Stuart Pearce, who was on leave at home, received a call from Tony Twain.
He knew why Twain was looking for him. Even though he already had an answer, he still listened to Twain politely.
"I'm glad you called me, Tony. But I think the youth team needs me more. "
Tang En felt depressed. No matter who he looked for, no one would come. Was it really that scary to be his assistant manager?
"But I need you too, Stuart."
Stuart Pearce's concern was that if he went to the England senior team, he would have to give up his job in the youth team. He had been working in the youth team for almost ten years. He knew the youth team like the back of his hand. Everything here was inseparable from him. If Twain's contract expired, what would he do? Coach the England national team? He was not interested. The media pressure of that kind of job was too much. The youth team job was the most suitable for him.
"If you can convince the Football Association to let me be the head coach of the England youth team, I'll agree to be your assistant manager."
Pearce threw out his conditions.
Twain thought for a while and then nodded, "Alright, I'll try."
He really went to look for Barclays. But no matter what he said, Barclays did not agree to let Pearce take two jobs. It was either be Twain's assistant manager or the head of the youth team. It was a single choice.
"Tony. We've recommended so many coaches to you. Is there not a single one who can be your assistant manager? You have to know that there is no lack of outstanding coaches among them. They are the best among their peers … "
The angry Twain did not give Barclays any face. He said bluntly, "In my eyes, they are not good enough!"
Barclays had better self-restraint than Twain. He just shrugged his shoulders, indicating that if Twain did not like them, then he could find one himself.
Twain left the English Football Association's office with a black face. It looked like he still had to rely on himself.
※ ※ ※
Des Walker was on the training ground, personally demonstrating to his players what to do when faced with a one-on-one defense. The phone in his pants pocket suddenly vibrated, causing him to lose his balance when he dribbled the ball. If not for the quick reflexes of the defending players, he would have made a fool of himself.
Walker patted the shoulder of the player who was supporting him. "You should have intercepted the ball instead of trying to pull me up."
Then he winked at his assistant coach. The assistant coach walked up and said, "Twenty shuttle runs, everyone!"
There was a commotion in the team, but it was quickly suppressed by the coach. If one person made a mistake, the whole team would be punished. This was Walker's training requirement. Although the player gave the manager a hand out of kindness, his action did not win the boss's favor.
After watching the players obediently accept their punishment, Walker walked to the awning on the side of the training ground and took out the phone that was still vibrating.
It was Tony Twain.
"You rarely call me, Tony."
"Ha, we're all very busy usually, and we're not in the same city anymore …" Tang En forced a smile.
However, Walker wasn't going to punish him for this matter. He didn't care about the reason at all. "But as long as you call me, there must be something. What can I do for you? No! "Just when Tang En didn't know how to tell him, he lifted the suspense on his own. "Let me guess … You're looking for an assistant manager, right?"
"We really have chemistry, Des." This time, Tang En laughed from the bottom of his heart.
"But what's the use of looking for me? I'm just the manager of a League Two team, "Walker said as he looked at the team in training. He had stopped being with Ian Bowyer for a long time. After Bowyer was fired by Herford, he was idle at home for a period of time. Meanwhile, Des Walker was actively looking for a job. He had changed teams one after another, from the head of youth training to assistant manager, and now to the manager. It could be said that he had walked step by step steadily.
However, the Oxford United team he was currently working for was in England's Fourth Division League. Their ability was only in the middle or lower reaches of the league. Their highest goal every year was to avoid relegation, and they were not very famous. So, he was curious why Tang En would call him.
"I never choose people based on fame. It's not like you don't know, Des. "
"You really want me to be an assistant manager for England? Are you crazy, Tony? "Tang En's words were equivalent to admitting the purpose of his call, which shocked Walker. "There are thousands of managers in England who are better than me. Why don't you look for them?"
"To me, the best manager can't compare to the manager who is most suitable for me. Des, you're my first assistant manager after I became Forest's manager. We have chemistry between us, and you're the most suitable for me. You're the person I need. " Tang En said it with deep emotion. If someone who did not know the inside story heard it, they would think that there was something going on between him and Des Walker.
"Those managers may be outstanding, but they don't understand what I need, and they don't know what I think. Before the players understand what I think, I still have to think of a way to let the entire coaching staff understand what I mean. It's too painful, and too inefficient. So, I need someone who can understand what I want to do without me saying too much to be my assistant. Des, other than you, I can't think of anyone more suitable. "
Walker was shocked by Tang En's "deep love confession." He did not reject him outright like the previous few people. Instead, he was stunned for a while before he stuttered, "I-I-I haven't worked together for ten years. Then … then what chemistry would there be?"
"But we're still in contact, aren't we? Are you paying attention to me, Des? "
Even though this question would make people think that Tang En was narcissistic, Walker still grunted in acknowledgment.
"As long as we work together a little and lubricate it, the chemistry will naturally return. You know what kind of person I am, and I know what kind of person you are. You know what I need, and I know what you can do. And in these ten years, you've definitely become more mature than before. Look, you're a manager now … Anyway, there's nothing to worry about. It'll definitely be easier for you to be my assistant manager than the assistant of other managers. And with you as my assistant, it'll definitely be easier for me. It's a win-win situation for both of us. Besides, think about your future. In the future, you'll have a 'former assistant manager of the England national team' in your resume. It'll be easier for you to do whatever you want, won't it? "
Tang En tried to move him with emotion and reason. If he still could not handle Walker, then he might really be forced to accept the candidates recommended by the Football Association. Some of those people even did not have a good impression of him … What could such a combination bring to the England team? Only God knew.
