Football: Starting with managing Manchester United

Zhang Yang did not readily agree to Stephen's request.

Who knows if he's telling the truth or not? But Zhang Yang thought about it again and wondered what good would it do to lie to himself?

He was a manager for one season and then imitated Manchester United.

It doesn't seem necessary.

But he still needed to meet with Vera's boss first to confirm the conditions Stephen had just agreed to, and to get to know the man better.

After the World Cup group stage ended at the end of June.

Zhang Yang arrived in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, which appears quite understated.

Because the world's factory that once stood is gone.

Instead, it has become a city full of art and vitality.

Zhang Yang once lived here for two and a half years. Driving on the two-lane road, he could see the red and white exterior of the British-style building through the glass.

Look to the left.

It is a canal that runs through the city, and it is a little longer than the canals of Venice.

This is also where his favorite band, BLACK SABBATH, started their formation.

Further ahead is a Chinatown.

It's actually Chinatown, a gathering place for Chinese people, mostly from the coastal areas of China.

There are several restaurants inside that serve very authentic Chinese food.

When Zhang Yang was coaching the Aston Villa youth team, he would often drive here to eat.

Because the food at the club was just so-so.

The nutrition is quite balanced, provided to the players, including carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins, all of which meet the body's needs.

But the taste was really not good.

Zhang Yang isn't a player, and he's all alone abroad. He just comes here to order a few dishes when he's feeling a bit craving something.

Leaving the city along the canal, the air was filled with the smell of grass and cow dung.

The old Ford Fiesta gradually drove towards a remote area in the northeastern suburbs of the city.

This area is administratively located in North Warwick County.

But in reality, it's located near Tamworth, about 15 kilometers from Villa Park.

We got off at a parking lot surrounded by reddish-brown bricks.

Zhang Yang walked towards the east gate.

Compare the buildings in your memory with what you see now.

The changes are significant.

A circular shield-shaped team crest is embedded at the top of the goalposts, with the Aston Villa team name in bold white three-dimensional lettering below.

Long terracotta flowerpots were placed on both sides of the gatepost.

The flowerpot contains dwarf flowers in deep red and golden yellow that have been growing there year-round.

Vera's training ground was originally a farm.

It was purchased by then-chairman Doug Ellis in the early 1970s and converted into a training base.

"The environment is quite nice."

Zhang Yang turned around as he spoke.

The river, named the Fazeli Canal, flows swiftly.

If you live in the city, you can take a boat to work.

Zhang Yang walked to the guardhouse and knocked on the glass.

The middle-aged security guard, who was dozing off inside, was startled.

There are hardly any people here during the off-season.

So he stayed up all night watching the World Cup yesterday.

"You must be Mr. Zhang. Mr. Lerner instructed me in advance that I will take you to the office building now."

The middle-aged security guard wiped his mouth and quickly opened the door.

Walking ahead and to the right of Zhang Yang, he would occasionally glance back and sized up the Chinese coach who had recently gained considerable attention in England.

Zhang Yang suddenly felt that the young man looked somewhat familiar.

"Who is Mr. White to you?"

He couldn't help but ask.

The middle-aged security guard suddenly perked up, grinned at Zhang Yang, and said in surprise, "He's my father. He mentioned you to me before, saying you're an excellent coach who got even the naughtiest kids to practice obediently in just a few days. But I really didn't expect you to remember him. Oh, by the way, you can just call me Jonathan."

"So your father is retired now?"

Zhang Yang smiled as well.

"Yes, he's too old to stay up all night," Jonathan nodded.

The two quickly arrived outside the training field while talking.

Zhang Yang looked up.

A man with a slender yet upright build, wearing a navy blue cotton shirt, and with the typical look of an American elite, sat in a chair.

What's most striking is his eyes, which are the same color as his clothes.

This must be Aston Villa's owner, 52-year-old Randy Lerner.

"Thanks."

Zhang Yang nodded to Jonathan, then walked over to Randy Lerner and said, "Hello, Mr. Lerner."

Randy Lerner stood up, shook hands with Zhang Yang, and carefully looked him over.

Hello, Zhang Yang.

Randy Lerner said Flamboyant's full name, though his accent was a little off, "You seem a bit different from how you are on TV?"

When Randy Lerner asked this question, Zhang Yang was taken aback for a moment and then laughed, "On TV, I have to wear a suit and tie to fit the aesthetic of British fans, but actually I don't like that stuff. It feels like I'm being restricted."

"So it seems you're just as easygoing as I am."

Randy Lerner glanced at his watch after speaking, "Shall we talk straight to the point?"

"certainly."

Zhang Yang liked this kind of direct and straightforward conversation.

"I believe you already knew a lot before you came. Aston Villa has many problems right now, the first being their poor performance. I don't know if there's a problem with my investment, or if Americans really don't understand football?"

Randy Lerner joked, "But I still want to try again. The reason for choosing you is simple: you coached Villa's youth team, and there are still players you coached in the team now."

"Secondly, the games you played in charge of Manchester United were exactly the kind of performance I wanted."

"Finally, the club is already in its current state, and I don't think it can get much worse, unless it gets relegated as Stephen said."

"Stephen has already told you the specifics, right?"

"I can give you authority, but you also need to see results. I won't make any additional investments during the summer transfer window. You can deal with the players in the team, including the high-paid ones."

"To be honest, I feel disgusted to see them playing football like that while they're getting paid as much as I do."

"You are free to use the money from the transfers. Stephen will also cooperate with you to promote whoever you want from the youth team."

"..."

Randy Lerner talked a lot without realizing it.

Zhang Yang listened silently.

He doesn't easily trust strangers.

But coaching Aston Villa seems like a good option.

"Of course, we'll sign a contract, a proper and legal contract, with your rights written down, along with penalties for breach of contract and such." Randy Lerner finished speaking and looked at Zhang Yang, waiting for Zhang Yang to make a choice.

He was really tired.

He felt like a failure because of his lack of achievements.

There's also a sense of urgency.

In the Premier League, avoiding relegation always takes precedence over commercial principles.

Because once a club is relegated from the Premier League, the revenue it can obtain from the league, such as television broadcasting rights and match prize money, will plummet.

It definitely won't fetch a good price.

Despite Stephen's seemingly appealing words, businessmen still invest for profit.

However, Randy Lerner's heart is more focused on his dreams.

Even before, in order to protect Vera's reputation.

He started to fight against money.

For the first two seasons, he refused to have the names of beer companies, airlines, and gambling companies on the front of his club jersey.

And to give a bad vote to a children's care foundation.

As a result, the club loses millions of pounds every year.