The Life and career of a Football manager

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Once again another great update ;) I've been waiting the last few days to read that, as the website has been down.
 
Thanks all for following. The next update will be out soon. Peace out!
 
don't worry about the Milan game im sure your team can bounce back, and looks like there's something going on with Marco and Alice, I always said I didn't trust him lol
 
Chapter 18
Monday 16th October 2006
​

Good morning everybody. Thanks Dom and Carrie for the news, its 8.42 and this is Snowpatrol.

We'll do it all, Everything, On our own.
We don't need, Anything, Or anyone.
If I lay here, If I just lay here, Would you lie with me, And just forget the world?
I don't quite know, How to say? How I feel?
Those three words, Are said too much, They're not enough!​

Chris Moyles woke me up, my knee still throbbing. Over the past year my knee had improved and the aching and pains had started getting better but I didn’t know if that was the increased painkillers or the fact it was just getting better.

After a quick shower, I limped through to the living room of my West London Flat, to find Danny asleep sprawled out on the futon. Danny had moved in six months ago, determined to get me straight and back on the right path. And it had worked, I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol for five months, and the gambling was now only limited to stupid bets with Danny. It didn’t mean I didn’t want to drink though, if I could have I would have still picked up a bottle of Whiskey the second I woke up, but it would have been letting Danny down, myself down and more importantly it would have been letting Hannah down, if I fell back into the depression that had engulfed my life a year previous.

After I woke Danny and he was ready, we headed to the gym, where we had spent nearly all of our time for the past couple of months. The inability to run, meant I was no where near my peak fitness, but I was managing to do some weight training and the occasional swim, it was just enough to start getting some fitness, build the strength in my knee and regain the majority of my muscle mass I had lost.

Just like most Monday’s after the gym we headed down to a cafe by the river and had lunch, but that day wasn’t like any normal day. As we headed over Battersea Bridge my heart started to sink. We pulled into the junction as my heart sank. The new memorial bench was covered in Fulham scarves and two reefs sat against it, one from Fulham Football Club and the other from Hannah’s mum.

Danny pulled the car over and went round the back, he got a third reef out of the back and started walking toward the site of the crash, until he realised that I wasn’t following. He came back to the car.

“I don’t think I can do this” I murmured​

Danny practically had to drag me to the corner where my life had changed. The tire marks were still on the road, all be it faded. The curb of the pavement, still chipped. The tree, stripped of its bark where shrapnel from our car had hit it, the branch hanging over the road still not growing back after the car had caught fire and engulfed it, seconds after we were pulled from the wreck. I limped over to the bench and placed my reef in the middle, before sitting down net to it. I asked Danny to leave me alone. I sat there for nearly an hour, tears rolling freely down my cheeks.

Around six, Danny was shouting me back our at flat. We were going to be late if I didn’t pull my finger out. I finally emerged from the bedroom, dressed in my suit. Product in my hair for the first time in over year, and I was ready for what turned out to be one of the biggest moments of my career.

We arrived at Craven Cottage an hour before another Monday Night kick off. As if by magic the fixtures computer had pulled out Fulham Vs. Charlton, exactly one year on from the final time I had played. As Danny went up to the executives box where I would join him later, I was greeted my former manager Chris Colman. After we chatted and caught up, Chris said something to me that I never expected.

“You could always join my staff and do your UEFA badges, you belong in football. Its a loss to the game, you not being involved, using that brain, that football knowledge. Look I’ve got to go, give me a call during the week and we’ll chat. I honestly think you could be a useful member of my backroom staff."​

Five minutes before Fulham faced Charlton, I was a bundle of nerves. I was stood in the tunnel as Mohamed Al-Fayed himself took to the pitch and to the microphone.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome back a man who one year ago was tragically taken away from the Fulham family. A year ago tomorrow, not far from this ground he was involved in a fatal accident, that not only took his playing career from us; it took the life of his fiancé and a fellow member of the Fulham staff, Hannah Irwin. Hannah will always be in our thoughts. This man was then confined to a wheel chair and crutches as he battled fitness and personal demons, which nearly took him from us. So it gives me great pleasure to welcome back, one of Fulham’s lost sons. Steven Curtis”

I walked out of the tunnel, the mentions of Hannah forcing tears back to my eyes. The wall of noise intensified with fans and staff from both Charlton and Fulham stood, applauded and cheered as I walked to the centre circle. I shook hands with Mr Al-Fayed, forcing a smile. But the forced smile turned into a real, genuine smile as I looked around the ground and realised 23,000 people were welcoming me back to the world of football. It was right then as i raised a hand to acknowledge their support that I realised it. I knew what I had to do to. I realised right then that I wanted this feeling as much as possible, every week if possible. Right then I realised I wanted to be a football manager.
 
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Another great update there, been looking forward to that for ages.
But shouldn't the date be back to 2006.
 
Chapter 19
Friday 31st December 2010​

“Hey honey...................yeah I’m still at Gatwick................Yeah I don’t know what the delay is but, I’m going to be about an hour late........................no, I’ve got my suit here, so I’ll change now and go straight to the hotel, meet you there.................................Yeah it’s snowed a little bit here, but not very much.........................how was Milan?..............................................That’s good..................................Yeah it’s been weird without you, but they all understood why you weren’t here..................................Yeah ok, I’ll see you in a couple of hours...........................yeah love you to.”​

I smiled as I hung up the phone, it was the first time I had spoken to Alice since Christmas day. I stood up in the middle of Gatwick Airport, under the departures board.

Rome-Delayed​

The weather in Italy was playing havoc with air traffic. But I was determined to get back that night. Not only would it be New Years Eve in Rome with my girlfriend, but the club had laid on a big party for the team and staff. It was the chairman’s way of saying well done to the team and me for being top of the league at the half way stage.

Since the 6-0 drubbing in Milan, we had gone on and won two of the three games played. Beating Napoli 2-0 (Motta (60), Baptista (85)), Udinese 2-1 (Benjani (51), Taddei (93)) only losing to Atlanta 1-0. So going into the Christmas break we were top of the league, over Juventus by one point and two points over AC Milan who were in third. In Europe we had be unbeaten winning against Slavia Prague 1-0 (Juan (22)) and Maccabi Haifa 2-0 (Vucinic (4), Gudjohnsen (23)) completing a one hundred percent record in the group stages of the Europa League. The only problem we now faced in Europe was that we’d been drawn against Champions League excites and current holders of the Europa League, Lyon.

I walked across the departures lounge, through the stranded crowds of people, and to the toilet. I changed into my suit, and walked out, as I did I spotted a familiar face, stood under the same departure board I was just minutes earlier was Sarah. She was also trying to get back to Italy. I went over and was greeted by a huge hug. With an hour to wait for the flight out we went to the nearest coffee bar. The hour flew by and finally I found myself on the plane finally heading back to Rome and my girlfriend.

I disembarked and was waiting for my baggage, when Sarah came and stood next to me. We picked up our bags, and as we were heading in pretty much the same direction shared a taxi. With Sarah heading to the New Years party, I waited in her flat as she quickly changed and showered. We got another cab and headed to the Grand Hotel De La Minerve. The car pulled up and we got out, being pretty much blinded by the photographers waiting outside for a glimpse of one of the big stars. Instead they got little old me, but the they didn’t stop taking pictures. As we got closer to the door some reporter wanted a final picture.

“How about a proper picture of the best young manager in Europe and his new girlfriend!”

“OH, ha we’re not together. In fact I’m going to find my girlfriend right now, so excuse me.”​

I shouted back as we entered the grand lobby. I left Sarah and went on the hunt for Alice. I seemed to be looking for an age, as weaved through the tables housing the likes Francesco Totti, Phillipe Mexes, Marco Motta, David Pizzaro and Daniel Derossi, I thought about what that reporter had just shouted. The best young manager in Europe. Not even a year ago I was the considered one of the worst managers in Premier League history having only lasted seven months in charge of Fulham, and now I was being told that I was one of the best managers in Europe. I couldt help but smile as I chatted to players and staff alike, until finally one of them pointed out that Alice was outside in the court yard.

I reached the top of the stone staircase over looking the courtyard, and for the first time in just over a week I saw Alice. I was about to call out to her when I noticed she was talking to someone, so being the mild mannered person that I am, I quietly walked down the steps.

“Im pregnant.”​

I heard her say those words and my world changed instantly. I heard her say them then realised who she was talking to. Marco was stood directly in front of her.

“Is it mine, or is that twats”​

I yelled out of the quiet courtyard, as i began to speed up. I was pretty much sprinint as I connected with my first punch to Marco’s nose. Alice screaming for me to stop. A second punch connected with Marco’s face, splitting his nose open. With blood now covering my fist and Marco’s face I connected with a third punch before I got up.

“Is it his............................................ANSWER ME YOU *****!”​
Alice looked at me, her eyes welling up with tears.

