*This content was translated by AI.
Kwak Hee-ju (45), the head coach of Dongwon University, returned to the field at Big Bird Stadium for the first time in 10 years, stirring nostalgia among Suwon Samsung fans with a determination comparable to his playing days. Even though it was an exhibition match, Kwak Hee-ju displayed a fearless style of play, stating, "I got through it with mental strength," showcasing the same "Captain Kwak" persona he was known for.
In a phone interview with StarNews on the 21st, Coach Kwak Hee-ju, who had recently appeared as a player in the OGFC vs. Suwon Samsung Legends match held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 19th, said, "I was actually very worried. Even though I prepared knowing I had been away from training for too long, I was afraid of getting injured." However, he added, "It seems my body responded well because the tension inside the stadium was overwhelming."
On that day, the Suwon Samsung Legends team held on to a 1-0 lead after San Toss scored the opening goal early in the first half. Suwon's lineup included legends such as Lee Woon-jae, Kwak Hee-ju, Song Jong-guk, and Kim Doo-hyun. OGFC, on the other hand, fielded a star-studded lineup featuring Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Patrice Evra, and Ryan Giggs, all key figures from Manchester United's golden era, creating a spectacular lineup.
Coach Kwak, who was known for his fearless determination during his playing days, delivered a fiery performance in the exhibition match against OGFC. Starting the game, he felt pain in his leg muscles around the 23rd minute of the first half and was substituted out. However, he returned to the field in the second half. Recalling the moment, Coach Kwak said, "I thought I could play for about 10 to 15 minutes, but I didn't see the scoreboard. Later, I found out I had played for 22 minutes." He explained, "I felt like my muscle was cramping and tearing, so I came off, but once I recovered a bit, I thought I could play again, so I went back in."
There was also a heart-stopping moment near the end of the match. While attempting a tackle on Evra, Coach Kwak's face collided forcefully with Evra's knee. Regarding the incident, Coach Kwak calmly stated, "I didn't realize it at the time, but after watching the footage later, I saw that I had collided." He added, "Since I can't play anymore, I just got through it with mental strength."
It is reported that the Suwon Legends took the match seriously, even undergoing a training camp despite the venue being right in front of their homes. Coach Kwak said, "The seniors wanted to set the tone, so everyone joined in. It was our first regular training camp in a long time." He continued, "Now that I'm in the position of coaching players, I was afraid that if I slacked off, my students would learn from me, so I prepared mentally much more. I was proud to hear that some of my students said they relearned their attitude toward football through me."
Even two days after the match, the passion of the legends remains strong. Coach Kwak said, "Many fans who couldn't play in the match are still excited. The group chat is very noisy." He added with a smile, "It seems that coaches like Yeom Ki-hoon and Seo Jeong-won are all preparing for another Legends match."
Coach Kwak, who received great encouragement from the passionate Suwon fans, is now focusing again on his primary role as a coach. He joked, "Since I'm no longer a player, even if I get seriously injured, it probably won't be a problem." He added, "Thanks to the strong support from the fans, I feel fortunate to have left them with great memories. I will now focus again on Dongwon University's league match this week," showing his firm resolve.
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*This content was translated by AI.
