champion godfather

Chapter 18 Going to London
"The remuneration of the youth team is indeed not high. But you have to know that even Rooney's salary in the youth team is only [-] pounds a week, just like you."

"Who is Rooney?" Wood looked confused.

It was only then that Tang En realized that he had made a mistake. Wood was not a fan. If he didn't care about football, he wouldn't have heard of the name of this newly-produced talent from the Premier League. On August 2002, 8, 17-year-old Rooney played for Everton in the Premier League for the first time, and then scored the only goal in the game against Arsenal on October 16, which was the first league goal of his career. The ball ended the previous unbeaten record of the Gunners in 10 rounds of the league, and has since become famous in English football.Coincidentally, two years later, on October 19, 2004, Rooney, who was just 10 years old, scored the winning goal in the game against Arsenal. It was his first league goal after joining Manchester United. This time he ended the Gunners' 25-round unbeaten league unbeaten streak in England's top league.

"Uh, he's the hot guy right now. He's going to join a big team in the future and earn a lot of money. He's the same age as you." Tang En felt that he could connect himself with Rooney by telling Wood this way. . "Do you know how much money he makes a week now?"

Of course Wood wouldn't know.

"I don't know either." Tang En grinned, "Do you know how much money he will make in the next week?"

Wood shook his head.

Tang En thought of a joke he had read on the Internet.The background is that Wayne Rooney has just renewed his contract with Manchester United, and a Chinese consortium has offered to acquire Manchester United for 5000 million pounds.Of course, in reality, Manchester United boss Glazer directly refused.The joke is to assume what would happen if the Chinese consortium's acquisition is successful: Rooney was worried about whether the £12 he asked for would be honored, so he ran to the big boss of the Chinese consortium on his own initiative.The boss sat on a chair with Zhongnanhai in his mouth, and said to Rooney: "You have only two choices now, either get a weekly salary of 12 pounds, or get 120 million yuan. Think about it." Rooney used his The little head made calculations for a long time, and finally chose to take 120 million yuan.Since then, Rooney has paid attention to the appreciation of the renminbi every day, no longer going to strip shows or fooling around in bars, and is watching the situation of the Chinese stock market every day, for fear of affecting his weekly salary.Seeing that Rooney has become so honest now, Ferguson patted his head and regretted it: "If I knew it, I would have paid RMB to Beckham's salary, so he would have no time to chase hot girls."

This is of course a joke, but Tang En remembered the number: 12.

So he stretched out two hands to Wood, one for one and one for two. "12... pounds."

Wood's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

"Guess." Of course Twain couldn't say that I came from China four and a half years later. At that time, a simple search on the Internet would reveal the weekly salary of a superstar like Rooney. "But boy, I just let you know how much weekly salary you may get in the future. You train hard in the youth team, play hard, gradually grow into a star, and then be spotted by the giants. Then they will naturally wave The check book will come to you, and then find a good agent to help you sign some world-renowned brand advertising endorsements... Let me tell you, the advertising revenue alone will be much more than your annual salary at that time. "

Twain didn't know what kind of player George Wood would become in the end, maybe he wouldn't be able to become a professional player at all.But this is not important, now we need to give young people a little encouragement and hope, let him see a bright future, and then fight for it.The next thing...it depends on everyone's artificiality.

"Are you going to accept the current £[-]-a-week youth contract, train with the youth team, and work hard to become a big star in the future. Or go back and be your porter and earn two hundred pounds a week, maybe until you move If you don't move, maybe you will lose this job halfway. You choose yourself, kid." After Dun En said this, he turned to watch the first-team match, leaving a cool back for Wood.

There was a moment of silence between the two, only Walker's whistle from time to time, the players' shouts to remind each other, and the thud of the football hitting.

Dunn didn't care what Wood chose.He gave Wood a chance, a chance to choose.If Wood does not choose to stay, but continues to be a porter.Then he would just feel sorry for that beautiful mother in his heart and sympathize a little.Maybe he won't remember the mother and child after a week, because he himself has to face the challenges of life and destiny.He is not a good person full of sympathy, he will take out all the money on his body when he sees a beggar, he was not before, and he is not now.

Moments later, Wood's voice sounded behind him: "Take me to the youth team."

Tang En turned around and looked at him: "This is your final choice, won't you go back on your word?"

Wood shook his head.

Tang En was still worried, so he threatened him: "We will sign the contract. If you breach the contract, you will have to pay compensation."

Wood nodded: "I know."

"That's good. Go back to the locker room and change this outfit, then follow me."

Dunn took George Wood through the first team training base and went straight to the youth team training base.To be honest, although Tang En was the head coach of the youth team, it was the first time for Tang En to come here.Compared with the first team, the youth team base feels newer and more modern, and even the gates are electric.The doormen are also uniformed security guards, not eager old fans.

The youth team base is the same as the first team base, surrounded by rows of green trees, surrounded by open space, there are no tall buildings nearby, and the view is excellent.Further north, beyond the woods, is the Trent, Nottingham's mother river.

After Twain left the youth team, the director here was replaced by his former assistant coach, David`Kerslake.Since he is his old partner, there are not so many polite greetings.Dunn directly brought Wood to Chris Rack.

"George Wood." Tang En pointed to Wood and introduced Chris Rack, "This kid is very physically fit. Let him train with you and see what he can do."

Chris Rack sized him up and agreed with Tang En's evaluation of the kid: his physical fitness is very good.Look at his shoulders, and his legs, as thick as a horse's legs, strong and powerful.

