champion godfather

Chapter 1055 Epilogue: When I was 60 years old
The dim light from the crystal chandelier on the ceiling can't fully illuminate the bar, but it can bring a little warmth to people's hearts in this rainy late autumn.

There were a lot of people gathered in this outdated bar. They chatted in groups of three or four. Maybe the topics were different, but everyone glanced at the door in unison, as if they were waiting for someone.

There was soothing music playing in the bar, an old song, When_Im_Sixty-Four by The Beatles.

When I get old, my hair falls out.

Many, many years later.

Will you still give me a Valentine's Day present?
A birthday card and a bottle of wine.

……

The bar wasn't loud so the soft sounds of the Beatles could be heard clearly.Everyone lowered their voices and chatted quietly.

There is a sign on the gate outside - CLOSED.

Kenny Burns, with gray hair and a hunchback, was sitting behind the somewhat damaged wooden bar, holding a cup in one hand and a towel in the other.

His eyes looked straight ahead, through the old-fashioned glass window covered with a layer of water vapor, and saw the outside.

Across the street is a construction site that is breaking ground.The white fence was pushed down to the ground, and it became so dirty that it was impossible to distinguish its original appearance in the muddy water.There was an excavator parked on the side of the road, the rain was a bit heavy, and the construction site was also suspended.

A year ago, this was a row of two-story residential areas.

It is said that a large supermarket will be built here in two years.Behind the forest bar is also a construction site, where several high-rise buildings will be built as new office buildings.Wilford became the new development center of Nottingham.

The bar on the corner stands alone between two construction sites, surrounded by construction machinery.It's like an isolated island surrounded by mechanical monsters.

There was the roar of a car motor outside the door, followed by the sound of parking.Hearing this voice, everyone in the room stopped talking and turned their eyes to the door.

The person who opened the door was indeed a woman's face.Everyone was a little disappointed at first, but then they all stood up.

"Ma'am." They all greeted the woman who showed only one face at the door respectfully.

"You guys startled me, this one stood up suddenly..." The woman who spoke pushed open the door, but she didn't come in right away, but was waiting for someone.

Seeing her like this, everyone looked forward to it, everyone stretched their necks and looked out of the door like ducks hanging from a crossbar.

The second person who appeared at the door was the familiar George Wood.Wood took over from the woman and blocked the door.Women back out.

Although no one was seen yet, everyone heard the familiar hoarse voice.

"Don't mess with me, do I look like I can't walk?"

"Okay, okay, if you want to hold me, you can just hold my arm, but don't pretend to be helping a patient..."

As soon as the voice fell, the owner of the voice appeared at the door.

When that slightly hunched figure appeared at the door, everyone in the bar opened their mouths and shouted loudly: "Boss!"

Seeing the scene in front of him, the old man grinned and laughed.He raised his hand: "Long time no see, guys."

The person the whole bar had been waiting for——Tony Twain finally arrived.

And the woman supporting him is naturally his wife Shania.

※ ※ ※

Tang En took off the old-fashioned wide-brimmed hat on his head, and Wood wanted to catch it, but Shania preempted it.Next, the gray scarf and black trench coat were also handed over to her.Shania went to hang the clothes, while Tang En sat down on the chair, surrounded by people, he raised the soda glass on the table: "I don't drink, you can do whatever you want."

Then someone came up to talk to Tang En.

The first person to succeed was the owner of the bar, Kenny Burns, who was older than everyone present.

He slowly walked up to Tang En, pulled up a chair and sat down.Seeing this, everyone dispersed wisely.

"Look how old you are." Dunn grinned at Burns and "laughed" at him.

"You're not much better, Tony." Burns looked at the man opposite. His hair was much grayer than before, but he was in good spirits and had a ruddy complexion. He was indeed much stronger than himself.

But thinking about it again, I am 75 years old this year, and Tony is only 60 years old, 15 years younger than myself.Do you think that when you were 60 years old, you were not as energetic?People will grow old anyway, this is a law of nature.

"I almost couldn't find my way when I came here. Your surroundings have changed a lot. Ha!" Tang En laughed.

When he was looking for it all the way in the car before, he laughed out loud when he saw the environment and Burns' bar.Neither Shania nor Wood, who was driving, knew why he was laughing.Of course they won't find it, and they probably won't know for the rest of their lives.Seeing the forest bar surrounded by construction machinery and a poorly dug construction site, the word "nail house" naturally appeared in Tang En's mind.From Tang En's point of view, Kenny's Burns was clearly the key household here. All the buildings adjacent to the bar were demolished, and only this bar remained.But it is said that it cannot escape the fate of being demolished.

