In the summer of 2001, Guus Hiddink faced severe criticism after losing 5-0 to France and the Czech Republic, earning the nickname 'Oh Dae-yong'. However, by the 2002 World Cup, he had transformed South Korea's fortunes, leading them to the semi-finals.
The issue reflects on the evolution of summer football, noting that while past summers allowed for a break before the new season, today hosts significant events like the Club World Cup, Gold Cup, and European Under-21 Championship.
"There were many, especially in the early stages. We were very successful back then, at EURO 2016 and then winning the Confederations Cup the following year. The period after that was...actually worse than mediocre."