บท 473: Keegan’s Unexpected Offer
Having spent years in high-level roles like head coach and club owner, Aldrich was the kind of person who disliked surprises—whether at work or in his personal life. He preferred things to proceed in an orderly, predictable manner. Life could be peaceful, but sudden changes were never welcome.
When a car blocked his way at the entrance to the club, it felt like an unpleasant disruption—a phenomenon he instinctively resented. Even if the person behind the wheel had good intentions or there were valid reasons for the action, it still irked him.
Aldrich didn't let his irritation show. He followed the car out of the club and kept trailing it until they reached a quiet road on the outskirts, where he finally stopped.
Aldrich exited his car, walked over, and pulled open the door of the other vehicle before taking a seat inside.
The driver was an old opponent, one he hadn't met in years.
Kevin Keegan.
The former Newcastle United "King Keegan" extended his hand for a handshake before smiling and saying, "You must be wondering why I came to find you."
Aldrich smiled back, replying, "Yes, it was unexpected. I thought we would meet next at some banquet."
Perhaps at a professional players' union end-of-season award ceremony or something similar.
Keegan's smile faded slightly, and he asked, with a serious expression, "Aldrich, I need to know something. Are we...friends?"
"Why wouldn't we be?"
"That's good. That's good."
Keegan looked at Aldrich's smile, as if he'd just breathed a sigh of relief.
The two had exchanged verbal jabs during their past encounters. On the field, they had shared both victories and defeats, but when it came to painful losses, Keegan had probably been hurt more than Aldrich. However, he didn't think there was any deep animosity between them, especially not the kind of constant antagonism he had with Ferguson.
They had shared drinks, spoken openly, and even though Keegan had occasionally been publicly scolded by Aldrich, he genuinely respected the achievements Aldrich had accomplished.
After a minute of silence, Keegan spoke slowly, "The FA president, Thompson, called me. The FA is considering hiring me as the national team manager. Have you heard about this?"
Aldrich shook his head slightly.
In fact, he had known for three days, possibly even earlier than Keegan himself.
This was because Andrew's informants inside the FA constantly passed along the latest information.
Among English domestic coaches, excluding Aldrich, the only person with more prestige than Keegan was probably Bobby Robson. However, Robson was too old, and having already managed the national team, it was clear he wouldn't return to lead the England team.
Keegan's prestige, to a large extent, came from his success as a player and his achievements with Newcastle United. While on paper his managerial career might seem lacking—without a single league title—those familiar with him knew that he had taken Newcastle from the second division to the Premier League, making them one of the top contenders for the title, and they were just a step away from winning.
In terms of other English managers, Harry Redknapp, both as a player and manager, achieved less than Keegan, and his prestige was consequently lower. Roy Hodgson, on the other hand, had been out of the English football scene for too long to be trusted, and his recent lack of significant achievements also worked against him.
With only four months until the European Championship, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, the England manager's position was still vacant. Former Leeds manager Wilkinson, who had led Leeds to the last-ever Division 1 title, was acting as the caretaker coach, managing the team for friendly matches. However, his chances of being permanently appointed were slim, partly due to his underwhelming playing career.
Of course, being a player and being a good coach were two different things, but when Wilkinson left Leeds, it was during a low point for the club in the Premier League, and his departure left a sense of fading glory. The shining 1992 title felt like a distant memory, and the reality in 2000 was starkly different.
Keegan, meanwhile, had been away from Newcastle for some time, and although his departure occurred after two consecutive third-place finishes, which wasn't a glorious period, it still maintained a high level of respect. After he left, however, Newcastle's fortunes waned, and the successor he left behind led the team into a relegation struggle. It wasn't until Robson took over that the club started to recover.
Thus, it wasn't surprising that Wilkinson was made the caretaker manager and that the FA had reached out to Keegan.
At this point, Aldrich still didn't know what Keegan wanted to express by meeting him.
Keegan leaned closer to Aldrich, speaking each word slowly: "Aldrich, let's join forces! I know you can't leave Millwall, but that's fine. You only need to spare a little time during FIFA match days to help. Together, we can lead England to the European Championship. What a fantastic partnership this would be! You can completely trust me—I'll take on all the pressure. We'll treat this European Championship like a journey. Once we get to know the team and restore order to the current chaotic national team, we can focus on the 2002 World Cup and the European Championship four years later. I believe the FA will give us that time, and the England fans will understand and support us!"
The old man!
Did you really think I'm just a three-year-old?
Keegan's words were eloquent.
Cooperation, pressure, prospects...
In the briefest of moments, countless thoughts flashed through Aldrich's mind. He knew exactly what Keegan was after.
