Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 90

90: The New Head Coach

It would be an exaggeration to say I rested well. I spent most of my two-week vacation in Korea hiding from reporters trying to get an interview and company representatives trying to push advertising deals, barely leaving Tae-jin’s villa.

In any case, Hyung-min returned to Burnley after his two-week vacation in Korea.

A meeting of key executives was called to update the manager on the various pending issues of the club after his return from vacation.

“Um…”

Just as discussions on the various pending issues were wrapping up, Hyung-min, who had been listening to the discussions, spoke up.

As the people gathered in the meeting room looked at him, Hyung-min asked,

“Who should I talk to about hiring a head coach?”

Everyone felt Arthur’s absence, and there was a moment of silence. Jonathan Landris tried to sound cheerful.

“Usually, the manager has full authority to appoint a head coach or first-team coach, right?”

Mike Garlic nodded at Jonathan’s words.

“Of course, if you want to pick a head coach, I have no intention of opposing it.”

Hyung-min nodded, confirming that Helena and the others agreed.

“I understand. As for the details of the contract…”

“Ah, I can support you with that, so it’s best to discuss it with me.”

Jonathan Landris, the Football Director who had been delegated the authority to recruit and handle the coaching staff contracts, replied.

And the very next day, Hyung-min visited mainland Europe for the first time since arriving in Burnley.

***

160 kilometers southwest of Berlin, the capital of Germany, lies Leipzig, the eighth most populous city in Germany.

It is still considered one of the most livable cities in Germany.

It has been a center of trade since the Holy Roman Empire, and now it is driving economic growth in Germany, attracting cultural figures and artists, making it a vibrant city.

The Red Bull Football Group, which has established this vibrant city as its base, acquired SSV Markranstädt, which belonged to the German 5th division in 2009, and renamed it RB Leipzig.

In the 2016/17 season, they succeeded in advancing to the Bundesliga, the German 1st division, transforming Leipzig into a city that stands out in sports as well.

The landmark of Leipzig, which is emerging as a center of economy, sports, culture, and art, is Leipzig University, founded in 1409 and one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Among the graduates of Leipzig University, there are literary giants of German literature such as Goethe and philosopher Nietzsche in the humanities, and in modern times, it has produced four Nobel Prize winners in science, boasting its prestige in both the humanities and sciences.

A young Asian man entered a cafe near the prestigious Leipzig University, which boasts 30,000 students.

“Hyung-min! Over here!”

A guest who had already taken a seat in the corner called out to the man who was standing at the entrance of the cafe, looking around the crowded interior.

Hyung-min, who signaled that he had confirmed the location, took the coffee that had just come out and headed to the table where the other person was waiting.

“Long time no see.”

“You’re one to talk!”

The two men, who expressed their joy with a handshake and a light hug, sat down in the seats that the guest had reserved in advance and started talking.

“Hey, isn’t it a bit noisy here?”

At Hyung-min’s words, the other person raised his thick golden eyebrows.

“I told you to meet in a quiet place that the club doesn’t know about, right? This is quiet by Leipzig standards. Look, no one is paying attention to us.”

At those words, Hyung-min briefly looked around.

Because it was such a bustling city, the young customers in the cafe located in the university district were engrossed in their own conversations, unaware that the black-haired man sitting next to them was the one who had caused a sensation as the manager of Burnley in the Premier League last season.

“I guess so. I can barely go outside these days.”

“Hmph. That’s fame for you. Burnley is a very rural place, right? I guess crowds of people flock to you as soon as you step outside?”

“Well… there aren’t that many people in Burnley to call it a crowd. But it is a bit uncomfortable.”

No matter what store you go to, you immediately skip to the front of the line, or when you go to a restaurant, they kick out the existing customers and give you the best seat (in fact, the existing customers usually get up and give you their seat first), or you get one more for free no matter what you buy.

No, most of the time they don’t even try to take your money.

And at McDonald’s and Starbucks, the line in front of you disappears like the miracle of Moses.

Hyung-min shook his head, remembering the enthusiastic reactions of the Burnley residents who had recognized him.

In fact, the two weeks he stayed in Korea were even worse. Burnley was quite cultured and relaxed in comparison.

The other person, who had been watching Hyung-min lost in thought, chuckled.

“So, the story you wanted to tell me after coming all the way to Leipzig was this complaint? Oh, my poor puppy… I feel so bad for you that you can’t even go out for a walk?”

“Oh, come on. You know that’s not it.”

“Hehehe. I know. I know.”

Hyung-min gave a serious expression to the blonde man who was chuckling.

“Oh, I know that expression. Hyung-min Kim wants to say something serious.”

“Damn it… just listen quietly.”

Hyung-min, who scolded his laughing friend, spoke seriously, but without the weight from before.

“Come to Burnley.”

“Why would I?”

“Come and be my head coach.”

“Hmm… but didn’t you have a head coach?”

Hyung-min’s face clouded over slightly.

“Arthur is retiring this time. He’s not feeling well.”

“Oh, that’s too bad…”

The other person, who had a serious expression for a moment, changed back to a smiling face.

“But why should I go to Burnley, a rural backwater?”

“I’ll make you the head coach, okay?”

“I’m getting a lot of recognition here too, you know?”

“No matter how much recognition you get from Red Bull and Leipzig, unless you’re directly connected to the manager, it’ll be a long time before you become the first-team coach, right?”

“Maybe?”

At his friend’s lukewarm reaction, Hyung-min threw the card he had prepared with a big heart.

“Then I’ll raise your weekly wage too!”

“I don’t need that. I have a lot of money.”

