long live football

Before officially announcing that he would not renew his contract with the FA, Carl first told his family and friends the news of his free agency.

Then, as expected, I got a bunch of "should have been like this" eye feedback.

Everyone is enthusiastically guessing which league Karl will choose as his next stop.

"Multiple Leagues?" Beckham suggested enthusiastically.

After receiving a cold response, the heartthrob rubbed his nose in embarrassment: "Okay, I was joking."

Prince William - although the future King of England has been named the Duke of Cambridge, he still wants people to call him Prince William instead of Lord Duke after marriage - also enthusiastically weighed in: "How about Aston Villa? They Last season's record was too bad, only 2 points to avoid relegation, and almost fell into the British Championship! McLeish has been fired, and Villa's American boss wants to find a young, ambitious and extremely eager for success Coach, I think you are just right!"

Carl patted his friend on the shoulder: "I'm pretty sure now that you have true love for Aston Villa."

Prince William's blood was burning furiously: "Since I was born, Villa have never won a league championship again. If I can see them win the Premier League championship again in my lifetime, my life will be worth it!"

Mourinho, who was coaching far away in Madrid, also called and suggested: "Guardiola has left Barcelona. His former assistant Vilanova has been spreading the news of taking over as Barcelona coach since April, but the Barcelona official It has never been announced, which shows that they are still considering, when the news that your contract with the FA has expired, I think maybe Barcelona will take the initiative to find you."

Carl thought Mourinho was joking at first, but later he found out that the other party was serious: "You want me to go to La Liga and play duo with you?"

"Errenzhuan? It's an interesting metaphor. You know, Carl, I can't stop talking, and those reporters are used to picking things up for fear of chaos, so every time I say at a press conference Something happened, wow, the next day it was all over the world, especially the news about Barcelona."

Mourinho curled his lips, and didn't mind revealing his true thoughts in front of his friends: "Guardiola is a moron, he keeps everything in his heart, and eight or nine times out of ten he doesn't respond to my provocation, but instead It was his group of players who couldn’t wait to jump out one by one and play a 1vs-N game with me. is the right way."

"So you recommended La Liga to me, just want someone to fight with you." Carl said slowly.

"No, absolutely not." Mourinho said sincerely: "I just want to know, when you and I are in the same league, who will win the league first."

"You and I still have decades of professional life, Jose, we will meet in the same league one day, why are you in a hurry now?" Karl also replied sincerely: "But I'm curious, You know that every word you say will be misinterpreted by someone with a heart, why can’t you control your mouth? If this continues, one day your enemies will spread all over the world.”

Mourinho answered the question: "Are you going to be my enemy too?"

"...You clearly know my answer. I am your friend. One day in the future, I may become a direct competitor, but I will never be an enemy."

"Isn't that enough?" Mourinho said with a smile, "As long as I have a friend who is always on my side, I don't care even if the whole world is an enemy. Maybe that would be more interesting."

"Well, it's up to you." Carl finally said helplessly: "I shouldn't compare the flexibility of my tongue with you."

Ronaldo, who listened to the whole call, was emotional: "Barcelona? No! Mourinho's idea is too bad, you can't listen to him!"

……

Ferguson invited Carl to visit his office at Old Trafford.

Carl: "Visit? No need, I've been there."

Ferguson: "When was the last time you came to my office, in 04? Yes, you were still working as my assistant at that time. It has been 8 years. Why do you think Old Trafford Is it constant? In my opinion, the world is changing every minute.”

So after a lapse of eight years, Karl visited the head coach's office at Old Trafford again.

"You lied to me." Carl turned his head and complained to Ferguson as soon as he entered the door: "This place is completely the same as it was eight years ago."

Beige ceiling and wallpaper, red carpet, photos and oil paintings hanging on two walls, three sofas, the innermost one has a ginger bar for goblets and red wine. Didn't find any difference between here and 04.

"You look too hastily, young man." Ferguson walked to the bar with a smile, poured two glasses of red wine, handed a glass to Carl before saying: "Look carefully, I believe you will find the difference. "

Carl scanned every corner of the room: "That wall of honor? There are many more photos on it."

There is a wall of honor in Ferguson's office, with photos of Ferguson and his players posing with the trophies after Manchester United won a new championship, although these championship trophies can only be stored in the honor room of Old Trafford. There is no way to put it in the office, but with this photo wall, every visiting guest can still see all the glorious years of the Red Devils through it.

