Godfather Of Champions

“In an interview with the media this morning, UEFA news spokesman William Gaillard expressed that Nottingham Forest’s manager Tony Twain’s actions after receiving the award were extremely unsuitable and inappropriate in context. Prior to this, Tony Twain had expressed an understanding of his own actions through the media on the day after the match. He believes that the award is his personal belonging since it was given to him. Consequently, what he decides to do with it is a personal act unrelated to UEFA. Mr. Gaillard expresses regret regarding this as he believes the medal is representative of a kind of glory, and that it was inappropriate to be thoughtlessly given away to someone else. He hopes for manager Twain to be a positive role model for his team’s players…”

“Bulls**t role model!” Tang En cursed angrily as he switched off the television. “I’d rather hope for them to be a positive role model to the entire European soccer scene!”

Evan Doughty, who was sitting behind the boss’ table, waved a piece of paper in his hands. “This is a fax from the UEFA. It’s a fine for your “inappropriate evaluation of the main referee on duty” after the match. 80 thousand pounds. Tony, you might be the most frequently fined manager…”

Tang En paced up and down in the room, appearing somewhat restless. “You can’t blame me… I just spoke the truth. And the truth is usually jarring to hear.”

“What about proof? You didn’t have any proof. Mourinho could say that his men saw the Barcelona official walking into the resting room for referees… but what did you see?” Evan pointed out calmly.

Tony kept quiet. It was true that he did not have any evidence. His words seemed more like a loser’s grievance and unwillingness to concede.

“Tony. I can understand your actions. If I were you, I may have done the same… But only maybe. You can’t just always be thinking about venting for your sake. Your actions put Allan in a very difficult position.” Evan glanced at Allan Adams, sitting on the other side of the chairman’s office.

Tang En stopped pacing and looked at the club’s marketing manager sitting silently on the sofa.

Because of what happened, Tang En knew that Allan must have some opinions about him. After all, Allan’s work had to do with protecting and molding Forest’s new image. Tang En’s actions during the award ceremony of the Champions League’s finals destroyed the image Allan had worked so hard to protect… If something like that had happened to Tang En, he would likely be very unhappy as well.

But this was not the time to be at odds with each other. Furthermore, they were on the same side. There was no need for him to lose his temper with his own people; it was the UEFA he was angry at, not the people at Nottingham Forest.

“Uh… I’m very sorry, Allan. I didn’t think about those things then.” He scratched his head. “You know, I’m a bit impulsive… I’ve been trying very hard to hold back, but there are times that I still can’t control myself. I’m sorry.”

Allan stood up and shook his head with a smile. “Don’t be so nervous, Tony. You did bring me a bit of trouble, but… My job is to deal with these troubles. Without them, I might not even know what to do. I don’t mind it.” He walked over and patted Tang En on his shoulders. “The next time you get into the finals…”

Tang En continued his sentence. “I won’t give away the gold medal that easily.”

Allan was stunned at first, before bursting into loud laughter, realizing what Tang En meant.

“You can give it to me.” He winked at Tang En.

“Dream on.”

“Tony, this bill… It’s the same old rule; the club will pay it on your behalf. Remember, think before you speak rashly next time.” Evan Doughty raised the bill he was holding and pointed at his own brain.

Tang En raised both hands in surrender. “I know… I’ve already reflected deeply on myself.”

“In the hotel room?” Evan asked, looking at Tang En.

“I’ll guarantee you this, Evan.” Tang En gazed past Evan Doughty in front of the window, looking towards the azure blue sky. “We will have a new beginning.”

※※※

The next day after the UEFA announced their punishment for Tony, Nottingham Forest also officially called for a press conference and formally announced their contract renewal with the team’s meritorious manager, Tony Twain.

As a media personality, Tang En’s press conference for his contract renewal was packed to the brim with numerous reporters from various places.

The press conference had some degree of showiness to it; both parties would be present and signing the contract on the scene before the many reporters. It was not merely an announcement of the news with the contract signed prior.

Some media groups perceived Forest’s choice of announcing the contract at this time a sort of protest of UEFA’s punishment of Tony. However, this wronged Nottingham Forest. After all, Tang En’s initial contract with the club was for a period of three years. It would be expiring at the end of the year, so it was very normal for the club to reconsider its renewal at this point. UEFA’s punishment and Nottingham Forest Club’s apparent support? That could only be said to be a coincidence.

The reporters fell quiet when the two main leads, Evan Doughty and Tony Twain, appeared on the scene.

“This is a contract that we’ve had prepared for a long time, with all aspects being greatly satisfactory for manager Twain.” Evan Doughty went straight to the point, directly broaching the main topic. “Before the finals of the Champions League, we had already decided to give manager Tony a new contract, regardless of the match results.” His saying so was equivalent to answering the current doubts of the media regarding the club’s timing to announce their renewal of Tony’s contract; it was unrelated to the punishment imposed by UEFA and was something that had been decided for a long time.

