Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 191

What should I call this run? This streak? This miracle?

Burnley, fresh off their New Turf Moor opening ceremony during the Carabao Cup quarter-final, continued their winning ways with a 2-0 victory.

Following that, in Premier League Round 17, they hosted Leicester again at New Turf Moor and secured another win, 2-1.

Then, on Boxing Day, in Premier League Round 18, they edged out Everton 1-0.

And finally, to kick off the new year, in Premier League Round 19 held on January 1, 2024, they visited Elland Road, the home of Leeds United, and snatched a 3-2 victory.

They weren’t blowing teams away, instead grinding out nail-biting wins by a single goal, but a win was a win.

They were riding a 14-game winning streak after those initial 5 losses in the Premier League.

The UEFA Champions League group stage results were more inconsistent, but they still managed to grab 19 points with 5 wins and 4 draws, successfully advancing to the knockout stage as group winners.

The Premier League’s all-time record for consecutive wins in a single season is 18, jointly held by Manchester City (2017/18 season) and Liverpool (2019/20 season).

Manchester City’s 2017/18 season was particularly dominant, surpassing Manchester United, then managed by José Mourinho, by a staggering 19 points and setting a new record of 100 points.

Burnley, having completed 19 games of the 38-game season, were at the halfway point, sitting in 2nd place with 14 wins and 5 losses, totaling 42 points.

Even winning all the remaining 19 games to reach 100 points was a long shot, but theoretically, they could secure up to 99 points.

Of course, Liverpool, who had been top of the table since the season’s start, were leading the pack with 16 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, totaling 50 points – a commanding performance that put them a significant 8 points ahead.

The two Champions League participants hadn’t faced each other in the first half of the season due to scheduling, but even if Burnley managed to beat Liverpool, against whom they had a solid record of 5 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in official matches, closing the gap would be tough.

So, while the championship seemed a distant prospect, the media and pundits were struggling to find the right narrative for Burnley, who had been on a remarkable winning streak since their disastrous start.

Calling them the ‘Next Invincibles’ (referencing Arsenal’s undefeated season in 2003/04) was a stretch, given those initial 5 consecutive losses.

Catchphrases like ‘Serial Winning Offenders’ and ‘The Winning Second Place’ briefly appeared in the media before disappearing, while Burnley’s acting chairman, CEO, and CFO, overwhelmed with work, was buried under a mountain of documents.

“…Damn it, if you’re sending a proposal, can’t you just put the amount on the cover? Why is it hidden so deep inside!”

With the announcement that they were considering selling the naming rights to New Turf Moor, proposals flooded in, each with different terms.

The durations ranged from 2 to 10 years, with options like 2 years + 2 years, 5 years + 1 year, and even proposals for permanent sales.

The financial offers also varied wildly, and even the currencies were inconsistent.

“I don’t even expect British pounds; I’d be happy with US dollars or euros.”

Helena was frustrated by the proposals denominated in Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, and even Korean won.

And then there were the additional conditions.

Proposals that included shirt sponsorships, sleeve sponsorships, use of half the stadium’s billboards, and even offers focused solely on training wear sponsorship were pouring in. Helena’s job was to standardize them for review.

“But you look happy?”

Hearing the voice from the sofa, Helena glanced up, smiled, and then buried her face back in the laptop.

“Because money is coming in! Money! Jonathan has been begging me to increase the weekly wage budget!”

While the gloomy atmosphere of the season’s beginning had faded, the issue Burnley had been avoiding resurfaced as they advanced to the Champions League round of 16 and climbed to 2nd place in the Premier League.

Agents representing promising players, whose skills and reputations had soared over the past two seasons, were aggressively pushing for wage increases and contract renewals.

“Haven’t you heard anything?”

“Well… Jonathan has mentioned things, but the players haven’t spoken to me directly.”

“Tsk, tsk…”

Helena clicked her tongue, understanding Hyungmin’s response.

Hyungmin was known for his good rapport with the players.

Young players, often lacking experience, were hesitant to approach the manager’s office, request a meeting, and discuss sensitive topics like pay raises.

Isn’t that why they hired agents – to handle difficult, complicated, and sensitive matters on their behalf?

And from an agent’s perspective, there was no point in antagonizing the manager and potentially creating problems for their client.

Wasn’t that the Football Director’s job – to manage those conversations instead of the manager?

As a result, Burnley’s Football Director, Jonathan Landris, found himself sweating through the winter transfer market, which he had expected to be quiet, amidst a deluge of calls and requests from agents.

He wasn’t too concerned about the players signed in the last summer transfer window.

The ink on their contracts was barely dry.

The real issue was the players who had stayed, especially those considered key to Burnley’s success.

“Who’s the biggest headache?”

Without looking up from the laptop, Helena shook her head as she organized the proposals, then, remembering Hyungmin was on the sofa, she answered.

“It’s not that they’re a headache. They’re not asking for more than market value, generally speaking. But our wage structure itself…

“…Was too low.”

