The Young Lion

Thank you Thieves for your reward! ——

With many years of work experience, especially in the decision-making position of head coach and club owner, Aldridge does not like accidents in life or work.

He likes to follow the rules step by step, and likes everything to be in order. Life can be uneventful, but accidents cannot be tolerated.

There was a car blocking his way at the entrance of the club, which was considered an accident, a phenomenon that disgusted him from the bottom of his heart, even if the person in the opposite car might have goodwill and sincerity, there were unspeakable considerations for acting like this.

Aldridge didn't express the displeasure in his heart on his expression, he drove the car and followed the car and left the club, and didn't stop until the remote road in the suburbs.

Then Aldridge got out of the car, opened the door of that car and got in.

The driver was an old rival who hadn't seen each other for a long time.

Kevin Keegan!

The former King Keegan of Newcastle United reached out to shake hands with Aldrich first, and then smiled: You must be wondering why I came to you.

Aldridge smiled and said, Yes, I was surprised. I thought the next meeting would be at some banquet.

For example, occasions such as the awards ceremony at the end of the season of the professional players union.

Keegan restrained his smile slightly, and said solemnly: Aldrich, I want to confirm one thing. Are you and I considered friends?.

Why doesn't it count?

That's good, that's good.

Keegan stared at the smiling Aldridge, as if he was relieved.

The two have fought a war of words before. There are winners and losers on the field. It's just about the pain of the loss. Keegan should belong to the side that has been hurt more, but he doesn't think there is a deep hatred between him and Aldrich, especially it is impossible to fight like him and Ferguson as long as they have the opportunity to continue to fight.

The two had a happy conversation and were honest and honest. Even though Keegan felt a little bit of being taught by Aldridge face to face, he did admire Aldridge's achievements from the bottom of his heart.

Keegan was silent for a minute and then slowly said: The chairman of the FA, Thompson, called me. The FA intends to hire me as the coach of the national team.

This news. do you know? .

Aldridge shook his head slightly.

In fact, he knew it three days ago, probably, earlier than Keegan himself knew.

Because within the FA, Andrew's eyes and ears are always passing on the latest information.

Among the current local coaches in English football, in terms of prestige, excluding Aldridge, I am afraid that only Robson can be higher than Keegan, but Robson is old and has coached the national team. It is obviously impossible to go out to play the new England national team.

Keegan's prestige is largely due to his success as a player. In addition to his achievements at Newcastle United, if you only look at his resume, fans who are not familiar with England's top league may think that Keegan has no achievements to talk about, because his coaching record does not even have a league title, but those who are familiar with him know that, After he brought Newcastle United from the second tier to the Premier League, he directly turned Newcastle United into one of the championship teams, and he was only one step away from the championship.

As for other England coaches, Redknapp, no matter in the player era or the coaching era, his achievements are not as good as Keegan's, and his prestige can be imagined, but Hodgson has been dismissed because he has been away from English football for too long. I can't trust it, and Hodgson hasn't been able to achieve good results in recent years.

There are still four months before the opening of the European Cup jointly held by Belgium and the Netherlands in the summer. The position of England national team coach has been pending. Watching the coach and leading the team in friendly matches, but the possibility of his recovery is not high, and there are also certain factors that are influenced by the mediocrity of his player era.

Of course, being able to play football and being able to teach are two different things, but when Wilkinson left Leeds United, it was at the trough of Leeds United's decline in the Premier League. His departure has a visual sense of leaving sadly. Breaking away from modern thinking, the glory of winning the championship in the summer of 1992 is too far away from 2000.

And Keegan has not been away for a short time. When he left Newcastle United, Newcastle United had ranked third in the league for the past two seasons. It cannot be said to be brilliant, but it maintained a high-level impression. , the successor instead made Newcastle United leave the championship group and then fell into the relegation zone. Now Robson is in charge of the coach to stop the decline and start to rise steadily.

Therefore, it was not unexpected that Wilkinson became the caretaker coach and the FA contacted Keegan.

Aldridge just didn't know what Keegan wanted to express in front of him when he came to him.

Keegan leaned in front of Aldridge and said word by word: Aldrich, let's join forces! I know you can't leave Millwall, it doesn't matter, you just need to spare a little time and work overtime on matchdays, we Let's lead the England national team to the European Cup together. I will cooperate with you. What a wonderful combination! You can rest assured that all the pressure will be borne by me. This European Cup will be regarded as a trip. When we get familiar with the team, Now that the chaotic national team is back on track, we can set our goals on the 2002 World Cup and the European Cup four years later. I believe that the FA will give us this time, and England fans will understand and support it!

Aldridge froze on the spot.

old man!

You really treat me like a three-year-old child!

