Football Dynasty

Germany triumphed in the European Championship final with a 2–1 victory over the Czech Republic at Wembley, bringing an end to the unforgettable journey of Euro '96.

For the players, the end of the tournament marked the beginning of a well-earned vacation. But for the club's staff, it was quite the opposite — the real battle had just begun.

With the Euros concluded, the transfer season had officially kicked off, and the war for next season's success was underway.

On the very day the tournament ended, Richard gathered the entire first-team staff — especially the coaching unit — for a crucial meeting.

With manager Martin O'Neill still recovering from an injury, assistant coach John Robertson stepped up to lead preparations, at least until O'Neill returned to full health.

As the main employees and staffs filed into the meeting room and took their seats, Richard stood at the head of the table. He placed his hands firmly on the surface, commanding silence with a calm but authoritative gesture.

"I was planning to summarize the season during today's meeting, but I see it's unnecessary now. So let's keep it simple, shall we? With our current income levels, we may not afford superstars, but overall, we're better compensated than the average top league player by over 30%."

"..."

"Last season, we managed to score 71 goals — that's 21 more than Derby County and 27 more than Crystal Palace, who currently sit in second place in the league. So I assume, in the upcoming Premier League season, we should at least be able to break into the top six. Am I right?" Richard turned toward Robertson and the rest of the staff.

"..."

"So let's make things clear for next season. I'm setting a three-tier target: a Top 10 finish will earn players and staff a 10% bonus; a Top 6 finish will increase the bonus to 25%; and if we win the Premier League, I will grant a 55% bonus on top of the current bonus structure."

That would mean, for players, nearly four months' worth of salary in bonuses — and for the coaching and support staff, almost nine months' pay.

How generous.

But no one dared to say a word — because they were talking about the Premier League.

No one felt confident enough to claim they were ready to take on the highest tier of English football just yet. But Richard didn't want to hear any excuses.

He looked Robertson directly in the eye and asked bluntly, "With the squad we have and the resources we're putting in place, what's your target? What do you realistically believe is achievable?"

Robertson nodded thoughtfully before replying, "To be honest, what comes to mind first is survival. The Premier League is tough, and the margins are brutal. With the squad we have and if we avoid major injuries, I believe a top-half finish is realistic — especially considering the midfield."

Goalkeepers (GK): Jens Lehmann, Gianluigi Buffon

Defenders (DF): Javier Zanetti, Steve Finnan, Lilian Thuram, Rio Ferdinand, William Gallas, Marco Materazzi, Gianluca Zambrotta

Midfielders (MF): Mark van Bommel, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon, Jackie McNamara, Theodoros Zagorakis, Andea Pirlo

Forwards (FW): Ronaldo, Henrik Larsson, Andriy Shevchenko, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry

He then continued, "Mark van Bommel, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon, Jackie McNamara, Theodoros Zagorakis and the new Andrea Pirlo — currently, we only have six midfielders. That means even if we play a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 system, there's only two player available on the bench. Not to mention if there are injuries. We definitely need reinforcements in midfield."

Richard paused, thinking for a moment before nodding. "Give me the list of players you want, and push for UEFA Champions League qualification next season. If you manage to qualify for the competition, I will grant a 55% bonus immediately."

It was a challenge, and all the staff exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

"Understood."

Richard was very satisfied with the answer before turning to Miss Heysen. "Previously, I asked for an initiative to research Premier League ticket sales. How is that progressing?" he asked.

"It's all done," Miss Heysen replied, handing over the reports to Richard and the rest of the people present.

"Good. Next," Richard said, moving swiftly through the agenda.

The next topic was the academy, currently under the stewardship of Domènec Torrent.

The role of coaches in player development couldn't be overstated, especially in England. The country's "rigid style education" system has deeply influenced football here, making it difficult to consistently produce players with truly world-class talent.

Even those who briefly shine often fade into mediocrity once they reach the first team. Much of the challenge lies in England's training methods and coaching philosophies. Despite the Premier League's dominance in European football in the past, homegrown players with exceptional technical skills remain rare.

Many promising youngsters become well-rounded athletes but lack the creativity and flair that set great players apart. Injuries further contribute to a long list of dashed hopes.

Richard was skeptical of relying on English coaches—especially in the academy. He favored Dutch or Spanish coaches, believing their training styles were better suited to nurturing and unlocking a player's full potential.

Developing players takes time; coaches lay the groundwork for a team's traditions and identity, which is far more important than simply scouting players in the transfer market.

After all, even if Richard could acquire a football genius, if they were guided into mediocrity, it would be a great regret and disappointment. So, you can imagine how important the role of Domènec Torrent is for the current City.

After the meeting concluded, Richard asked Marina Granovskaia and John Robertson to stay behind.

The agenda: as requested by Robertson — midfield reinforcements.

