long live football

Mesut Ozil is a Turkish-German, just turned 17 years old, and his childhood dream is to become a professional player. When he was 12 years old, he went to the Schalke 04 youth team, one of the best teams in North Rhine-Westphalia, for a trial training. Unfortunately, he failed due to poor performance. After that, he joined The regional team Red and White Essen, and has played until now.

When he was a child, Ozil was thin and thin, only growing tall but not fleshy. From a distance, he looked like a stunted bean sprouts. It was not until the year before last that he ate himself a little stronger, and his physical endurance also increased. , Gradually played a more important position in the red and white Essen team, and became well-known in the Ruhr area of ​​​​the hometown.

Red and white Essen is very good, the coaches and teammates have taken good care of Ozil.But Ozil has a higher and more ambitious dream for football. He always hopes that Schalke 04, which he has tried out, or other Bundesliga teams can find himself and take him to play in a higher level league.

And now, a new team has come to their door. Although they come from a higher level league, they are not the Bundesliga club that Ozil is looking forward to.

"Munich 1860 has only been relegated to the Bundesliga this season, but we will not stay in the Bundesliga for a long time, and the team will return to the Bundesliga next season." Karl Alston said to Ozil's father : "I think you should know a little about the history of 1860 Munich. Our relegation last season was not entirely due to the level of competition."

Ozil's father, Mustafa Ozil, questioned: "I know your football level is good. Considering your current position in the Bundesliga Bundesliga standings, isn't it a little bit to say that you will definitely be promoted next season?" Boasting? I heard that 1860 Munich’s financial situation is very bad. Isn’t your chairman accused of taking bribes? I don’t believe how well a club with unhealthy financial conditions can operate.”

"I feel very honored to be recognized by you for the level of our team. The club is not bragging that it will be promoted next season. Let alone the team's 11 rounds of unbeaten league games and the high energy of the players. In fact, in this During the winter break, the club also purchased several other players, many of whom can start in La Liga. After the league reopens, 1860 Munich, which has received strong new aid, will surely go further in the standings and be promoted. It’s not too difficult for us.”

After putting up a signboard for the father and son sitting opposite to increase their confidence, Karl said calmly: "The person you said was accused was the former chairman of the club. Now this incident The matter has been settled and we have a new chairman, Mr Orr. Also, if by financial unhealthy you mean the debt ratio of the club..."

Karl shrugged helplessly: "A project as big as the Allianz Arena is under construction, not to mention us, even Bayern Munich owes a lot of money to the bank now."

Karl unilaterally beautified the club's finances. He was not thinking of Mr. Chairman, but purely because he didn't want to scare away the midfielder in front of him who he was very optimistic about.In his vision, Ozil is a wing attack machine in his future main lineup, and a transmission belt that transports gunpowder to the frontcourt.

Besides, it is useless for players to know too much about the financial situation of the club, and it will have a negative effect on their mood and form.

Munich 1860's current financial situation is not very good, but it is related to their sudden drop from the Bundesliga to the Bundesliga and the loss of a large amount of TV broadcast revenue. It can immediately save the club from fire and water-but if Munich 1860 cannot be upgraded, the team may fall into a series of vicious circles where they cannot make ends meet.

Ozil and his son exchanged glances in front of Karl. There is no doubt about Mustafa now. No matter how you say it, Munich 1860 is now better than the red-white Essen team. If Ozil can go there, he will be considered a person Walking high, although this step is a little smaller.

Mustafa looks at his son and encourages him to share his thoughts with Karl.

Ozil, who kept his eyes open and watched his father and Karl come and go, opened his mouth, but asked an unexpected question: "I want to know how you found me? Mr. Alston, have you seen Am I at the Red-White Essen game?"

Carl's answer also surprised the other party: "In January 03, you came to Munich 1860 for a trial training, right?"

Ozil thought for a while and nodded: "Yes, but you rejected me."

Carl said with an apologetic smile: "It's a pity that our youth team coach didn't notice your talent at that time. I would like to apologize to you on his behalf."

Ozil blinked and said in disbelief: "Did you find out the video of my trial training again?!"

"Otherwise, how would I find out that the team almost missed you? To be honest, your skills during the trial training were not very good..."

When he heard this, Ozil showed a little displeasure on his face, but he soon realized that Karl said that on purpose, so he kept his face straight and stared at Karl with his amazingly big eyes .

