A German star player once known as the "Blond Angel."
Bernd Schuster.
During his playing career, he bounced between Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid, living the life of a true journeyman. After passing through six different clubs, he finally returned to Real Madrid, this time as a manager.
This year marked his 13th year in coaching.
Over the years, he had led countless players and crafted numerous tactical systems—most of which ultimately failed.
No matter how brilliant the tactics, they were useless if the players couldn't execute them to the expected level.
It wasn't just about individual skill. Teamwork, organization, and tactical understanding all had to be in place.
Especially for players assigned to pivotal tactical roles, tactical comprehension was absolutely critical.
But such players were rare.
Most players who had the skills often lacked understanding, and those with good football IQ often didn't have the required ability.
It was hard to find someone like Zidane or Raúl, who had both.
But today, Schuster had finally found one.
Ho-young.
To Schuster, he was the ideal player.
He had seen countless players over the years, but it had been a long time since he had come across someone as versatile as Ho-young.
Chelsea's Michael Ballack.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.
AS Roma's Francesco Totti.
AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf.
These were the types of all-round players that Schuster recognized as elite.
Within his current squad, Wesley Sneijder was someone who could play both central midfield and out wide, even as an attacking midfielder, but no one had the capability to go as far forward as a striker—except Ho-young.
That's why Schuster had chosen to play him today.
He wanted to maximize Ho-young's versatility and build as many tactical options as possible.
This would be a significant asset in the Champions League, where they would face top-tier clubs in the knockout stages.
Today's match was crucial.
With the game practically in their hands, barring any major mistakes, victory was all but certain.
That's why he planned to test some experimental tactics in the second half.
Six minutes remained in halftime.
Schuster began his explanation in an animated tone.
"You've played as the lone striker once during training, right?"
"Yes. I played as a penetrating striker breaking the defensive line for about 25 minutes. Robben, Guti, and Zidane supported from behind."
"You'll be assigned a similar role today. But that's not all. If the opponent starts using an offside trap, hold your position with your back to goal and create play from there. Drop the line, draw out their center-backs, and open up space for Malouda and Saviola to exploit. If they play passively instead, link up with van der Vaart using quick one-twos and break their line again. When Zidane starts the build-up from midfield, face the goal and orchestrate the attack inside the box."
"You want me to play one step behind or ahead of the opposition, constantly changing rhythm with unorthodox moves."
Exactly.
The lone striker role assigned to Ho-young wasn't just about scoring goals.
It was the role of a Complete Forward.
A striker who could do everything.
Even with talent and ability, this role was nearly impossible to execute without a high football IQ.
"Of course, this is your first time doing it in a real match, so there's no pressure. I simply want to use you in various ways. Your versatility has immense strategic value. It would be foolish to limit you to just one position. Understand what I mean?"
"I suppose I should say thank you for the compliment."
"Good. Now, let's get back to the details."
Four minutes left.
Schuster used the remaining time to give specific instructions on how he wanted Ho-young to play.
Even if the tactic failed, the very act of testing it was a reward in itself as a manager.
Second half.
When halftime ended, both teams emerged from the tunnel.
[We see substitutions being made. Real Madrid have taken off van Nistelrooy and Raúl, bringing on Ho-young and van der Vaart.]
[And with this, a new Champions League record is set. At 15 years and 57 days, Ho-young becomes the youngest player ever to appear in the Champions League.]
[Indeed. At this point, it feels strange if the word "youngest" isn't attached to his name.]
The substitutions sent a buzz through the stands.
There's nothing more thrilling for fans than seeing their favorite player come onto the pitch.
In particular, two men seated in the upper supporter section behind the goal had their eyes fixed on Ho-young.
One clenched his fist and shouted.
"Ha! I knew Ho-young would come on. Now, hand it over."
As he held out his hand, the man next to him begrudgingly handed over a 10-euro bill.
"Damn it. They said he needed rest. Isn't this overplaying him?"
The two, clearly friends, had made a bet on whether Ho-young would appear in today's match.
And the betting wasn't over.
"Wanna guess what position he'll play?"
"That's my specialty. If I were Schuster, I'd definitely put him as an attacking midfielder. He was brilliant in that role last game."
"I disagree. With van Nistelrooy and Raúl off, there's a high chance Ho-young will move up top. Probably a two-top with Saviola."
"Ha! You fool. That just shows how little you know about football. Schuster doesn't do two-top formations."
"If you're so confident, let's raise the bet. How about 20 euros this time?"
"Deal."
As the self-proclaimed experts bickered, murmurs from the crowd spilled over onto the pitch.
Kickoff.
Moments later, they both realized something.
Everyone's predictions were wrong.
"One-top…?"
"What the hell? A one-top? No one saw that coming."
They were stunned.
Ho-young was positioned alone at the top of the formation, the most advanced player on the pitch.
"Can he really cover that entire space by himself and lead the attack? He's too far from the second line."
"Hmm... I don't think it'll work. I'm putting 20 euros on Ho-young not scoring today."
"Hey! What kind of bet is that, you nutcase? Fine, then I'm putting 20 euros on him not scoring too."
And so, the second half began, filled with doubt from the fans.
Real Madrid took the kickoff from the right.
The formation was 4-2-3-1.
In central midfield, Diarra and Zinedine Zidane kept a tight gap between them, raising possession through short, crisp passes.
