Waking Up From A Nightmare: An Ajax Story
As Johan Crujiff once said, Every disadvantage has its advantage. This was especially true to my life. I was a promising young footballer, flair, creativity, and technical skill. That is what everyone said about me. I was going to make it big they'd say, I was going to destroy defences all over the world. I did neither. Not because of no bullshit injury, not because of any difficult circumstances. I wasn't interested. I was bullied by every kid in the school. The reason? I turned down Ajax when I was only 8 to pursue my dream career, a Rugby League player. I had moved over to Hull at a very early stage in my life (12 years old). The rugby culture here is massive, Hull FC or Hull KR, black and white or red and white, and my dad was like that too. I was a true black and white. Hull FC through and through. It was never about Football.
http://www.london-attractions.info/images/attractions/harlequins-football-club-rugby-league.jpg
Then the one tragedy happened in my life. This one deadly blow to my dreams. I was rejected by Rugby. The sport just "rejected" me. "Too small" they said. I gave up. I knew it was too late now. I was 14 years old and with a broken dream already.
With my broken dreams, we moved out of Hull, as the crime rate significantly increased, resulting in my father getting mugged. We moved to Amsterdam. I lost touch with Rugby. My memories of the sport wiped. - My life changed dramatically.
I was struggling in school. Not gonna lie. I couldn't get any grades which even remotley helped me. I got an A+ in English and PE, but failed everything else. Integration with other kids was difficult. I only spoke fluent English. Barely any Dutch. I was took away, into special tutoring, to learn to speak fluent Dutch.
Time flew by, and I hit 16. The year everything changed. My parents divorced and I got a new "dad." He was the coach of Ajax Amsterdam, the top football team in Holland. I went along to a "trial day" and failed to impress. Not like I wanted to. However, then I discovered "Video Games" - Football Manager 2005. Football Manager. Football. The sport I hate, I loved. I played this game more than anyone. I loved it. I could manage a team. I fell in love with management. And from then on, I knew my ambition.
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My stepdad helped me with this goal. He got me some playing time at a FIFA considered club, and I impressed for a season, until I retired and took my badges at the incredibly young age of 22. I had the time of my life doing something I thought I hated. For the first time in my life, I studied for something important. I was obsessed.
I was putting in more hours on Football Manger and joined a unique academy for managers, where I was spotted by Ajax. I was signed up immidietley as assistant manager at Jong Ajax.
My life had changed forever. I knew it. Everybody saw it. I was a young manager, assistant manager at the reserve team of the best team in Holland. I was living a dream, not sure whether it was my dream, but it was a dream.
Life was going well, I was earning a solid £2k a week, and became the most succesful kid to graduate from my school. Not bad i'd say! I had a family, and a wife. My life was perfect - Or so it seemed.
I recieved a call from the chairman. I was nervous. Not sure what to expect. I had seen that Frank De Boer had resigned from the Ajax post, which was a shame for me, as he was a real help. But the call,
HH: Hello, Callum.
CG: Alright Boss, What do you want at this time?
HH: I was wondering if you are interested in taking on the role of Ajax Manager? You will get £8,250p/w and be expected to win the league. How does that sound?
I was set aback. My first instinct was to shout YES, and that is exactly what I did. Callum Gilbey - Ajax Manager
The dream I never thought come through did. And that is my life story in about 1000 words.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well done to anyone who read that massive backstory! Please leave any feedback on what I will need to improve, as I know it isn't perfect
Next Update: Tactics, Squad and Sweeping Changes
Credit to jasonvilla4ever for the title!
http://www.london-attractions.info/images/attractions/harlequins-football-club-rugby-league.jpg
Then the one tragedy happened in my life. This one deadly blow to my dreams. I was rejected by Rugby. The sport just "rejected" me. "Too small" they said. I gave up. I knew it was too late now. I was 14 years old and with a broken dream already.
With my broken dreams, we moved out of Hull, as the crime rate significantly increased, resulting in my father getting mugged. We moved to Amsterdam. I lost touch with Rugby. My memories of the sport wiped. - My life changed dramatically.
I was struggling in school. Not gonna lie. I couldn't get any grades which even remotley helped me. I got an A+ in English and PE, but failed everything else. Integration with other kids was difficult. I only spoke fluent English. Barely any Dutch. I was took away, into special tutoring, to learn to speak fluent Dutch.
Time flew by, and I hit 16. The year everything changed. My parents divorced and I got a new "dad." He was the coach of Ajax Amsterdam, the top football team in Holland. I went along to a "trial day" and failed to impress. Not like I wanted to. However, then I discovered "Video Games" - Football Manager 2005. Football Manager. Football. The sport I hate, I loved. I played this game more than anyone. I loved it. I could manage a team. I fell in love with management. And from then on, I knew my ambition.
My stepdad helped me with this goal. He got me some playing time at a FIFA considered club, and I impressed for a season, until I retired and took my badges at the incredibly young age of 22. I had the time of my life doing something I thought I hated. For the first time in my life, I studied for something important. I was obsessed.
I was putting in more hours on Football Manger and joined a unique academy for managers, where I was spotted by Ajax. I was signed up immidietley as assistant manager at Jong Ajax.
My life had changed forever. I knew it. Everybody saw it. I was a young manager, assistant manager at the reserve team of the best team in Holland. I was living a dream, not sure whether it was my dream, but it was a dream.
Life was going well, I was earning a solid £2k a week, and became the most succesful kid to graduate from my school. Not bad i'd say! I had a family, and a wife. My life was perfect - Or so it seemed.
I recieved a call from the chairman. I was nervous. Not sure what to expect. I had seen that Frank De Boer had resigned from the Ajax post, which was a shame for me, as he was a real help. But the call,
HH: Hello, Callum.
CG: Alright Boss, What do you want at this time?
HH: I was wondering if you are interested in taking on the role of Ajax Manager? You will get £8,250p/w and be expected to win the league. How does that sound?
I was set aback. My first instinct was to shout YES, and that is exactly what I did. Callum Gilbey - Ajax Manager
The dream I never thought come through did. And that is my life story in about 1000 words.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well done to anyone who read that massive backstory! Please leave any feedback on what I will need to improve, as I know it isn't perfect
Next Update: Tactics, Squad and Sweeping Changes
Credit to jasonvilla4ever for the title!
