"I may have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg." ————John Lennon.

………

June 1, 2015.

Germany's second largest city, Hamburg.

Magnum walked out of Hamburg International Airport alone with his suitcase.

It's only an hour and a half by plane from Paris to Hamburg, with a French coffee at noon and an authentic German beer in the afternoon.

Smelling the smell of the sea in the air, Magnum had already begun to miss the bitter taste of the local Astra, but now he had business to do, and as for drinking, he would have to have a drink when night fell.

He boarded a white Mercedes taxi from Germany at the airport gate.

After getting into the car, Magnum, who took off his sunglasses, said in fluent German:

“Moin！ Go to St. Pauli. ”

The driver was a typical Germanic uncle, he glanced at this red-haired Asian man, who was in good shape and dressed very well, but he didn't speak German very well, there was an indescribable awkwardness, and his mouth twitched twice from time to time, I was afraid that there was no problem.

Observing so carefully, the driver's ancestor may be engaged in intelligence work.

"Where are you going in St. Pauli, young man, you are not going to the Reeperbahn."

Magnum noticed the strangeness in the driver's eyes and smiled.

"That's right, I'm going over there."

The driver immediately smiled between the men.

"Neon Man? Do you want me to recommend a few to you, I'm a native of St. Pauli, and I guarantee that you won't be pitted. ”

"I believe in you." Magnum pointed to the sticker on the driver's window, "St. Pauli FC, you're still a fan." ”

"Of course, we Germans are fans."

Regardless of the country, taxi drivers are the best place to learn about the local culture, and if they can talk about topics that interest them, they will definitely talk about it.

Sure enough, as soon as football was mentioned, the driver's uncle opened the conversation, and he first recalled with pride how the German national team stepped on the corpses of Brazil and Argentina to reach the top last World Cup, and then began to scold the German second team St. Pauli FC he supported.

"Last season it was still eighth, this season it almost fell to the third division, three coaches in one season, so how can the players play! Fortunately, Old Man Lining has something, and he deserves to have St. Pauli DNA, but he didn't play well at that time. ”

"I don't think you've ever seen a manager play?"

"I've really seen it, wasn't it more than 30 years ago, when I was just over 10 years old, and I went to the stadium on weekends, and during that time we went all the way from the third division to the first division, and that was the golden age of St. Pauli, not only because of the results, but also because of the unique scene in which we were unique."

Uncle Driver is still a true fan and knows a lot about the history of his team.

Magnum chatted with him all the way, and the short half-hour drive passed in a flash.

"There's rope street ahead, which one are you going to? Look at you kid is well-dressed, don't you want to go to Dollhouse. Listen to my advice, there are all rich tourists there, and it is better to go to Sex heaven. ”

Seeing that the uncle's tone was ambiguous again, Alvarn quickly interrupted.

"Big brother, I'll go to One Stander Square."

"Okay, wait, huh, isn't that the address of St. Pauli FC?"

"That's right, this is this St. Pauli that I went to."

When he arrived at the destination, Magnum dragged his suitcase and got out of the car, because he brought something, he was going to tip the driver two euros according to the usual practice, but the uncle said that he didn't want to say anything, according to the other party's reason, he was the first time to come to the St. Pauli team after getting off the plane, he was definitely a tasteful fan, and there was no such thing as a tip.

The eldest brother said that if the season was not over now, he would have invited Magnum to watch the St. Pauli game, although the team is playing like a piece of right now.

The almighty response to this is that there must be a chance.

Yes, there must be a chance.

…………

Chinese New Year's Eve and nine-year-old Oke Gottlich is struggling with club papers in his office, and although the season has just ended, he still has a mess in front of him.

The team finished 15th this season, just one point above the relegation zone, and it is for this reason that the former chairman was forced to resign and he was elected as the new club chairman, and now the first problem facing him is the upcoming transfer window.

The team's main centre-forward Christopher Knott and goalkeeper Philippe Jonah have confirmed their departures, and youth team hopefuls Schreck is also clamoring for more playing time, these are not problems, for the small team struggling in the Bundesliga, it is normal for people to come and go, and now it is the list of transfer targets submitted by the head coach Mr. Lining.

I have to say that Mr. Lining is still very conscientious, as soon as the season ended, he was still on vacation, and he prepared the transfer list, but Okai, who had just read the club's financial report, knew very well that with the transfer budget prepared by the current board of directors, it was impossible to meet the other party.

Although Okai Gottlich's job is a record company owner, as a veteran St. Pauli fan leader with 20 years of football, he can still roughly judge the gold content of Mr. Linin's list, most of which are players who have proven themselves in the Bundesliga, and can strengthen the team's current squad very well, but the biggest problem is that there is no money in his pocket.

He didn't even have to take this list to the other three vice-chairmen for discussion, he knew it was no fun.

That's why he called Thomas Meggle, the club's director in charge of specific transfer matters, over today to discuss what to do.

"It can't be."

Sure enough, the more professional Megler took the list and only glanced at it, and expressed his attitude without hesitation.

The former banner of St. Pauli FC was a witness to the team's two storms to the Bundesliga in the 00/01 and 09/10 seasons, and has a high reputation among the team and fans.

