If you know the tactics
Soccer just got a lot more fun!

The more familiar I become with soccer, the more I want to know.
You want to understand why players were substituted in this scene, why this formation was chosen, why it feels like a completely different game when the same team has a different manager.
This book is the best introduction to soccer tactics to quench that thirst.
Rather than complex theories, it starts with the basics of tactics such as positions and formations, and helps develop an eye for reading the flow and context.
The biggest advantage is that even ordinary fans who do not major in 'tactics' can easily follow along.
The moment the scenes you see on the field or on broadcast are connected to tactical concepts, soccer enters a whole new world.
Beyond simply conveying information, this book enhances the enjoyment of watching and the depth of interpretation.
For fans who thought tactics were their own language, this book will be an opportunity to experience both the commentator's perspective and the manager's judgment side by side for the first time.

This is a highly recommended introductory book not only for soccer beginners, but also for fans who have been fans of soccer for a long time but have felt that 'tactics are difficult.'
The author, who has been active as an overseas soccer commentator and columnist, cultivates the ability to interpret games based on the premise that 'soccer is a sport of flow.'
It provides not only the tactics of famous managers but also various examples of how actual managers used which players and which tactics, allowing you to see the game with a deeper perspective.
In a tactical context, it is very useful to link the manager's decisions with the player's movements to explain them.
After reading this book, you will go beyond evaluating “who did well” and understand “why they moved that way.”
When you start looking at soccer analytically, you start to notice tactical changes during the game.
If you change your perspective on soccer, the game will inevitably become much more enjoyable.

For those who are thinking about watching overseas soccer in the future, I recommend first creating a 'cheerleading team'.
I think it doesn't matter what the trigger is.
It could be a little reason like you like a player, a coach, a cool team color, or just because they look strong.
If you keep watching the games for whatever reason, you will be able to tell if they are a good team or a bad team, and you will also be more likely to develop an attachment to them.

--- From "CHAPTER 1: A mindset for enjoying soccer more"

When I'm commentating, I look at my soccer notes, scouting reports, and social media once more when the starting lineup is announced to get information about both teams into my head.
Then, imagine how the game will unfold, and draw in your mind the qualitative superiority and even the formation compatibility.
Viewers will also be able to enjoy the soccer from this point on, even before the game begins.
For example, if a fan of Team A keeps information about the opposing team, Team B, in their head, it will help them recall the image of the entire game.
For example, 'Our team's (Team A) right back is slow on his feet, but Team B's left winger is fast on his feet.
You can do a simulation, saying, 'I don't know if it will be a classic.'

--- From "CHAPTER 1: A mindset for enjoying soccer more"

Once I've confirmed the starting lineup, I can roughly predict the initial deployment of both teams and the formation changes during offense and defense.
However, since many managers change their formations depending on the situation or opponent, I check how accurate my predictions were after the actual game started, just like checking an answer sheet.

I thought, 'With these members, the initial formation would be 4-3-3, 3-2-5 when attacking, and 4-4-2 when defending,' but there are times when different formations are used during offense and defense, or when the way the formation is changed is different.
At times like that, I think, 'Oh, is this how it's going to be done today?' 'I see.
As you will make new discoveries such as 'there was also this method', I recommend watching the game, paying special attention to player placement for about 5 minutes after kick-off.

--- From "CHAPTER 2: Must-Check Points to Watch During a 90-Minute Match"

Substitutions are becoming increasingly important in modern football.
The maximum number of substitutes allowed was increased from three to five following the COVID-19 pandemic (it was gradually introduced in each country's league starting in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and was officially established as a rule by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in 2022).

These changes have significantly changed football itself.
In the past, it was standard to use a substitution card once every halftime, 60 minutes, and 80 minutes, but now bold measures such as simultaneous substitutions of 2 or 3 players are possible.
It has become possible to 'change the game' by changing formations or tactics in an instant.

--- From "CHAPTER 2: Must-Check Points to Watch During a 90-Minute Match"

After the match, supporters will naturally be happy or sad about the result.
However, as a commentator, after the game, I check the final stats, review the content, analyze the good and bad parts, and try to express them in appropriate words.

Soccer is a sport where the content and the result do not necessarily match.
There are times when the game wasn't that great but we won, and on the other hand, there are times when the game was good but we lost.
Of course, winning is the biggest goal, but if you win by luck, there's no guarantee that you'll continue to win in the future.
Therefore, in preparation for the next match, it is very important to check how well the team's 'football philosophy', 'four-phase strategy', and 'game plan' that is conscious of responding to the opponent worked in this match.

--- From "CHAPTER 2: Must-Check Points to Watch During a 90-Minute Match"

We can also learn the importance of concentration from Holland.
In particular, he is a so-called classic number 9* type, and his number of touches during a game is the lowest on the team in most games.
Yet, the fact that he boasts the world's best goal completion rate is the greatest proof of his ability to play without losing focus even when he does not have the ball.

I know this all too well, having played center forward during my playing days, but maintaining focus while being severely restricted from the greatest joy and pleasure in soccer – kicking the ball – is not as easy as it sounds.
With many center forwards becoming impatient and irritated when the ball doesn't come to them, it's worth noting that Haaland remains calm in such situations.
--- From "CHAPTER 3: Roles and Symbolic Players of Each Position"

When it comes to the mental aspect, resilience is also very important for a goalkeeper in addition to composure.
There is not a single goalkeeper in the world who never concedes a goal and never makes a mistake.
Everyone concedes goals dozens of times a season, so it's crucial to maintain a positive mindset and motivate yourself and your teammates.