“The club is extremely delighted by manager Tony’s acceptance of this contract. After all, from the normal workers on the field to myself personally, everyone feels that manager Tony Twain is the most suitable candidate to lead this team. He has given new life to this ancient team, allowing them to be restored to glory. He is the pride of this city.”

Tang En sat by the side, quietly listening to Evan shower him with praise. He did not show even a hint of embarrassment on his face.

“Just as I’ve said, there will not be anyone more suitable than him to lead Nottingham Forest. So, the club has provided him with an eight-year-contract.”

His statement incited a wave of commotion on the scene. No one had expected Nottingham Forest to provide a contract on such an extended period. Eight years; by the time it expired it would already be 2014! Even if the position of manager was known to be a profession with a long span—managing the same team for 20 over years was nothing uncommon within the English football scene—there were hastening movements of talent in the current scene. With benefits being prioritized, loyalty had long become a joke. An eight-year-contract. Did Nottingham Forest Club truly have that much confidence in Twain?

Amidst the noise, Tang En stood up. Everyone consciously fell silent and waited for him to say something.

“I want to first thank the club chairman’s trust of me. I love this team and this club. I can’t think of anywhere else I could go to if I left this place. If it’s possible, I hope I can sign on with Mr. Chairman for another eight years in eight years’ time, and eight years after that, another eight years. All the way until I become too old to work. That’s what I hope for.”

In such a press conference, for a renewal of contracts, Tang En also held back from using the usual provocative tone and nonchalant expression. He appeared very stern, wearing a black suit matched with a red tie symbolizing Forest. It was rare that Tang En would dress so formally.

“I am very honored to be able to dedicate the entire span of my managing career to this great football team.”

The reporters present did not usually hear Tang En say such things; faced with the reporters, Tang En normally got uncomfortable if he did not mock them even a little. Seeing him dressed so formally and saying such moving words, the reporters all felt somewhat awkward,

After saying that, Tang En sat down with Evan Doughty under the lights. They flipped open the contract and lowered their heads as they signed it.

Later, famous reporter and biography writer Pierce Brosnan wrote this in his autobiography: “… Back then, I had written in the newspapers that this scene, in the future, would become a moment looked back upon in Forest’s history. When people talked about this historic day, they will say that the day Nottingham Forest and Tony Twain renewed their eight-year-contract was just like Liverpool’s signing with Bill Shankly; it was a great renewal. During that period, I was ridiculed by people who said I showed my lack of common sense by comparing a man of greatness with a clown… Time proved that I was right.”

After signing their names, both men stood up and shook hands with each other before the media.

“A piece of news that has upset many EPL team managers is that Tony Twain has renewed his contract with Nottingham Forest Club for eight years. He will be battling together with his team for another eight years.” This was how the contract renewal was reported by the evening sports news at BBC5 station.

※※※

“England’s National Team manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, submitted their team list to FIFA this morning. There is something special on this list, a surprising yet unsurprising candidate who has been selected for the National Team. Nottingham Forest’s captain, George Wood, has been included in the team list by Eriksson and will be brought to Germany. Prior to this, George Wood never had the experience of being selected by the National Team. Although his club performance is good, he has never played a single minute of football representing the National Team.”

“Two players from Nottingham Forest have been selected for England’s National Team. They are right-wing assist, Ashley Young, and defending midfielder, George Wood. Originally, Freddy Eastwood could have also appeared on this list, but he has turned down the summons by the English Football Association. He has chosen to play for Wales because his grandfather was born there.”

There was no longer any news about Tang En on television. Everyone’s focus had shifted to the World Cup. The Three Lions were once again setting off on their journey, carrying the hopes of countless English people. Naturally, the media declared Eriksson’s team to be the strongest English Team in 30 years. Of course, they had said the same thing four years ago during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Korea/Japan.

Wood was watching this news at home when he received a congratulatory call from Tony Twain.

“Kid, congratulations. You’re now officially a member of England’s National Team!”

“Thank you.” Wood’s answer surprised Tang En a little. His tone seemed very calm, without any happiness or excitement.

“You don’t seem elated. Why? This is something you didn’t even think of when you first decided you were going to play football.”

“Should I be happy?” Wood asked in return.

“Uh… logically… yes. Those selected for their first time to be in the National Team would treat this day as the most important day of their lives. At the very least, they say so in their autobiography.”

“Will I be a core player?”

“You’ll have to ask Eriksson.” Tang En shrugged. “What I say won’t matter. He’s the manager of the National Team. But… do you want to hear my suggestion, George?”

“Yes.”

“Regardless of if you’re a core player, this isn’t the problem you should be worrying about. You only need to train hard, that’s all. If you have an opportunity to be fielded, don’t think about anything but performing well. Remember, don’t keep thinking about whether you’re a core player or not. Do you still remember the situation when you first represented Forest’s First Team in an official match?”

