To be a leader who communicates and breathes together

There was a familiar face at the NAS Sports Complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the 2024 Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) women's tryout was held on the 8th (Korea time).

Yeo Oh-hyun (46), the senior coach of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea from the Korean volleyball "Legend Rivero," shouted fighting in a girlish voice as he did as a player.

"I'm not working out alone, so I think I'll have to scream more than I did when I was a player to boost the players' energy," he said with a smile.

Yeo is a new coach who has joined the team less than 15 days ago. She started working in earnest during the Asian quarter draft on April 29, and trained with the team's players only for about three days to participate in the tryout of foreign players.

Coach Yeo said, "I watched a lot of videos of women's players. It was different from what I thought, so I thought I should study a lot."

Coach Yeo Oh-hyun, dubbed "Man of Records," played for 20 seasons from his first year in the V-League in 2005 to the 2023-24 season. He played in 625 games, the most ever, and ranked first in receptions (8005) and first in successful digs (5,219). He also played in 22 games last season, showing off his old age. He also successfully achieved his "45-year-old project" to retire at the age of 45.

Coach Yeo Oh-hyun said, "I feel more proud that I played without a break for a season than titles such as 45 years old or 600 games, and I want to praise myself."

After the 2023-24 season, IBK Industrial Bank manager Kim Ho-chul called Yeo Oh-hyun, who was at the crossroads of retirement, to propose a leader.

Coach Kim said, "Coach Yeo managed herself with integrity enough to play until she was in her 40s. She will be able to become a good leader," adding, "Players will learn a lot from both defense and reception. I brought her here with high expectations."

Coach Yeo said, "I felt grateful, but honestly, I was more afraid. I thought, 'Will I be able to do well?' and I think I will cause trouble to the coach. I am grateful that the coach gave me strength to say, 'I can do well.'"

When he was an active athlete, he won the second most championships (nine times) after Yoo Kwang-woo (11 times). Unfortunately, he failed to wear the 10th ring that he aimed for. "That hurts my heart. Honestly, if I don't have greed, it would be a lie. As a player, I really wanted to fill it up, but I regret that I retired with only one piece of puzzle left," Yeo said.

Meanwhile, Yeo Kwang-woo (aged 3 at Songsan High School), the son of the coach, is continuing the family business with the same libero as his father. If Yeo continued his active career and Yeo started the draft after graduating from high school, it would have been possible to imagine a father and son playing together. "My son (really) said, 'What's wrong, Dad?' (After hearing the news of his retirement), my son said, 'I've decided to take on a new challenge as well."

Coach Yeo Oh-hyun, who worked harder than anyone else, is determined to do his best as a leader.

"Coach Kim Ho-cheol said that volleyball is played by players and people anyway. When I was a player, I wanted to be a strong and enthusiastic player. I will help our players do the same."

BY: 스포츠토토