When Nottingham Forest landed at Birmingham Airport with the championship trophy, the welcoming line stretched from Birmingham all the way to Nottingham. The motorway turned into a red ribbon, passing the news of Nottingham Forest's glorious return to Nottingham. London's Heathrow Airport was not chosen because the police did not want the Chelsea fans there to welcome the Chelsea team to clash with the Nottingham Forest fans who came to welcome Nottingham Forest to avoid a tragedy.
The grand occasion was broadcast live on BBC television. This was the first time since the restructuring of the Champions League that there had been a successful defending champion. This team came from England and was the pride of England. Naturally, it had to be publicized.
To this end, BBC was also planning to produce a two-hour DVD, Red Europe, detailing Nottingham Forest's glorious journey this season. The DVD, which invited BBC's famous football commentator, John Motson, to be in charge of the narration, would be sold publicly after the production was completed, and the proceeds would be divided with the Nottingham Forest Football Club.
It was a small sum of money, and it was fought for by Allan Adams. In addition, the live broadcast of the homecoming, as well as the celebration party at the City Ground stadium in the evening, were all sold. For today's Nottingham Forest Football Club, even if it was a penny, it would be earned.
Tony Twain led the team to the Champions League title and the Premier League title. This season's television broadcast bonus and winning bonus were considerable, but the money was still a drop in the bucket for the huge new stadium construction plan. Allan Adams had to continue to look for opportunities to make money.
On the flight back to Birmingham from Moscow, everyone was very happy. Allan Adams also did not discuss matters regarding the commercial competitions in the summer with Tang En. He knew that Tang En had some resistance towards commercialization and did not want to spoil his mood now.
On the way back to Nottingham, everyone was happy, but their vacation time this summer could be said to be almost non-existent. This might be the price they had to pay for winning the championship.
The team was disbanded on May 23rd, and the players with national team assignments would rush to their respective national teams' training camps to prepare for the UEFA European Championship that began in June. When the UEFA European Championship ended at the end of June, they would only have a week's rest before they would gather and travel to China to start the summer commercial competition tour in that distant country. China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia. By the time they returned to England, the FA Community Shield was not far from them. Next up was the new season's Premier League and UEFA Super Cup. The players in the team who had a mission with the China Olympic team had to participate in the Beijing Olympics in August.
Looking at the schedule, it could be said that the Nottingham Forest players would not have any chance to rest from the beginning of last season to the end of next season.
In fact, Tang En was very happy and excited on the way home. But in fact, as long as there was a chance for him to be alone, he would start to think about what Nottingham Forest would do next season.
In fact, he was not very agreeable to the commercial tour this summer. If he had a choice, he would have preferred it to be last summer. At the very least, the team's schedule would not have been so tight, and the players would have had ample time to rest.
But Alan told him that it was impossible. Last summer was the year of the AFC Asian Cup. East Asia was paying attention to the AFC Asian Cup that was held in the four Southeast Asian countries. Going to Asia to make a fortune at this time would not be as effective as expected. What about next summer? At that time, Beckham would end his two-year contract with Nottingham Forest. Losing this cash cow, Alan would not go to Asia. Even if he wanted to make a fortune, he would not be able to find anything. So, after thinking about it, only this summer was the most suitable.
So, Tang En asked him if it would be more distracting to have the UEFA European Championship and the Olympics this summer. Alan said that the Olympics was a comprehensive sports event and had little to do with football. There would not be any direct conflict. The timing of the UEFA European Championship was even better. The Asians, whose passion for football had been rekindled by the UEFA European Championship, would have a higher desire for football. At this time, Nottingham Forest, as the Double Winner, going to Asia was simply … in China's words, "providing charcoal in a snowy day."
So, there was no more suitable timing than this year.
Tang En was convinced by Alan. What else could he do if he was not convinced? He was not the owner of the club. He could only do what the boss had agreed to. But he made a request to Alan. Since they would not get a break in the summer and would also face multiple competitions next season, the team's First Team lineup must be strengthened. They needed to bring in a few players of sufficient strength. He had the final say in these players.