Ferguson walked over and brushed those photos with his fingers: "Since you left, there are more photos of me with a Champions League trophy, four league championship trophies, three League Cup trophies and five Community Shield trophies, but there is still one thing missing. thing."

"What's missing?"

"Manchester United's third Champions League title, the Big Ears Cup you took away from me at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in 08."

Carl was silent, he thought he understood what Ferguson wanted to say.

If they are just talking at this moment, then Carl can completely use "winning or losing is common in military affairs, you have to be convinced if you lose" or "so what if you lost to me in 08. Didn't Manchester United also get the second championship in the club's history in the second year?" Is it a cup with big ears?" Such words rebutted back.

But Carl didn't do that.

Because Karl understands that Ferguson took so much pains to talk about the past and guide the topic in a roundabout way because of his deep love for the stadium under their feet and his deep love for Manchester United.Carl shouldn't interrupt such a loving conversation hastily.

Ferguson didn't say his purpose right away, but talked about his health again: "Just this past season, I often had nosebleeds during the day for no reason, and your aunt Katie accompanied me to the hospital once. Examination, the doctor said that I fly too frequently, he suggested that I fly less - but as a team coach who has many international warm-up games and European games every year, how can I say goodbye to the plane completely? Where are the toys?"

Patting his hip, Ferguson said again: "When I went to have a pacemaker installed in my heart eight years ago, I thought it was the last operation in my life, but obviously my body won't obey me. Big, the more they throw tantrums, now my hip is gone, sometimes it hurts me even to sleep, and the doctor said I'd better get a hip replacement, that would keep me alive Take it easy."

"How many months did you make an appointment for surgery? I will go to the hospital to see you then."

"Without an appointment, the best doctor in London has all the surgeries before September. After September, the new season starts again. The surgery and subsequent recuperation will take at least three or four months. I can't leave the team. It's been so long." Ferguson said with a wry smile: "Katie was very dissatisfied with this, she was very angry, and sternly warned me 'don't learn from your father'."

Ferguson's father, Alexander Ferguson, was only 66 years old when he died. He had just retired for one year. As a shipyard worker, Alexander went out early and returned late every day when he was at work. After retirement, he had just lived an intimate and happy life with his family. Not long afterward, he was diagnosed with cancer, and he was called by God not long after.

Although Ferguson has always stubbornly believed that "my father died not long after retirement, so work is beautiful, as long as people keep working, they will not die", but as his wife, Katie has a completely different idea from him: " After decades of marriage, you have promised me so many times that you would spend more time with me and the children, but you always break your promise. I don’t want you to be like Dad, who will always only think about work and work, and will never die. How much reunion time do you have with your family?"

That's right, in the decades of marriage with Katie, Ferguson promised many things, such as traveling around the world with Katie after retirement, opening a farm in his hometown with vast farmland to raise animals, helping his son take care of his grandson Granddaughter, etc... But as Katie said, he has never fulfilled any of these promises.

"I'm on Aunt Katie's side on this one," Carl said. "You think about the team every day? No problem, working more than 10 hours a day? No problem, but there's something wrong with your body that needs surgery. Why don't you go to the hospital? No, that's absolutely not right, Aunt Katie is right, you shouldn't be kidding with your life."

"I know." Ferguson drank his red wine and smiled slyly: "That's why I invited you here."

'The play meat is here. ' thought Carl.

Following Ferguson's words, he asked, "Then?"

"I want to retire. And you, Karl." Ferguson stretched out his arms and showed Karl his office: "Do you want to be the master here?"

After several arguments with Katie, Ferguson once couldn't help but think: 'I'm 71 years old, I have a not very healthy heart, and a body that goes wrong from time to time, maybe I should think about it. Retirement thing?Otherwise, in a few years, even if I want to travel around the world with Katie, I probably won't be able to walk. '

But retirement is not an easy decision to make.

The family is fine, Katie and the kids have long since wanted him to rest, the key is the club.

Ferguson clearly knew that once he announced that he was retiring, it would be a shocking news for Manchester United, for British football, and even for European and world football.

Especially for Manchester United, the team he has coached for 25 years, it will have an earth-shaking impact.

