October 6, 2016, 3:00 PM.
8:00 PM Berlin Time.
Today is the night before the press conference for the new head coach of Munich 1860.
“Dad, Mom, look at me.
Do I look handsome with this tie?” Adrian Vandenberg put on the black suit custom-made for him by the team, tied his victory tie, and started a video call with his parents in this world.
The parents in this world were still the same parents as before.
“You little brat, your father and I sent you to Germany to study.
I haven’t seen you win many awards or write many papers, but instead, you’ve become a football coach.
Why aren’t you staying in a good university and messing around with football?” Hearing his mother’s words, Adrian Vandenberg felt that familiar tone.
“Mom, who says I haven’t been studying hard?
I finished all my credits for this semester early.
The professors and the school have all agreed to let me be a coach.
Many of my teachers even said they are fans of our team!
And Mom, this is Germany.
The football atmosphere here isn’t like back home; football professionals here are very respected,” he told his mother.
“Just keep fooling your father and me all day.
Don’t come back after graduation with a diploma from some Clayton University.
If that day ever comes, I’ll have another child no matter what,” Lucia Vandenberg glared at Adrian Vandenberg, feigning anger.
“Well, Jason Statham wasn’t as handsome as me…” Adrian Vandenberg muttered under his breath.
“You lad, you still—” To the side, Lance Vandenberg used the lid to stir his tea, seemingly not hearing Lucia Vandenberg’s words, and said to Adrian Vandenberg.
“Son, don’t listen to your mother.
I support you.
I was the main player on the school football team since I was a kid, and I knew this day would come for you.
Work hard at the Club, be as serious as you are with your studies.
Don’t learn from those foul things in the Club Football Team.
I’m still counting on you to help me go see those stars.” “Hehe, sure.
Then wait for the day I win the Champions League.
When that time comes, never mind seeing those stars—I’ll have them come to our house for New Year’s,” Adrian Vandenberg grinned.
“Ha!
That’s my boy.
I’ll be waiting for that day.” “You two are ganging up to annoy me.
Adrian Vandenberg, you listen to me.
I don’t care how you do as a coach; I’m only giving you one task: successfully get your graduation and degree certificates.
At that time, never mind a football coach, I’d even agree if you became a moon coach, do you hear me!” “Got it, Mom.
On my graduation day, I’ll definitely take lots of photos for you.
Graduation certificate, degree certificate, scholarships—I’ll have them all.
Maybe I’ll even bring back a tall, sexy, and beautiful German daughter-in-law for you.” “Hahahaha, good son, that trip to Strip cl… cough!, wasn’t in vain…
you know what I mean right” “cough!
Yeah dad!” The family of three ended the call amidst laughter and cough.
Adrian Vandenberg was very grateful to this unknown god.
Not only had he been sent to this parallel world, but his parents were still the same parents with the same temperaments.
Dressed and with his hair styled, he opened Instagram on his phone.
His ID was “Adrian Vandenberg Who Doesn’t Understand Football,” and he posted his first video.
In the video, he was wearing a suit, turning his head with a eyes squinting expression, his index fingers pointing at each other.
He looked a bit abstract.
The caption read: “Family, who understands this?
I haven’t even graduated from university and Munich 1860 invited me to be the head coach.
This little coach has finally found a job.” In 2016, Instagram had just began becoming popular due to large influx of population.
Adrian Vandenberg wasn’t intentionally showing off; he wanted to use this unconventional method to get more people to notice him, and in turn, pay attention to football through him.
He had a grand plan in motion, one that concerned the future of Belgian football which despite having a Golden Gen couldn’t Lift world cup, hell not even a Euro.
The video had been out for a night.
Adrian Vandenberg woke up early the next day and checked his phone.
As he expected, the likes on this video had already exceeded ten thousand, and the comments had surpassed three thousand.
“Not the Bayern Munich head coach?
(Sweating emoji)” This comment had 3,000 likes and was in the third row.
“Which master’s task is this?
You international student circles are getting more and more abstract.” 4,000 likes, second row.
“They say it’s hard to graduate from German universities.
Look, here’s one who’s already gone crazy.” 2,800 likes.
“Does the team know about you being the head coach?
(Sweating emoji)” This comment had over 8,000 likes and was in the first row.
Adrian Vandenberg replied to this top comment: “They’ll know soon.
It’s 7:00 AM German time and 6:00 AM Belgian time.