“yes”​

She finally answered softly. Marco slowly got to his feet, I was about try and punch him again, when I was jumped on by Darren Gibson, holding me back. Darren was then helped by Marco Motta as I started to break free. I wanted to kill him. A security guard came rushing in. Seeing the blood pouring from Marco’s nose, covering his pure white shirt and Alice comforting him, the gaurd came over to me, who was finally being pulled away.

Sarah explained to the guard what was going on, he walked over to Alice and Marco and told them to leave. If they didn’t he would have no other choice but to call the police. Marco and Alice left with out protest, but not before Sarah went over to Alice and slapped her.

The media were in a stir as Marco and Alice left through the front door, being in full shot of the camera, but I didn’t care about that as I was washing my face and hand of the blood in the private bath room. I looked at myself in the mirror, seeing that my eyes were red, I don’t know if I had been crying or whether it was pure rage. I glanced back at the door as it opened, and in walked Sarah clutching a fresh shirt.

“thought you might need this?”​

I looked down at my shirt, it was covered in blood. Sarah came over and put the shirt down next to me, asking me if I was ok in the process. I lied telling her I was fine, but I think she saw through it. She took hold of my hand and looked at it, noticing my knuckle wasn’t exactly where it should have been. She told me I was going to need some ice for it. She went and got me some, and sat with me, pressing the ice against my probably broken knuckle. The night wasn’t over by a long shot and forty minutes after I had first seen Alice I found myself standing on a stage in front of my entire squad.

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Whilst I would like to be standing here in front of you all, just to talk about the first half of the season, I unfortunately feel I have address what just happened outside. What happened was wrong of me and already wish I had handled it better”​


For the first time since my arrival I found myself lying to my team.

“I’m sure that there will be consequences, and I can only apologies for my actions. And when the obvious happens and the story breaks to the press, I will release an official statement. I will take whatever punishment Rosella Sensi sees fit. But enough about my problems. We’re heading into 2011. And right now, not matter what is happening off the pitch, I and I know all of you are dedicated to making 2011 a perfect year for AS Roma. I really do believe that the team I have in front of me, the staff supporting us and the fans behind us we can win every single competition we are in. Where’s Francesco and Daniele? With out you two guys supporting me on and off the pitch I think we would have found this a lot harder, and hopefully we can bring some glory to this club. Now it’s nearly midnight, so try to enjoy the rest of the night, see in the New Year and then it’s back to business! Happy New Year!”
​
I walked off the stage as the room stood and applauded, I don’t know if it was the speech or whether it was the fact the awkwardness was over. I walked past Francesco who offered his hand out to me, I went to shake it but as I did he pulled it away, instead putting his arms around and hugging me.

“Sono Proprio dietro di te boss”
“I’m right behind you boss.”​

It meant alot as walked to the next table and was greeted by Phillipe Mexes who shook my hand, And this went on as I walked through them all, every single member of my team, coaching staff and support staff shook my hand. I was overwhelmed by the support. But inside all I wanted to do was grab a bottle of whiskey and drink the whole thing. I walked over to the bar and ordered a glass, picked it up as the DJ started again.

When you were here before, Couldn't look you in the eye, You're just like an angel , Your skin makes me cry, You float like a feather, In a beautiful world, I wish I was special, You're so ******* special!
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo, what the **** am I doing here? I don't belong here!​

As Radiohead played, I sat down on an empty table at the back of the room, glancing up see as my team once again tried to enjoy themselves. I took a deep breath and picked the glass up again. I looked at it, and looked at it and looked some more, but I couldn’t bring myself to drink it. I sat on my own for nearly an hour before somebody finally had the courage to come over. Darren Gibson came over and asked me if I wanted a drink, once again I found myself lying, telling him I had only just got this one. I looked up, just as Sarah came and sat next to me. After she had asked me how my hand was feeling, she took hold of the other one.

“Everything is going to be ok you know. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it will. Somebody once told me that it’s bad luck to see in the New Year alone, which by reckoning means we’ve got about one minute to get to that dance floor”​

I smiled at her, for the first time in two hours a genuine smile, and a small laugh. I agreed, and we walked to the dance floor. I stood there in the middle of the dance floor, looking around in a complete blur, as the DJ staring counting down from ten in Italian. I looked around before finally I looked at Sarah, who hadn’t taken her eyes off of me. I smiled at her as the DJ reached one. As 2011 started I found myself a mess, but lying and bluffing my way through it.