Keegan said it beautifully.

cooperation, pressure, prospect

In a short time, Aldrich had countless thoughts flashing through his head, and he knew what Keegan was thinking.

There is no second day, no second master, and there must be only one person as the coach of the England national team, and that must be Keegan.

Keegan came to invite him now, and the best position was just an assistant coach.

It sounds wonderful. As an assistant coach, Aldridge doesn't need to spend too much time on the national team. But you can use the attention of the national team to improve your reputation. Even if you lose. Failure, Keegan said, he will carry it!

However, if the UK in the center of Europe, the English national team, really fails, this responsibility, Keegan. Can you afford it? !

And once Aldridge agrees, it is equivalent to giving Keegan a long-term meal ticket. He can stay in the England national team coach for at least two and a half years until the end of the 2002 World Cup, unless England is out of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers .

Aldrich secretly laughed in his heart: You must listen to the other party's words in reverse.

If the two join forces, if the national team really achieves results, then most of the honor must belong to Keegan, he is a legitimate head coach. I may still belong to the group of chickens and dogs ascending to heaven!

What if the national team fails? Keegan bears the brunt, but Aldridge's presence. It will also be infinitely magnified, never underestimate the ability of Fleet Street to make trouble!

This is purely thankless work.

The risks and benefits are completely out of proportion.

Aldridge made a serious thought, Keegan stared at him with hot eyes, after waiting for a long time, Aldrich turned his head, frowned and said: Kevin, thank you for your invitation, I am really honored, but I can’t accept it for two reasons. First, you have such a brilliant player career. You are the childhood idol of the current England internationals. No, I can't get the trust of the players when I go to the national team. I just get your credit, which is not fair to you. Second, you should understand the pressure on me in the club. I have to manage Millwall, and its difficulty It is no less than a national team full of big names. If I work part-time in the national team now, it will definitely have a negative impact on the team. Tomorrow, we are going to play the Champions League. Right now, I and my team are needed When we are united, there can be no internal problems.

Keegan was silent for a few minutes, before finally letting out a soft sigh.

He should be able to understand Aldrich.

To put it simply, list the players of the England national team, and then list the members of the Millwall first team. Comparing the two, Millwall's hard power definitely exceeds that of the England national team!

In other words, the number of stars, player value, fame and other factors are combined, and managing Millwall itself is much more difficult than managing the England national team.

Of course, this is Aldrich's secret change of concept and his refusal of Keegan.

The coach of the national team and the coach of the club must have two completely different modes of managing the team, and it is impossible to make an analogy.

Keegan had a look of regret on his face when they parted.

Aldrich thought about Keegan's face as he drove home.

Maybe it's his villainous heart.

Perhaps Keegan really wanted the two to join forces to lead this national team, which had been expected by the public for more than 30 years, to glory.

Even if it is true, but, I am very sorry, Aldrich does not have such a lofty consciousness.

He has to protect his footballing reputation from damage, and at the worst possible time to be involved with the England national team, with the European Championship four months away, Aldridge doesn't think being an assistant manager will do anything.

The next day, Millwall defeated Feyenoord 2-0 at Wembley without bloodshed, and made a good start to the second round of the Champions League group stage.

After the game, Aldridge was suddenly asked by a reporter: It is reported that the FA will appoint Kevin Keegan as the coach of the national team. I heard that Keegan has invited you to serve as his assistant to lead the team together. England national team, is this news true?.

Aldrich himself will not take the initiative to leak information, he has not mentioned this matter to anyone.

The only possibility is that Keegan may have talked about it with others around him, and it was leaked.

After thinking for a second, Aldridge replied with a smile: Fake! I have never received an invitation from Coach Keegan. I feel the same as other fans. I look forward to Keegan leading the England national team. He is absolutely qualified, so please don't fabricate this kind of fake news to harass Keegan and the England national team, it is very unethical and will have a negative impact on the England national team.

After giving a positive answer, the reporter stopped pestering her.

Aldridge was thankful that his head turned quickly.

If he admits it, it will be bad for himself first, and at the same time he will slap Keegan in the face.

And Keegan will definitely not admit this matter, no matter what his thoughts are, it doesn't matter, once he admits to inviting Aldridge in front of the media, it will definitely be interpreted as his own lack of confidence.

This matter ends here. For Keegan, if the invitation is successful, the two will be happy together. If it fails, as it is now, he and Aldrich will inevitably choose to forget about it, and they will deny it when asked. .

Aldridge is now putting all his thoughts on Millwall. The team's final sprint in the second half of the season has officially started, but some players in the club caused troubles and made him feel headache.

The person who caused the disturbance this time was a wild boy: Drogba the Warcraft! (to be continued...) ()