The position of Technical Director did not exist at many English clubs. For example, when Tottenham later invited Moniz to England, they specifically created this position for him.
When Meulensteen first joined Manchester United, he was a youth coach. After leaving for a period, he was invited back by Manchester United, and his position was changed to Technical Director.
New Manchester United currently did not have a Technical Director, but Ethan planned to invite Moniz to take on the role. This position would be more like an assistant and adviser to the head coach, while also overseeing youth academy affairs and player training.
"We are truly sincere, Mr. Moniz. Cassell has told me about your abilities, and I also know your level and ambitions. Frankly, New Manchester United is currently a small club, but we will be promoted this year, and next year we will continue to push upward. In the future, we will be promoted to the Premier League and enter Europe, and you will become our unsung hero!"
Moniz was clearly surprised by Ethan's grand ambitions, but he could not immediately believe them. He was past the age of being easily fooled, even though Ethan was indeed very rich.
"Of course, regarding salary, we definitely won't pay less than PSV Eindhoven. In addition, we will give you enough authority to guide the training of our youth academy players. At the same time, within the next year, we will establish two to three football schools in Africa and South America, and we hope your training system will become the core of how those football schools develop players."
At this point, Ethan deliberately paused and smiled. "I think Mr. Moniz's goal in wanting to establish football schools is to ensure that your training system is not buried. Now, I will help you realize that wish!"
Moniz was stunned. He did not know how Ethan knew his wish, as he had never mentioned it to anyone, not even Cassell.
But Ethan was a transmigrator, and he knew that Moniz's fellow student, Meulensteen, had once established a football school, specifically using Coerver's training system as its core curriculum, with the aim of promoting Coerver's training theory.
Both were students of Coerver, so their wishes should naturally be the same.
"Yes, Ricardo, our New Manchester United youth academy is getting better and better. Children from all over the surrounding areas are coming to us for training. We are short-staffed, and I hope you can come and help me. Not just you, but René as well. I heard he isn't highly valued at NEC!" Cassell said.
Moniz snorted coldly. "Although Dutch football is no longer as prejudiced as before, they still don't like change. Not only is René not highly valued, even I am not highly valued at PSV Eindhoven."
In today's Dutch football, Michels and Cruyff were still highly regarded, and while Coerver's theories had been accepted to some extent, there was still a long way to go before they were truly valued.
"In that case, call René. Both of you come to Manchester to help me. You know, our club and our boss have very ambitious goals. We have been established for less than three years, but we are already the strongest contenders for the League Two title. Just based on this, you should believe that we are not a club content with mediocrity. Moreover, Mr. Yu has also said that the club will provide you with space to showcase your talents. Isn't this exactly what you've been hoping for?"
Moniz thought for a moment, looked at Ethan, then at Cassell. Both were waiting for his answer.
"But I have a contract with PSV Eindhoven. I'm afraid..."
"Don't worry, Ricardo, I'll take care of the contract. Tell us how much the release clause is, and our club will pay it for you. Also, please tell Mr. Meulensteen that we are also willing to pay his release clause!" Ethan decided with a grand gesture.
In fact, New Manchester United currently had nothing that could inspire much confidence. The only thing that could inspire confidence was Ethan's money. Although having money did not necessarily guarantee promotion to the Premier League, it at least guaranteed the club's operation. Without money, there would be no hope of reaching the Premier League.
Hearing Ethan say this, Moniz naturally did not hesitate further. He immediately nodded in agreement, then called René Meulensteen at NEC in Nijmegen. The latter immediately rushed from Nijmegen to Eindhoven after hearing the news.
The two places were not far apart, so Ethan and the others waited for him in Eindhoven.
The four then had a detailed discussion about cooperation. Ethan guaranteed that the club would adopt their training system in the football schools to be established in South America and Africa. At the same time, New Manchester United's youth academy would also adopt this system.
Since the tactical system developed by Cassell and Mourinho had already taken root at New Manchester United, and the first team and youth team were currently training players according to this system, Ethan was not at all worried that the arrival of Moniz and Meulensteen would change New Manchester United's tactical style. On the contrary, he felt that the arrival of these two technical talents would make the tactical operation smoother and more natural.
Technique was a necessary prerequisite for all players to execute tactics. Moniz and Meulensteen were only responsible for the team's technical training, while Mourinho and Cassell were the true decision-makers in player usage and tactics.
Ethan was already looking forward to it. When Mourinho, the tactical master, integrated everything into one and refined a tactical system that completely belonged to New Manchester United, what kind of tactical system would that be?
In this year's League Two, New Manchester United had shown strong attacking power and solid defence, but in the eyes of many commentators, this was all due to New Manchester United's players running actively and combining frequently. The New Manchester United players' style was not soft either. Instead, it was full of strength and blood, just like all teams from the north of England.
Ethan knew that this was the beginning of Mourinho establishing his tactical philosophy. Only when this philosophy was deeply rooted in the team would it be time to truly reap the rewards.
He just did not know when this fruit would ripen!
...
After staying in Eindhoven in the Netherlands for a few days, Ethan helped Moniz resolve the contract issue with PSV Eindhoven. The club did not make it too difficult for Moniz to leave. Since Ethan had already agreed to pay the release clause, they readily let Moniz go.
Meulensteen, on the other hand, did not need a release clause. NEC was not very concerned about whether a youth team coach stayed or left, so when Meulensteen proposed leaving, NEC immediately agreed.
After the four gathered in Eindhoven, they flew back to Manchester.
Just like everyone who visited the Newton Heath training ground for the first time, Moniz and Meulensteen found it somewhat hard to believe when they saw New Manchester United's training ground. They probably found it difficult to imagine such a standardized and modern training ground in the Netherlands.
This also showed Ethan's determination to run the club properly.
"Even the best training ground is useless on its own. Truly talented people can emerge even from a dilapidated old training ground and still cultivate superstar talent. So the future of the club still depends on you!" Ethan said encouragingly.
This made Moniz and Meulensteen look at him with new respect. At least he was an owner who understood football, unlike other rich people who thought throwing money around could achieve everything.
After entering the training ground, Cassell acted as a guide, introducing Moniz and Meulensteen to the environment and everything about the training ground. When he introduced the laboratory, the two newcomers were once again amazed and impressed.
Passing through the first team's training ground, Cassell led Moniz and Meulensteen to the youth team's training ground. From a distance, they saw Paul Hampson leading a group of young players as they prepared for the upcoming under-18 youth team match.
"That short player has excellent technique and a very good feel for the ball. If he is polished a little more, his future will definitely be limitless!" Moniz immediately spotted Messi, the most technically gifted player on the pitch.
"His name is Lionel Messi. He's Argentinian, and he's been with our club for two years. He's a gem of our youth academy," Cassell introduced with a smile.
"And that tall player, he has excellent physical attributes, strong speed and explosiveness, and his dribbling skills are also very good. It's just that his first touch needs improvement, and his shooting ability needs to be enhanced!" Meulensteen, on the other hand, noticed Ishmael Miller.
"That's where you'll have to do a lot of polishing," Cassell said with a smile.
Moniz and Meulensteen then identified Michael Johnson and John Obi Mikel, among others, and both felt that these young players were very talented. With a little guidance, they would certainly become rising stars in the future.
After watching the youth team's training, Cassell took advantage of a break in the first team's training to bring them to the first-team ground and introduce them to head coach Mourinho.
Although it was their first meeting, they were all people who had spent many years in football, and they were on the training ground, so Mourinho immediately discussed New Manchester United's training situation with them.
Moniz and Meulensteen knew in their hearts that this was the time to show their true ability and gain the head coach's trust, so they carefully observed the first team's training, doing their best to express their views and analyses. For example, they believed that some players in the team had rather rough technique, such as Olić. His technique was indeed quite unrefined, but his fighting spirit on the pitch was very admirable.
Moniz and Meulensteen also mentioned Essien, De Rossi, Evra, Terry, Curtis, and others, believing that if these players' technique could be further refined, it would be of greater help to the team, and the team's fighting power would also increase significantly.
Mourinho was very satisfied with the suggestions from his two new assistants. What was most commendable was that they both proposed training methods to help the players improve. This was what Mourinho appreciated most, and his action of inviting Moniz and Meulensteen to his office for a detailed discussion after training proved that he had accepted them.
Ethan, watching them chatting happily from a distance, also felt pleased. However, he could not help but wonder, if Meulensteen had been snatched away, who would Ferguson find to replace him?
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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