Self-control and comprehension are good, promising.Carl's smile deepened: "Although any child with a little talent can show your skills in trial training after training, I found that your football sense is extraordinary, although sometimes you only play on the field. Occupies a very small position, but whether it is your opponent or your teammates, you can judge their position in an instant - at that time I thought, if I can't sign you, I will definitely regret it!"

What Karl said is true. He could have bought a main substitute for the team with the money left after purchasing Portillo and Yekas. After all, his main purpose in the winter transfer period is this , but when he saw Ozil in the trial training video that passed by in a flash, he felt that the main substitute could not buy it, and Ozil had to sign it!

The big-eyed Özil was almost moved. From the words of the head coach of Munich 1860, he felt a deep sincerity.

So Ozil looked up at his father and nodded slightly to him.

Mustafa thought about it, and said directly to Karl: "The salary you can give my son can't be lower than what my son is getting in the red and white Essen. Moreover, I need you to make a guarantee to prove that Mesut has entered the goal. The team can get enough playing time.”

"Deal." Karl extended his right hand directly to Ozil instead of Mustafa.

Under his father's encouraging eyes, Ozil held the hand of the future head coach like a little man, and he felt strong confidence in the warm and thick palm of the other side.

……

With about ten days left before the transfer window closes, the 1860 Munich club announced their transfer information for this season on their official website.

The team did not sell a single player, but bought three players who were in their prime. Although the transaction amount was not large, it made the fans feel the sincerity of the club—the executives are also trying to make the team better and better. good.

The transfer news of Portillo, Yekas, and Ozil were published in their hometown newspapers, but they did not cause much discussion in Europe, after all, they are not very famous.

Portillo is probably the one who occupies the most newspaper pages. The local media in Florence are excitedly looking forward to his departure, while in Spain, the local pro-Real Madrid media "Marca" and "Aspen" in Madrid have given him a lot. The length of the report, but it is mostly mourning. The reporters and some fans are also not optimistic about the performance of the former "Golden Boy" in the German League.

Compared with these three players, Karl seems to have caused more controversy in Germany because he has been involved in the club's transfer throughout the whole process.

In Germany, the head coaches basically have no right to speak about the transfer. They can at most talk about the type of player they need before the club buys a player. When the media comes to visit, they say: "XX is very welcome to come to us. team." "I agree with XXX's transfer." "The club's decision is correct."

"Transfer Market" was the first to question that the rule of "head coach = manager" prevails in the Premier League, but Germany does not follow this rule. One of the characteristics of the health of German football is that everyone in the team has a clear division of responsibilities.What are the club executives at 1860 Munich thinking?They give the team coach so much power, do they want to cultivate a "Ferguson second" to challenge the rules of the German Football League?

Auer, chairman of Munich 1860, quickly accepted an interview with reporters. He said: "Auston did not take full responsibility for the transfer of the club. The transfer has always been the responsibility of the manager Nesser. It's just that Nesser fully respected the ball. Every idea of ​​the head coach of the team, and implement it. Challenge the unspoken rules of German football? This statement is too ridiculous. No matter how many players the club buys, they will be used by the team in the end. Don’t the opinions of the head coaches be different? Is it important?"

Orr's words are well-founded, blocking the dissatisfaction of "Transfer Market".And the "Munich Daily" immediately stood up and said ambiguously: The chairman and coach of Munich 1860 are willing to fight and suffer, and even the transfer manager has no disagreement on this matter, let us bystanders not get involved.

The media world is full of quarrels, and the German coaching circles are also controversial about this, but most of the club coaches are secretly envious of Karl's power, but on the surface, they have to shout to the public: "I don't want to Like Karl Oston, I don't want any transfer decisions!" That's all.

……

On the third day after the red-white Essen team announced that its player Özil was moving to Munich 1860, Özil went home from a party with friends, and his father appeared in front of him with a sigh.

Ozil looked at Mustafa curiously: "What's wrong with you? Dad?"

Mustafa said in a frustrated voice: "A coach named Norbert from Schalke 04 called me today. He said he was very optimistic about you and wanted to recommend you to the team this summer. Unfortunately, you You were the first to be signed by Munich. Alas, if I had known earlier, I would not have let you sign with Munich 1860."

Ozil nodded: "Oh, is there anything else?"