"Re-plan." Burns said, looking out the window at the excavator. "After today is over, my bar will be completely closed."

Tang En was not surprised, he nodded: "Then where are you going?"

"go home."

Hearing his words, Tang En was stunned for a moment, and then realized that Burns' home was not here, but in Scotland.He's lived here for decades, letting himself think he's always been from Nottingham...

The city stadium was demolished, the Wilford training base was also demolished, and now even this bar is going to be demolished.The witnesses about the past years disappeared one by one, and Tang En suddenly became silent.

Burns knew what Tang En was thinking, he patted the table lightly. "Fortunately, the bar and the stadium can be dismantled, but the memory cannot be dismantled."

When he said that, a smile appeared on Tang En's face, and he thought of a song.Burns must have never heard this song, but the meaning of the song is exactly the same.He nodded: "The memory is still there. What about John and the others?"

He still thinks about those lovely fans.

"It's not as crazy as before, after all, they are getting older. But now it's their children's turn to be crazy, but they don't come to my place. Those young people say that my place looks dull and not suitable for young people. .”

Tang En laughed out loud.Burns' pub looked old and run-down, although he cleaned it reasonably well.But I can't get rid of the feeling of yellowed photos and old film.It seems that what he saw when he first came here has not changed, except that there are some group photos of himself leading the team to win the championship on the wall, but those group photos look a little faded now.

"I haven't seen them for a long time..."

Tang En murmured.

Today was his first visit to this bar in ten years.There is a sense of right and wrong.

Since retiring ten years ago, he has lived with his wife all over the world.They lived on the west coast of the United States for a while, Nottingham in the UK for a while, and they even lived in China, and they made people who didn't know them think that they had lived in China for many years.

As the media said, his retirement life is quite chic.If he hadn't suffered a physical illness at the beginning of last year, he might have continued to be so chic.

"Sometimes they ask about you," Burns said, looking up at the excavator outside the window. "A group of old guys get together, and the most talked about is what happened to you at that time. I watched John teach his son, slap him on the forehead, and scold him for things he hasn't experienced, so don't fart here, ha... ..."

Tang En was curious about what John's son said.

"Actually, it's nothing. John just said that Tang did no worse than you."

Hearing this, Tang En chuckled.

"John just scolded him. Tang ten years only won two championships, which is far behind your sixteen championships in 16. How is he not worse than you? The old guy always likes to recall the past..."

"Wrong. When they start to recall the past, it means they are old." Tang En corrected.

"Aren't we also remembering the past now?"

"That's why we are getting old too." Tang En replied.

※ ※ ※

Pepe and Pique pulled a few people from the back line and came up to take a photo with Tang En.Dunn told them that there is a bronze statue of himself outside the Crimson Stadium, which was only completed four years ago, and it is still very fresh.Pepe said that there is a real person in front of him, so why take a photo with the bronze statue?His words were widely endorsed by the big guys, so after a democratic vote, Tang En became the best subject for a group photo.

Several people surrounded Tang En in front of the camera, smiling brightly under the flashlight.

With the help of his grandfather, Piqué entered the board of directors of the Barcelona club and is expected to become the chairman of the Barcelona club in the future.

Pepe runs in Brazil and Portugal. He opened restaurants in two places and is no longer engaged in football-related work.Pepe, who runs the restaurant, looks a lot fatter than before, with a round belly, which stands out from the crowd.His already round face became even rounder.

Gareth Bale, Rafinha, Akinfeev, as well as Pepe and Piqué, the main defense line of the Forest team in its heyday gathered around Dunn, giving people a feeling of going back in time.The Russian returned to his homeland and became the goalkeeper-coach of Lokomotiv Moscow and now the goalkeeper-coach of the Russian national team.Most players choose football-related jobs after retirement.

Rafinha was employed by Arsenal and became Arsenal's domestic scout in Brazil, responsible for digging out those outstanding Brazilian seedlings for Arsenal.

Bell entered the Welsh Football Association.After Giggs, he is the most successful player in Welsh football, and it is a matter of course for him to enter the Football Association.Now Bell can't see the naughty look of the "little monkey" in the past. He is infinitely approaching officials in a suit and leather shoes.

It's just that when Tang En called him "little monkey", he still happily agreed.

After the people on the back line left, a few people from the midfield came.Tang En was very surprised, "Did you discuss it? Are you coming here in waves?"

Everyone laughed and surrounded him in the middle, and left another group photo.

