Godfather Of Champions

David Gill was still waiting for this kind of thing to happen again. He gave Tony Twain a call but did not expect an answer from Twain at all. He felt that rather than let Twain take over Manchester United, he should do more to persuade Ferguson to change his mind.

Twain found a problem. Ever since Gill called him, the news in the press that he might take over Manchester United had spread and intensified.

This phenomenon put him on guard—if Manchester United were to poach him as the manager, there was no reason to make it so publicly before any plan was in place. But if they did not publicize it, how did the media know? Manchester United deliberately leaked it out…

What was their intention in leaking it? To confuse the Forest team.

Everyone was talking about whether Tony Twain would go to Manchester United during this period. Some people said that Twain was a good fit for Manchester United, while the others said Twain would not leave the Forest team. It appeared that whatever was said made sense. Because of this, the matter caused people to feel more confused—people who did not understand the truth did not know what to believe. Tony Twain’s loyalty and standing at Nottingham Forest would surely be challenged.

With that in mind, Twain felt it all of these looked like Manchester United’s psychological warfare.

However, if this was Manchester United’s psychological warfare, then it was overly excessive of them to do so. Although the truth mingled with the falsehood was the highest level of duplicity, it was really not worth it for a game—it was not a game that determined the league title winner.

Just when Twain could not figure out why Manchester United did it, he received another call.

This time the call was not from David Gill who detested him, but from Alex Ferguson.

“The cost of this psychological warfare is a little high, Sir.” Twain said half-jokingly.

“Ha, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be effective on you. I haven’t heard any noise of dissent coming from the Forest team.”

“He he.” Twain rolled his eyes. If his team were to be so easily bothered by a baseless rumor, then he, as a manager, should just tie a rock to himself and jumped into the English Channel. “So, your retirement this time is fake again?”

“No, this time it’s true, Tony. I’m already seventy years old. I’ve won countless honors, and I think it’s enough.”

Twain did not make a sound and listened quietly to Ferguson continuing to speak on the other end of the line.

“I won’t change my mind again this time. You know why I called you? I would like to persuade you to accept Manchester United’s invitation. Tony, Nottingham Forest is not your final destination. You should have a bigger stage.”

“I think the current stage is big enough.” Twain laughed and did not directly reject Ferguson.

“No. At Manchester United, you are perfectly capable of becoming the second me, but at Nottingham Forest… Your reputation can’t go any further. It’s a small team that can’t meet all your requirements. You’re only forty-two now. You can work at Manchester United for up to twenty-eight years, until you’re seventy, longer than I’ve been at Manchester United. You’re going to be a legend… But you won’t get all of these at Nottingham Forest.”

Twain smiled, “Why are you so sure?”

“Quite simply, your boss is not a wealthy man.”

Modern football was a world of capital. It could not be played and changed without money. At the very least, it could not be played well. Evan Doughty was not a wealthy man. His fortune was ranked at the bottom among the owners of the twenty clubs in the English Premier League. In fact, for so many years, Twain’s days had been hard up and had never been rich.

Ferguson believed that when he joined Manchester United, Twain at least would not be too financially constrained by the club. He would be eligible to buy the players he wanted to buy. Coupled with Manchester United’s repute, it would not be difficult to build another team that could dominate the world. Manchester United would have to rely on this man if they were to continue to dominate the Premier League and Europe after his retirement.

Having surveyed comprehensively all the coaches throughout the years, he was the only one who was best suited to Manchester United and the most capable.

But unfortunately, this man was more obstinate than he thought…

“I have to admit you’re right, Sir. Manchester United has more money and prestige than the Forest team. If I move to Manchester United, it will be a new opportunity and progress for my personal career. Although I don’t think much about this team when we’re opponents, I personally respect the team. I will not turn down Manchester United’s invitation because of personal dislike. But I’m afraid I can’t accept the invitation.”

“Why?”

“Manchester United is very good, Arsenal is very good, and Chelsea as well as Liverpool are good too… But I’m only fit for Nottingham Forest.”

“Your words are too idealistic.”

“Of course, I know myself the best.” Twain said with a smile, “Sir, when you consider your successor, you must be coming from Manchester United’s point of view, right? And I have no reason to think about it from Manchester United’s point of view. I only consider from my point of view—I don’t think I’m a good fit for Manchester United.”