He beckoned Wood over: "Young man, how old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"What position do you like to play?"

"Forward." Because a forward can score goals, it is easier to become famous, and there is a goal award, which is a mess... In short, Wood's poor football knowledge makes him think that being a forward will be very "money".

"Very good, let's go to the locker room to change, and then come to training!" Chris Lak noticed that Tang En was making eye contact with him, so he dismissed Wood very simply, and then asked, "Tony, what's the matter?"

"Uh... just to remind you a little bit, he's a football rookie through and through."

"Rookie?"

"In terms of football level, he may not be as good as those students who only play football in middle school physical education classes."

Chris Rack looked at Tang En's expression, it didn't look like he was joking at all.He suddenly felt a headache. "Tony..."

"Uh, because his family situation is very complicated and he is relatively poor... It happened that he helped me once. I decided to give him a chance, let him try in the youth team, maybe he can become a professional player, maybe he can't... In short, you Take care of him a little bit, but whether he can practice well depends on him." After seeing Wood's appalling performance for 10 minutes, Tang En was unwilling to bring more trouble to his old partner...

Chris Lark sighed: "I understand, I will try my best. But his physical fitness is really good, but as a beginner, his age is really..."

Tang En nodded: "There are exceptions to everything, what if this kid becomes an exception?"

Chris Lack continued to sigh: "It's too slim. I bet all my youth and energy on such a slim possibility... The Forest team's youth training system is very good, but how many Jermaine Jenas can they produce?"

"David, that kid has just gone through a very important choice in his life. It's not a question of whether to bet or not. He didn't have any hope at all..." Tang En thought of his life in that slum area, "He If you want to have hope, you have to do it. All we can do is give him a chance."

Chris Rack nodded: "Don't worry, Tony. I will do my best to teach him."

Tang En smiled and patted Chris Rack, "We were all brought out by Paul, I believe in your ability." The two of them were Paul Hart's assistant coaches in the youth team.

While speaking, Wood had already run out wearing the youth team's training uniform.Tang En called him to stop, intending to give him a few last words of advice.He will concentrate on first-team affairs in the future, and he will have very, very little time here.

Chris Lack was smart enough to back away, and he returned to the training ground to continue his work.

"George." When there was no one else around, Tang En said to Wood, "I know your situation very well, and I believe you know better than me. But I still say the same thing: don't look down on professional football, otherwise It will punish you. Don't think about anything here, just concentrate on practicing. If you have any difficulties, come to me. Your mother is a good person, don't let her down."

Wood nodded vigorously.

"Go, go to training!"

George Wood turned and ran to the training ground, where he had teammates around his age, and his future, which was still hazy.Tang En had no idea what kind of kick this kid could play.

Looking at Wood's back, Dunn sighed like Chris Rack.Do your best, follow the destiny, boy, it depends on your luck...

Then he turned and walked in the exact opposite direction to Wood, and left the youth team training base.

Tang En, who returned to the first-team training ground, was informed by Walker that Mr. Chairman and his son came to the training ground just now and introduced his son to everyone.And let him go to the chairman's office after he comes back.

Tang En murmured inwardly when he heard the news.The old man is angry?Just because he introduced his son, and he was not here to get angry, obviously does not meet the measurement that a chairman should have...

"Did he not say anything?" Dunn asked Walker.

Walker shook his head.Tang En stepped forward to leave, but he heard Walker add another sentence: "However, Mr. Chairman's face is very serious."

Tang En's heart suddenly "thumped".Although the team lost in the FA Cup, it can be seen from the chairman's special call to congratulate that it should not be related to the results.Could it be something about the locker room?Twain knew that English football adopted traditions everywhere, but he never thought that a chairman would care so much about traditions...

He rushed to the chairman's office anxiously—it was on the upper floor of his manager's office, right above it.

Knocking on the door, I immediately saw Chairman Nigel Daugherty sitting behind a large desk.The boss's desk in front of him is much bigger than the one in his office!There were only two people in the room, one was Nigel Daugherty, and the other was his son Evan Daugherty.

Tang En didn't expect this "American" Brit to be there, and he was a little bit taken aback, but a smile quickly appeared on his face.

"Mr. Chairman, Mr. Evan."

After saying hello, Nigel stood up from the chair, still holding a piece of paper in his hand, and walked towards Tang En.

Tang En looked nervously at the paper in Chairman Nigel's hand, it couldn't be a letter of dismissal, right?The first job he found after graduating from university was resigned after three months. That's how the manager at that time took a salary slip and asked Tang En to sign and leave.

Just now, I helped a poor boy find hope in life, but now I have no hope... What can I do if I lose my coaching job?He doesn't understand anything!
The chairman said: "This is a fax from the Football Association..."

What?Tang En thought he had heard wrong.What happened to him being dismissed from the FA?
"They want you to go to London tomorrow for a hearing."

Tang En's mind came to his senses: "Is it about my remarks after that match?"

Nigel nodded.

Although it was not a dismissal letter, Tang En's mood did not improve at all.Even if he caused so much trouble for the club, according to the tradition in China, he could not escape the fate of being dismissed by the team.

But what Nigel said next made Tang En feel that his life was full of sunshine.

"The club will fully support you. We have compiled the video of that game and submitted it to the Football Association. There is no problem with those two goals."

Tang En looked up at Nigel again, and Mr. Chairman said to him with a smile: "Get ready, my son will go to London with you tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)