When Franck Ribery left Forest, he was suspected of running away. In the future, when everyone met on the field, conflicts broke out.But now, when it comes to those past events, it is more of "a smile to wipe away all grievances and enmity".It's just that his smile is still ugly, and the scars on his face are still there, and he is no longer so scary as he grows older.Now he has experienced an agent company by himself and has acted as an agent for many French players. He can be regarded as a successful businessman.In Nottingham Forest today, there is a French player introduced by him as an agent.

These two groups of people set a precedent, and everyone took turns to take photos with Tang En, some in groups and some alone.Tang En took advantage of the photo session with them to chat briefly and learn about their current situation.

All those guys who dominated the stadium and dominated European football back then have all retired, and they have all become fat middle-aged men in their 40s.Some of them still kept in touch, and some of them met again because of this meeting.Usually everyone has another identity, their career and life.But today, in this pub that is about to be demolished, they have returned to their original identities - players from Nottingham Forest, soldiers under Tony Twain.

After taking a group photo, they continued to chat together in twos and threes, telling the misses they hadn't seen for many years, or chatting about the glorious years on the court.

Tang En didn't get involved, he sat on the side with his wife Shania, quietly watching all this before him, feeling deeply satisfied.

He found that his memory became better at this time, and he suddenly remembered a dusty past.Normally he would never remember it.

If I remember correctly, it should be May 2004, and he attended a similar party here.But the protagonist at that time was Brian Clough and his soldiers.They are commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of winning the Champions League.At that time, he, an outsider himself, felt very envious when he saw those people talking together and reminiscing about the years in the late 70s.He has a fantasy in his heart - one day, he can sit here with his former subordinates and recall the years of European kingship.

Today, fantasies come true, things are different.

As the assistant coach of the championship team, Tang was also invited today.He is still the head coach of Nottingham Forest. In order to attend this party, he asked for leave.At this moment, he was sitting on the side, chatting with his old colleagues.Tang En found him.I don't know if he will have the same longing in his heart at this time?

He got up and walked slowly, and sat down beside the coaches.

"Guys, I'm glad to see you're all still around."

When everyone saw Tang En approaching, they all stood up to show their respect.After Tang En sat down, they took their seats one after another.

Tang En glanced around: "Where's Freddy?"

"He, he said that he belongs to the player group, so he ran to catch up with his old teammates." David Chrislake, who was older than Tang En, pointed in a direction, and Tang En looked along.Sure enough, I saw Eastwood sitting with Ribery and chatting about something.

He grinned and looked away.

"You are all old."

"Don't you too, Tony?" the big guy answered him.

Most of these people are still in the forest team and continue to do their previous jobs, which can be said to be the group that has changed the least.For example, David Chris Lack is still the assistant coach of the Forest team, and Eastwood has become the director of the youth training camp.

"How are your two wonderful daughters, Tony?" someone in the crowd asked.

When Tang En heard this question, he became energetic. He puffed up his chest and said proudly, "Teresa is very beautiful. As for Liv... luckily, she looks more like her mother." .”

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd.

Teresa is 14 years old and looks very pretty.Whenever Tang En saw her appearance, he felt sorry for Teresa's biological parents in his heart - how could he be willing to throw away such a beautiful and lovely daughter?
Liv is Tang En's youngest daughter, the baby Shania gave birth to him the year he retired, and she is almost ten years old now.Unlike the quiet Teresa, Liv is lively and active, with a typical western girl character, much like her mother back then.

What makes him happy is that Liv and Teresa have a good relationship, and they don't neglect or bully the quiet and shy sister.This may have something to do with him and Shania leading by example-after Liv was born, Teresa worried that she would lose the love of her parents, but the couple responded with more love.

What annoys him is that Liv prefers the sunny west coast of the United States to the gloomy England. Her character is also a bit American, too lively.So in order to satisfy this little guy, the family spends more time away from the UK. For this reason, Dunn also gave up his job at BBC5. Now he only publishes his own articles in newspapers and on the Internet, but he does not rely on This sustains.

Deep in Tang En's heart, there was a selfish desire that no one told.He hopes that his two daughters can like China, so apart from the United States and the United Kingdom, the place where he spends the most time is China.He missed it, especially as he got older.Perhaps it is the Chinese soul in the bones that is at work, it is an instinct of "leaves fall and return to their roots"...