Twenty-five years have passed, and Manchester United has completely become his team. Whether it is Old Trafford or the Carrington training base, every piece of land belonging to Manchester United has a distinct Ferguson imprint.

Suddenly erased his imprint on Manchester United and changed the Red Devils to a new owner. Will the team adapt?

What kind of new owner is suitable for Manchester United?

These are all things Ferguson needs to think about, and each problem can give him a headache.

But it is impossible for Ferguson to lead Manchester United for a lifetime. After all, he is already 71.

At 71 years old, he is already at an age where he may be called by God at any time.

Since the 11-12 season, the idea of ​​retirement has appeared in Ferguson's mind more and more times, and it was finally officially put on his agenda at the end of this season.

Since 09, Ferguson has suffered from several minor physical problems, but he has always maintained a working time of up to 16 hours a day, and one of the reasons why he has never considered retirement for the team is because he wants to bring Manchester United. Come to the third Champions League trophy-yes, the Red Devils manager is such a person who never knows enough. When Manchester United had the first Big Ears Cup, he wanted the second one. , he thought about the third seat again, after all, three is a more perfect number than two, isn't it?

But since winning the second Champions League in 09—or since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, Manchester United's performance in the European arena has suffered a decline. In the 09-10 season, they only played eight. Strong, the 10-11 season is the season that Manchester United is most likely to win the third Big Ears Cup. They reached the final, but unfortunately lost to Barcelona 1:3 in the end, and this year, in the 11-12 season, Manchester United even He didn't even make it past the less competitive group stage, and was eliminated immediately after the group stage.

After the end of this season, Ferguson was a little discouraged about the Champions League. He clearly and deeply realized that before he retired, he might not be able to bring Manchester United a third Champions League trophy.

So in the selection of the successor of the Manchester United coach, Ferguson wanted to find a coach for the Red Devils who could bring new breakthroughs in the Champions League.

Of course, while entering European competitions, the domestic league cannot be relaxed, so the candidate for the new coach must also be very familiar with the Premier League.

The first person who came into Ferguson's sight was David Moyes, 49 years old this year, the Scottish coach who has coached the Everton club in the Premier League for more than 12 years.

Moyes was once the No. 1 successor in Ferguson's eyes: In 02, he took over Everton, which was about to be relegated, and brought "Toffee" into the current upper-middle team in the league; in the 11-12 season, Everton ranked first in the Premier League Overwhelming rivals Liverpool in the same city; he has a deep understanding of the Premier League and British football; the last point, Moyes is still a fellow of Ferguson.

Ferguson's favor for Moyes completely disappeared after Carl's phone call.

Karl is Ferguson's best successor!

Karl is so much better than Moyes!

First: The best champion coach for the new coach of Manchester United must be a champion coach with weight, because in this case, even if they do not perform well after taking over the team for a period of time, the fans, media and players are willing to wait until the results come out.

Moyes has never won a title, not once.

Second: It is best for the new coach to have coached superstar players, because there are a lot of big names in the Manchester United dressing room. There is a big difference in the way superstars and ordinary players are used. If the way is not correct, the record cannot be achieved.

The only big-name star Moyes has coached is Wayne Rooney when he was a minor, and Carl... there are too many stars.

Third: Personality is not important at ordinary times, you must be domineering at critical moments, and you can suppress all kinds of turmoil in the team.

Moyes was a passer-by for this, and Carr was exceptional, as he took Terry's captain's armband off in the England dressing room.

Fourth: Will buy people.The head coaches of Premier League clubs also act as managers, with great power. In the transfer market, they basically make up their minds. The chairman and CEO follow the plan to transfer. A head coach who can’t buy people can’t be a good Premier League coach. .

Moyes passed again on this point. As for Karl, 1860 Munich's 09 million euro transfer income in 200 made all European clubs jealous. It was actually the fruit of Karl's labor. The chairman of the board was stolen.

Fifth: As a representative of British football, the owner of the Manchester United club is an American. If the head coach is a foreigner, British fans will feel that the Red Devils are completely a foreign team and will become hostile. Manchester United is very resistant and repulsive, so no matter how you say it, the head coach of Manchester United must be an Englishman.

Scotland belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations, Moyes meets the conditions, and Carl has British nationality and was the coach of the national team, which is even more satisfactory.

When Ferguson inspected Moyes, he actually wanted him to make a transition before Karl took over.

