Ulsan Munsu World Cup Stadium on April 17th. It was before the first leg of the 2023-24 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Football League (ACL) semi-finals between Ulsan HD FC and Yokohama F. Marinos. Fans continued to flock to the ‘Wall of Dedication and Memory’, which Ulsan opened to supporters of both teams to honor the late coach Yoo Sang-cheol.
Men, women, young and old. Fans who visited Ulsan remembered Coach Yoo as usual.
6pm, 1 hour before kick off. A Japanese fan caught my eye. This fan wrote Director Yoo’s name in English, Chinese and Korean on a large piece of paper. In addition to Coach Yoo’s hand-painted uniform from when he was a player, he posted a picture of himself and Coach Yoo in the past.
Japanese fan Nobutaka visited Ulsan Munsu World Cup Stadium on April 17. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240419.724f250980f8420da281dae7067ea6ac_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="440"/> enlarge picture A picture taken by the late coach Yoo Sang-cheol with Nobutaka while he was playing for Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240419.66c3b3f1e02745a092a53a9db7390a10_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="440"/> enlarge picture Late director Yoo Sang-cheol (center photo) and Mr. Nobutaka (far right photo). Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
“Look at this picture. Sangcheol Yoo was very kind. He was a warm person. Whether the game was won or lost, it was always the same for the fans. Yoo Sang-cheol did not refuse fans’ requests for autographs or photos. Fans need a lot of courage to talk to the players. Sangcheol Yoo knew this better than anyone else. “He was the type of person that fans couldn’t help but love, regardless of nationality. This is the memory of Mr. Nobutaka, a longtime fan of Yokohama.
Coach Yoo is a legend in Korean soccer. As a player, Coach Yoo played in 124 A matches, including two World Cups (1998 and 2002), and scored 18 goals.
Coach Yoo played a key role in the semi-finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and was selected as one of the 11 best players of the tournament along with Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo. In 22 World Cups, only Yoo Sang-cheol and Hong Myung-bo were selected as the 11 best Asian players.
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240419.ecd3d2196dcf41fab1a2f619209a1fdc_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="406"/> enlarge picture Coach Yoo’s uniform from his time in Ulsan was displayed by Ulsan HD FC on the ‘Wall of Dedication and Memory’ with the help of the late coach Yoo Sang-cheol’s family. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240419.ea2d0502585b457499a5407274eeb3f9_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="428"/> enlarge picture Ulsan HD FC will display Coach Yoo’s uniform from his days at Yokohama F. Marinos on the ‘Wall of Dedication and Memory’ with the help of the late coach Yoo Sang-cheol’s family. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
Coach Yoo is also an Ulsan legend.
Coach Yoo played in Ulsan for 9 seasons and led the team in winning the K League twice, the Super Cup (eliminated) once, and the A3 Champions Cup (eliminated) once.
Coach Yoo also holds the record of being selected as one of the top 11 players in the K League once as a defender (1994), midfielder (1998), and forward (2002). He also has experience as a top scorer (1998). This record shows why Yoo Sang-cheol is considered the best all-rounder in Korean history.
Coach Yoo is still a legend in Yokohama, where he worked for four seasons.
Coach Yoo was a key midfielder for Yokohama in the 2000 season, scoring 17 goals in 22 J-League games. This season, Coach Yoo ranked third in J-League scoring.
In Yokohama, Coach Yoo played every position except goalkeeper, including midfielder, central defender, fullback and forward, depending on the team’s position.
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240419.db2a0cdd7152432f8307c736dd111679_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="493"/> enlarge picture Mr Nobutaka (pictured fourth from left) and his friends visited the Ulsan Munsu World Cup Stadium on 17 April. As soon as they arrived at the Ulsan Munsu World Cup stadium, they visited the memorial site of the late coach Yoo Sang-cheol. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
news/cms/202404/19/news-p.v1.20240417.cd1b7253ca7c4aba8830c4631800a643_R.jpg" data-width="660" data-height="440"/> enlarge picture Supporters of Yokohama F. Marinos visit Ulsan. Photo = Reporter Lee Geun-seung
“I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. I have lived in Yokohama since I was young. It is only a short distance from my house to Yokohama’s home stadium, Nissan Stadium. I never missed a home game. The first player I liked was Yoo Sang-cheol. Yoo Sang-cheol was a man who never gave up. He was a player who stood against his opponent until the referee’s final whistle blew. He was a player who spared no sacrifice for the team. Yoo Sang-cheol was the type of player who won the hearts of fans. This is Mr. Nobutaka’s explanation.
Away fans of Yokohama, including Mr. Nobutaka, attended the event to honor Coach Yu on the 17th. 6 minutes in the first half. The Yokohama supporters stopped their enthusiastic cheering and clashed with the Ulsan fans. It was a one-minute tribute ceremony that Ulsan had planned from the 6th minute of the first half, remembering Coach Yoo’s number 6 as a player.
The game ended with Ulsan winning 1-0. The Yokohama fans also did not applaud the Ulsan team, who visited the away stands and welcomed them. The same was true for Mr. Nobutaka, who took leave from work and visited Korea. Mr. Nobutaka said, “There is something I really want to say to Ulsan and other Korean soccer fans,” and expressed the following wishes.
news/cms/202404/19/rcv.YNA.20240417.PYH2024041722970005700_R.jpg" data-width="2835" data-height="999"/> enlarge picture Yokohama F. Marinos fans hold up a sign that reads, ‘By Yoo Sang-cheol’s brother.’ Photo = Provided by Yonhap News
“Yokohama is a team that has Yoo Sang-cheol deep in his heart. Like Ulsan. I hope to maintain a good relationship with Ulsan. I hope many Ulsan fans will come to the second leg of the ACL semi-finals at our home. It’s okay even if it’s not a game that day. I hope many Korean soccer fans will stop by Yokohama’s home stadium when they visit Japan. Yokohama is a very good team. “
Ulsan = Lee Geun-seung, MK Sports reporter
2024-04-19 00:55:00
#Japanese #fan #Ulsan #leave #Yoo #Sangcheol #man #gave #up.. #remain #hearts #Yokohama #fans #rest #life #Mael #Business #Newspaper