In two hours, I’ll be livestreaming the press conference.
Remember to watch.” After replying, Adrian Vandenberg immediately set off for the venue.
…
Over an hour later, in the reception room of Munich 1860 Club.
“Mr.
Scholz, it’s an honor to meet you for the first time.” Adrian Vandenberg nodded his head slightly and took the initiative to shake hands with the owner.
“Our new coach is very handsome and very young.” The owner, Holger Scholz, responded with a smile, emphasizing the word “young.” The reporters in the reception room were snapping photos frantically, the clicking sounds rising and falling as they recorded this scene.
Everything seemed so normal, without the slightest thing amiss.
Watching this scene, Director Ralph sighed softly; he couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
Yes, the board of directors had decided to let a 19-year-old Belgian international student take the fall.
…
“Sir, can I start a livestream later?
I want my friends to see our team,” Adrian Vandenberg asked Scholz in a low voice.
The owner was very amiable: “Of course, young man.
The purpose of a press conference is to let more people know about us.” Adrian Vandenberg opened the Instagram livestream and placed it on the side of the podium, just enough to capture the full panoramic view of the scene.
Everyone arrived, and the press conference began.
Because of that one comment reply, combined with the video’s rising popularity, more and more people entered his livestream room.
Many viewers were typing question marks.
[????] [No way, bro, you’re for real?] [Okay, it’s confirmed he’s not the Bayern head coach.] [I declare, this is the first time I’ve seen such a complete flex since I started using Instagram.] [Asking because I don’t know, what is this press conference for?] [Chat, can anyone understand the German on the background wall?
Why is this guy sitting there?] [Still calling him bro?
He’s the head coach of Munich 1860, a 2.
bundesliga team.
The German translation on the background is ‘New head coach Press Conference,’ and the top right corner is their team crest.
This guy’s name is Adrian Vandenberg.] …
The reporters began asking questions.
“Hello, Mr.
Vandenberg, I am a reporter from Kicker.
1860 has lost two consecutive games, and more than half of the season has passed.
Don’t you think they want to push the responsibility for relegation onto you?
Don’t you think this is a scam?” The first question was so sharp and mean, even if the answer to it might be affirmative.
Upon hearing this, Scholz’s face turned displeased, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on Director Gritsch’s forehead.
“Of course not.
Losing or winning is something all teams must experience.
No team will keep losing forever, and no team will keep winning forever—not even Bayern.
It wasn’t Pereira (the former head coach) who gave up on 1860, but 1860 who gave up on him.
He was not qualified.” At this point, Adrian Vandenberg straightened his posture.
His German was very fluent, his grammar was flawless, and his magnetic voice made his speech even more attractive.
Hearing this, Scholz nodded slightly, his expression softening considerably.
He liked this Belgian young man’s way of speaking.
“Hello, Mr.
Vandenberg, I am a reporter from Bild.
As far as I know, you have no experience coaching a professional team.
For what reason did 1860 choose you?” “I study at the Technical University of Munich and am the football manager of the university Club.
Mr.
Scholz is the patron of the university Club.
My love for football and my level of professionalism along with my tactical knowledge were enough to catch the owner’s eye and enough for me to coach 1860.
I have that confidence.” In the livestream room, the number of people had already surpassed twenty thousand.
[Which guy can translate?
I don’t understand a word this madman is saying, but I really want to hear it.] [His general point is that he studies at the Technical University of Munich, and also why the team owner chose him.] [My goodness, that’s the Technical University of Munich, a prestigious engineering school ranked in the top 40 globally.] [This guy is so handsome, his voice makes me feel so good.] [How can I run into thirst traps everywhere?] [Just entered the room, what’s happening here?] [Which star is holding a press conference?] …
This answer was practically flawless; the Bild reporter couldn’t find any openings.
“Mr.
Vandenberg, hello, I am a reporter from Sky Sports.
I would like to ask what your view is on the left winger, Ivan.
So far, his performance this season is 0 goals and 0 assists.” “I have watched all of 1860’s match recordings from last year to now.
Ivan is a big-game player.
He possesses a level of composure that exceeds most players, and his off-ball movement makes him very threatening.
Of course, there are no perfect players in the world; his finishing technique still needs improvement.
Overall, he is a good player.” …
Questions came one after another, and Adrian Vandenberg answered them all without a leak.
