Every great World Cup has its underdog story — a team that defies expectations and advances deep into the tournament against all odds. In 2002, South Korea wrote one of the most remarkable chapters in that tradition, becoming the first Asian nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The architect of that historic run was Dutch manager Guus Hiddink, whose ability to connect with his players went far beyond tactics. In a conversation with FourFourTwo, Hiddink revealed how a presidential phone call on the eve of the quarter-final against Spain produced one of the most emotional moments in World Cup history.

Hiddink's relationship with president Kim Dae-jung

Hiddink explained that in the lead-up to the 2002 tournament, he had met South Korean president Kim Dae-jung — a man whose life story carried enormous weight.