Chapter 19 Gareth Speed
July 10th, Sheffield United's assembly day finally arrived.
The training base was bustling with noise and excitement from the morning onwards.
Many fans from the city had arrived early, holding signs and waiting at the entrance, hoping to get autographs and photos with their favorite stars.
Maël arrived in sportswear, in good spirits, he had longed for Sheffield United for a long time, and today he finally had the opportunity to officially integrate.
"Let's go, let's go in first."
Joelson followed behind him and Gilbert, introducing as they walked, "The team mainly has three processes today: physical examination, taking promotional photos, and an intra-squad scrimmage in the afternoon."
"Scrimmage in the afternoon?"
Maël was a little surprised; it was rare to have a scrimmage on the first day back.
"Perhaps, you and Gilbert haven't realized how difficult things are at the club."
Joelson shook his head and pursed his lips, "Including you, Sheffield United has six loan players and four free signings this season, almost half of the first team."
"With such a mercenary team, if the coaching staff doesn't get familiar with them soon, wouldn't they be unable to even conduct pre-season training?"
Maël really didn't expect that the famous 'Blades' Sheffield United would encounter such a predicament this season.
Logically speaking, a club with such a long history, without financial crisis, and with good results in recent years, should be very attractive to players. How could they have failed to get promoted last season and directly experienced a personnel crisis? "Is there internal conflict?"
He looked at Joelson, wanting to judge whether his guess was correct through the other's expression.
Unexpectedly, the latter did not hide it, and smiled bitterly, "Yes, the conflict between coach Kevin and the players is almost irreconcilable, and the management is preparing to replace him, but I don't know the exact time."
"You can say that?" Gilbert's eyes widened; this news was really explosive.
"It's not a secret, even who the successor is isn't a secret."
When Joelson said this, his tone changed again, this time he spoke with admiration, "Gareth Speed, you should be very familiar with him."
"It's him."
Maël's expression changed slightly. Not to mention Gilbert, who grew up in England, even he had heard the name.
A living fossil of British football, the first person to reach 500 appearances in the English top league, with goals in the top league for 18 consecutive seasons, and the young coach who mysteriously committed suicide while in charge of the Wales National Football Team.
"He's coming to Sheffield United?"
Gilbert's expression became excited, seemingly a fan of Speed, "I thought he was still playing football."
"He still is."
Joelson glanced at them and proudly introduced, "Mr. Gareth Speed is a registered player of the club and also serves as the team's first assistant coach."
"When the position of sporting director is vacant, he can also be called half a sporting director."
Without him continuing, Maël had already seen that Joelson should be a direct descendant of Gareth Speed's faction, and his relationship with the current coach was average.
"You will meet him later; he was the one who decided to sign you this time."
After Joelson finished speaking, he quickened his pace towards the medical examination room, where there were already many people.
...
More than an hour later, the three who had completed their physical examinations walked towards an administrative building.
"Is it time to take promotional photos next?"
Gilbert was very excited, "The kind of photos used in the broadcast of the game, when introducing the starting lineup?"
He even imitated the actions of those stars when watching the broadcast, making crossed arms in front of his chest and grinning and laughing with his head up, which was very funny.
"More than that, they will be used to make pre-match posters and player posters."
Joelson patiently introduced to the two new professional players, he had been acting as a guide these days, doing his best.
Maël and Gilbert combined what he said in the car, and had already understood.
He wanted to exchange this kind of effort for the two's contribution to Sheffield United this season.
None of the three mentioned that matter again, just keeping a tacit understanding in their hearts.
Maël felt that Joelson's handling of this matter was not rational. From the current point of view, it was really difficult for two rookies to take on the responsibility of saving the team.
Besides, they aren't big-name stars, and they're not here for technical assistance, so there's no chance of them slacking off. However, people can indeed act irrationally when they are extremely fond of or extremely hateful towards something.
Arsenal has a good example of this: Mr. Wenger.
He sacrificed his own future to stand firm during the team's most difficult period.
"However, let's go and have a short signing ceremony first."
Joelson led the two to the base's administrative building, heading towards the media room. "Gareth Speed has been waiting for you there for a while."
Maël was looking forward to it, exchanging a glance with Gilbert before quickly following. They both wanted to meet this senior figure in the football world.
"Creak." Joelson quickly opened a door and gestured for them to enter.
A media room of about a hundred square meters appeared before them, cold and quiet, with only a few cameras propped up, seemingly belonging to the club itself.
For young players just coming out of the youth team, without any data in professional matches, it is indeed difficult to get the attention of media outlets.
But... this wonderful first time still made Maël feel novel and excited.
He scanned the room and then locked his eyes on the front of the media room.
There stood a middle-aged man wearing a dark blue suit, a blue and white tie, and a white shirt underneath. He had a very trim figure, giving a sense of competence, but there was also fatigue in his eyes.
"Welcome, both of you."
Gareth Speed forced a smile, walked over slowly, and extended his hand. "I should have met you earlier, but I was delayed by a trip a few days ago."
"Hello, sir."
Maël walked up, shook his hand, and gave him a slight shoulder-to-shoulder hug before stepping aside.
After Gilbert completed the greeting, the two of them sat at the table in front of the media room under Gareth Speed's guidance.
"The club welcomes you both very much."
Gareth Speed smiled and placed two contracts in front of them, saying politely, "You are the team's last two signings of the season, and also the team's final reinforcements. I hope you enjoy your time here."
Then, he picked up a pen and opened the contract in front of him. "I believe you have seen the details at Arsenal. After signing, you will be official members of Sheffield United."
Maël nodded slightly, picked up the pen next to him, and began to write his name in multiple places on the contract.
"Click, click!" The club staff standing behind quickly pressed the shutter of the camera, recording this moment.
After signing the contract, Gareth Speed stood up and took out two brand-new jerseys from under the table, handing them to the two. "Let's take a group photo as a souvenir."
Maël took his number 31 jersey, which he had chosen before coming. July 31st is his birthday, which is coming up soon.
As a winger, the best jersey numbers are of course 7 and 11.
But these numbers had already been chosen by the club's older players. As a newcomer, he certainly had no chance.
Holding the jersey, Maël stood to the left of Gareth Speed, showing a sincere smile.
Gilbert was on Gareth Speed's right, smiling just as brightly.
"Click! Click!" The shutter was pressed rapidly, and the flash kept flashing, recording this moment.
In the lens, the two young men had joyful expressions, their eyes shining brightly, full of expectations and aspirations for their future.
As for the middle-aged man in the middle, he squeezed out a smile of anticipation from his fatigue, giving a thumbs up.
Any first time is worth remembering, and so is this day.
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