Advocaat’s Formula for Soccer Success

Dick Advocaat (59, photo), Korea’s national soccer team manager, described his detailed preparation blueprint for the coming 2006 Germany World Cup and said that a “power program” to enhance his players’ stamina is not needed at the moment.

The power program he is referring to is a stamina-enhancing training tool that was used by Gus Hiddink in preparation for the 2002 World Cup. “Overseas training centers around matches,” said Advocaat. “At this phase of training, players should learn various strategies and international trends in soccer.”

His plan for main round preparation consists of three stages. The power program will begin at the start of World Cup.

Stage 1: Learn about world soccer-

Advocaat emphasizes the importance of learning “advanced soccer,” and the team’s training cycle involves matches against strong opponents every three or five days throughout the duration of the overseas training camp. Repetition and the supplementing of weaknesses is a key point of overseas training. This is something he calls “prescription after diagnosis”; its purpose is to expose his players to the rhythm of world soccer.

Stage 2: Be faithful to your leagues-

March and April will see players focusing more on playing for the pro leagues they belong to. At the same time, brief combines will be held at intervals to test the conditioning of the players. Team coach Pim Verbeek explained the absence of a power program in this overseas training camp, saying, “There’s no use for it right now because the players will return to their clubs at the end of camp. We will incorporate other stamina training measures in preparing for evaluation matches.”

Stage 3: Enhancing power and stamina through the power program-

The final roster of 23 will be picked amongst trainees from January and February’s overseas training tour and European leaguers, and entered into the stage where its teamwork will be strengthened. Verbeek said, “Nearing the start of the World Cup, many scientific methods such as the power program will be employed.”

In 2002, Hiddink implemented the principle of periodicity—a scientific method of varying the intensity of training at regular intervals—to propel his team to the World Cup semifinals. Advocaat also said that a designated team physical trainer will come on board in May. A dress rehearsal match against a strong team is also on the schedule

KBS sports commentator Yi Yong-su analyzed the intentions of the coaching staff, saying, “It could mean that 23 members will be picked at the end of this overseas tour and put through an intensive training program right before the start of the World Cup.”

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com