This left the reporters below stunned; they had never seen a young person with such meticulous and cautious thinking.
The more Scholz listened, the more he felt he had “chosen the right person.” Perhaps, this was exactly the scapegoat he was looking for.
The press conference finally ended.
After seeing off the reporters and board members, Adrian Vandenberg picked up his phone again.
The grand scene in the livestream room gave him a fright.
60,000 people online at the same time!
[The streamer is back!
Can you tell us what you just said?] [Still calling him streamer?
Call him head coach.] [Sob, he’s a head coach at 19, while I just ordered a bottle of beer at 19.] [Did the streamer really become the head coach of Munich 1860?
This is a 2.
bundesliga team.] [Pass it on, the streamer is the Bayern Munich head coach.] [Pass it on, the streamer is going to lead Germany to the World Cup.] [Alright, from today on, I’m a ten-year veteran fan of Munich 1860.] [It’s really not easy, streamer.
You know you’re the youngest Belgian coach of a European team, right?] [Streamer, I have a hunch you’re going to blow up.] …
Adrian Vandenberg smiled and cleared his throat.
“Family in the livestream, the press conference is over.
I’ll do a simple self-introduction; you can record the screen.
My name is Adrian Vandenberg, 19 years old.
I’m from Brussels, Belgium.
Studying in Technical university of Munich” “At the same time, I am also the current head coach of Munich 1860 Club.
You can check my other details on the Club’s official website later.
If nothing unexpected happens, we should be seeing each other often on the sports channel in the future.” [The streamer is so handsome!!!
I’m also in Munich, can we meet up?
(Lust emoji)] [Tears, our country can actually produce a coach this young for the 2.
bundesliga.] [Brothers, just checked the official website, I’m moved to tears.
The streamer is a computer science major at the Technical University of Munich.
Why are you still watching the stream?
Go back and prepare for your finals!] …
The popularity of the livestream room reached its peak, and the gifts never stopped scrolling across the screen.
“Guys, I’m ending the stream now.
I need to go back and study tactics.
The match is coming up soon; see you on the sports channel next week.” Adrian Vandenberg chose to close the livestream when its popularity was at its highest.
His goal had been achieved.
If nothing went wrong, after tonight, he would become one of the hot topics in local Munich and the Belgian sports world!
The next day, the front-page headline of Kicker read: Munich 1860 Owner Incredibly Cruel, Letting a Belgian International Student Bear the Heavy Burden of Relegation!
Bild: 19-Year-Old International head coach with Zero Experience.
Is Munich Giving Up on Itself or Struggling in Its Death Throes?
Sky Sports: Where is the Future of Munich 1860?
After receiving a large number of audience hotlines that evening, DAZN also actively broadcasted this news: Unprecedented!
A 19-year-old international student from our country becomes the head coach of a 2.
bundesliga Club!
On Instagram and Twitter, this news reached the top ten in trending spot in European football circle.
The self-introduction video recorded by football fans also spread across the entire internet.
#19-year-old Belgian International Student Becomes 2.
bundesliga head coach!
Trending!
…
Not only did the local people of Munich find out about this news, but it even reached Bayern.
That evening, on the way back from training, Müller told his teammates about this news.
“See that, Kimmich?
It seems our old rivals has already thought of how to leave 2.Bundesliga” Müller was talking about Munich 1860.
“My god, I simply can’t believe they would make such a decision.
Being in the same city as them is simply embarrassing.
Even if they’re going to be relegated, they can’t give up on themselves like this,” Kimmich remarked.
“Sigh, times truly change.
Who would have thought that they and we were rivals in the past, we and 1860 were in the same League level,” Captain Lahm sighed, his tone filled more with regret.
“If 1860 really gets relegated this season, will the Allianz Arena completely become our home ground?” Boateng asked a good question.
“It’s possible.
Our management probably wouldn’t tolerate sharing a home ground with a third-division team.
That would be too humiliating,” Müller replied.
These players were all Germans who had been at Bayern for a long time and were very familiar with this history.
After the conversation ended, they gradually put the matter out of their minds.
Ultimately, everything about 1860 was nothing more than small talk and a joke for these Bayern players.
They had never truly taken this Club seriously.
— T/N: I am slowly picking up pace from here to translate more chapters per day, but your thoughts would be appreciated to change things if they are bad.
I ma not fully disrupting the original because first few chapters are good, when I read more and notice anything not to my liking I would do that instantly.