In any case, these two treasures are Tang En's greatest pride and achievement now.For him, the brilliant achievements of his 16-year coaching career and sixteen important championship trophies have long been thrown out of the sky, which is not worth mentioning.Perhaps the fans and club players of the Forest team are proud of the trophies Tony Twain has won. Perhaps many people still talk about Twain's 16 years of legendary experience. Perhaps the media is now on the sidelines Complaining that the current celebrities are all grandstanding clowns, but at the same time missing the "clown" that they hate the most, maybe... Tang En doesn't care, he feels that the greatest honor and championship trophy in his life is to have a happy Family, with a wife who loves him, and two healthy and beautiful daughters. When he crossed over 26 years ago, he lost his family, but he didn't care at that time, because he felt that he was young and it was time to start a career.Now he feels that he has gone in a big circle. What is the ultimate purpose of doing a career?In order to be able to form a happy family, in order to make my family's life worry-free, in order to be able to have family affection...

God let him understand this matter at the age of 50, and it took another ten years to make him cherish it even more.

Nothing in life is more important than family, until death.

Tang En was very excited to tell the old guys who hadn't seen him for many years how cute and smart his two daughters were.

Yes, he was showing off, showing off his family.But no one thought he shouldn't have done it.

Look at his high spirits now, but the same high spirited man more than 20 years ago is disappearing from everyone's sight.No one felt sorry either.

How nice it is.

David Chrislake raised his glass to Tang En: "Seeing that you are living so happily, I..." He looked back at his old colleagues around him, and turned to look at Tang En again. "No, we are all happy."

Tang En raised the soda water in his hand, and greeted the old subordinates who raised their wine glasses one after another.

"thank you all."

The person who toasted Tang En was also a person Tang En was very familiar with, but he had never spoken.There is a little tiredness in the corners of the eyes, the temples are a little gray, and the wrinkles on the forehead have obviously increased.Seeing him gave Tang En the illusion of going back in time and looking in a mirror.Because he saw his original appearance in his 40s.

Is the current head coach of Nottingham Forest, Chinese, Tang.A sworn brother who exchanged soul and body with himself.

Finding that Tang En was looking at him, Tang returned a smile.

He moved over and sat down beside Don.Lowering his voice, he leaned into Tang's ear and asked a question: "Are Mom and Dad okay?"

Tang nodded calmly: "Very good."

After receiving this answer, Tang En raised his head again with a smile on his face.Then the two looked at each other in silence.

Although Tang En traveled all over the world, he still paid attention to the affairs of the Forest team, but he never commented on the Forest team in any public place.Facing the current head coach of the Forest team now, he still does the same and doesn't say anything.

Just like when I was coaching the Forest team, no matter what he did well or badly, the boss Brian Clough always said nothing, except telling him not to have too much pressure and not to be too proud. Almost nothing is said about his achievements.

I was very naive at that time, but now Tang is not naive, he knows what he should do and what he should not do.Hasn't he done quite well in the Forest team for the past ten years?Although he only won two league championships, he has solidified the foundation that Tang En hadn't filled in before.

Under Tang's leadership, Nottingham Forest is getting rid of its own influence little by little.The story told by Burns reflects this very well. The new generation of fans think that Tang has done a good job. Isn't that the best reward for his ten years of coaching?
This is pretty good, you don't need to come out and tell the outside world what influence you still have on Nottingham Forest.Retired people must look like they are retired, otherwise they might as well continue coaching.Worried about failure in coaching, but still wanting to be the club's overlord is a cowardly act, and Tang En disdains it.

So they looked at each other in silence, Tang En didn't say "good job" or "not good enough", Tang En would not take the initiative to talk about his coaching achievements to Tang En, he also had his own self-esteem in front of Tang En.

Tang En raised the cup in his hand to Tang: "Happy tenth anniversary, Tang."

Tang replied: "I wish you good health, Tony."

※ ※ ※

When the sky is getting dark, the rain outside is getting heavier and heavier, but the enthusiasm inside the bar is extraordinarily warm.Everyone was chatting, and the sound in the bar gradually became louder, suppressing the sound of the music.Tang En wasn't the only one who hadn't seen him for many years. There were also some other people. They were all busy with their lives and careers after retiring, and usually didn't have the opportunity to get together and chat like this.

The [-]th anniversary party of five Champions League wins this time gave them such an opportunity.Of course, we have to catch up with our friends back then and chat a few more words, ask about the situation over the years, recall the years of war we spent together, talk about those interesting people and things, and even put the conflicts back then into this afternoon , have become very warm memories.

Under such circumstances, Tang En planned to go home.

He tapped on the table in front of his wife and said to her, "Let's go back."

Shania was a little surprised: "Don't stay longer? Didn't you say that you have a lot to say to the old guys?"

"It was like this, but after I came here and saw them, I suddenly had nothing to say. Just looking at them felt good, anyway, I've seen enough. I'm a little tired."

Shania knew that Tang En was really tired, so she nodded and agreed. "Say hello to them before you leave."

