Retired soccer players have come together again to move toward victory and provide inspiration as 'Shooting Star' returns for Season 2. With 'Awakened Leader' Coach Choi Yong-soo and Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun joining players like Koo Ja-cheol and Lee Geun-ho, they have launched a challenge in the K3 League with an even more powerful lineup.
On the 28th, the production presentation for Coupang Play's new entertainment program 'Shooting Star' Season 2 (hereinafter referred to as Shooting Star 2) was held at The Link Seoul in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. Attendees included PD Jo Hyo-jin, Coach Choi Yong-soo, Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun, Koo Ja-cheol, and Lee Geun-ho.
'Shooting Star' is the only full-time growth soccer entertainment program in Korea where retired legend players challenge current K League players alongside Director General Park Ji-sung and Coach Choi Yong-soo. Last season, it proved its real-time popularity by surpassing 3 million cumulative views on Shorts and Reels. In particular, the impossible challenges faced by retired legend players opened a new horizon for sports entertainment, generating explosive responses from viewers through unscripted laughter and tears.
PD Jo Hyo-jin noted, "For a PD, moving from Season 1 to Season 2 is a good thing. I am grateful that Season 1 resonated with those who may not know much about soccer and helped them fall in love with the sport. We then moved to Season 2, and while I can't speak for the players' performances, the quality of the broadcast content and the team has definitely improved. You will be able to enjoy it much more, so please look forward to it."
Reflecting on Season 1, Coach Choi Yong-soo said, "I remember the time we played against Yangju FC. I shed hot tears in my heart while watching them play despite the difficult situation and environment the team faced. It was touching to see how they faced challenges. If I had one regret, it would be that we finished in second place, and I wonder if we could have secured first place if we had won the last game."
Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun said, "All the players worked hard under difficult conditions and environments, but if I had to pick the best player from Season 1, it would be Kim Geun-han. He struggled a lot, and although it feels strange to say this to a retired player, he showed growth. I realized that players need to meet good coaches."
'Shooting Star,' which has delivered intense emotion through the new challenges of retired legend players, will face off against top K3 League teams in this season. FC Shooting Star, promoted to the K3 League, will take on the semi-professional top-tier K3 League clubs that connect K League 1 and K League 2.
PD Jo Hyo-jin said, "The biggest change is that our opponents have become stronger. Now that we are facing semi-professional K4 teams and have been promoted to K3, we will deal with even stronger opponents while the players have aged by one year. Because our opponents are stronger, you will see more authenticity in the preparation. Initially, it was challenging, but later you will see a different side of that, and even though the players are retired, I hope you will witness their growth."
Jo added, "If we talk about our unique strengths, we play against professionals. Our opponents are different, and we are retired players who were national team members, taking the game seriously and diligently. Our greatest advantage is that we have pride, so we will never just let it end. While we might have the highest average age in a soccer program, because we have pride, I believe there is a more emotional and deeper narrative."
Coach Choi Yong-soo said, "While I was satisfied with the strength reinforcement, K3 was strong. The game management and pressing timing are at a level similar to K1. We prepared to cope with that, but there were changes in the players' individual stamina and operational combinations, so we struggled at first. We spent time communicating in the beginning, and in terms of tactics, collaborating with Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun was challenging in finding common ground. We put in more energy and attention than we did in Season 1."
Coach Choi continued regarding "Awakened Leader," "I realized that I initially misjudged the concept of Season 1. As we went forward, I worried that with the changes in Season 2, the players, staff, and fans might be disappointed, so I tried to hide my claws as much as possible. It was difficult, but I am grateful to the players. Knowing that the players are the protagonists, I tried to communicate and listen to what they needed and resolve those issues. Nevertheless, I think an image transformation will take time."
Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun said, "The matches were different from Season 1. In Season 1, every game was tough, but we had good results, allowing us to maintain a positive atmosphere. However, in Season 2, it was harder than we anticipated, so we aimed to create results through our efforts for those supporting us."
As the competition has intensified, the players have been upgraded to a dream team level. Working alongside Director General Park Ji-sung, Coach Choi Yong-soo, and Assistant Coach Seol Ki-hyun, the newly strengthened lineup includes Koo Ja-cheol, a key player of the bronze medal-winning 2012 London Olympic team and captain of the national team, Lee Geun-ho, known as 'Son of the Sun' who won the AFC Champions League MVP and Player of the Year awards, Yeom Ki-hoon, dubbed 'Yeom Star' who received high praise from Coach Choi in Season 1, and legendary defender Yoon Young-sun. These newly recruited players join forces with the existing players to face the tough challenges of 'FC Shooting Star.'
