup final?
We made a bet. I’ve been to Argentina. In terms of skills alone, France would win, but Argentina thought that advancing to the final itself meant giving Lionel Messi the gift of winning. But the real Argentina won. Wow really, haha.
Q: The final was also a penalty shootout. Does practice increase your penalty shootout win rate?
It seems there is no answer. I heard that some teams practice penalty shootouts without a goalkeeper in training the day before the game. The goalkeeper is also a teammate, so we know each other well. If you kick the course you want, but the goalkeeper moves first and blocks it, psychological anxiety arises. The purpose is to build confidence by confidently kicking where the kicker wants without a goalkeeper. Still, the penalty shootout is a psychological battle. I think it is impossible to practice to increase the winning rate. Of course, you know the direction of the opponent’s kick in advance. After selecting data such as who kicked the number of times, which direction the kick was taken, and what the success rate was, the video is shown to the players.
Q: The director’s tact and sensitivity is a psychological aspect. Does that part get better the more you direct?
I don’t feel like my chin is increasing, but it seems that my field of view is definitely broadening in the game flow. Timing of player substitutions, etc. In the East Coast Derby, when I pulled it back 2-1, I put in two 22-year-olds in the last minute. Noh Kyung-ho hit Lee Ho-jae’s header and scored a come-from-behind goal (*). It was a case of bold choice that came out according to the flow of the game. (Hong: I think the director would feel really good at that time.) Didn’t you see the picture? I thought I would break my back during the celebration, haha. (* September 11, 2022, K League 1 Round 31 Ulsan 1-2 Pohang / 90+3 minutes Noh Kyung-ho 2-1 score)
Q: What is your biggest dream as a manager?
I never really thought about it out loud. Every year I worked hard for the team. As far as I’ve been in the team, I’ve had good results despite not having a good squad. There is always a desire to win. I really want to win in Pohang. I want to feel the joy. (Hong: What about the FIFA World Cup?) Isn’t that every coach’s dream? I think I’m going there while achieving my goal in the process. If I show myself developing, won’t such an opportunity come in the future?
Q: Do you feel good when you receive praise for Pohang doing well, or do you feel like ‘I’m really struggling to die’?
That’s exactly how it feels haha. I’m grinding my bones right now. I am sorry and thankful to the players. To the players, ‘Do your best while you are with me to increase your value. I will send it to you if it becomes impossible to hold it in Pohang. Instead, you must grow here. If not, you cannot go to a higher place. If you get good results, you can definitely go to a better team.’ No matter how much I talk to the club, it’s actually difficult if money doesn’t come from the top. I’m really grinding my bones in the given situation.
Q: You are evaluated for your good eyesight.
First of all, I don’t have many picks among young players. A scout who watches and observes young players is in charge, and I only ask for a player with characteristics. For example, among pro midfielders, where are the bad technical players? It should be fast even if you can’t kick the ball, or slow but the technique is so good that you can connect without losing the ball. For older players, football is established. Even if I try to change, it is impossible. I think about what that player can do well, and if it suits me, I choose it.
Q: What if there was a case in which you were proud of your wisdom?
We can’t hire young players. Because there is a transfer fee, haha. Free agents, older players usually come. Shin Jin-ho was actually not in a situation where he could come, but I asked the club to bring him with difficulty. When all the work was done, I asked the club to bring it. Clinical Hyeop said he wanted to come to Pohang. There were talks about other teams, but he said he wanted to come to Pohang even if it meant reducing his salary.
Q: Did Shin Jin-ho have disappointing results?
I had a contract until this year. Talk about renewing the contract during the season, or if you do well by this year, you will be released as a free agent. But honestly, it’s hard for me to come out like this. I tried to mediate to some extent, but the player spoke very strongly. Would you feel comfortable with me? The entire squad of players was finished. If this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have sent Lee Soo-bin. To be honest, I like Shin Jin-ho, Oberdan (new recruit), Lee Seung-mo, and Lee Soo-bin. the more the better. However, if there are 4 of them, one of them will not even make it into the entry and will just die as a player. By the way, this situation happens every year, haha. At the start of 2021, Kang Sang-woo said he was leaving, and in the middle of 2020, Song Min-gyu just left, wow really, haha.
Q: Do you have anyone to complain about at that time?
Players, ha ha, captains. Every day, I call one person into the room and say, ‘It’s like this, you guys’, haha. We talk while eating, and we talk while drinking tea. If you talk like that, the players will also have fun. Shin Kwang-hun shared my career as a player. Seungdae Kim is also comfortable. (Hong: I think Kim Seung-dae will communicate well, especially?) That’s right. It goes well. Now that I am married and have children. Today too, ‘Director, I feel like my whole body has been beaten. But I have to be patient,’ he said. Shim Sang-min, who was next to me, teased me, saying, ‘Wow, is that the weight of the head of household or the weight of the captain?’ A lot has changed.
Q: So, what do you think this season will be like?
It’s always hard. Even now, unexpectedly, the most important part of the player composition is regrettable. The attitude and atmosphere of the training players show enthusiasm. (Hong: The ACL will be held normally this year) Yes. The ACL is a great motivator for players. You have to leave the ACL to judge the value of the product by looking at the players from all over Asia. If you get recognized there, good opportunities can come. It motivates you that way. Participating in the ACL is difficult starting with packing. It’s really hard without a double squad. In 2021, there are parts where we benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic. Because we gathered in one place. Moving could be difficult.
Q: Please say something to the many fans who think, ‘Pohang will do well this year as well.’
Thank you to the fans who always love, love, and look forward to Pohang football. I always try to meet the fan’s eye level, but I hope you think at least once, ‘Wow, director Kim Ki-dong must be having a hard time’, haha. I am training hard to show good soccer this year. I will see you all with good grades and results.