Mustafa glanced at his son and found that his face was calm. He was surprised and said: "Don't you have any regrets? Mesut, I remember that you have always dreamed of playing for Schalke 04. "

Ozil shrugged and said fearlessly: "I just think it's not bad to play in the Munich derby. I have also dreamed of fighting Bayern for a long time."

……

Portillo, Yekas, and Ozil, these three players spent a total of 150 million euros on the club, and just used up all the money given by Chairman Orr.

This is also the first time that Karl has personally participated in player transfers. The life of buying a professional player with a sum of money in the next few years is very exciting, but it also makes him feel a lot of pressure-if the transferred player If Munich 1860 did not make great progress, it would not only be irresponsible for these euros, but also delay the lives of the players.

Karl couldn't help but start to admire those giants' transfer predators. They may easily transfer thousands of euros in their hands in one transfer season, and their hearts must be stronger.

On January 1, a week before the end of the winter break, the players returned to the team one after another to start training for the game.

On the first day when all the players arrived, Karl called all the players for a meeting and introduced three new members to them.

Most of the players welcomed their new teammates, but there were also a few people who were also applauding and smiling, but their expressions were not so good-looking.

Most of them are old players.

There are only 11 starting places for each game. The more players in the first team, the more intense the competition among players.After the young and strong new players join, the old players who feel the most threat are those who are about to retire. They are old and have many injuries, and they are most likely to be squeezed to the bench.

And there are too many people over the age of 1860 in the first team of Munich 30...

Will there be a fight between the young and the old in the end?

After the meeting, Karl stood at the door of the locker room, and when the team captain Hassler passed by him, he patted the opponent on the shoulder and smiled, "Are you free to talk to me?"

Hasler turned around and looked around the empty locker room, nodded: "I'm free."

Carl closed the locker room door, found a bench for Hasler to sit with him, and said, "Have you had a good New Year?"

"Having a great time with my family, Boss."

"I asked you to stay mainly because I wanted to ask you..." Carl observed Hasler's expression: "If you retire in the future, what career do you want to do?"

"Retired?" Hasler's face changed, wondering if the team wanted to sell himself to make room for a newcomer: "To be honest, boss, although I know I won't be able to play for a few years, after all, my contract with the club is still there. For half a year... You know, most of us professional players have never studied, and if we don’t earn more money while we’re young, we really can’t find a good job to support our family after retirement.” Now the winter transfer window has not yet begun. Completely off, Hassler is a little concerned that the club is going to sell him.

"You are a very stable player, Hassler, and you are also very important to the team. The club will not sell you for the time being, at least not this winter." Karl gave the other party a shot in the arm first, and then Said: "I think your personality is very suitable to be a coach. How about it? Do you want to consider joining my coaching staff after retirement?"

Hasler gasped, and said in surprise and joy: "Stay in the club and work? God, I never thought of such a good thing!"

"Relax, Hassler, you are mature and responsible, and you are also the backbone of other players. Even the young players in the youth team are willing to listen to you. It is very helpful for me to manage the team." Carl said with a smile: " So I hope you will read more books in addition to playing football in the past six months, and try to get the coaching certificate in the summer."

Hassler let out a long breath, feeling relaxed and energetic: "I will prepare for the exam well, boss! After hearing your words, I agree to retire immediately!"

"It's not okay to retire now." Carl laughed and said, "There are still a few months between your study and the exam. If you don't continue to play football, your wife and children will complain that you don't make money!"

Hasler touched his head and smiled.He has always played the image of a mature and stable big brother in the team, but this time his smile is unexpectedly a little more chic and cheerful.

"By the way." Carl seemed to have suddenly remembered something, and said to Hasler, "I have one more thing I need your help with."

"What's the matter? Boss, just ask."

"It's like this." Carl hinted: "I selected a few players from the youth team in the past few months, and the team also joined a few new players in the winter. I am worried that their addition will make some old players in the team feel uncomfortable I feel uncomfortable. The second half of the season is an important period for us to attack the Bundesliga. I don't want to..."

Hassler thought for a few seconds after hearing Karl's words, and said resolutely: "Don't worry, boss, if other teammates have any bad emotions, I will help persuade them. You are right, can you Returning to the Bundesliga depends on the second half of the season, we must not cause internal strife!"

Carl smiled and said, "With your words, I feel more at ease."