The debut of singer Lim Young-woong as a soccer coach has driven up the ratings for 'Kick a Goal 4'.
On the 12th, the 27th episode of JTBC's popular sports variety show 'Kick a Goal 4' featured Lim Young-woong's first appearance as a soccer coach. Lim showcased his passion for soccer and gentle charisma both on and off the field. The episode achieved a viewership rating of 3.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area among paid households, ranking first in its time slot across non-terrestrial channels, including cable.
The episode saw a showdown between the 'Fantasy League' and the 'KA League' united teams. Lim Young-woong, who set a record for the most appearances on 'Kick a Goal', took on a new challenge as the head coach of the 'KA League United Team'.
Lim's opponent was Lee Dong-gook, the top coach of the 'Fantasy League'. He confidently predicted a 2:1 victory for the 'Fantasy United Team', stating, "The players are perfectly prepared. I don't think we'll lose." Lim, on the other hand, expressed his confidence, saying, "I genuinely think we'll win 4:0."
Dressed in a suit, Lim Young-woong demonstrated professional-level analysis and preparation from the start. During the pre-match training, he actively assessed the players' skills and meticulously analyzed the tactics of opposing coach Lee Dong-gook to devise a winning strategy. He also displayed leadership by telling his players, "Let's not dwell on past situations or protest. We'll handle it from the outside."
As the match began, the 'KA League United Team' and the 'Fantasy United' engaged in an intense midfield battle. Lim Young-woong shouted "Spacing!" to adjust the defensive line and gave detailed instructions on player positioning. He also showcased his data-driven coaching style by meticulously recording the match situations. Despite both teams having scoring opportunities, the goalkeepers' spectacular saves resulted in a 0:0 draw at halftime.
In the second half, both teams adopted more aggressive pressing tactics. When a crucial scoring chance for the 'KA League United Team' was missed, Coach Lim expressed his frustration by kneeling and throwing his pen, but he soon comforted the player who made the mistake. During the cooling break, he personally tidied up the water bottles used by the players.
Lim Young-woong made his first-ever VAR request after witnessing a handball situation in the penalty box, but the review concluded with a no-foul decision, leaving him disappointed. Near the end of the match, 'Kick a Goal's ace Ryu Eun-kyu scored a last-minute goal, resulting in a 1:0 defeat for Lim's coaching debut. Lee Dong-gook, who continued his winning streak as the united team's head coach, joyfully remarked, "I don't know how to lose." Despite the loss, Lim Young-woong encouraged his dejected players, saying, "You did well."
At the end of the broadcast, a preview was shown of Lim Young-woong returning as a player to avenge his coaching loss, and Coach Ahn Jung-hwan seeking revenge after a heavy defeat to 'Returns FC' last year. JTBC's 'Kick a Goal 4' airs every Sunday at 7:10 PM.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr