Chapter 77: Second, Third, Fourth... Sixth

There were simply too many résumés piled up on his desk, forcing Richard to sort through them one by one. In the end, based on the future he knew, only six candidates made the cut to be included in the shortlist of top candidates.

One of them was Arsène Wenger.

What made Richard seriously consider Wenger was the fact that, in the early 2000s, Ligue 1 would be shaken by revelations of bribery and corruption—most notably involving Marseille, who were found guilty of match-fixing.

The only thing that made he hesitate was pinpointing exactly when this scandal would unfold. But one thing was certain—because of it, Wenger would eventually leave France for Japan.

And if that was the case, wouldn’t it be better for him to manage City instead of coaching abroad?

But in the end, Wenger rejected his offer, leaving Richard disappointed.

The second candidate was Rafa Benítez.

Richard wasted no time and immediately faxed Real Madrid to inquire about his availability. However, the reply he received was exactly what he had expected—Benítez wanted to stay at Real Madrid. It was a response he had anticipated just by looking at Benítez’s résumé, leaving him helpless.

During the 1986–87 season, Benítez was appointed as the coach of Real Madrid Castilla, where he led the team to two league titles in 1987 and 1989. By 1990, he had secured his third league title with Real Madrid’s youth team.

Midway through the 1990–91 season, he took over from José Antonio Camacho as the head coach of Real Madrid’s U-19 team. Under his leadership, they won the Spain U-19 Cup in both 1991 and 1993, defeating Barcelona in both finals. In 1993, they achieved the double by also winning the national U-19 league title.

With his growing list of achievements in Madrid’s youth, Benítez’s reputation soared, eventually earning him a position as assistant coach to Vicente del Bosque with the senior team.

Now, if you were Benítez, wouldn’t it make more sense to stay and wait for Del Bosque to step down?

At least, for Richard, that was the logical choice. With his impressive track record in Madrid’s youth, Benítez had a strong chance of succeeding Del Bosque.

Why leave when the path to the top was already within reach?

Richard was rejected once again, which truly devastated him.

The third and fourth candidates, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Otto Rehhagel, both rejected Richard—a double rejection that left him in despair.

For Sven-Göran Eriksson, the answer was obvious. Who in their right mind would leave Italy for England, especially for a second-division club? Moving to an English third-tier side was simply out of the question.

As for Otto Rehhagel, rumors were swirling that Bayern Munich had set their sights on him. After all, he had transformed Werder Bremen from a small minnow into a German powerhouse, dazzling fans with his high-tempo attacking football and an impenetrable defense.

With both managers turning him down, Richard prayed for the fifth and sixth to succeed.

The fifth candidate was Marcelo Bielsa, who was currently managing Atlas, a Mexican professional football club based in Guadalajara.

This time, Richard was confident.

Who would turn down the chance to coach a European club in favor of staying in North America?

But reality slap him really hard.

The most direct way to make contact was through an international phone call. Clubs often had dedicated lines for important communications, making it a straightforward process. First, Richard sent a fax to Atlas FC, formally requesting permission to speak with Bielsa.

With the lure of money, it was approved quickly, and he followed up with a direct call. But Bielsa’s first question left him speechless.

"I want full control over the youth system—from the structured scouting network to player development, training methods, and infrastructure. Everything must meet my standards. How does that sound?"

With so many future superstars at stake, how could Richard possibly entrust everything to someone else?

"I can agree to player development, training methods, and infrastructure," he said firmly. "But when it comes to the scouting network—where to focus, who to recruit, player selection criteria, and the scouting checklist—I’m very sorry, Mr. Bielsa, but I cannot agree to that."

"Then I’m sorry," Bielsa replied. "I cannot accept your offer."

BOOM!

Five rejections in a row. Just like that.

In the end, Richard had no choice but to pin all his hopes on the sixth candidate.

Martin O’Neill.

After a knee injury forced his retirement in 1985, he transitioned into management on a part-time basis at Southern League side Grantham, guiding them to a third-place finish in the 1987/88 season.

He also spotted winger Gary Crosby playing park football and brought him into the team, later selling him to Nottingham Forest for £15,000 plus add-ons.

He resigned from Grantham at the end of the following season to take the managerial job at Shepshed Charterhouse, also in the Southern League. However, his time there was less than fulfilling, and after four months, he stepped down to focus on his insurance business.

Later, he unexpectedly found himself at Wycombe Wanderers, despite never having applied for the job. This opportunity came thanks to the support of two Wycombe directors, after he took the risk of attending an interview following their review of his CV.

Under his management, he led Wycombe to a runner-up finish in the Conference League Cup, secured the club’s first-ever promotion to the Football League (EFL), and achieved promotions, taking them up to the Second Division.

Not dazzling, but what Richard saw in O’Neill wasn’t tactical brilliance or intense training methods designed to develop players. In fact, O’Neill wasn’t particularly known for those aspects and could even be considered lacking in them.

What truly set him apart was that he didn’t make excessive demands and was willing to work with the players already available.

The fact that he bought Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Ronaldo, and Rivaldo to England without consulting his current manager—that alone was a major red flag.

After that, rather than weekly tactical training or intense physical drills, O’Neill was best known for his emphasis on matchday performance and player empowerment. Discipline, structured internal rules, encouragement over criticism.

In other words, he was the ultimate Motivator or Man-Manager, perfectly suited for the young Brazilian.

Wycombe had already been notified, and O’Neill showed a positive reaction, expressing his willingness to meet. After a brief phone conversation, both agreed to set up a meeting.

"Mr. O’Neill, it’s a pleasure to meet you," Richard greeted as he immediately took a seat across from him.

"Hello, you must be Mr. Maddox. And you must be the current General Manager, Mr. Maddock," O’Neill replied, shaking their hands before settling into his chair.

"If you’ve recognized both of us, it seems you’ve already done your research, Mr. O’Neill," Richard said with a knowing smile.

"Haha, of course! Let’s just say it’s a habit to ensure I don’t make a wrong career choice," O’Neill chuckled.

Richard gave him a thumbs-up. "Fair enough," he said. "Now, let’s get to the point, Mr. O’Neill." His tone shifted to a more serious one. "We’d like to invite you to take charge of Manchester City for our rebuilding plan. Even though you could say the club’s condition is perilous, this actually presents a unique advantage—it makes the project more manageable."

O’Neill raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "I heard Manchester City still has a manager? Are you suggesting a setup with dual managers?"

"Of course not," Richard immediately denied, shaking his head. "Let me be honest with you, Mr. O’Neill. With the club in this position, we have the chance to build from scratch—literally from scratch. ZERO! You understand what I mean, right?"

O’Neill was momentarily taken aback but soon realized that accepting the offer would mean the current manager’s immediate dismissal. He composed himself instantly, unfazed by the intricacies of the situation. Managers come and go—it was just part of football.

What mattered to him were the tangible pros and cons. "I understand what you’re saying," he said, leaning forward, his expression serious. "But the real question is, what kind of support will I have if I take on this so-called rebuild?"

Richard nodded. "First, we’re willing to double your salary with bonuses tied to your contract," Richard began. "The goal for next season is promotion to the First Division. If we achieve that, I’ll offer a £50,000 bonus to the entire team and coaching staff."

Hearing that, John’s mouth twitched while O’Neill was indeed tempted.

"Second, you can bring in your own coaching team," Richard continued. "We won’t interfere with your staff choices. You will have full control over who you bring in, whether it’s assistants, coaches, or analysts. The only thing that matters is results."

"What about tactics, player selection, and the starting lineup?" O’Neill asked.

Richard raised one finger, his expression serious. "I only ask one thing," he said, lowering his tone to emphasize the weight of his words. "I want Manchester City to be built on the philosophy of attacking football."

The intensity in his voice matched the passion in his eyes. "We want to entertain, to dominate the game, and to make an impact. We’ll be fearless, we’ll play with pace, and we’ll make sure our fans enjoy every moment."

Come on, with Roberto Carlos and Cafu bombing down the wings and Ronaldo wrecking defenses, they’ll be unstoppable this season.

"..."

However, of course, this was only known to Richard alone. As for O’Neill and John, they kept their mouths shut.

Who wouldn’t want their club to play attacking football?

Every club dreams of playing entertaining football, but is it really that simple?

Richard’s words hung in the air, and the atmosphere grew heavier. Everyone present couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation.

Richard didn’t know this, so he simply leaned back. "Mr. O’Neill, to be honest with you, on my desk, there are dozens of resumes waiting for me to choose from. But out of all of them, do you know why I chose you?"

