[스포티비뉴스=잠실, 김민경 기자] “I say I’m leaving, and I keep sending it somewhere. I have a contract left until November.”
Doosan Bears manager Kim Tae-hyung corrected rumors regarding next season’s move ahead of the Jamsil NC Dinos match on the 20th. Coach Kim is called the ‘FA biggest fish’ this season. Doosan has solidified its position as a prestigious club following Kim took the helm in 2015. From 2015 to last year, they advanced to the Korean Series for seven consecutive years, winning three championships (2015, 2016, and 2019). Until the 20th, he is a master with a record of 639 wins, 475 losses and 19 draws in 1,133 matches.
After leading a miraculous combined championship in 2019, manager Kim renewed his contract with Doosan for three years and 2.8 billion won. It was the best treatment in KBO manager history. In 2019, Doosan only announced a new contract with coach Kim following finishing the Korean series, but it was difficult to predict the breakup because the team performance was good at that time.
This year is very different from the past 7 years. As of the 21st, Doosan is in ninth place with a win rate of 54 wins, 72 losses, 2 draws and a win rate of 0.429. For the first time since Kim took over as manager, the postseason elimination is definitive, and it is close to the club’s record of 80 losses (120 games in 1990), the most in a single season. Since it is not possible to confirm the contract renewal between Doosan and Kim, there are many stories regarding the possibility of a transfer.
Director Kim made it clear that he is still a Doosan manager. After laughing, “I have a lot of things to say to people who stand still,” he said with a smile, “I have a contract left until November. We need to prepare for the finishing camp. We don’t have a plan yet, but the finishing camp is an important event following the season is over. Until then, I It’s a matter that can be discussed when we get a notice from the club (to make a conclusion) following we’ve done it all,” he emphasized.
He added, “You can only know what will happen when the season is over. There are coaches with me right now, but I think that’s what they feel. I hope that unconfirmed stories won’t come out.”
He was also wary of the expression ‘FA’s biggest word’. Manager Kim said, “The manager is not a position to be moved by money. He is not going to throw away his clothes (uniform) because he tells you to come quickly from a place where he can give you more money. The manager is pride and honor. Negotiating salary with the club. Since the club has done this much, if they say that they will treat me like this, they will renew the contract.
Managers who usually spend the last year of their contracts are reluctant to comment on where they are going. It is such a sensitive and unpredictable issue.
However, Director Kim chose to break through head-on as usual. He frankly expressed, ‘I will still be the Doosan manager until November, and I will follow the club’s decision whether to renew or break up’. The end of the 8-year partnership is now in the hands of the club.
