Russian To The Top?

Good luck and I hope this is enjoyable for you

Delighted to have another one of your stories again! Great start so far

Journeyman saves seem to be on the comeback, best of luck!

Really interesting start mate, looking forward to this!

Looking forward to this mate as the previous stories have been great!

The Search Begins

As with anyone who had found themselves unemployed & in need of a pay check, my first task was to work out what jobs would actually be available to me.

Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there was no newspaper I could buy or website I could visit that would give me an idea of what was on offer, so I had to turn to Viktor Lovinskiy, the agent who had handled me throughout my playing days.

Within a matter of hours, Viktor had made contact with the necessary parties & thrown together a list of managerial vacancies from across the globe, which he sent to me via email, along with a reminder that 15% of anything I earnt was to be his. Bloody leech!

---

---

Thankfully, I was perhaps better prepared than most for this day.

It was apparent to me quite early on that football was not going to make me rich & famous. I was handy, at best. Definitely not a super star. Definitely not elite. I could make a living from football but not enough to secure my future beyond my playing days.

It was with this in mind that I insisted upon a player/coaching role on my return to the club that had given me my start, Zenit St. Petersburg. The role gave me invaluable experience on the training ground, access to genuine footballing minds & the luxury to study for some qualifications before my days on the field had come to an end. The club that had given me my start as a player, had now given me a start in my new life & for that, I’d be forever grateful.

But, I digress.

As I studied the list of prospective employers, the scale of the task at hand soon become apparent. I didn’t fancy my chances of landing a job abroad, my reputation was unlikely to reach that far. I was prepared, yes, but no more prepared than numerous other people whose name would carry more sway then mine ever would in these places. This realisation left me with just the one option Russian first division club, Baikal Irkutsk.

---

---

Baikal had only last season been promoted to the first division, & had since found themselves without a manager after their former leader was poached by a larger club. They were long odds to survive, had limited resources & a playing squad ill prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

In all, it didn’t make for good reading, which is why I was so excited. Surely I would be a chance here? I mean, I don’t imagine a lot of people lining up to take that job. Right?

I quickly whipped myself up a resume & within minutes was all set to take the plunge.

---

---

As my mouse hovered over the send button I stopped to think. Irkutsk was almost 6000 kilometres away from my home in St. Petersburg. At a rough calculation, a 75 hour drive! Just attending an interview could be problematic for someone with my limited resources, let alone having to relocate such a distance should I get the job!

I was having second thoughts, serious ones.

As always though, my mind turned to my savings account. How long could I survive before I’d have to find a real job? 6 months? 12? That would be pushing it.

There are only so many of these jobs to go around after all. If I pass on this one, who knows when the next might pop up? My mind was made up. With all the conviction I could muster, I hit send & It was done. Now came the hard part, the wait.

---

---

Good luck if this is anything like your journey man save with Manuel Pablo then it will be amazing

2016-04-27 12:14#230138 ninjaskill : Good luck if this is anything like your journey man save with Manuel Pablo then it will be amazing

Well, we are in Russia. Home to organised crime & Vodka, who knows what might happen!

I didn't sleep very well that night. I tried everything from counting sheep to vodka. It was no use.

There were too many questions, too many unknowns.

I played out various scenario's in my head & asked myself a ridiculous number of what if's.

What if I didn't get the job? What if I did? What would the interview be like? Would I even get one? You get the picture.

Eventually, exhausted, my brain shut itself off & I was able to get some rest. Not much, but enough.

I was woken at 6.23 by the sound of my phone. It was Victor. I had myself an interview.

I was too tired to be excited. Last I checked the clock, it was 4.15, I figured I was awake another half hour after that.

I fumbled through a brief conversation with him as we discussed how the interview would be conducted. I'm not sure much of what was said sunk in but he said he'd be over within the hour, the interview would be via Skype. I hate technology! Time for coffee!

The time went by quite quickly. I in no way felt ready when we finally sat down to talk but before I knew it the interview was over.

No questions about why they should hire me over someone else. Not a mention of my inexperience. The only questions asked seemed to be whether I'd be happy to do this or happy to work with that. Of course, the answer was always yes.

In truth, I think they were desperate. An opinion that was confirmed, just hours later, as Viktor informed me a contract had been offered.

---

---

I didn't even look at it. I'd take it, there was no discussion. I was off to Irkutsk! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

---

---

Off to Irkutsk, as you do.

Gotta start somewhere!

Looking good so far I wonder where the future leads for you

Can't say I've heard of them but good luck