After all, Ferguson had been uncertain before that Carl would have to work for the FA for a few more years-what if their contract was signed after the World Cup in Brazil?Or the more distant World Cup in Russia?Even if his status is as high as Ferguson's, he doesn't dare to snatch someone from the FA. Although he knows he will get it, but if the FA is dissatisfied with his behavior, what if the FA will give Manchester United shoes at every turn?

Who would have thought that a surprise would fall from the sky at this time?Carl's contract with the FA has expired and will not be renewed!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Manchester United!

Ferguson decided to act immediately.

If Manchester United's future successor chooses Moyes, then Ferguson may stay in the team for another year or two, use this time to thoroughly inspect Moyes, and let the other party do all the preparations for the handover, and retire after feeling safe , but if the future coach chooses Karl, Ferguson feels that he can step down every minute!

Ferguson didn't want to wait any longer, he wanted to sign Karl before he found a new club, no, before the whole world knew that Karl had recovered his freedom!

Standing in the office where he has worked for decades, Ferguson explained everything here to Karl in a nostalgic tone - the origin of every piece of furniture, the origin of every bottle of red wine, and the significance of every photo to him , the important decisions he made while sitting behind the desk, every plan of the team he wrote down at his desk, and the thoughts of great significance to the team that flashed across his eyes when he stood in front of the window and stared at the stadium...

Ferguson kept talking, kept talking, and didn't stop until his tongue was dry and his lips were chapped and bleeding.

He glanced at the young man sitting in front of him, who had been listening attentively to his words without showing any sign of impatience, and asked in the tone of a father-in-law handing over his daughter's life to his son-in-law at a wedding: "I want to hand over this place to you." Here you are, the chance to give me back a Champions League trophy, what do you think?"

Carl smiled, and answered every word seriously: "Your speech is so convincing, I can't find a reason to refuse."

Manchester United is the starting point of Carl's coaching journey. It has brought him many good memories and made him meet many important people in his life, so Carl doesn't mind at all, and is even very happy to return to Old Trafford again.

Ferguson laughed loudly: "Okay, very good!"

Excited, Ferguson even took a few snaps of the solid wood desk that had been with him for decades.

The 71-year-old smiled very happily.

Tears welled up in both eyes.

The expression is extremely happy.

……

When Ferguson decided to retire, the first person to inform him was not his family, but Manchester United.

He can tell his family at any time, and they can accept this decision at any time, but Manchester United needs time to prepare.

For example, planning how to release the news of Ferguson's retirement step by step, speed up the production of Ferguson's statue, prepare for Ferguson's farewell speech, and prepare for the new coach's appointment...

On the day of visiting Old Trafford, Ferguson had dinner with Karl, as well as several senior Manchester United officials, such as CEO David Gill and vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Under Ferguson's frank notification, the chairman and vice-chairmen of Manchester United expressed their great welcome to the news that Carl is coming.

When dessert was served, David Gill even said: "Can we give you a lifetime contract?"

Carl froze for a moment: "Is this an after-dinner joke?"

David Gill shook his head seriously: "Of course not."

In the end, at the instigation of Ferguson, they bargained for six years.

The CEO of the Manchester United club seems to want Carl to sign the contract on the spot, even if it is initialed on a napkin first, it will be fine, anyway, that is legally binding.

But Carl shrugged and said, "You'd better talk to my agent about the contract."

He then called up Jorge Mendes from Portugal.

Mendes, who has developed into a leading player in the sports agency industry, heard that Carl had reached a verbal cooperation with Manchester United. He said without knowing whether to sarcasm or praise: "The speed of finding a new job is really fast." Then he nodded in satisfaction: "Manchester United are good."

……

Negotiations began between Mendes and Manchester United.

They debated every detail of the contract, especially the terms related to annual salary, bonuses, and portrait rights.

Judging by the speed of this wrangling, it would take ten or eight days to finish the conversation, at least half a month later.

After two days of onlookers, Carl bought a plane ticket to the United States.

Going to the United States is not only because Real Madrid is training in the United States at the moment, but also because Karl wants to avoid the British media.

The FA chose to hold a press conference tomorrow. If Carl does not leave today, when the news comes out that he and the FA will no longer renew his contract tomorrow, he will definitely be unable to leave. No matter where he is in the UK, They will definitely be blocked by the paparazzi.

Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Real Madrid.

In the VIP box, Victoria sat with four children, and Carl sat with two children.

Although there are a few nannies sitting behind them, but that can be ignored, because the children rarely come to such a lively place as a stadium filled with tens of thousands of people, so naturally they refuse to be hugged by the nannies in the back row, except A few very young ones were hugged by Carl and Victoria, and the older ones all stood in the front row.

Ten-year-old Romeo and seven-year-old Cruise are both devouring a Coke in one hand and a hot dog in the other. Brooklyn, the eldest brother, is eating pizza and watching the game while watching the two boys, lest they be naughty enough to grab the railing Jump to the next level of stands.

From time to time, Brooklyn would turn his head back, pretending to be looking at the decorations on the top of the court, but actually observing the man not far behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Karl Alston, the man he was wary of at first, but after realizing the absurdity of his past suspicions, he couldn't help admiring him.

I overheard his conversation with Papa yesterday. It seems that he will be coaching at Manchester United next season?

As a family member and the eldest son, Brooklyn knows how much Papa loves Manchester United.

After realizing that the man behind him might become the coach of Manchester United, Brooklyn couldn't help but have an impulsive and bold idea...

Mi Luo, Xiao Qi, and Christine, who were all one year old and whose birth dates were within a few days of each other, licked marshmallows with relish.

The game on the court is at a critical moment, Real Madrid leads 2:0, and the Los Angeles Galaxy is launching a new attack led by Beckham, so Carl and Victoria are watching very engrossed.

Xiao Qi and Christine's marshmallows are pink, and Mini Luo's are blue.

Probably noticed that the color of the marshmallow in the little friend's hand was different from his own, Mi Luo opened his two big eyes and looked around for a while, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the marshmallow in Xiao Qi's hand.

Xiaoqi, who inherited her father's good motor skills, is very sharp. She twisted her body to the other side and avoided Mini Luo's hand.

Mini Luo reached for a while but failed to reach Xiaoqi. He turned to the other side, and his eyes suddenly lit up when he saw his sister Christine.

From Mini Luo's point of view, this younger sister who is not so fat and who is with him day and night seems to be a better bully.

Christine has been devoting herself to eating marshmallows, unaware of the impending crisis.

Mini Luo suddenly swung his arms and snatched the pink cotton candy from Christine!

Christine lost the marshmallow, her mouth deflated, and she burst into tears.

Mini Luo was startled by the crying, he threw his blue cotton candy towards Christine a little embarrassed.

Christine didn't answer and cried even louder.

Carl, who turned his attention back from the court, began to coax the children.

While coaxing, he looked at Mi Luo and complained in a helpless and doting tone: "Bad boy, he robbed my sister again."

Mini Luo couldn't understand at all, but because he had his father's attention at this moment, he giggled happily.

The stadium commentator who was always paying attention to the movement of the focus stand immediately shouted: "Auston's daughter and Ronaldo's daughter are fighting!"

Xiao Qi on the other side of Mini Luo was attracted by the crying and laughter and turned her head. She had already eaten most of her marshmallow.

Seeing Mi Luo's face, maybe thinking of Xiao Qi who was fighting for (?) earlier, he suddenly swung his fist and hit Mi Luo.

The narrator broadcast fearing that the world would not be chaotic: "Oh, Beckham's daughter has also joined the battle! This is a war between boys and girls, a war of pink cotton candy and blue cotton candy!"

On the court, Beckham and Ronaldo staggered at the same time when they heard these words.

Beckham was okay, and quickly stabilized his body.

And Ronaldo, who was about to take a barb shot, was in a tragedy. He stepped on the air and fell directly to the ground.

The big screen in the stadium immediately began broadcasting the tragic scene of his butt down flattening the sand and falling wild geese.

There was a pain in the tailbone.

Ronaldo, who struggled for a few seconds to get up from the ground, glanced at the big screen in the stadium, and then froze.

Because now the big screen is showing the grandstand picture again: Carl in the box saw his buttocks slipping down, couldn't bear to look directly at him and raised his hand to cover his eyes.

And the two little ones stopped fighting. They first looked back at Karl, then raised their two little hands to cover their eyes, seeming to learn their father's movements.

Ronaldo: "..." Am I so ashamed?Don't forget who made me fall!