“Ugh…”

Hyung-min glared annoyedly at his friend, a successful professional soccer player who probably received a higher weekly wage than many of the current Burnley players, after his surefire offer failed to work.

“Then you can lead the cup competitions.”

“Even the Europa League?”

“Hey, then you should come and be the manager!”

“Hehehe. That’s true.”

As Hyung-min, wearing a dumbfounded expression, got angry, the other person, as if he was joking, chuckled and put on a slightly more serious expression.

“No, well. I don’t need to lead the cup competitions. But really, why are you telling me to come?”

“You have the best detailed tactics out of everyone I know…”

“…Best?”

“…And it’s the hardest to get promoted to first-team coach or head coach in a short period of time.”

Hyung-min continued, knowing that it was his friend’s attitude when facing a truth that he didn’t want to accept, as the other person crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“I know your abilities. I’m going to snatch you up before other people fully recognize or acknowledge them. It could be an opportunity for you too. Honestly, I’m not in this position because I’m better than you, am I? I was just lucky.”

Hyung-min, taking a sip of his cooling coffee, continued.

“If you come to Burnley, you’ll be more exposed than you are now, and you’ll be able to show your abilities more. It’s not like Burnley can bring in someone of your caliber as a head coach, let alone a manager, under normal circumstances.”

“…So you’re not just showcasing promising players, but also coaches. You’re really something.”

As Hyung-min simply smiled, the other person nodded.

“Okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Oh… you’re not going to decide right now?”

At Hyung-min’s flustered question, the other person got annoyed.

“Are you kidding me?! Do you think changing jobs is that simple? Especially when I have to go from Germany to England?”

“Ah, I see.”

At Hyung-min’s expression, as if he had realized something he hadn’t thought of, the other person shook his head in disbelief.

“And I can’t accept that you said I’m better than you. Everyone at the Hennes Weisweiler Academy [a prestigious German football coaching academy] agreed that you’re the best at adding color to your team while implementing your tactics.”

“Thank you. So, does that mean you’re coming?”

“Oh, just get lost!”

***

A week later, the employees of Burnley Football Club began to stir as they spotted someone walking through the club offices following Hyung-min’s guidance.

“…Hey, is that…?”

“Really?! It’s really him!”

Leaving behind the employees murmuring in surprise, Hyung-min arrived at the door of Helena’s office with his guest and lightly knocked on her door.

“Come in.”

Hyung-min, confirming Helena’s response, opened the door and entered the CEO’s office.

“Ah, Hyung-min!”

Helena, who was sitting in her seat and waving her hand to greet Hyung-min, stood up when she spotted the person who had followed Hyung-min in.

“Who is this?”

Hyung-min, tilting his head slightly at Helena’s voice, which seemed to have a bit of force in it, introduced.

“This is my friend who I newly recruited as the first team’s head coach.”

A vibrant beauty in her mid-30s with a height of 180 centimeters [approximately 5’11”] and long blonde hair tied back.

At Hyung-min’s introduction, she smiled brightly and extended her hand to Helena.

“Hello, I’m Karolina Stefan, the newly appointed head coach of Burnley Football Club’s first team.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Helena Cartwright, the CEO of Burnley Football Club.”

Hmm, I feel like sparks just flew? Why are sparks flying? Is the fluorescent light broken?

As Helena, with her short bob, and Karolina, with her long hair tied back, glared at each other with their two pairs of sky-blue eyes shining, Hyung-min, feeling a strange chill, tilted his head and looked up at the fluorescent light.

***

The Burnley squad, having confirmed the identity of the newly recruited head coach ahead of the pre-season, were not particularly impressed (in fact, the players were all dazed because so many players were being replaced).

“Ugh! Why her?!”

“Would they not accept me if I said I was going back to Salzburg?”

“Mark wouldn’t! He already finished paying the transfer fee!”

Nathan Collins, Burnley’s promising defender who was sprawled on the living room sofa (temporary) in the Burnley loan players’ accommodation, asked Karim Adeyemi, who was sitting on the floor in despair, while wondering.

“No, who is it that’s making you like this?”

“Karolina Stefan! Don’t you know Karolina Stefan?!”

“Uh… I think I’ve heard the name before?”

Dwight McNeil, who was also engrossed in the game on the opposite side of the sofa, suddenly pressed pause and shouted.

“Ah, I know who it is!”

Karolina Stefan, 36 years old.

Her father is German, her mother is Italian, and she was born in Austria.

A star midfielder who dominated women’s soccer.

As a member of the German women’s national soccer team, following her father’s nationality, she led them to two Women’s World Cup victories.

As for her club career, she played as a player-coach for Olympique Lyonnais Féminin [Lyon Women], the strongest women’s professional team in Europe, from the 2010/11 season to the 2016/17 season, winning seven consecutive Ligue 1 [French League 1] titles and four Champions League titles.

After a successful playing career, she transitioned to coaching in her 30s, but strangely enough, she decided to coach men’s teams instead of women’s teams.

At the time, she made a bold statement, saying, “Men also coach women’s teams, so why shouldn’t women be able to coach men’s teams?” and received a lot of attention for a while.

Dwight McNeil, who shared the information that he had barely recalled with Nathan Collins, tilted his head.

“But what’s the problem? She had a great playing career, and I haven’t heard anything bad about her as a coach?”

Nikolas Seiwald and Karim Adeyemi, who had experienced the Red Bull Football Group, looked at each other and then turned their eyes to Dwight McNeil’s innocent face.

“She was a youth coach at RB Salzburg in the early days of her coaching career, you know? Do you know what Stefan’s nickname was in Salzburg?”

“What is it?”

“Der Bestatter.”

“…What does that mean?”

“The Grim Reaper.”