Alan agreed immediately, saying that he could observe the UEFA European Championship himself and make his move if he saw any good ones.
※ ※ ※
Speaking of the UEFA European Championship, Tang En and Dunn were equally busy this summer. After the team was dismissed, Tang En had to go to Austria and Switzerland with the BBC television station to be a guest commentator for the BBC's live television broadcast. Since the World Cup, many viewers had taken a liking to Tony Tang's style of commentating on the game. He was sharp and to the point but did not lack a sense of humor. The BBC also followed the public opinion and once again invited Tang En to be a guest commentator. This time, without England, he could speak freely without fear of hurting the pride of the nation. Everyone wanted to hear how he ridiculed the European powerhouses. Dunn, on the other hand, would be active in many competitions, observing the players with potential worthy of the Forest team's purchase. Like Dunn, the Forest team's dozen or so full-time scouts would also be busy. They would be in the stadium stands for every game.
After winning the UEFA Champions League consecutively and becoming the Double Champion, Tang En's pursuit of glory and victory did not stop there. His goal was to create a new dynasty in European football, a new era, just like Real Madrid with five consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, Inter Milan in the big international era, and AC Milan with the Dutch Three Musketeers.
He wanted Nottingham Forest to become the representative and symbol of European football in this period.
This goal was quite ambitious, so he had to continue working hard. He wanted to invite the best players to join, to win continuously, to make people feel the pressure of despair, to maintain the stability that would not change for ten thousand years, and to look down on the other heroes. Even a hundred years later, he wanted to engrave this period of Nottingham Forest in history!
He had only won a few championships, and if he wanted to stop and enjoy it, it would be too petty of a farmer …
As for the players who would leave the team this summer, Tang En had basically thought about them. As the team was currently in good condition with stable and excellent results, there was no need for a major change in the team's personnel. He would also not sell his own players at a low price just to get rid of the burden. Tang En insisted on one point. Since they were members of the UEFA Champions League, their value could not be too low. He had to be satisfied before he would nod his head in agreement.
If Chimbonda could be sold for a good price, then he would sell him. Tang En would not hold him back. On the one hand, he was old and did not quite meet the requirements of the team. On the other hand, his internal fight with Bendtner had left a very bad impression on Tang En.
As for Nicklas Bendtner, the other party in the fight, Tang En gave him a high degree of tolerance. It seemed a little unfair to Chimbonda. But who asked Bendtner to be younger than him and have more development potential? After van Nistelrooy grew old, the position of the team's main center forward was bound to belong to Bendtner.
As for Sidwell, Tang En did not want him to go. But if the other party insisted on leaving, Tang En had no reason to force him to stay. After all, he had been in Nottingham Forest for a season. Other than appearing outside in some unwinnable games, he had not gotten a chance to play in important games. As a 26-year-old player, the reality was too cruel.
As for Ribéry? He had just been elected the best player in the Champions League final and might even win the best player in this season's UEFA Champions League. He had long been hot, but Tang En would never let him go. No matter how high the transfer fee the powerhouse clubs offered Ribéry, he was unmoved. Franck Ribéry was his direct descendant. He was the core and main framework of the team. Moving him was tantamount to dismantling the team. Tang En would not let that happen in front of him.
There was also Grosso. Tang En sincerely intended to sell the Italian "great left back" who was not acclimatized to the climate. The season was over, and Tang En had to admit that he had misjudged him. The man's most glorious moment was in the World Cup in Germany. Following that, his career went downhill. His characteristics and style doomed him to be the left back that Tang En needed. It was better to use Leighton Baines than to use him.
Grosso certainly did not like the British food and weather. His English improved slowly, and he had some problems communicating with his teammates. In short, he was a lonely soul that drifted outside the team's system. Back then, Huang Jianxiang's thunderous roar had made him famous overseas, which misled Tang En, who was still a fan.
Now was a good time to correct that mistake. Donadoni had actually called Grosso, who had not played more than 20 games in a season in Nottingham Forest, into the national team. If he had a chance to play in the UEFA European Championship — Tang En believed he was more suited to play in the national team — he might be able to find a buyer for him.