“Happy New Year”​

Sarah whispered to me, I smiled again, as she kissed my cheek. With midnight been and gone, the team slowly disappearing to their rooms for the night, I found myself alone at the bar, once again starring at a glass of whiskey. As I slowly realised I was the last person except a few people left in the party I picked the glass up and necked it. It tasted awful, my taste buds not used to this taste after five years on the wagon. But at the same time it felt so good as it caressed the back of throat. I bought a bottle and finally at 3am, I headed up to my room.
 
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I knew that ******* was up to no good, anyway great read as usual and good luck for the next 5 months I'm sure you and your team can do it.
 
Hey guys. Thanks again for Reading, supporting and your kind words. Ive just read through the last update myself on my phone, and noticed a few mistakes in spelling and grammar etc, I'll edit them out later tonight, before I post the next chapter either later tonight or tomorrow evening. Thank again y'all!
 
Another fantastic update, i've subscribed to this thread now, everytime I get an email I rush onto here knowing it has been updated ;)
 
Chapter 20
Wednesday 5th January 2011
Livorno Vs. Roma​

It had been an eventful five days between the News Year the first game of the second half of the season came quickly. Away from the pitch, the club and football as a whole, Alice had disappeared. Nobody had seen her or Marco since that night at Grand Hotel De La Minerve. Not that I had been looking, I had only been home to sleep, deciding that the club was the best place for me. The only time I did return back to my flat and spend any real time there was the day after that night, still with the bottle of whiskey in hand and still with the one and only glass full taken from it. I had sat in my room awake for the remainder if that night, and not touched the bottle. I had thought about it though, and remembered what I became like the last time, after the accident in 2005. When I had returned to my flat after that night, I found some of Alice’s stuff gone, assuming she had either returned there after she was told to leave the party, or she had already packed it and planned to leave, all I really cared about though was that she was gone.

Back in the football world January meant the transfer window was open again, and the biggest rumour was that Chelsea were set to launch a twenty million pound bid for Daniele Derossi, whilst my natural instinct would be to reject the offer, the chairman had refused me more transfer funds, and the need to add another out and out striker was growing ever more, with Benjani only scoring five goals so far that season. Having spent most of my time at the club, I could build a shortlist of players I wanted. The most likely of my targets available for me to sign, was going to be Michael Owen. As a big admirer of Owen, I would jump at the chance to sign him given the chance.
A day into the transfer window and my former club offered me a small solution to my problem, that solution came in the form of a player, whom never actually played for me due to injury and my short spell at Fulham, Bobby Zamora. For a mere £450,000, and not having much more transfer funds available to me I snapped up the offer and officially added Zamora to my squad.

With my first signing of the January transfer window completed me and team travelled to Livorno for our first game of 2011. I went into the game having received second place in Italy’s manager of the year, despite only being at the club for half a season, and whilst there was small speculation in the press in Italy and in Spain that Guardiola was about to leave Barcelona for Chelsea, and I was amongst the favourites to take the job, I was fully committed to my team in Rome. And I told my team that during the pre-match team talk.

But, despite hitting the post and going close on numerous occasions we couldn’t score and finished our first game of 2011 with a disappointing 0-0 draw. And thanks to Juventus’ 3-0 win over Reggina and Milan’s 4-0 win over Bologna we slipped down to third, one point behind Juventus and joint on points, both of us on thirty eight, with Milan.

We arrived back in Milan around half past midnight, the team instantly went home, I on the other hand went into my office. I sat there for an hour, not really doing anything. Before finally I decided I didn’t want to go back my empty lonely flat, not tonight, instead I walked around the corridors for a bit and fond an office unlocked. To this day I have no idea who’s office it was, but inside I found what I was looking for, a sofa. I rang down to the night guard and within half an hour and after convincing him that the sofa was to be moved into my office, I found myself laying under the fluorescent lights of my office, the door locked and my iPod plugged in playing the Ministry of sounds chilled anthems. I laid awake until nearly 4am, before finally drifting off into a dreamless sleep, but despite the sofa being uncomfortable I felt more at home on that sofa, than I did back in my flat.
 
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Nice btw, spotted a mistake. ;) Other than that, hopefully Roma can still make 1st or even 2nd.

---------- Post added at 01:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 AM ----------

scuk08 said:
Chapter 20
Wednesday 5th January 2010
Livorno Vs. Roma​
Click to expand...
Shouldnt it be 2011 ;)
 
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flamindamon said:
Nice btw, spotted a mistake. ;) Other than that, hopefully Roma can still make 1st or even 2nd.

---------- Post added at 01:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 AM ----------
Click to expand...

Ah yeah sorry my mistake again :S
 
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