Walker was silent for a while. Then, he asked hesitantly, "But I'm not famous …" He was tactfully expressing his concern about whether he could command the national team's big-name players.
"You're an assistant manager, Des. Being an assistant manager depends on your own ability. It has nothing to do with fame. When Venables was McClaren's assistant manager, the England team still had to listen to McClaren, at least on the surface. " Tang En also used a tactful method to express his opinion: I'm the one in charge of the locker room. Don't worry about it.
Walker raised his head to look at the training ground. The team had already finished twenty rounds of running back and forth. They were resting at the side, preparing for the next training session.
He knew that time was tight and he could not explain it clearly. Moreover, this was an important decision in his life. He did not want to make a hasty decision.
"My players are still waiting for me, Tony. Let me think about it and give you an answer. "
Tang En readily agreed. "Alright, no problem. Des, I'll keep my phone on for 24 hours for your sake. You can call at any time. "
But at the same time, Tang En was shouting in his heart: What are you hesitating for, Des? Isn't this more promising than your job as a League Two manager? The fact that Oxford United was able to let you bring them to the League Two is already considered to have unleashed all their potential. Now, they have no more room for growth. You're just wasting your time there!
Even though this was the truth, if Tang En dared to say it out loud, Des Walker would not need to think about it for a few days. He would probably reject him directly. After all, no one could allow others to dictate what to do in their own careers.
When Walker put his phone back into the wide pocket of his sports pants and walked back to the training ground. His assistant manager began to urge the players who were resting to continue training.
He and his assistant manager also had a tacit understanding.
Should he abandon the current tacit understanding for the sake of a tacit understanding from ten years ago?
Which kind of tacit understanding was more important?
Des Walker could not make up his mind.
※ ※ ※
Tang En called Walker, but he had no idea what to do. Because Walker's words hit his soft spot. "We haven't worked together for ten years. What tacit understanding do we still have?"
What was the concept of ten years?
It was difficult for people who had not experienced it to understand the passage of time.
Ten years ago, when they had just entered high school, they were youthful and lively. They were filled with longing for the future but were unwilling to grow up. In the blink of an eye, they had already entered the palace of marriage and even became parents.
Ten years ago, when they had stepped into society full of drive and ambition, hoping to pursue their dreams. In the blink of an eye, they had already become strange middle-aged uncles who just ate and waited to die. Their edges and corners had been smoothed out by the torrent of society.
No matter how strong a person was, they could not defeat time. Even an arrogant person like Tony Twain had to bow in front of time.
He was no longer the rookie from ten years ago who did not know anything and needed Walker's help to take care of everything. On the other hand, Walker was no longer the assistant manager who had just transitioned from a player to a coach ten years ago. He was still inexperienced and relied entirely on his passion for motivation.
The two of them had already experienced the biggest changes in their lives. Could they still have a tacit understanding when they were together?
They did not need too many words. Could they let the other person understand their thoughts with just one action and one look?
There was a saying in China, "Things remain the same, but people change." Could this saying be applied to the two of them as well?
※ ※ ※
Des Walker lay on the sofa in a daze. His wife called out to him three times from the dining room but did not get a response. In the end, she simply ran out and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"Ah? What's the matter? "Walker only realized there was an extra person in front of him after a while.
His wife temporarily put aside the reason why she was glaring at him and asked curiously, "What's the matter with you?"
"It's nothing …" Walker evaded.
"Is there any trouble at work?" His wife simply sat down beside him and held his hand.
Walker could feel the warmth from his wife's hand. He gently caressed his wife's small hands that were no longer soft and delicate. "Tony gave me a call today."
"Tony? Tony Twain? "As Walker's wife, it was not easy for her to still remember that man.
"Other than that Tony, who else could it be?" Walker laughed.
"He's definitely not looking for you to catch up on old times, right?"
"He wants to introduce me to a new job. I'm still hesitating about it." Walker looked at the ceiling, his eyes wandering. "I don't know if I should say yes to him. I keep feeling that this is a gamble, and a pretty big gamble …"
"An England manager?" As the wife of a former player and current manager, the woman was not completely clueless about football.
"It's an assistant manager, dear." Walker gave his wife a smile.
The wife looked at her husband in disbelief. As a wife, she clearly knew her husband's ability.
"I told him that I don't think I can be an assistant manager in England, but he said it was okay. I can do it." The husband also knew what his wife was thinking.
"You're tempted?"
Walker was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "To be honest … a little."
"If you go to England, you'll have to give up your job here at Oxford."
Walker continued to nod.
"Des, I'm fine with it. If you want to go, then go. If you don't want to go, then turn him down. " The wife had always been less involved in her husband's work. Over the years, her husband had changed a few jobs and moved from one place to another. She only needed to follow him. Anyway, there was still a team that wanted her husband to be a manager, so she had nothing to worry about. As a husband, he only needed to talk to his wife about it. He did not really want his wife to give him any ideas. Especially now that their children were all grown up, there was even less need to seek his wife's opinion.
"Let's go eat. I'm here to call you for dinner, Des."
His wife stood up and pulled Walker up.
Walker stood up as well. After confiding his thoughts to his wife, he already had an idea.
At most, it was just another adventure, just like when he decided to leave Nottingham Forest and go to Helford. He was used to this kind of life, moving from one place to another, changing jobs again and again. Perhaps when he was fifty years old, he would be able to accumulate enough experience to settle down in a Football League Championship or even a Premier League club and start to draw his own blueprint.
Before that, he still needed to learn from different people and accumulate experience.
Tony was a good person to learn from … how to manage a player.
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