Koo Ja-cheol said, "I had many injuries before retiring and couldn't play many games, but I had the goal of overcoming those regrets. It was essential to be with good players. Since 'Shooting Star 2' is my first official stage after retirement, taking it seriously while also showcasing a comedic side was its biggest appeal. When the players play, they wear microphones and cameras, and I found it fascinating that I would forget what I said during the game. The sensations were different when facing K3 League teams as a current player and after retiring. I knew they were good teams, but meeting them after retiring was truly impressive."
In particular, unlike during his active years, Koo Ja-cheol had been 'bulking up.' He said, "At the time of my retirement, I weighed 85 kg. Just before joining 'Shooting Star 2,' I reached 94 kg but managed to drop to 86 kg by the end. It was very difficult. I easily became fatigued, and because of my injuries I couldn't run much. Although it has only been 6 months since my retirement, I felt regret in not being able to keep up with other players, but Coach Choi encouraged me. Coach Seol also provided a lot of good advice, which helped me lose weight quickly. After playing a few games, my condition dramatically improved, and I hope you will watch as those stories unfold."
Lee Geun-ho expressed, "I am also happy and excited as we enter Season 2. I remember times when I had regrets, and they were very sincere feelings. Here, I have felt and recalled so much through soccer, reconnecting with camaraderie and relationships. I hope viewers can feel that as well. I questioned whether I should have been in Season 1 because they showed such great performances; I thought I could have performed well too if I had joined. I enjoyed watching it, but upon entering Season 2, I realized that this was a misconception. I believe the results came about because everyone worked really hard, and I learned the hard way that 'what you can achieve reflects how much you prepare.' This self-reflection led me to restart my journey."
Lee Geun-ho shared, "I gained about 4-5 kg after retirement, but thanks to Koo Ja-cheol, it wasn't noticeable. Losing weight was easy. During my playing days, I had a routine, but after retirement, trying to get back into that routine was challenging at first. However, as I played more, I felt the need to rediscover my routine to show my old self, and by the time filming was over, the difference was only 1-2 kg. I wore clothes that didn't fit after retirement again."
Lee Geun-ho is currently active as a coach on 'Kick a Goal.' He said, "I spend enough time to truly understand the players' feelings. Coaches often give commands when times are tough, and I find myself in similar situations. It seems like the players pretend not to hear, but I empathize. I have come to understand their hardships a lot more, and conversely, I learned why the players are so earnest and dedicated to the game."
In particular, Patrice Evra, a French-born defender who played alongside Park Ji-sung at Manchester United in the English Premier League, has lent his support to FC Shooting Star as a prominent friend of Korea.
Coach Choi Yong-soo stated, "We brought in players because Director General Park Ji-sung has a personal relation with them. I was surprised several times; despite the exhaustion from long flights, he poured everything into training. I was amazed to see him constantly communicate with the players in preparation for games. Additionally, I was impressed by his detailed touches towards the opponent's direction, which made for a satisfying performance. He even maintained a 100% attendance rate at team gatherings. I wish we had about 3-4 more players like him." He added, "As a coach, it's natural to have player ambitions. If I had to make a wish, I would be interested in Kim Shin-wook and Lim Sang-hyup, who recently retired. There are good players on the border between being active and retired that are not easily retiring. I think it's good to live a second life in advance, and they are always welcome."
Koo Ja-cheol remarked, "It was an honor to play with Evra, who has a winning mentality from lifting numerous trophies at Manchester United. I felt honored to experience that winning mentality firsthand as a teammate."
The youth player selection that received positive evaluations during Season 1 will continue into 'Shooting Star 2.' PD Jo Hyo-jin mentioned, "During Season 1, youth players came on board, gained experience, and were selected for the U-20 national team. This time, we selected players through tryouts and incorporated them. They won't always play in every game and might not appear frequently, but training and playing with legend players is immensely beneficial, which made me feel good. Since everyone is interested in youth development, we aim to continue this initiative. I hope, even a little, it helps Korean soccer."
The hot performance of FC Shooting Star will be revealed on the 29th at 8 p.m. on Coupang Play's entertainment show 'Shooting Star' Season 2.
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