As for the others, due to Tang En's successful rotation system this season, most of them had gotten enough opportunities to play. There had been no cases of them wanting to leave the team because of a lack of opportunities to play. Tang En could continue the journey next season with a complete Nottingham Forest team.
※ ※ ※
When the convoy arrived in Nottingham, Tang En once again witnessed the spectacular scene of "tens of thousands of people turning out." They received everyone's cheers in the municipal square. The glittering Champions League trophy was placed in front of everyone, and all kinds of slogans and banners were unfurled below. Everyone was cheering. It was as excited as when they won the Champions League for the first time.
A reporter sighed when he saw the scene. "If Brian Clough could live until now, I wonder how he would feel when he saw this scene?"
In the municipal stadium, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, the players filled the Champions League trophy with champagne. Then, everyone took a sip. It was truly a celebratory wine.
After their appearance in the municipal square, the team had dinner with the mayor at the mayor's official residence before going to the city stadium for the final grand celebration.
At the banquet, the mayor, who was a Nottingham Forest fan, held Tony Tang En's hand tightly. He was so excited that he could not control himself.
"This is a great result, Tony! The defending champion had not appeared since the restructuring of the Champions League! Now this honor belongs to Nottingham, to Nottingham Forest! You did well! Now that the whole world has a new understanding of the city of Nottingham, I have to consider whether to confer you an honorary citizen, Tony. "
"Thank you, Mr. Mayor, but I'm a citizen of Nottingham." Tang En was still relatively sober. The most exciting period had passed.
"Then I'll erect a statue for you, haha!"
Tang En smiled and did not answer. In his opinion, the mayor was completely drunk. A statue? He was not going to do it. Erect it for the birds to shit on? Seeing Dunn already made me feel like I'm looking in the mirror every day. Do I want another mirror? Wait until I'm dead, Mr. Mayor …
"Cheers, Mr. Mayor!" He changed the topic and raised the champagne in his hand.
"Cheers, Tony! What plans do you have for the next season? Can you reveal it to me in advance? "At the banquet, the mayor looked more like an ordinary Nottingham Forest fan.
"Of course I'll still be champions. Until you're bored, Mr. Mayor. "Tang En winked.
"That's good! But I won't be bored! You can never have too many champions! Haha! "
※ ※ ※
In the evening, the city stadium once again became the focus of all the Nottingham Forest fans.
In addition to some artistic performances here, the most anticipated thing was the appearance of the champion team members with two Champions League trophies, one Premier League trophy, and one EFL Cup trophy.
This celebration party had been carefully planned by the club. The choice to reveal these trophies together was also an expression of their attitude — to fully affirm and praise Tony Tang En's achievements in leading the team, and to exaggerate these achievements, with the posture of molding him into the second "Brian Clough" in the club's history.
The lights in the stadium dimmed, with only a few spotlights converging together to form a circular spot of light. All the Forest players had to be shrouded in the light as they ran out of the tunnel to receive the cheers of the fans in the stadium alone.
They ran out one by one, and the cheers in the stadium were endless.
It was Wes Morgan's turn. As the team's third captain, he walked into the stadium with the first trophy won by the Forest team under Tang En, the EFL Cup, from the hands of the staff.
Seeing the first trophy emerge, the cheers of the fans went up a notch.
Next was Eastwood and Beckham. The two of them appeared in everyone's view with the league trophy in hand.
"After 30 years, we've once again won the top league title! The English Premier League trophy has appeared in the City Ground stadium for the first time! "John Motson, who was invited to host the entire party, shouted excitedly.
"What's next?" he asked.
Nearly 30,000 fans in the stadium responded in unison, "UEFA Champions League!!"
That's right. Franck Ribéry walked out with a replica of the Champions League trophy they won last season. He waved to the stands. As an important part of helping the team win the UEFA Champions League these two seasons, although he was not the captain, he still received the honor of appearing alone with the championship trophy.
After Ribéry, it was George Wood's turn. As the team's current captain, he made a grand appearance with another Champions League trophy.
The cheers outside were deafening. Tang En stood in the tunnel, waiting for someone to call him out.
