Football Card System

The trees outside the car window quickly receded. The pastures along the way were filled with cattle and sheep, and the green wheat fields on the farms swayed gently in the breeze.

It was the second day, and Gao Bo, the new head coach of Luton Town, was sitting by the window on a short-distance bus from London to Luton. He gazed at the passing scenery, lost in thought.

What does it take to be the head coach of a team?

While this question might seem simple, it was precisely what Gao Bo was pondering at the moment.

He wasn't naive enough to think that having a system would solve all his problems. As a head coach, he would need to manage the team, plan training sessions, strategize during matches, maintain harmony in the locker room, and identify the right players to bring in.

None of this could be achieved with just a few cards.

Although Gao Bo had the advantage of two lifetimes' worth of experience, the truth was that he lacked real-world experience as a head coach.

In this life, Gao Bo had earned a master's degree at the age of 26, obtained a coaching certificate, and then secured a position as a youth coach at Chelsea. But coaching the youth team and managing the first team were entirely different responsibilities.

For this reason, Gao Bo was approaching his new job with utmost caution. To him, this was a pivotal step in his coaching career.

Becoming the head coach of a team, leading it to achieve good results, and building a solid reputation—that was his goal.

Reputation was one of the most critical factors in a football coach's career. When Mourinho took over Chelsea, a team built with a vast fortune by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, he confidently declared himself "The Special One." He had the credentials to back it up—a Champions League title and the title of European Coach of the Year.

Had an unknown coach made such a claim in a star-studded team like Chelsea, it would've been met with laughter.

The night before, Gao Bo had studied a great deal about Luton Town.

Luton, located in southern England near London, had a team named after the city itself. Founded in 1885, the club was nicknamed "The Hatters," a nod to Luton's historical association with hat-making. In its early years, Luton mostly played in lower leagues. However, the team was promoted to the old First Division in 1982 and spent ten years competing at England's top level. After relegation in 1992, Luton's fortunes declined, leading to further relegations. They dropped from the Championship in the 2006/07 season and were relegated to League Two the following year. Financial troubles had compounded their woes, leading to a 30-point deduction at the start of this season.

A 30-point deduction at the start of the season was essentially a death sentence, all but guaranteeing relegation.

However, according to the information provided by David Morton, the club's financial issues had stabilized after selling most of its key players. Morton even promised to allocate £200,000 for transfers.

Looking at it now, while the 30-point deduction was severe, the team's financial stability was a silver lining. Even though their squad had been significantly weakened, at least there weren't any pressing monetary concerns. That said, Luton's current roster was woefully inadequate for League Two.

Leading such a team in League Two was a monumental challenge.

The farmland and pastures outside the window gradually gave way to rows of colorful houses as the bus approached Luton.

Gao Bo took a deep breath. The beautiful scenery lifted his spirits, filling him with a sense of ambition that washed away his earlier nervousness.

The bus meandered into Luton, a typical small English town with a population of about 160,000. The narrow streets were lined with low, red-brick houses.

Gao Bo's accommodation was a modest apartment about 500 or 600 meters from Luton's home ground, Kenilworth Road. A short walk along a tree-lined path led to the stadium's office building.

Calling it an "office building" was generous—it was a two-story structure housing a few offices, a gym, and a recovery room.

Compared to a top-tier club like Chelsea, these conditions were exceedingly humble.

Kenilworth Road Stadium could seat about 10,000 people. Its single-tier stands were painted sky blue, and there was no roof. The pitch looked slightly overgrown, likely due to the lack of regular maintenance during the offseason.

About 200 or 300 meters from the stadium was a training ground on Maple Road. The team rented this facility for their sessions.

"That's the Kenilworth Road Stand," David Morton said, pointing to one section. "Opposite is the Oak Road Stand, and to the left is the David Preece Stand."

David Morton was quite the guide.

Gao Bo glanced at his boss, who was around the same age as him.

"I heard you're American?" Gao Bo asked.

"I'm an American citizen, but I'm also from Luton," Morton replied. "This was my mother's team. When I was a kid, I used to come to the Kenilworth Road Stand with her to watch matches."

"Now is the most dangerous time for Luton, Gao Bo." Morton's eyes revealed a hint of sincerity. To him, Gao Bo was a lifeline. "I know there's little hope of avoiding relegation this season, but I hope we can bounce back to League Two next year and stay in the professional leagues."

"We won't be relegated!" Gao Bo said firmly.

"What did you say?" Morton seemed unsure if he had heard correctly.

"I said, we won't be relegated!"

Morton was silent for a moment. Almost everyone, including Luton's most loyal fans, believed the team was doomed. With most of the main players gone and even reserve team talents having left, Luton's current squad was hardly competitive. Morton had managed to scrape together £200,000 for transfers, but what could that buy?

If someone else had said those words, Morton might have dismissed it as mere comfort. But seeing the determination in Gao Bo's eyes, Morton couldn't help but believe in him.

Could this be someone as confident as… Mourinho?

Morton suddenly felt a surge of hope.

"Whether we avoid relegation or not, I promise I won't pressure you this season!" Morton said, extending his fist.

Gao Bo bumped fists with him, their shared determination palpable.

The sunlight streamed through the stands, casting long shadows on the pitch.

A young boss.

A young head coach.

Their journey had just begun.