After a lengthy discussion and careful deliberation, the three of them finally agreed on three names to add to the squad: Joe Cole and Frank Lampard from West Ham United, plus Steven Gerrard from Liverpool.

All three were homegrown talents and still young, which meant their market value was relatively affordable.

Richard smiled.

'A high-quality holding midfielder!'

With Gerrard and Pirlo anchoring the midfield, City would dominate English football — no question about it.

"You go to West Ham, and I'll head to Liverpool," Richard said confidently, already mapping out the plan.

He felt sure of himself — after all, City had already made contact with Gerrard last season, and Richard firmly believed the young midfielder would be tempted to join Manchester City for good.

So, Richard decided to make the visit himself. He believed that some transfers required a personal touch from the top to truly persuade a player.

There was an old story about how Manchester City manager Alan Ball once waited in his office for Ryan Giggs to arrive and sign a contract. But as evening turned into night, the player never showed. The next day, Ball found out that Manchester United's Alex Ferguson had personally visited Giggs — and poached him right from under City's nose!

The next morning, while Marina Granovskaia headed to West Ham, Richard, dressed in a casual shirt and blazer, made his way to Liverpool—full of optimism. But that optimism quickly turned into disbelief.

"Refused? Why?" Richard asked, stunned. "Steven, if you have any concerns, just tell me. Is it the salary? If £2,000 is too low, I can raise it to £2,500. If accommodation is the issue, the club can provide an apartment for you and your family—"

"Sir," Gerrard interrupted gently, eyes averted. "Thank you for your kindness… but I don't want to sign with any club other than Liverpool."

Richard scratched his head, visibly confused. "Then why go through trials at other clubs? Why agree to meet me at all? You could've just said no over the phone."

He had come with high hopes. After all, Gerrard had been trialing with several clubs — Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool. United hadn't made any offers. Only City and Liverpool had shown serious interest.

There was a long pause before Gerrard finally spoke, his tone careful but honest.

"I didn't want to shut any doors. But truthfully, I was just hoping that if other clubs showed interest… maybe Liverpool would take me seriously and offer me a proper contract."

Only then did Richard fully understand.

He remembered something from Gerrard's biography — a moment just like this: 'In order to pressure Liverpool into giving him a Youth Training Scheme contract, Gerrard trialed with other clubs — including Manchester United — as a stepping stone.'

Richard was speechless.

'Damn it. I've been played by this kid.'

There was no doubt now — the news that City had tried to recruit Gerrard would spread quickly. Even if the press didn't catch wind of it, Gerrard himself would probably leak it — all part of his plan to make Liverpool take notice.

In a daze, Richard returned to Maine Road empty-handed.

Moments later, Marina Granovskaia entered his office to report the results of her negotiations with West Ham regarding Frank Lampard and Joe Cole.

Each year, the media would hype up the next generation of footballing talent — but only a few ever made it to the big stage. Among those few, Joe Cole stood out. He was a prodigy whose skill had attracted attention from all directions since he was a child.

At the moment, Manchester City didn't have much leverage to offer — only money. But for many players, that alone was a strong temptation. While some people could resist the lure of money, most simply had a price.

"Joe Cole and Frank Lampard — things are a bit tricky," Marina began. "West Ham United plans to offer them senior team contracts this summer."

For Frank Lampard, the situation was slightly more complicated. His father, Frank Lampard Sr., held a position at West Ham, but his relationship with the club had soured. Marina offered Lampard Sr. a generous starting salary package for his son in hopes of swaying the decision.

The result?

Frank Lampard Sr. resigned from his position at West Ham on the spot — and decided to become his son's agent instead.

Richard was stunned when he heard the news. He hadn't expected such a dramatic turn of events.

As for Joe Cole, he was still only 15 years and 315 days old, meaning he couldn't yet sign a professional contract. He would need to be registered under a Youth Training Scheme contract first.

West Ham, who had initially planned to offer contracts to Lampard and Joe Cole in July, were left frustrated after discovering that their star prospects had been lured away by Manchester City—thanks to high wages and well-placed connections!

Hearing that Marina Granovskaia had successfully secured Lampard and Joe Cole for good, Richard felt a wave of disappointment wash over him — mostly directed at himself.

He sighed deeply, thinking maybe his negotiation skills had rusted from lack of practice. 'It's been ages since I negotiated anything,' he muttered, 'no wonder my skills are as sharp as a butter knife.'

Marina, noticing Richard's long face, decided to check in.

"What happened?" she asked, putting down the folder and sitting across from him.

With a heavy sigh, Richard explained the whole saga between him and Steven Gerrard.

At first, Marina listened seriously — but as soon as she heard the outcome, she burst out laughing, making Richard's mouth twitch involuntarily.

"I'm retiring from player negotiations for good!" Richard declared, throwing his hands up like he'd just been hit by a flying football.