#13: A Difficult Opportunity | 12 November 2014
”Jorge, what can I do for you?” I say, answering my phone as I sit at the desk in my home office.
I ask him to hold for a second while I bid Margot fairwell, she's off on a shopping trip – putting my credit card to good use for a change.
“Yes see you later, have a good day!” I shout down the stairs.
The door slams shut and I resume my conversation with my agent.
“Jorge, sorry, what did you want my friend?”
“This business at Barcelona, the coach's position is vacant. They have inquired into your availability.”
“Absolutely fucking not, Jorge. You know I hate those bastards down there. Last time I spoke to them was before that bellend Guardiola got the job – he got it over me because apparently he didn't think he was bigger than the club, whereas I did. Total fiction...total fiction.”
“But you had such great times there as a translator for Mr Robson, and you learnt coaching there!” urged Jorge.
“Yes, but that was a long time ago. The club is very different now, it is run by different people in a different way. I am not coaching Barcelona. And that's final. I don't want to speak of it anymore.”
“But you said you wanted to get back into coaching Jose!”
“I know, and I will. But not at that club, tell them to stick their contract offer where the sun doesn't shine!”
I slammed the phone down and thought about things for a moment, before deciding I was right and moving swiftly on in what I was doing.
Then, I thought about it again, briefly, before deciding that I cannot return to Barcelona as a coach. I have enough enemies in football, and after my Real Madrid reign I feel it isn't right to coach their divisional and European rivals. That's the end of that, maybe a move back to Portugal, or Germany, I haven't managed in Germany – I could certainly complete part of my plan in Germany!
I began my new task in the day and started unpacking some carboard boxes that have been moved from Monaco into our new home. Margot doesn't do any sort of DIY so its my job to sort the house out, and that I will do now.
I unload box after box, putting everything in the right place. It was at this point I reached into the bottom of the box to find a worn old envelope addressed to myself.
I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was, so I opened it.
Jose,
You have been a wonderful servant to me in all you've done, and you have developed into a wonderful young coach. I thank you with all my heart for the work and effort you have put into assisting me since I came to Barcelona.
It is with a warm heart that I leave Spain, and I wish you the best of luck under Louis van Gaal. One day I hope you can become a manager, and I don't doubt you'll be very successful. I could even see you managing the great Barcelona, that would make me a very, very proud man.
All the best,
Bobby
You have been a wonderful servant to me in all you've done, and you have developed into a wonderful young coach. I thank you with all my heart for the work and effort you have put into assisting me since I came to Barcelona.
It is with a warm heart that I leave Spain, and I wish you the best of luck under Louis van Gaal. One day I hope you can become a manager, and I don't doubt you'll be very successful. I could even see you managing the great Barcelona, that would make me a very, very proud man.
All the best,
Bobby
The date on the letter was July 1997 - no wonder I couldn't remember reading it. A tear came over me looking at the picture he had enclosed into the letter. The late Sir Bobby Robson whom I'd worked with so closely before becoming a manager, one of his dying wishes will have been to see me manage Barca. I loved that man, and I want to make him proud, I am sure he's looking down.
I ran out of the garage and upstairs into my office. I took a deep breath, picked up the phone and dialled.
“Jorge! Get me in touch with the Barcelona president – I've changed my mind.”
Update: Appointment | 14 November 2014
Two days later, I was officially unveiled as the new head coach of FC Barcelona, on a contract until the end of the season. Now, my 15 year plan really is in full swing.