That was the starting point of Real Madrid's attack.
[Zidane finds van der Vaart. A short pass forward.]
[Immediately, BATE Borisov's 32-year-old central midfielder, Aleksandr Yermakovich, presses van der Vaart.]
[Van der Vaart, seeing no opening, turns the ball back.]
[Zidane again. He holds possession, scans the field. Now a pass out wide to Malouda.]
Having been torn apart in the first half, BATE were determined not to fall back again.
Coming into the second half with renewed focus, they applied aggressive pressure, particularly targeting Zidane's build-up play.
[They're showing real Champions League desire now. Their three central midfielders are working hard to shut Zidane down from the build-up stage.]
[Yes, it's working for now. But Real Madrid won't just sit back and take it.]
It was a desperate push.
But as the commentary hinted, things did not go Borisov's way.
Real Madrid were not a team that would allow such tactics to persist.
While their pressing worked in the early minutes, as time passed and Borisov's stamina declined, Zidane's build-up became sharper.
Then, Zidane and Malouda locked eyes.
That's when the flow of the game shifted.
The French connection that had lifted the 2006 World Cup trophy returned with sharp interplay.
Malouda and Saviola stretched the pitch from the flanks, creating space for van der Vaart to freely orchestrate attacks from the attacking midfield position.
Borisov's defenders were caught between tracking van der Vaart's deadly mid-range shots and watching Ho-young's movement.
But this was just the beginning.
Real Madrid's tactics were only getting started.
[Van der Vaart holds the ball, stalling. Malouda and Saviola cut inside, keeping tight spacing.]
[At the same time, Roberto Carlos and Sergio Ramos are overlapping down the flanks. Real Madrid are now attacking with six players.]
The tactical structure became more precise and aggressive.
This was something Schuster had been preparing since pre-season, something he had desperately wanted to test in a real match.
Everything was going according to plan.
Now, if only it finished well, it would prove the system's viability.
Ho-young.
This was where his role became crucial.
It was time to move.
[Van der Vaart looks up and spots Ho-young.]
[Ho-young at the very front. He scans the situation. It looks like he might break the line but instead turns his back to goal and engages directly with the defenders.]
[He's acting as bait while keeping the option of penetration alive. He seems to be creating space for the other attackers. The idea is good, but he shouldn't hold the ball for too long.]
[This clearly reflects Schuster's tactical philosophy, doesn't it?]
[Indeed. He tried something similar with Sneijder before. I believe it was against Valladolid last year?]
[Yes. And it failed. Though Sneijder did score a stunning mid-range goal, it wasn't the style of play Schuster had envisioned.]
And today, it seemed like history would repeat itself.
No matter how promising Ho-young was, executing an unfamiliar tactic in a real match wasn't easy.
It had only been 10 minutes since he came on.
He hadn't even been in first-team training for a full month.
To the commentators, Ho-young's use as a one-top forward didn't seem promising.
At the moment, his movements seemed scattered.
[Ho-young seems unsure today. Is he too far from van der Vaart? He needs to either make runs or create space out wide. It's still a bit rough. Or could this be part of a larger plan?]
[I'm not sure. He's moving a lot and trying to coordinate the attack. But with so many attackers, it would make more sense to leave that role to the attacking midfielder.]
The analysts were puzzled.
Why was he moving like that?
It didn't look like the work of a versatile forward. More like a lost player who couldn't find his rhythm.
Was it nerves? After all, this was his first Champions League appearance.
It was hard to make sense of it.
But it made perfect sense to Ho-young.
He was intentionally hiding the strategy.
Then it happened.
[Ho-young! Suddenly changes direction. A long pass to the left for Carlos!]
[That happened in a flash. Malouda and Carlos had been switching positions, and at Ho-young's signal, they launched a threatening move. It's like forcing misaligned gears into place.]
[Now Ho-young turns with his back to the defender!]
There's a saying in football.
Genius shines in youth. Creativity deepens with age.
And it was true.
Genius—that was Ho-young's greatest weapon at his age.
A tense aura swept across the pitch.
Sergey Sosnovski, Borisov's center-back with excellent football instincts, immediately sensed danger and began shouting.
He clung tightly to Ho-young's back, refusing to give an inch.
The battle for position escalated, both players locked in a physical contest to gain the slightest edge.
'Can't lose focus for even a second. This is all about timing.'
It was the right idea.
But also Sosnovski's biggest mistake.
When facing a player who defies logic, logical thinking becomes a liability.
Tap. Whirr.
"…?"
Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Ho-young spun 180 degrees on the spot with fluid, acrobatic movement.
It was as if his joints were lubricated. There was no pause.
[Ho-young! Turns and leaves Sosnovski behind in an instant!]
[Malouda makes the run behind the defense. Ho-young's pass reaches him.]
[Malouda returns it with a quick one-two. The ball is at Ho-young's feet in front of goal!]
With a slick one-two exchange with Malouda, Ho-young surged into the box and found himself face to face with the keeper.
The goalkeeper charged out in a panic.
But Ho-young stayed composed.
With his left foot, he gently tapped the ball through the keeper's legs.
The net rippled.
The stadium exploded.
Commentators. Managers on both benches. The two men who had made a meaningless 20-euro bet. And all 60,000 fans in the stands.
They were all stunned by Ho-young's Champions League debut goal.
(To be continued.)