Yoo, You Are Treasure of Us

A soccer game is carried out by 11 players. But how could a team change itself so dramatically in such a short time with a new player?

Yoo Sang-chul (31, Woolsan, in photo) has changed Woolsan 180 degrees. Yoo played a major role in putting the Korean national soccer team up to the semi-final in the last World Cup, and was lauded by national team coach Guus Hiddink as the origin of the multiple players.

Yoo was in the Japanese pro league. But he severed his relationship with the J league and joined Woolsan. Then, on Oct. 19th, he played for the first time for Woolsan against Sungnam Ilhwa. From that game on, he scored 5 goals in the consecutive 5 games. One goal per game. It`s a big scoring storm.

After Yoo joined the team, Woolsan has been leading a 5-winning streak. Its ranking has shot up from the 7th to 3rd (winning scores 38), aiming at the championship. Previously, Woolsan`s performance and spirits steamed out near the end. But that is no longer the case. Experts named the phenomenon Yoo Effects. Then, what are the Yoo Effects?

▽ Woolsan coach Kim Jong-nam: "Once Yoo joined the team, players have regained confidence. No wonder. Yoo has led the attack and scored a goal in every game. In the past, Lee Chun-soo led the attack alone. Now, Yoo and Lee jointly threaten opponent`s defense line, breaching the concentrated defense and, thereby, making more chances for goals. I have to admit that Yoo alone has supplied a new morale to our team."

▽ Responses from his teammates = Kim Hyun-suk said, "2 – 3 defenders mark Yoo, leaving more room for other players to maneuver. On top of that, Yoo scores in every game, allowing our defenders a more relaxed security. Everyone`s full of confidence." Lee Chun-soo also said, out of joy, "Yoo `attracts` lots of other team`s defenders, giving me more opportunities to make goals. I can play, feeling secured and relaxed with Yoo playing together."

▽ SBS commentator Shin Moon-sun = "What Yoo has brought about for Woolsan is beyond any description. So far Woolsan has spent lots of money on buying foreign players to no avail. I think that the foreigners lack the ability to give securedness to fellow teammates. On the other hand, Yoo is a star player equipped with the ability to make thundering shootings. His team plays, centered around him. No wonder opponent defenders have a hard time checking him."

▽ Response of Yoo = "I don`t think I alone have brought about all the changes in our team. We have made it together. I just tried to show through action, not through talking. I`m just doing my best, thinking each and every game is the final of the World Cup. I will win all of the remaining three games."

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com