The Rise of a New German Giant - TSG Hoffenheim

[hellroker]

June 1st, 2011

Introducing myself, Ajinkya Kale, a young 16 year old lad from the metropolitan city of Pune, India. An avid football fan, watching the game since I was 10. Having completed my school education (one completes it at the age of 16 in Pune) , I was eager to experience the new life that would follow, my first step into college, riding the streets on a new moped, but that would have to wait until August, when college life would really start. One more thing that I would have to wait for until August, was the new football season! I was just eager to see Tottenham perform in the Premier League, optimistic of a top four finish, which we missed out on last season. Meanwhile, I sat at home with a nice cup of coffee, infront of my PC browsing Facebook, Twitter and Sky Sports as usual. Along with the Premiership, I also follow the Bundesliga, and support the German National Side at International Level. While browsing Sky Sports, I suddenly bumped into this article-


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Pezzaiuioli 'unable to cope'

43 year old German Marco Peazzaiuoli has resigned from the post of German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim manager with immediate effect, the club have confirmed on their official website. Peazzaiuoli was promoted to the managerial job following former boss Ralf Rangnick's move to Schalke in January. However, just 5 months later, the former assistant manager has taken the decision to step down from the club.

Sky Sports caught up with the former manager who had the following to say-

"It was clearly the stress factor, when I took up the job I thought it would not be so pressurizing for me. Little did I know, that managing a club was much different than managing the German youth side, which I had been doing for the past few years now. You have to deal with so many things at a club, finances, transfers, keeping your players happy, bringing in new youths, sending your scouts on the lookout for talent and much more. I must say that being the assistant to the manager was a better and easier job, and I would certainly not be taking up management anytime further in my career. I was just unable to cope with it."

Following the resignation, several managers have been tipped for taking up the job at die Hoffe. Sky Sports shortlists a few probable managers to take up the challenge of taking the club forward:

Frank Schaefer - The former FC Cologne manager resigned from his position in April, and has come up as the hot favourite to become the new Hoffenheim manager.

Michael Skibbe - The former Frankfurt manager was sacked in March following a series of bad performances by the club.

Vladimir Petkovic - The Bosnian was sacked by Swiss club BSC Young Boys in May, and he is also one of the canditates to be appointed as the new boss.

Louis Van Gaal - Former Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AZ Alkmaar boss is also a name that has come up for the Hoffenheim role, but it is highly unlikely that a move like this will materialize.


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I thought to myself, "Got nothing to do, might as well send in an application to Germany, I've really got nothing to do at the moment. Well, I guess I won't have anything to do for some more time as I'm sure they won't consider me at all, and just laugh at my letter. Lets have a crack anyways." So that is what I did, sent an air mail to Hoffenheim with a very huge CV, in football manager terms ofcourse. Hardly did I know that my expectations of going to college in a few months time were going to change....
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[hellroker]

June 5th, 2011

Life was going on as usual, sitting at home, hanging out with my mates, playing football manager and reading articles on transfer rumours and managerial changes. I had completely forgotten about my "application" to the vacant job at Hoffenheim. I was just living a normal life as if nothing had happen. Suddenly my brand new Xperia Neo V started ringing. It was an unusual number, seemed like it was from out of India. I picked up and was greeted by a person speaking in German. Thankfully I had learnt German in school so I was somehow able to communicate with the guy. I somehow managed to tell him to talk in English to me.

Me: Hello
Person: Hallo, ist das Ajinkya Kale? (Hello, is this Ajinkya Kale?)
Me: Ja, wie Heißen Sie? (Yes, who's this?)
Person: Ich heiße Dietmar Hopp. (I am Dietmar Hopp)

Dietmar Hopp, the name sounded familiar. Ofcourse! Dietmar Hopp! It all came back to me now. The application! The Hoffe job! But wait, is he really considering me? Or is this just a prank? I continued nevertheless.

Me: Entschuldigen Sie Bitte, können Sie Englisch sprechen? (Excuse me, can you please speak in English?)
Hopp: Haha sure, sorry if you couldn't understand the language much.
Me: No problem sir, I do know a bit of German, just I'm not too comfortable with it.
Hopp: Alright, well now getting straight to the point. About your application...
Me: I guess the answer is no?
Hopp: Haha wait and listen first, your "CV" is pretty impressive. Taking teams like FC United to the Premiership, winning Quadruples with Tottenham, overthrowing Shakhtar as the dominant team in Ukraine with Dnipro, pretty commendable.
Me (a bit surprised): Why thank you sir.
Hopp: What we need to take this club forward is new ideas, innovation. You lack "real" managerial experience, but you certainly are a man with new ideas. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted to play FM, which made his job at Molde much easier. You can do the same. So this is a formal question for you, if given the job, will you take on all challenges given to you?
Me (unsure): Uh... well maybe. Seems pretty hard.
Hopp: Don't worry, Ive confidence in you. In a few days you'll receive a letter. It would contain a ticket to Frankfurt. I will personally come to pick you up there. See you. *hang up*