Even during commentary, I carefully observe the goalkeeper's expression and actions immediately after conceding a goal. I really like goalkeepers who have a cheerful expression and gestures that say, "Let's cheer up and get back at it!"
Although it is a scene that is briefly shown during the broadcast, I hope you all will pay attention and take a look.
--- From "CHAPTER 3: Roles and Symbolic Players of Each Position"

Recently, formations are sometimes referred to as 'initial deployments'.
This is because the so-called 'variable formation', in which players' positions and roles change depending on the game situation and formation changes, has spread worldwide, making it difficult to see a team maintaining the same formation for the entire 90 minutes.
More and more teams are changing their formations, starting with a 3-4-3, then a 3-2-5 for build-up and a 4-4-2 for defense.
But even if formations keep changing, there is always a basic formation (initial arrangement) that exists for any team.
As I briefly mentioned in Chapter 2, I have a rough idea of ​​what the initial lineup will be like when the starting lineup is announced, and then I check it after kickoff.
First, let's look at the easiest-to-understand 'number of people in the final line' and understand whether it's 400 or 300. Then, if we look at the deployment of the midfield and front line, we'll be able to see the overall picture well.

--- From "CHAPTER 4: You can see the game just by knowing the formation"

Variable formations are a risky tactic with both advantages and disadvantages.
However, I believe the reason there has been a surge in managers trying variable formations at the top level of Europe in recent years is because of Guardiola's success and the subsequent trend towards attacking football.
This will be a welcome trend for football lovers, as it will naturally lead to an increase in attacking, goal-scoring matches.

--- From "CHAPTER 4: You can see the game just by knowing the formation"

Josep Guardiola, who has been leading Manchester City since 2016, is arguably the world's best manager.
What I admire most about Pep (Guardiola's nickname) is his endless curiosity and desire to improve.

He creates new concepts such as 'positional play', 'fake center forward', 'fake full back', and even 'fake center back', and also updates existing tactics to a modern style.
Instilling such innovative ideas in players and making them function as a team is not only fascinating, but also very educational for both the coach and the commentator.

--- From "CHAPTER 5: Great Managers Who Changed Modern Football"

It can be said that Klopp is a manager with a fundamentally different ideology from Pep, who values ​​'dominating space and the game through ball possession'.
To put it more simply, it goes like this.
When they do manage to win the ball back, Pep's team prioritises securing possession first, whereas Klopp's team tries to get the ball vertically and reach the opposition's goal as quickly as possible.
Moreover, Liverpool, led by Klopp, has perfected a pattern play that allows them to finish with only the three central lanes without going through the outside lanes on the left and right.
The core of this intense style and the one that has become synonymous with Klopp is 'Gegenpressing' (German for counterpressing).
It refers to a play that aims to immediately recover the ball by applying pressure to the opposing team player who has the ball from the moment of negative transition (change from 'offense to defense').

--- From "CHAPTER 5: Great Managers Who Changed Modern Football"

Neto's greatest weapon is his 'dribble breakthrough'.
In particular, his greatest strength is his ability to break through to either the left or right after a step-over, allowing him to break down the opposing defender's stance and break through vertically in one go, or even show a sharp cut-in (a dribbling or movement pattern in which he cuts in from the side with the ball).

The acceleration time to top speed is also very fast, so you can connect the counterattack and finish on your own.
I think a winger with such a high level of physical ability and technique is quite valuable in modern football.

--- From "CHAPTER 6 Players and Managers I 'Personally Pay Attention to"

It is no exaggeration to say that having a clear play model while also being flexible enough to change tactics according to the opponent and situation is the most required element for a manager in modern football.
In that sense, I feel there is great potential in Manager Slot, and it would not be surprising at all if he were to take charge of a big club someday.
I hope you all will also watch Feyenoord's match.
(The slot manager was appointed as the manager of Premier League club Liverpool in May 2024, succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
The organized and aggressive style of football he displayed at Feyenoord is also considered to fit well with Liverpool's next-generation direction. (Translator)
--- From "CHAPTER 6 Players and Managers I 'Personally Pay Attention to"

Even after I retired from active duty, I continued to write football notes to become a good commentator and coach.
Even if I just watch the game to prepare for commentary, a lot of information remains vaguely in my head, but that information doesn't come to mind right away when I'm commentating the game.
However, if I write down notes in my own soccer notebook, they will be imprinted on my memory more clearly and I will be able to express them in words immediately when needed.
The things I write in my soccer notes for previewing the commentary are the members (the faces and names must match), formation, offense and defense mechanisms, characteristics (is the offense possession-based or counter-attacking, is the defense high-pressing or blocking, etc.), and changes during the game (formation changes or player substitutions).
Because this prior information is firmly in my head, I can immediately discuss the game's characteristics and changes during live commentary without much difficulty.

--- From "CHAPTER 7 My Longtime Partner, 'Soccer Notes'"

Recently, I met with a soccer official and we started talking about the 'development of the soccer world'.
The players are growing steadily.
At the same time, if the media and supporters can understand soccer more deeply, the level of soccer will rise even higher.
This was the conclusion of the conversation we had then.
As a commentator through the media, I strive to convey the charm and mystery of soccer with all my might.
So, I hope that soccer fans will also grow together.
To that end, I hope you develop the habit of writing down soccer notes to further enhance your ability to watch soccer games.

--- From "CHAPTER 7 My Longtime Partner, 'Soccer Notes'"