Hyungmin finished Helena’s sentence.

Burnley had been keeping their weekly wage bill around 1.2 million pounds for the season.

Hyungmin’s preference for a small squad of 22 players helped, but 1.2 million pounds was still about the 5th lowest in the 20-team Premier League.

Typically, newly promoted teams occupied the bottom three spots in the wage rankings, making Burnley’s wage structure among the lowest for established Premier League clubs.

Manchester United, with Cristiano Ronaldo alone earning 480,000 pounds a week and five players making 300,000 pounds or more, had a first-team wage budget exceeding 4.2 million pounds.

Manchester City, with Kevin De Bruyne on 400,000 pounds a week and other high earners like Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, had a first-team wage budget around 3.1 million pounds.

Chelsea’s first-team wage structure was similar to Manchester City’s.

Even Liverpool, known for their relatively strict wage structure among the top teams, had a first-team wage budget of 2.7 million pounds.

Ultimately, Burnley had been competing with about half the wage budget of their direct rivals, but as the players proved their worth on the biggest stage, it was becoming impossible to hold the line any longer.

“Who’s the most assertive? Should I have a word?”

“No. We need to match the market price to some extent anyway.”

Helena shook her head at Hyungmin’s suggestion.

“If we make unreasonable demands, we’ll have to sell him in the next transfer market.”

“…That’s why I’m saying this.”

Helena finally looked up from her laptop and chuckled at Hyungmin’s blunt reply as he lifted his head from the sofa.

“I understand your concerns, but Burnley has its limits. We can’t give players everything they want.”

“…I guess so.”

She turned her gaze back to the laptop as Hyungmin sighed and laid his head back on the sofa.

“Anyway, I asked Jonathan to keep the wage cap at 100,000 pounds. I hope he’s holding up.”

***

“…90,000 pounds.”

“No way! You know that’s ridiculous!”

“And you know our situation! It’s not like we don’t want to give it!”

Jonathan Landris glared at the agent sitting across the table in the Football Director’s office at the Barnfield Training Centre [Burnley’s training ground].

Lambertz Löfski, the head of Unidose, Poland’s largest sports agency, representing Sebastian Szymanski, shook his head.

“With Sebastian’s skills, he could play for Manchester City.”

“Then go to Manchester City!”

They were throwing threats, but they both knew it was a bluff.

Losing a midfielder who scored and assisted in double digits last season without even needing an adjustment period would be a painful blow for Burnley, who are always prepared for players to be sold.

And Sebastian Szymanski himself has no intention of leaving Burnley to play for Manchester City.

Why would he when the team is higher in the standings than Manchester City?

If it were the era of Pep Guardiola, he might have been drawn to the prestige, but the current atmosphere in European football favors Burnley’s Hyungmin Kim over Luis Enrique, who didn’t leave a significant mark after managing Barcelona.

“…120,000 pounds.”

“95,000 pounds! I can’t go any higher! He’ll be the highest-paid player on the team!”

The agent subtly tilted his head to the side as the Football Director and agent continued to glare at each other.

“I don’t think so?”

“…”

“I spoke with Nicolas Seiwald’s agent. They said it was 100,000 pounds?”

A moment of silence passed, and Jonathan Landris finally conceded.

“…That’s just their claim. Nothing has been agreed upon yet.”

“But can we assume the possibility is high?”

“Who knows?”

Lambertz Löfski conceded this time to Jonathan Landris, who trailed off.

“Okay, then how about this?”

“…I’ll listen if you tell me.”

“The weekly wage is 95,000 pounds or the highest wage on the team, whichever is higher.”

“Hmm…”

Jonathan Landris leaned back in his chair, his back soaked with cold sweat, and pondered for a moment.

It was a much lower offer than the 140,000 pounds initially requested.

Of course, it was a huge jump from the 60,000 pounds he was currently receiving, but it wasn’t bad considering it was a compromise.

And considering Sebastian Szymanski’s status in the team, he deserved to be the highest-paid player on the team.

Of course, if the rumor that Nicolas Seiwald and Sebastian Szymanski had agreed to receive 100,000 pounds spread, all the agents currently negotiating would swarm in based on that.

Conversely, for players who are not as high-profile, they must accept that their weekly wage will be set below 100,000 pounds.

Otherwise, Burnley must be prepared to sell players in the summer transfer market.

Buyers are already lined up waiting to snatch players from Burnley.

And the only player in Burnley with the same status as captain Nicolas Seiwald and Sebastian Szymanski is Burnley’s gem, Dwight McNeil.

Anyway, the management has already agreed to match Dwight’s maximum wage in the team because of his symbolic importance to the club.

Jonathan Landris, who quickly finished calculating in his head, nodded.

“Okay.”

“Fantastic!”

Lambertz Löfski smiled with satisfaction, spreading his arms, and Jonathan Landris shook his hand.

“We’ll send you the contract.”

Lambertz Löfski grinned and nodded at Jonathan Landris’s suggestion.

“Thank you for the good deal, sir.”