There could only be one manager for the England national team, and that would undoubtedly be Keegan.
Keegan's invitation meant that the best he could hope for was an assistant coach position.
It sounded wonderful. Aldrich as the assistant coach—he wouldn't have to spend too much time with the national team, but he could leverage their attention to boost his own reputation. Even if they lost, if things went wrong, Keegan had promised to take the blame!
But… England, the heart of Europe, if the national team really failed, could Keegan handle the responsibility?
Moreover, agreeing to this would essentially give Keegan a long-term ticket. He'd stay at the helm of the England team for at least two and a half years, until the 2002 World Cup was over, unless, of course, England were eliminated in the qualifiers.
Aldrich smirked inwardly. He knew exactly how to interpret Keegan's words.
If they worked together, and the national team succeeded, most of the credit would go to Keegan—he was the legitimate head coach. Aldrich might just ride on his coattails, becoming a beneficiary.
But if the national team failed, Keegan would take the brunt of the blame. However, Aldrich's role would be magnified as well. Never underestimate the Fleet Street media's ability to pile on!
This was nothing but a thankless job.
The risks and rewards were totally disproportionate.
Aldrich pretended to think deeply, while Keegan watched him intently. After a long silence, Aldrich finally turned to him, furrowing his brows and saying, "Kevin, thank you for the offer. It's truly an honor, but I can't accept. There are two reasons: First, you had such a glorious playing career. You were the idol of this current generation of England internationals, and they all look up to you, admire you. As for me, once I leave Millwall, I'm nothing. I wouldn't earn the trust of the players. I'd only be riding on your coattails, which isn't fair to you. Second, you should understand the pressure I face at my club. Managing Millwall is no easier than managing a star-studded national team. If I were to take on the national team as a part-time job, it would negatively affect my club. Tomorrow, we have a crucial Champions League match. Right now, my team and I need to be completely united, and we can't afford any internal discord."
Keegan remained silent for a few minutes before letting out a quiet sigh.
He could probably understand Aldrich's reasoning.
Simply put, if you listed the players from the England national team and compared them to the first-team players at Millwall, the difference in strength would be obvious. Millwall's squad was far superior to the England national team's!
In other words, when it came to the number of stars, player values, and fame, managing Millwall was a far more difficult task than managing the national team.
Of course, this was just Aldrich's way of cleverly dodging Keegan's offer.
Managing a national team versus managing a club was a completely different ball game, and you couldn't compare the two.
Keegan looked regretful as they parted ways.
As Aldrich drove home, he kept replaying Keegan's expression in his mind.
Maybe he had misjudged him.
Perhaps Keegan really did want them to work together and bring glory to the national team, which had been the subject of public hope for over thirty years.
Even if that was true, Aldrich felt he couldn't be that selfless.
He had to protect his own reputation in the football world. At this, the worst possible time, becoming involved with the England national team just didn't seem worth it. With the European Championship looming in four months, Aldrich didn't see how being an assistant coach could lead to anything worthwhile.
The next day, Millwall won 2-0 against Feyenoord in the Champions League group stage, securing a solid opening victory without breaking a sweat.
After the match, Aldrich was suddenly approached by a journalist who asked, "There are reports claiming that the FA will appoint Kevin Keegan as the head coach of the national team. It's also said that Keegan invited you to join him as his assistant to lead England together. Is this true?"
Aldrich had never leaked this information himself, and he hadn't mentioned it to anyone.
The only possibility was that Keegan might have spoken about it to others, and it was leaked from there.
Aldrich thought for a moment before replying with a smile, "That's false! I've never received an invitation from Coach Keegan. I'm just like any other fan, eagerly looking forward to Keegan leading the England national team. He is absolutely qualified. So please, don't spread such fake news that disturbs Keegan and the England team. It's very unethical and will have a negative impact on the national team."
After giving a clear response, the journalist dropped the subject.
Aldrich was relieved that his quick thinking had saved him.
If he had admitted it, it would have been bad for him and would have been a slap in Keegan's face.
And Keegan would never admit it either. Regardless of his thoughts, it didn't matter. Once he acknowledged inviting Aldrich in front of the media, it would inevitably be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
This matter was over. For Keegan, if the invitation was successful, both of them would be happy. But if it failed, as it had now, both he and Aldrich would choose to forget about it. If asked, they would both firmly deny it.
Aldrich was now focusing all his attention on Millwall. The final push for the second half of the season had officially begun, but there was a headache awaiting him inside the club—one of the players had caused a stir.
This time, the young Drogba was at the center of it.
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