Curious, O’Neill nodded. "Why?"

"Do you know what they called you at Wycombe?" Richard asked with a sly grin.

O’Neill was taken aback. "What? No! Wait, is there something like that? How am I just hearing about this?"

"Haha, that just means you’re too focused on your team, and that’s a good thing," Richard replied with a smile. "They called you the ’Matchday Manager.’ They said Martin O’Neill is known for prioritizing the team’s performance on matchday and less focused on the details during the week."

Naturally, all of this was nonsense from Richard himself. However, in the future, when Martin O’Neill took charge of Leicester and Celtic, he was indeed known for his ability to raise morale and squeeze the best out of his players

The Brazilian lads are still young. They need to be polished, not pushed too hard physically, especially at this stage, particularly Ronaldo. Thinking about his propensity for injuries, Richard frowned before relaxing again.

"Haha, no way." O’Neill chuckled, assuming Richard was joking.

He dismissed it with a shake of his head before shifting to a more pressing matter. "Mr. Maddox, what about transfers?" O’Neill asked, his tone turning serious.

"Hmm..." Richard paused in contemplation for a moment before shaking his head. "Mr. O’Neill, regarding transfers, Manchester City prefers a collaboration between myself, you as the manager, and other relevant parties."

O’Neill frowned. "You? What do you mean by ’you’re also involved’? Does that mean I have no say in transfer decisions?"

"No, no, no, you misunderstood me," Richard quickly clarified. "Collaboration means we work together. Let’s say you want Player A; you’ll tell us you want him, and we’ll get him for you. Or you can give us a list, and we’ll handle it. However, there are times when the management team may also be involved and decide that another player is a better fit. Of course, you’ll always be consulted before any decisions are made. That’s what I mean by collaboration."

O’Neill nodded before seeking confirmation. "Everything inside the dressing room—I don’t want any interference in how I manage the players. Is that clear?"

"Of course."

"Then, Mr. Maddox, one last request before I accept the job."

Richard straightened up, leaning in. "Of course, go ahead."

O’Neill pulled a pen from his pocket, scribbled something on a piece of paper, and handed it to Richard. "I want to bring them with me to City."

Assistant John Robertson

Coach Steve Walford

Youth and Reserves coach Willie McStay

Goalkeeping Coach Terry Gennoe

Richard unfolded the paper and glanced at it. "Consider it done, Mr. O’Neill." He pushed his chair back, stood up, and extended his hand. "Welcome to Manchester City."

O’Neill gave a small, pleased smile and shook his hand firmly. "Good. I think we’re ready to move forward."

After finalizing matters with O’Neill regarding his managerial role, an unexpected situation arose at White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur.

Specifically, it involved Sol Campbell.

During the previous season, an incident occurred at Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County. Sol Campbell was falsely accused of breaking a steward’s arm during a scuffle. He refused to admit guilt and also declined to follow Tottenham’s lawyer’s advice to have the case bound over.

(Bound over which would mean he wouldn’t be convicted but would effectively have admitted some level of wrongdoing).

As a result, the club instructed him to handle his own legal defense for the case. This decision strained his relationship with both the manager and the club, as he felt that Tottenham’s lack of support during the assault case left him feeling disillusioned.

This is when Campbell made an unexpected reach out to Richard, which caught him off guard.

After finishing his discussion with O’Neill, Richard received a call from Fay, the one from Paddy Power.

With a touch of helplessness in his voice, Fay said, "He’s here, asking to meet you. With the World Cup coming up, he thought you might be here, so he’s waiting for you."

Surprised, Richard asked Fay to pass the phone to Campbell.

The verbal agreement was made quickly, with the condition that Richard would help Campbell with his assault case.

"Understood, I’ll help you," Richard said. "But what about the salary, bonuses, or incentives? Any additional offers?"

Richard offered Campbell £1,500 per week, along with incentives for clean sheets, goals, and a bonus if the club were promoted.

Campbell agreed instantly, which made Richard pause briefly before hesitantly asking, "Actually, you want to use this case to get out of Tottenham, don’t you?"

"..."

Seeing Campbell’s silence, Richard shrugged. "Fine, after this, I’ll make a bid for Tottenham. Can I now say, welcome to Manchester City?"