Just then, Kerslake and Dunn ran up from behind, holding a pile of red things in their hands.
"Take off your suit," he shouted as he ran up to Tang En.
"What?" Tang En was puzzled.
"Don't care so much. Take it off!" If not for the things he was holding in his hands, Kerslake would have done it himself.
Tang En still obediently took off his suit. To be honest, he also felt very hot …
But then something that made him feel even hotter appeared.
Kerslake shook the pile of red things in his hands — it turned out to be the king's red fur cloak!
Seeing the thing in Kerslake's hands, he froze for a moment.
Then, Kerslake did not wait for him to react. He put the cloak on Tang En's shoulders. It was red with white fur with golden patterns. Tang En did not know if it was real, but it felt good to the touch.
"How does it feel?" Kerslake asked with a grin. Without waiting for Tang En to answer, he smacked his forehead and turned to take a crown from Dunn's hands!
Under the white lights of the tunnel, the jewels on the crown shone dazzlingly.
"This isn't a real thing, is it?" Tang En whistled.
"It's an imitation," Dunn replied.
Kerslake put the crown on Tang En's head properly. Only then did he step back in satisfaction. He tilted his head and sized it up like he was admiring a work of art. "Not bad. It feels good." He smiled.
"This is …" Tang En still did not understand the meaning of doing so.
"How can a king who is going out to receive the cheers of the people dress so shabbily?" Kerslake clapped his hands and laughed. "This is very imposing!"
Tang En also laughed. "This is a good idea. I like it." He unceremoniously accepted the title of "king."
"The people in the stands still don't know." Kerslake pointed outside, his face mysterious and excited.
The long hem of the cloak dragged on his shoulders. Tang En held the two ends in front of his chest with his hands to prevent the heavy king's cloak from slipping down. Then he walked out of the tunnel just like that.
John Motson was still stirring up the emotions of the fans. "Next, the last one …"
Before he finished speaking, there were already impatient fans who loudly revealed the answer to the mystery. "Tony Twain —"
“YES！ Let us welcome … "
Dressed like a king, Tony Twain walked out slowly. After seeing his appearance, the entire stadium exploded.
Men and women, young and old, they all screamed like crazy. Someone among the players whistled. "The boss is so cool!"
Walking out of the tunnel, Tang En stood on the sidelines. He grabbed the collar of his cloak with one hand and grabbed the crown on his head with his other free hand, raising it high toward the night sky.
Whether it was the fans in the stands or the players standing in the middle of the field, they all bent down and raised their arms in a prostrating gesture. They even made excited sounds from their mouths.
"… Welcome, Your Majesty!!"
Motson finally shouted out the lines he had prepared.
Tang En held his head high and calmly accepted this special treatment. He did not feel embarrassed at all. He deserved this honor. He thought he was the king of this team.
The four championship trophies were like the four bright jewels on this crown, dazzling and radiant, highlighting the king's illustrious achievements in battle to the world.
"He's really like a king …" Kerslake, who stood at the mouth of the tunnel, exclaimed.
"No." Dunn shook his head and denied his words. "He's a king."
Tang En stood on the field and held the crown high. It was pitch black all around him. The pillar of light seemed to pierce through the night sky and descend from the sky, enveloping him. Under the light, the crown in his hand shone so dazzlingly that no one dared to look at it directly. He stood in this light, proudly holding his head high and chest out, facing the somewhat dazzling light, insufferably arrogant.
I have brought glory to my subjects and people. I am your king.
(End of "Five Red Volumes")
※ ※ ※
The author's words: Nottingham Forest's glorious season ended just like that. The book "The Champion Godfather" was almost halfway written.
Hmm … There's nothing much to say. Please continue reading. Watch the legendary coaching career of a legendary manager. Watch the changes of the world, watch the fickleness of human nature, watch how a legend is born, watch this new world gradually unfold in front of everyone's eyes.
Finally, if everyone thinks that the Double is very good and powerful and makes you very happy, then work hard to smash the tickets! After a hard season, Tony Twain has reaped his Double and the status of king. I, the author, also shamelessly want to reap some rewards!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