The two stood up and immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

"He just recovered from a serious illness, but he's not as energetic as you guys." Shania told everyone that Tang En would leave early.

Tang En pouted, "Don't listen to what she said, I got sick last year. Now I am in good health."

"Ma'am is right, boss, you have to listen." Someone in the crowd said so.

"That's right, Tony. Take care of your health, we can meet again in ten years." Everyone stretched out their hands and waved to Tang En, making a ten-year agreement.

"Okay, we'll meet again in ten years." With Shania's help, Dunn put on his coat and scarf, and finally took the hat, pinched it in his hand, and waved to everyone.

George Wood, who was still chatting with his teammates before, squeezed in from the crowd: "I'll take you home."

Shania shook her head: "I can just drive. You finally got together with everyone, so let's play for a while."

George Wood retired four years ago at the age of 38.As the greatest captain in Nottingham Forest's history, his retirement was comparable to Twain's departure.The scene was so sensational and touching that Wood, a tough guy, had tears in his eyes and choked up several times when he said goodbye.Tang En was in the stadium box at the time and witnessed this scene with his own eyes.When the 6 people in the audience chanted "St. George", his eyes were also moist.

George Wood's retirement completely ended the golden age of Nottingham Forest. Twain was the last familiar player to leave the world football stage. Since then, when it comes to Nottingham Forest's most glorious time, he can only search through historical materials.

In the summer after retiring, Wood married the nurse Vivienne who had been in love for more than six years and formed a new family.Now their children are three years old and they are living a happy life.

Now Wood looks like a model of a mature man, completely childish.

Now that the mature Wood heard Shania's words, he turned his attention to Tang En.

Tang En nodded: "Listen to her, George. Even I have to listen to her, haha!"

The big guy laughed again.Only then did Wood give up his plan and step aside.But when Tang En passed by him, he whispered, "I'll visit you again in a few days."

"Well, bring your wife and your son." Tang En nodded lightly.

Walking to the door with Shania's support, Tang En put the hat he had been pinching on his head on top of his head. Dressed neatly, he raised his hand and waved to the big guys: "Don't send it off, it's raining heavily outside. Goodbye , guys. Nice to see you guys alive and kicking, lol!"

Amidst the laughter, Tang En turned around, and Shania opened an umbrella for him, covering both of them under it.The two walked into the rain like this, the raindrops made a crackling sound on the umbrella, and the reflections of the two of them were reflected in the stagnant water by the side of the road.The crowd gathered around and saw that Shania was holding an umbrella with one hand while supporting Tang En, and opening the door with the other, which was a bit inconvenient.Several people in the crowd rushed out to help.In the end, Wood snatched the umbrella from Shania's hand, while Bell supported Tang En, and Eastwood opened the car door for Tang En: "Boss, please get in the car."

Instead, Shania had nothing to do. She stood beside Tang En and smiled at him, "Look, what a grand farewell ceremony."

Tang En turned his head to look at Eastwood who opened the door for him, and smiled.Then he looked back at the entrance of the bar, which was already full of people standing under the eaves and watching him.

Tang En waved to them, signaling them to go back.Then he turned around and got into the car.

Eastwood closed the car door for Tang En.Wood held an umbrella for Shania, walked her around to the door on the driver's side, and sent her into the car.

Shania rolled down the car window and stretched out her hand to say goodbye to them: "Goodbye, thank you!"

Everyone greeted each other.

Then the car started, and slowly passed among the construction machines parked on both sides of the road, splashing the water on the side of the road, and driving away from everyone's sight, only the yellow taillights were faintly visible in the rain, and finally even the light of the taillights disappeared In the rain and fog.

The rain was still falling, slapping the ground.The players were still gathered at the door, looking in the direction the boss was leaving.

After a long time, Bell asked, "The boss left just like that?" His tone seemed a bit disbelieving.

"Well, let's go." Wood replied. "Go back, let's continue."

Even though he said that, he didn't move his footsteps. Everyone, like him, stood at the door and continued to look in the direction Tang En left.

Burns didn't follow. He was in the bar, and through the steam-filled windows, he still saw the scene of Dunn's car leaving.People flocked outside. It was bustling just now, but the steamy bar suddenly became empty and quiet.

The music played on the stereo just finished a round, and then switched to the song at the beginning.

You are old then, as long as you say you need me,

I would like to stay with you.

I'll be there for you, fix your fuse,
When your lights go out.

You can knit by the fireside.

Go for a drive on Sunday morning,
gardening, weeding,
I can't ask for more.

Will you still need me then, will you still serve me?
When I was 64 years old...

(End of "Godfather of Champions")

(End of this chapter)