Was this really happening? I sat down on my sofa, still trying to believe what had just transpired. I slowly came to senses, and asked mom to get me a glass of water. IT WAS REAL! Dietmar Hopp has chosen me! Over Skibbe, Schaefer, Van Gaal and the others! He chose a 16 year old! No more Football Manager now, this is the real world! I was on my way to Germany! A new phase in my life had begun. The fame, the money, everything awaited me.
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[hellroker]

June 10th, 2011

Okay, so the letter had found its way home. I possessed the prize, the ticket. The ticket to greatness. The ticket to be the youngest football manager in history. The ticket which mattered the most. Sleep didn't come by the earlier night and today morning, I set off from Pune for a short 2 hour journey to Mumbai, the state's capital. After all the airport procedures, there I sat in the waiting room. Way before time! I was very very nervous as well as excited. JF431 was my ticket. So whenever I looked out of the window and saw a Jet Airways plane, I immediately thought that this one is mine. And then came the moment. "All passengers from the Jet Airways flight to Frankfurt may now proceed for boarding." Butterflies were flying around in my stomach. This was just the start! I bid my parents an emotional fairwell, promising that I would be back when the season ends (if I stayed until then). And the flight took off. I decided to get some much needed sleep, would be refreshing and would pass the time as well.

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June 11th, 2011

And I step my first foot into Germany, Frankfurt Airport. I was leaving THE dream. I made my way to the exits where I saw someone holding a sign bearing my name. I walked up to him and greeted him. The guy escorted me to the parking lot, where stood a classic Mercedes Benz R-Class. The rear door opened and a man stepped out, to greet me. He embraced me and we sat in the car. The man was none other than Dietmar Hopp.

Hopp: Great to meet you, how was your flight?
Me: The flight went well sir, thank you.
Hopp: So are you nervous?
Me: Well yes certainly I am.
Hopp: Haha I surely got that, you're shivering! Don't worry it'll be fine. Me and the board have faith in you.
Me: Thank you sir, I'm excited about the job but just a bit nervous.
Hopp: Haha, save it for the press conference, lad. The press must be waiting at the Rhein-Neckar as we speak.
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[Raikan007]

nice layout mate

not too sure of the intro though, 16yr old the manager of a professional football club? or did I miss something?

 

[hellroker]

nice layout mate

not too sure of the intro though, 16yr old the manager of a professional football club? or did I miss something?

Haha yes, I'm 16. To be 17 this March. You mean the OP? It says 16 year old lad from the Metropolitan City of Pune. Thanks mate

 

[Raikan007]

yeah I know who got the job of managing Hoffenheim?

 

[hellroker]

yeah I know who got the job of managing Hoffenheim?

Obviously I did! Didn't you read the phone call?

 

[k3zz4]

haha what he ment was that its pretty strange to be 16 and be a manager of a team he he.. but keep up going!

 

[hellroker]

June 11th, 2011

The Unveiling

Dietmar Hopp: Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you all for attending this press conference. As you all know, Marco Peazzauioli resigned from his managerial position last week. Ever since, me and the Hoffenheim board have been working to find the replacement for him. Today, with great pleasure, I have to say that we have found the ideal replacement. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the youngest manager in football history, Ajinkya Kale! (camera flashes all around)

Whispers like "who???" are heard from the crowd.

Michael Wechter: You sit here today as the Hoffenheim manager and the youngest manager in history. What do you feel at the moment?
Me: Its a great feeling really, becoming a manager of a top club is everyone's dream, and to live that dream at just the age of 16 is just marvellous.
Marko Klaus: Give us a thought on the club you now manage.
Me: Its a fantastic club, with a very ambitious chairman. It is because of him that we sit today in the top flight, we were 2 divisions below less than a decade ago. He really deserves credit for that.
Wechter: Could you comment on the transfer budget you have got?
Me: To be frank, I myself do not know. I arrived in Germany today morning and this is the first thing I'm doing here, attending a press conference.
Wechter: I see, if you do get some money to spend, what areas would you most likely be looking to strengthen?
Me: Calm down mate, as I said earlier, I'm here just today. It'll take time to evaluate the squad, look at available options, then only can I make a decision.
Dietmar Hopp: Thats it folks, thats all the questions he'll take today. Thanks for coming.

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So atleast that part was over. Hopp walked up to me later saying "You did pretty well out there son. Nice first press conference." I just smiled as he continued "Time to introduce you to the staff." "Follow me", he said as he escorted me to the training grounds. All the players and the staff walked up to me and greeted me, it felt really odd to be managing players who were older than me. "Andre Trulsen will be your assistant manager, and will help you with the training of the players." said the chairman.