In the past, when the two of them talked about the future Manchester United manager together, Ferguson invited Twain in a joking manner, and Twain naturally refused with a joking tone. But this time, Ferguson asked for real, and Twain’s tone was much more solemn.

“Sir, do you think if I go to Manchester United, I can still have the power I have at Nottingham Forest now? Can I manage a bunch of big-shot players in the locker room? You can guarantee that Mr. David Gill will not do anything because his prejudice against me…”

“I believe David is a man who puts the bigger picture first.”

“All right, even so, Manchester United is a big team, a powerhouse club, a team with a very high standing in the world. Nottingham Forest, by contrast, is small club with a few championship titles that is still being seen as an upstart. We have everything but money. However, I prefer the small club.”

Twain played the emotional card.

“I also came to Manchester United from a small club.” Ferguson responded, “I think a person needs to make important decisions in life. When I first chose to coach Manchester United, it was a choice that I would never regret in my life. I also won a few titles at Aberdeen, just like you did at Nottingham Forest now. If I had continued to work there, people wouldn’t know who Alex Ferguson was twenty-six years later. And you, Tony… You have such an opportunity. I don’t want you to let it go.”

“Ha!” Twain laughed, “Sir. I led a small team to rise from the League One and without ample funding, we had won two European titles, a league title and an EFL Cup. We became the fifth power in the Premier League contending against Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. I think even after thirty years, people will remember me.” Twain said these words with confidence. He was never modest or embarrassed about the successes he had achieved. He accepted them calmly.

In fact, he did indeed have reasons to be proud. Apart from having less league titles and domestic cups than the other managers, he had won the most UEFA titles than any of the top five managers in the Premier League.

Benítez won once in Istanbul in 2005. Ferguson won it once at the Camp Nou in 1999. Rijkaard defeated Twain to win it once in Paris in 2006. Wenger had never won the Champions League title. Only Tony Twain had won the Champions League title twice. Furthermore, it was twice in a row. In terms of the European honors alone, no manager in England had matched him. That alone was enough for him to be one of the Premier League’s top managers and England’s first-class managers. Even in the history of English football, a manager who had won more than two Champions Leagues could be counted on one hand—there were only two men: Robert Paisley, the great manager who led Liverpool to four Champions League titles, and Brian Clough, the creator of Nottingham Forest’s glory days. Now Tony Twain carved his name in record as the first active manager in the Premier League.

It could be said that the present Tony Twain and the above several famous managers were completely on the same level. As for the likes of Keegan… they were all beneath Twain and at best second-rate.

Ferguson also felt that he could not argue with Twain on this point. But he had other ways. He said, “Yes, what has happened cannot be changed. But there are a lot of possibilities for the future… Do you think there will be any big development in the future with Nottingham Forest’s current situation?”

“Why not? We have a group of talented players and they are loyal.” Twain shrugged.

“But the club hierarchy behind you is a destabilizing factor. How do you know when they will force the sales of your favorite players without your consent? Like Ribéry…”

The remark silenced Twain for a moment. Because he believed that what Ferguson said could become a reality. It was probably the only thing that he felt it was not good about the Forest team—Allan Adams was a profit-maker and he could not rule out that he would continue to sell players when the club needed money. Evan Doughty was a smart man, so he would let him and Allan to control each other. But what was the strength that supported him and Allan? It was the result. Once the team’s performance declined and became unsteady, then he would not be able to get an equal status as Allan at the top.

He had actually been walking on the difficult path along for so many years. He had never had a peace of mind before.

“It can’t be helped. No club is perfect. For it to be able meet all the requirements of the manager without causing trouble for the manager, such a club does not exist, Sir, whether be it my Forest team or your Manchester United team. I am more satisfied with the present situation.”

“You’re such a stubborn man! Don’t tell me the name ‘Manchester United’ holds so little appeal?”

“At least for now … I prefer to stay at Nottingham Forest.”

“So, it can be a possibility for you in the future?”

“Who can tell what’s going to happen in the future? Like you said, if the Forest team’s top brass sells all my players, I might leave.”

“And here I am thinking you’re very loyal.”

“I’m not a fool, ha! When other people treat me well and respect me, I naturally give it back in full. On the flipside, I will not force myself to stay in a place I don’t like.”

“Okay…” Ferguson felt it was almost impossible to convince Twain now, but he had to give him something to think about. “I look forward to seeing you at the Old Trafford technical area in a few years.”

