No one can catch the passing time. Park Joo-young (38) once again stood at a crossroads after the 2022 season. Although he helped Ulsan Hyundai win the K-League for the first time in 17 years, the future was in the fog.
After the match against Jeju United, where a splendid coronation ceremony was held, he calmly said, “Nothing has been decided. The new year has dawned. Park Joo-young and Ulsan’s companionship continues. But there are changes. He changed his position to playing coach.
The emphasis was placed on ‘coaching’ rather than ‘playing’. Ulsan resumed training ahead of the 2023 season on the 3rd. Park Joo-young’s daily life is closer to his leader’s life. In the morning, he attends coaching staff meetings to discuss training sessions and team management. In training, they work hard as leaders and players. The training ground setting is basic. He participates in training as well as sweats with the players.
Lunch is served as a member of the coaching staff. He also attends coaching staff meetings in the afternoon and actively expresses his opinions. Busy even after work is over. He is ‘two cycles’. He eats with players who live outside or hangs out with players who live in the clubhouse. In his spare time, he goes back to being a team senior rather than a coach.
Park Joo-young, who was a one-club man of FC Seoul, moved to Ulsan last season at the crossroads of his retirement and extension of his active career. ‘Eternal Master’ Hong Myung-bo, director of Ulsan, took his hand. Park Joo-young said, “I want to see the coach lift the championship trophy.” 토토
He waved his hand, saying, “I only put a spoon on it,” but it was a mental support. As his six appearances last season tell us, he didn’t play many games. Park Joo-young’s home games were ‘perfect’ despite being excluded from the entry. He also broke down the boundaries between Jujeon and Non-Jujeon. He camped with players who couldn’t see the light and cheered toward the top. Entering the final round, he helped coach Hong by accompanying him in away matches.
Somehow, I spent a season as a ‘preliminary leader’. Still, Park Joo-young enjoyed life in Ulsan. He said, “I really enjoyed every day. There was not a day when I didn’t laugh.” And he said, “I bought a lot of food, but I didn’t help much. The players did well, the fans, the coach, and the staff did well, but the result did not change just because I bought food.”
Born in 1985, he will turn 38 this year. I don’t know how many games I will play yet. After Lee Ho confirmed the championship last year, he can walk the same way as if he played just one game. Still, Park Joo-young is happy just being with him on the pitch. ‘Soccer genius’ Park Joo-young is slowly transforming into a leader.