Trulsen walked up to me and gave me a team report to read. He handed me a list of a few key players along with some good prospects at the club.

Key Players:

Andreas Beck - The 24 year old right back is a current German International, and a key man in defence. He is the captain of the club and will lead by example.

Isaac Vorsah - The 23 year old stands at 192 cm tall, literally a tower in defence. The Ghana international has an integral part to play in the heart of Hoffenheim's defence.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - The playmaker signed last season from English club Reading and at just 21, is an Iceland international and a key player in the Hoffenheim side. A set piece specialist and famous for scoring the spectacular, Sigurdsson will certainly be pulling the strings from midfield.

Chinedu Obasi - The striker had a key part to play during Hoffe's promotion to the Bundesliga, and has been an instrumental figure ever since. The player can also play on the right, and is one of the quickest players on the football pitch. Top clubs like AC Milan, Schalke and Napoli have all shown interest in the Nigerian.

Hot Prospects:

Roberto Firmino - Signed from Figueirense in January, the 19 year old has shown all signs of become a top player for the club and his country as well. Much like Sigurdsson, loves to take them shots from distance, and is a great passer of the ball as well. Man to watch out for, certainly will be given game time.

Peniel Mlapa - The 20 year old is a great prospect for Hoffenheim as well as Germany. Can play on the right as well as upfront, many have touted him as the immediate replacement to Chinedu Obasi at the club. Very quick, just like his senior teammate.

Koen Casteels - The 18 year old Belgian goalkeeper has a great future ahead of him, held in high regard. Could well be the replacement for Tony Starke and guard the sticks for die Hoffe in the years to come.

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So I continued having a chat with the staff and my players, when suddenly I was interrupted by the chairman. "Lets go have a cup of tea in my office, Ajinkya. We need to discuss your contract." And I obliged, following the man into his office...
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[TamMcCann]

Good but 16...that's abit silly. I'l follow tho.

 

[hellroker]

Good but 16...that's abit silly. I'l follow tho.

Thanks mate

 

[Seabear]

Hav to admit, having a 16 yr old manager isn't really realistic and makes the story less enjoyable for myself. Don't know about others. Will follow and see how things goes.

 

[hellroker]

June 11th 2011,

I walked into the Chairman's conference room. Was pretty luxurious, as he sat by his table and said - "Have a seat Ajinkya." I did so.

"So Ajinkya, we are planning on giving you a one year contract worth £15,000. If you perform well, you will receive a long term extension."

"Sounds good sir, I just want to get started."

"Nice enthusiasm you have there, also remember your wage and transfer budget. You will be given a transfer budget of £1.3 million, coupled with a wage budget of £450k per week. Alright?"

"Not too bad, how much do we currently spend on our wages?"

"440k per week, that leaves just 10k available to you."

"Ouch, could you please provide me with a slightly bigger wage budget? Gives me the freedom to attract some good players to the club."

"We shall think about it, I might want to tell you that Ryan Babel, takes a lot of wages, around 85k per week, so if you can sell him or force him to take a cut, you'll have a lot of 'freedom'."

"Hmm, Babel is an important player, but if I can find a replacement for him, I'll think of selling him."

"Okay then, off you go now, you've got a big responsibility on your hands son. Wish you all the very best in your new job."

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Job well done, time to send the scouts on the lookout for new players! Sent them to various places, South America, Eastern Europe, as well as Africa!

Didn't have a huge transfer budget, so had to look out for frees and loans as well.Arne Friedrich was available, but injured until September. Couldn't wait that long, offered a contract to Nelson Rivas, who was released by Inter Milan. Also offered a deal to Right-back Andreas Hinkel, released by Celtic. These two freebies will be excellent covers for Beck and Vorsah.

Also looked at a possible sale of Ryan Babel. Trulsen told me that his value was around £10 million, so if we got some more like around 13-14, it would be a good deal. Also would release a lot of burden on the wages. A possible replacement in Deniz Naki came up, the player looking for a move out of St. Pauli after their relegation from the top flight.

Had a lot of decisions to make, but they would be tomorrow. As it was time to get some sleep. My first day in Germany, a memorable one indeed.


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[iKUR3]

what about Sejad Salihovic?

 

[xStefan]

"Hopp: Haha wait and listen first, your "CV" is pretty impressive. Taking teams like FC United to the Premiership, winning Quadruples with Tottenham, overthrowing Shakhtar as the dominant team in Ukraine with Dnipro, pretty commendable."

Your 16 and your already been a manager at spurs shaktar and united, i would either change ur age or remove that but yeh loving it so far, will follow