“I think things are pretty good now. How long can I still see you in the manager’s chair at Old Trafford? Would you still retire now that you did not convince me? Besides, don’t you have a Champions League title to take? You are not as good as me in this respect.”

“I’ve made up my mind this time. Nothing will change that. I will retire at the end of the season.” Ferguson’s words were resolute and without a hint of a joke.

Twain’s mouth was agape. In fact, he’d never thought Ferguson would actually leave the Manchester United manager’s position. He was at Manchester United before he even started watching football. For the longest time, he was Manchester United and Manchester United was him. How could this ambitious and always combative Scottish old man be willing to leave the position? He could not wait for Wenger to retire earlier than he did. He wanted to continue to dominate the English Premier League, suppress Arsenal and Liverpool, wage a war of words against Wenger, shut out BBC, swap attacks with the media, continuously buy and sell players. Even Glazer, the Manchester United chairman had to be reverent and respectful toward him. He had to continue to star in the leading role at Old Trafford’s The Theatre of Dreams.

How could he retire?

“You know what, Tony? When my wifey, who always kicks me out to get to work every morning, starts to worry about my heart, I know I’m old. I don’t want to be like Jock Stein and die in the coach’s chair.”

Not knowing why, the call to urge Twain to join Manchester United suddenly became filled with a sense of farewell.

Perhaps Ferguson was aware of the problem too. He quickly changed topic and said, “In short, Tony, I hope you will seriously consider it no matter how long you take to think about it. If you decide to change your mind, I welcome you to call me. Don’t worry about the management of the locker room and the relationship with the top echelon. I’ve been at Manchester United for twenty-six years. I’m happy to lend a hand if you need help.”

“Thank you so much for your kindness, Sir.”

Ferguson left a door open, and Twain did not give a flat-out refusal. No matter what, the old man was looking out for him even though his motive was the good of Manchester United…

※※※

The rumors that Twain would join Manchester United next season were rife in the press. Many media had vowed that the Manchester United club had signed a deal with Tony Twain in private. Although he still had four years left on his contract with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United was willing to fork out the penalty to be able to bring him to Old Trafford.

What they said made sense and appeared to be real. After all, it was very difficult to turn down an offer from Manchester United.

If the news was officially confirmed, it would surely be the Premier League’s most sensational news of this season.

The Old Trafford’s technical area’s manager had not been changed in twenty-six years. If Twain really became Ferguson’s successor, it was akin to the US President changing from a white man to a black man.

There were many stories about him and Manchester United, so much as that it even seriously affected the Forest team’s normal training. Even people inside the club were asking if what the outside media saying was true.

Like when Evan Doughty first heard that Manchester United wanted to poach him, he immediately called Twain, who was in Glasgow in preparations for the Champions League, to pry his intentions. Twain’s answer gave him a shot of reassurance, “I’ll finish my contract with the club.”

Dunn and Kerslake also expressed concern about the matter. Twain also reassured them in the first instance. One of the bases for his success at the Forest team was that he always had the full support of the coaching staff, so regardless, there could not be any suspicion between him and the coaching staff.

As for the players, Twain also expressed his loyalty to them in the locker room at Celtic Park, “I ask you to play for me, so naturally I want to give you back in the same way. I hate lying. If I really want to leave, I will tell you. The truth is, I’m not going anywhere except Nottingham Forest. So, there’s nothing to worry about. Win the game for me and then we go back to Nottingham together!

In the end, the Forest team still beat Celtic by 3:2 in away game with a rotated lineup. Twain supervised and commanded the game from the beginning to the end on the sidelines. From his performance, it could not be seen that he had recently been disturbed by a series of rumors. When the team trailed 1:2, he made a wonderful switch of players to change the situation and let the team turned things around to a victory in the end.

The commentator appraised Twain as showing his ability to Manchester United’s top brass, proving that he was qualified to become Ferguson’s successor.

But in the post-match press conference, Twain publicly dismissed the recent rumors in the press and said, “It’s all nonsense. I’m not going to Manchester United. It’s not necessary for me to deceive you here, because I don’t anything to benefit from by doing so. Besides, I have no interest in becoming someone else’s successor. If you’re going to hype up which club I’m going to coach the next time, please write this instead—‘Who will become Tony Twain the second?”