"...thank you," Campbell responded shortly.

Sighing, Richard thought, ’

No wonder his previous managers said it was so difficult to get along with him.’

After the phone call ended, it was passed back to Fay.

The first thing Richard heard was, "Hey, are you done? What about me? Yesterday you were absent—will you miss the World Cup again?"

Richard paused for a moment before realizing he’d almost forgotten. The fastest and easiest way to make money. "Put a bet on Bulgaria for £100,000. Accumulate it until the group stage is over, then place it on Brazil to win. Just use the accumulated money."

"Bulgaria? Why? You know they’re with Argentina, Greece, and Nigeria. Why not bet on Nigeria like you did with the previous Cameroon bet?"

"Let’s just say, in this World Cup, Bulgaria has received their blessing."

"Haha, what are you saying?"

Richard smiled, but he didn’t feel the need to explain. He ended the call, nearly shouting in excitement—but then caught himself, realizing John was sitting next to him. He held back, but the happiness was clear on his face.

Finally, it was happening. He had secured a center-back to form the backbone for City next season, and what made it even better was that he was a homegrown talent.

The future was looking bright for Manchester City.

After returning from Buckinghamshire to deal with the appointment of O’Neill, Richard quickened his step to address the pressing issues of the annual grand meeting.

Termination fees were high for the coaching staff, but it was common practice for a new manager—or in this case, the aggressive owner—to overhaul the coaching staff, even at significant cost. Of course, if there were no termination fees, it would be even better.

"...If you decide to fire him, I’ll bite the bullet and deal with it," John Maddock said, glancing at Richard to gauge his reaction.

The other party drummed his fingers on the table and said, "This won’t be easy to clean up—not just because of the termination fees." Then, he looked toward Miss Heysen. "Did something happen while John and I were away?"

Miss Heysen paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before finally saying, "It feels like there are more people lingering around the training ground lately. Since you put a halt to all transfer activity, they’ve been hanging around the field every day during practice day."

John’s brow instinctively furrowed. ’

What a mess’.

He turned to Richard. "I think we need clear guidelines for training—who’s allowed to be there and who isn’t. We don’t want unnecessary distractions."

Richard didn’t respond right away. He tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought, before finally lifting his head to meet their eyes. "It’s just a feeling... but things like this tend to have a certain atmosphere to them."

John frowned. "What do you mean?"

Richard didn’t elaborate. Instead, he turned to Miss Heysen, thanked her, and asked her to keep a closer watch on the players rather than the coaching staff or other personnel.

After Miss Heysen left, Richard immediately turned to face John Maddox and said, "There’s a more pressing issue we need to address before we attend the meeting."

By veering off-script.

"A pressing issue?"

If replacing the entire coaching staff required paying termination fees, Richard would do it without hesitation. But if there was another way? Why not take it?

"Yes, something far more important. Expand the invitation list—not just the coaching staff, but also assistant and reserve coaches, the scouting department, physios, and also the academy."

This wasn’t a request.

It was a directive.

"We’ll meet all of them at once. Consider this a chance to get acquainted," Richard continued.

"That could take some time, though."

"It doesn’t matter. We still have three days before the meeting." Richard paused, deep in thought.

John instantly had a bad feeling about this.

"The most urgent matter—the rebuilding of the squad—has to start now," Richard muttered.

"Oh. That’s standard procedure, isn’t it? A new season means rebuilding the squad. A new manager means a new game plan. And since you’ve already appointed the new manager, that means—"

"Start drafting a release list of players we don’t need in the first squad. No—all of them."

Richard dropped the bombshell, and John gasped.

Manchester City’s internal divisions were becoming more tangled and chaotic—especially after Richard himself reviewed the first-team squad background data.

Most of the players had been selected and promoted directly under the new chief scout, Peter Pettigrew.

Remember the factions issue? What if it had already crept into the first squad?

If it had been Chief Ken Barnes, Richard might have tolerated it.

But Pettigrew? Not a chance.

Leaker, whistleblower, insider, mole, tipster—whatever you called it, he despised being predictable.

Just as much as he hated seeing their opponents read the club’s tactics, break down their strategies, and worst of all—when the media got wind of it. Especially when they pried into and knew his players’ personal lives—far more than the club itself.

The tough calls before Manchester City required major surgery.

’Just like Manchester United...huh?’