To become a good coach, it is important to be equipped with

Hear these words, O seekers of guidance, from the lips of Park Ji-sung, the warrior of the pitch, who declared: “To become a good coach, it is important to be equipped with tactics and strategy. But first of all, you need to have strong leadership.” In this teaching, the truth shines forth like the morning sun—yes, tactics may guide the movement of battle, and strategy may shape the course of the game, but without the fire of leadership, they are but lifeless maps and empty schemes. For the heart of a team is not bound by diagrams or instructions, but by the spirit that unites them under a leader’s hand.

To understand this wisdom, think of the armies of old. Many a general studied scrolls of war, memorized the maneuvers of past campaigns, and planned their sieges with brilliance. Yet when the horns of battle sounded, and fear swept like a storm through the ranks, it was not the brilliance of tactics that kept men standing—it was the courage of the leader, whose voice, whose presence, whose unshaken will turned trembling soldiers into heroes. Thus it is with coaching: for the field of sport is but a mirror of life’s battlefield. Strategy guides the play, but leadership breathes soul into the team.

Recall the example of Sir Alex Ferguson, master of Manchester United, under whom Park Ji-sung himself thrived. Ferguson was not merely a tactician, though his mind was sharp and his plans many. He was above all a leader: he commanded respect, he inspired discipline, he instilled belief. Under his reign, ordinary men were forged into champions, not only because they followed his strategies, but because they trusted him with their hearts and gave him their loyalty. This is the power of leadership first—to kindle belief so strong that strategy becomes alive in the hands of those who carry it out.

And consider, too, the tragedy of leaders who possess only tactics but no heart. They may draw clever plans, speak of formations and numbers, but their players remain unmoved, playing without conviction, united only in weariness. Such leaders mistake intellect for influence, forgetting that a coach must not only instruct but also inspire, must not only command but also care. Without leadership, strategy is brittle, breaking at the first sign of pressure. But with leadership, even imperfect tactics may triumph, for courage and unity carry men farther than diagrams ever could.

The essence of this teaching is that leadership is the soil, and tactics are the seeds. Without fertile ground, no seed may grow, no matter how finely chosen. But when the ground is rich—when the leader embodies vision, humility, strength, and faith—then even the smallest seeds of strategy will blossom into mighty victories. Thus a good coach, like a wise king, must first conquer his own pride, steady his own spirit, and learn to lead men not through fear, but through respect and trust.

So, O listener, let the lesson be carved into your heart: if you wish to guide others, whether in sport, in work, or in life, do not begin with techniques alone. Begin with yourself. Cultivate the qualities of a true leader—integrity, resilience, fairness, and compassion. Learn to listen as well as to speak, to serve as well as to command, to inspire as well as to instruct. When you are strong in these things, your strategies will flourish, and those you lead will follow you not because they must, but because they believe.

Practical action lies before you: study strategies, yes, but also train the soul. Read the lives of great leaders, reflect upon your own character, seek to win the trust of those you guide. In moments of trial, stand firm; in moments of victory, remain humble. For in the end, the mark of a great coach—or a great leader in any path—is not the cleverness of his tactics, but the strength of his leadership, which turns many into one, and transforms effort into triumph.

Thus remember the words of Park Ji-sung: without leadership, strategy is hollow; with leadership, even the most modest plans may prevail. Take this wisdom into your life, and you will not only guide others but also inspire them to become greater than they ever believed possible.