Director Seo Jeongwon and Chengdu's sincerity is always in common
Dec 16, 2024
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And I lasted four years. No, it's not appropriate to say that you're holding out. They blossomed splendidly. 4th place in the 2nd division in the first year and advance to the 1st division due to an elevation playoff win. He qualified for the Asian Champions League (ACL) by ranking fifth in the first division of the second season, fourth in the first division of the third season, and third in the first division of the fourth season. As of 2024, he is also the longest-serving Chinese first-division managers.
His name is Seo Jeong-won. On the 8th, I met director Seo Jung-won in London, England. I met him and talked to him ahead of the Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea.
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It was December 5, 2020. Seo signed with China's Chengdu Longcheng. It was known as the capital city of the Chok Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms. In fact, Chengdu was almost a new club. The birthplace is Chengdu Cubao, founded in 2014. It was re-established in 2018 under the name Chengdu Xingcheng. It started in the fourth division. He finished second in the fourth division in 2018 and won the third division in 2019, reaching the second division. The team needed a leap forward. Jose Grané, who just happened to be the founding coach, also failed to extend his contract with the coach. Chengdu searched for a new head coach, and coach Seo was caught on the radar network.
In fact, director Seo received numerous love calls from Korea, China, and Japan. I spent six years in Suwon. Despite the significant decline in support from the parent company, director Seo showed his unique leadership. Some clubs offered huge salaries. However, coach Seo chose the second division.
"In fact, the group president came out and talked about it himself at the time. 'It hasn't been long since we started playing soccer, but I want to make it a prestigious club. He talked about the purpose and plan."
It was not easy for the head of the parent company, not the club, to come out and persuade him. The director's heart was moved from sincerity. And he also invoked his temperament as an adventurer.
"Honestly, it was a big challenge. It's not easy to decide to start in the second part. 'Yes. I thought let's go. I thought it would be a good experience. I started with a firm heart."
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Coach Seo proved himself while taking charge of Chengdu. I was on a roll. He has performed better every season. There was also a winning streak. Above all, he showed equal performance in competition with teams with enormous financial power such as Shanghai Haikang and Shanghai Shenhua. For the first time in the team's history, he got a berth in the ACL.
"My performance has been improving for four consecutive seasons, and I've changed my perspective in China because I've won the ACL this time." The media also gives positive attention. I'm so thankful that I'm recognized"
The weight of interest has also increased.
"That's how heavy my shoulders actually got. You'll get more attention if you go out with the ACL. So I came out to Europe during the break again because my shoulders got heavy."
Director Seo is famous as a study leader. During the break, I always went to the European soccer scene. This is to learn more about the trends of world soccer. In particular, coaching staff are also brought out. All expenses are covered by director Seo's own money.
"What I have in my mind while being a leader. It's about growing leaders, including myself. That's why all of our coaches called us to come to Europe. Watch advanced soccer, discuss it, and find ways to incorporate it into our team. Then the team and the leaders will develop."
"Actually, I learned so much in China. Of course, there are people who say, "What do we learn in China?" But that wasn't the case. I learn to be patient, and I also learn to think again. I wouldn't have learned it if I hadn't come to China. I think I got a really big one.
▶ Like water flows
Director Seo does not like the trick. As per the orthodox theory, we seek not to go against reason as water flows. Six years at Suwon and four years at Chengdu. I thought it was possible for a total of 10 years as a coach because I followed those principles.
"That's what I tell my coaches, too. Be sincere to the players. If you treat them sincerely, the players become one team. If you are honest with the players, they all know it. That director never lies and truly respects."
Some misunderstand that director Seo is a coach who is just shy and only good people. Director Seo refuted such assessments.
"If it had looked like that, it would have been cut off soon." I am honest and sincere with the players, but I definitely distinguish between public and private. It's not that it's not. Since I'm responsible for it, I have to keep the clear rules that the whole team has established. I think that's the right thing to do."
2025 is a big challenge for director Seo, who is `as the water flows' and `observing the principles' at the same time. There are not many more places to go up now because they have performed better for four consecutive years. I'm facing even more competition. It's also our first time performing in Asia. However, coach Seo is not swayed. The club's belief is also firm.
"I'll do what I've done and fix it little by little. "Performance is important, but we need to be more systematic and help us become a better club."
In that sense, Chengdu expects more from coach Seo. He is also in charge of managing the entire team beyond the coach. They are expecting a role that encompasses the entire club, rather than just managing the technical part 'head coach'.
"I'm working hard to take on such a role as well. That's why I came to Europe. I have to work harder. There are still a lot of places to go and go up. Please keep an eye on us."
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