“I remember.”

“Just like that.”

Wood fell silent for a while.

Tang En suddenly recalled another reason that could explain Wood’s lack of happiness. “Hey, you wouldn’t still be brooding over the Champions League finals, would you?”

Wood’s silence indicated his soundless agreement.

“Football matches are like that. There isn’t a general who will always win, and there will be times of failure… Do you still remember what I said to you in the locker room when you made a mess of the Youth Team match and wanted to back out?”

Wood thought for a bit and nodded. “I still remember.”

“What you’ve lost here, you can win it back over there. What you’ve lost in this match, you can win it back in the next match. If you don’t want to concede, then work hard in the future to win it back.”

“I know.”

“And a final piece of advice: no matter when it is, remember that you come from Nottingham Forest; don’t embarrass me.”

After ending his call with Tang En, Wood’s mother walked into his room.

“Tony called?”

Wood nodded and placed his cellphone back on the table.

“I never thought…” Sophia stood at the doors, scrutinizing her own son with a cocked head, “that my George would one day become a player on England’s National Team.”

Wood turned his head sideways to look out the windows, somewhat abashed by his mother’s statement.

He felt a pair of hands gently wrapping around his waist, his mother’s forehead resting on his back.

“Your back has gotten so broad… George has grown up and knows how to be shy now.”

“Mum…”

“No matter where you are, George, you have to keep working hard.”

“Yes.”

※※※

“Hey, Dunn. We need to change our travel plans.” After finishing up his call with Wood, Tang En went downstairs to look for Dunn.

“Are we heading back to China first?”

Tang En nodded. “We’ll be getting busy after the World Cup ends. I didn’t think about that before. We can return to China first, and then travel directly to Germany from there.”

“When do we leave?”

“Probably in a few days. Let me finish dealing with matters on my side.”

Dunn nodded in agreement.

Tang En’s “matters on my side” was also related to the World Cup.

Originally, as was the usual practice, he was required to write the football commentary for the Nottingham Evening Post during the World Cup.

However, because he had successfully “predicted” such a major event of the Greek team’s victory in the UEFA European Championship, he got eyed by an even bigger media group for the period of the World Cup.

BBC hoped to sign a short-term contract with Tang En for him to take on the role of a guest commentator on the matches they would be broadcasting during the World Cup. Tang En liked the job very much. In the past, when he was watching football, he often scolded the commentators for being full of bulls**t and illogical nonsense. They knew nothing beyond repeating the crap everyone else already knew or matching players with “inner monologues” on their own accord. If he went up, he believed he could do a better job than the supposed professionals. Now, he finally had a way to experience the kick of being a guest commentator.

Since he was employed, it naturally came with payment. But, Tang En cared little for that bit of money. After his contract renewal with the club, his yearly salary had been increased to 2.7 million pounds. Even though that numerical value could not even be ranked in the top five salaries of EPL managers, it was a considerable amount to him, having transmigrated to England from China. Not to mention the Chinese, many English people would not even earn close to Tang En’s annual salary in their lifetime.

Initially, he intended to take on this job even if the BBC was unwilling to pay a cent. However, he found himself facing Shania’s criticisms after mentioning that to her.

Shania’s views were that he should raise the bar with the BBC instead of just taking the money. Her reasoning was related to Tang En’s current status as a rather well-known manager. While he could say that he did not care about the money, the salary was directly related to his status and position. If the pay was low, it meant that the other party did not value you. The higher the pay, the higher his position. This followed the same reasoning as models working a show. The fee for hiring international supermodels must be much higher than hiring rookie models who had just joined the industry.

Tang En accepted Shania’s views. No matter what, he was now a manager who had led his team into the finals of the Champions League. He was not someone that could be easily dismissed anymore.

As a result, his primary job in these few days would be discussing details of the contract with the BBC’s personnel.

Out of her kindness, Shania offered to let her agent help Tang En with the discussions. However, it was declined with thanks. He did not wish to find himself an agent, not even a temporary one.

Due to the matter with George Wood, he was not too fond of agents. Despite not having any opinions against Shania’s agent, he did not wish to get involved with an agent.

The final negotiations proceeded smoothly. The BBC expressed sufficient sincerity and Tang En did not make things difficult for them. Both parties quickly signed the contract. Following that, the BBC announced the appearance of famed manager Tony Twain on the live commentary during the World Cup as a special guest.

Although Tang En had suffered a setback in the Champions League finals, it looked as if he had gained even more things… A new contract with the club signifying trust and encouragement, a contract with the TV station indicating a significant rise in fame, and George Wood, a boy he had discovered and nurtured, becoming one of the 23 in England’s National Team. From another angle, it proved his eye for judgment and coaching standards.

The pain and despair of failure had become the past past and was gradually drifting further. Now, he must face a whole new future. And he was filled with confidence.