“It seems the internet celebrity route won’t work.” He Tianqi kept browsing his email, but still couldn’t find any invitations for a coaching position.
Monetizing traffic was not as convenient in this era as it would be later; correspondingly, traffic was not as valuable as in the future.
With his current popularity, if placed twenty years later, the teams scrambling to sign him as head coach would at least be in the double digits, and there would be no shortage of giants.
Teams like Manchester United or Chelsea would definitely be offering contracts.
After all, one focuses on commercial development, and the other specializes in the abstract.
But right now, there really wasn’t any team willing to take the risk of giving him the coach’s position.
After all, just two months ago, he was merely a youth player, and he wasn’t even twenty-two yet.
Beep beep beep!
He Tianqi’s phone rang; it was an unfamiliar number: “Hello?”
“Hello, He.
This is Carmignani, I wonder if you still remember me.” A voice came from the other end of the phone.
He Tianqi nodded: “Of course I remember.
You led Parma to an incredible achievement.”
“I feel regretful about Parma’s financial crisis; they not only lost many excellent players but also lost a champion coach!”
Carmignani: “Life is unpredictable.
But this might not be a bad thing.
Child, I wonder if you have found a job yet?”
He Tianqi: “Not yet.”
Carmignani: “Since that’s the case, I won’t beat around the bush with you.
I received an invitation from Palermo.
You might not know this club.”
“They unfortunately got relegated from Serie B to Serie C1 this season.”
“But the major construction magnate Zamparini bought them and is ready to make big moves.”
“They have a three-year plan to push for promotion to Serie A.
I wonder if you are interested in participating, as my assistant coach?”
He Tianqi hesitated a bit.
It wasn’t that he felt this starting point was too low.
Because Palermo indeed accomplished the three-year promotion plan.
And they gathered top-tier players, providing the Italian national team with four peak internationals.
“Late bloomer” Luca Toni, “Great Italian Left Back” Grosso, Barzagli, and Zaccardo.
What He Tianqi hesitated about was that as an assistant coach, even if he led Palermo to shine brilliantly in Serie A, it wouldn’t add too many points to his resume, and he might still not get very good head coaching opportunities in the future.
What he wanted was an independent coaching opportunity; at the very least, he couldn’t work as an assistant coach for a long time.
Carmignani heard He Tianqi’s hesitation and upped the stakes: “Your predictions during the World Cup were very accurate, and your views on players are very unique.”
“If you come, I can let you participate in the recruitment work.”
“Including the subsequent team structure, tactical choices, player training, and management, you can participate in all of it!”
“Pietro, if you don’t want to drop dead, hurry up and take your medicine!”
As Carmignani was speaking, the scolding of an old woman suddenly came from the other side.
He Tianqi’s eyes lit up: “What’s this about?”
Carmignani: “Heart disease, an old problem, managed pretty well.
But recently my blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipids have been a bit high, though I think it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
He Tianqi shook his head unkindly: “Well, if that’s your attitude towards illness, I’m afraid I definitely have to be this assistant coach!”
Carmignani: “What did you say?”
He Tianqi: “Uh, I said I want to help you share some of the work pressure.
I hope you stay healthy forever.”
Carmignani: “Thank you for your blessing, welcome to join the Rosanero of Palermo!”
…
“Champion Coach Manages in Serie C?
Carmignani Unable to Refuse Astronomical Salary, Takes Over the Rosanero Army!”
“Making Their Debut!
He Tianqi Shockingly Appears in the Coaching Staff List Submitted by Carmignani!”
“Fans Are Happy That He Tianqi Found a New Job, Stating They Will Definitely Watch Palermo’s Matches!”
“Zamparini Welcomes He Tianqi’s Arrival: No Italian Would Dislike He Tianqi, Just Like No Italian Would Like South Koreans!”
No one expected that a mere assistant coach would cause Palermo’s tickets to completely sell out.
You have to know, they had just been relegated.
Many fans had previously sworn never to go to the stadium to watch Palermo’s matches again.
Zamparini was fully prepared to bleed money for a season.
But now, instead of losing money, he was making a profit!
Of course, there were also conspiracy theorists who believed this was the reason He Tianqi helped Carmignani win the Coppa Italia.
Lippi: “There is a conflict of interest between He Tianqi and Carmignani; the Coppa Italia should belong to Juventus!”
Unfortunately, no one paid attention to this matter anymore.
Both Juventus fans and players had moved on.
Only Lippi hadn’t snapped out of it yet.
…
After joining Palermo, He Tianqi threw himself into the grind.
He first deeply familiarized himself with Palermo’s current players, and then drew up a recruitment plan.
When Carmignani saw this report, he was stunned.
He didn’t expect He Tianqi to truly intervene in the recruitment.
Doesn’t this kid understand polite remarks?
“Giorgio Chiellini, eighteen years old, can play midfield and left back.
Just promoted to Serie B with Livorno this summer.
Possesses both current ability and potential.”
“Fabio Quagliarella, nineteen years old, a smart forward, plays for Serie A team Torino.
Torino is currently considering loaning him out.”
Looking at these detailed scouting reports, Carmignani was very puzzled.
It was one thing to find players within Italy; looking at their ages, perhaps He Tianqi knew them.
The key point was, what was the deal with those foreign players?
It had to be said, Carmignani was moved by He Tianqi’s attitude.
In the end, he told He Tianqi: “He, I will fulfill the promise I made to you.
You have a budget of three million euros for this transfer window.”
“I will personally go and negotiate for those two players in Italy.”
“As for the four abroad, I’m relying on you.”
“The team will reimburse your travel expenses!”
He Tianqi was overjoyed, even calling out Carmignani’s nickname: “Thank you, Carmi!
But a few years from now, you will definitely thank me for this!”
Don’t think three million euros is a small amount.
In this era, three million euros could buy a striker for the top five European leagues.
For example, if you went to buy David Villa, Sporting Gijón would even give you back three hundred thousand in change!
Not to mention Palermo was playing in Serie C this season!
He Tianqi held nothing back in this recruitment plan, taking into consideration the possibility that he might have to take over the team midway.
With Palermo’s foundation and Zamparini’s financial power, getting promoted to Serie B wouldn’t be a problem at all.
Coupled with the four future internationals joining next season, Palermo would be a strong team capable of competing for European qualification for a long time.
But that was their ceiling.
If they wanted to have the ability to challenge for championships, they had to be completely rebuilt.
From the core to the sharpest blade, from the front to the back, there had to be cornerstones.
Besides, he only had the chance to recruit these few players this year; in a year or two, when they broke out, they wouldn’t look twice at a team of Palermo’s level.
Even some giants might not be able to buy them if the players planned their careers well.
So for the first stop, let’s head to Watford!
(END CHAPTER)