After retiring in 2010, Megler became the club's assistant coach and later sporting director, and is a true professional, so his opinion is crucial.

Megler is well aware of the club's current financial situation, so Okai's answer to him is not surprising, the management has already agreed that the team's home stadium needs to be renovated urgently, which is a top priority, so this year's transfer budget is only one million euros, which is the result of selling two key players.

But according to his head coach's plan, the first person on the transfer list will have to use most of it.

There is no gap between the ideas of the management and the manager, it can only be said that there is a difference between them.

So Gottlich specially called Megle today, just to prepare a bad news and a good news, the bad news is that he needs to convince the stubborn old man, anyway, the club has so much money, as for the good news......

Knock knock.

Just as Megler was grimacing when he received his new assignment, there was a knock on the office door.

Heidi, the chief and only secretary of St. Pauli FC, walked in.

"Mr. Gottrich, a man named Jack has approached you and said that he has made an appointment."

"Let him in, no, I'll get out."

Okai Gottlich quickly got up, straightened his clothes, and ran to the mirror to play with his shiny hair.

Although he is about to be forty years old, he is well maintained and has a good foundation, and he has the charm of a mature man.

Megler on the side was a little surprised, although this guy is also a small boss, he usually has no frame at all, why does he suddenly care so much about his image.

It is impossible for a woman, but his wife is notoriously fierce.

That is, what big shots are coming?

Could it be that there is a gold main sponsor team.

That's the good news he said?

Sponsorship means budget, and budget means you don't have to quarrel with the old man.

At the thought of this, Thomas straightened his back as well, his face full of anticipation.

The answer was soon revealed.

Before Okai could go out, a man with sunglasses walked straight in.

He is tall and sturdy, and exudes the temperament of a mature man all over his body.

It's just that the short red hair is a little special.

"Don't be so polite, long time no see, Mr. Chairman."

Gottlich didn't say anything, just stared at him up and down for a long time before he finally spoke.

"Are the hairstylists in Paris so tasteless?"

The man grinned and said:

"Thank you for the compliment, I dyed it myself, do I want to help you cover up your gray hair? Looking really old, you can rest assured, friendship price. ”

Gottlich had a look on his face that he had eaten a sheep's feather, and it took a long time to hold back a sentence.

"No, correction, I'm gray, the most popular color this year."

After the special greeting, the two looked at each other for a few more seconds, and finally opened their hands at the same time and gave each other a big hug.

The movements were surprisingly consistent.

"It's rare to hear the word sir from your mouth, Jack."

The man who came in was none other than Magnum, who had just arrived at St. Pauli FC.

"People always have to change, who would have thought that a drummer who broke the band back then would one day become the president of St. Pauli FC?"

After saying that, Magnum said hello to another acquaintance in the room.

"Thomas is there too, remember me?"

Thomas Megler looked at the man in front of him, who was quite close to the chairman, and took off his sunglasses, revealing a somewhat familiar Asian face.

"You are? Jack? Jack Wan? ”

"That's right, it's the dragon boy who was always laughed at by you for his accent back then, you still remember me."

Magnum also gave Megler a hug.

"Of course I remember, until I retired, I didn't meet a second academy player who dared to fight against the first team, the key is that you still won."

With a smile on his face, Megler recounted the past.

"And that's not because of the man who imitated the monkey in front of me, and the very existence of such a person is a disgrace to St. Pauli."

Magnum says this because St. Pauli FC has always been unequivocal in its opposition to racism, which is a culture that the club prides itself on.

"That's right, so we're on your side with the club, let's have some fun, how are you doing now? Already a rock star? The figure is well maintained. ”

When old friends reunite, the first topic of conversation is naturally to ask about the current situation.

It has been a long time since Megler has heard from the dragon boy back then, and his memory is still stuck in Jack Wan having to leave professional football due to physical reasons, and he regretted it for a long time at that time, and then heard that he played in a band, and looked at the short red hair now, so he naturally thought that he was still engaged in music.

"No, I haven't touched the piano in a long time."

Almighty leaned back on the somewhat old sofa, glanced around, and continued: "But the club has not changed much over the years, from the outside facilities to this chairman's office, it is almost exactly the same as before, as if time has stopped. ”

Seriously, it's almost the same as the office of the president of the Red Star in Paris, which he just visited.

Almost old.

He actually said it very tactfully, but the owner of the room understood the meaning.

Gottlich sighed and said, "It's not because of the lack of money. ”

As soon as he opened his mouth, Megler next to him was also moved when he heard it, and felt that he understood the meaning of the chairman's words, and hurriedly asked:

"Jack, you should be a good mixer, what's the matter, this is a fortune to sponsor St. Pauli? Help us get through this? ”

Normally, the general manager of the club should be responsible for the sponsorship, but the original general manager of St. Pauli FC resigned along with the chairman, and a new manager is still being found, so Megler, the sporting director, is also responsible for sponsoring the team.

Looking at his longing gaze, Almighty fell silent.

Do you look like you're rich? It's true that all the brands on my body are famous, but they are all sent from China, or not, it must be my temperament that betrayed me.

Seeing that Magnum did not pick up the stubble, Megler thought that his sincerity was not enough, and decided to work harder.

"The good news for you is that our main sponsor contract has just expired for only 700,000 euros a year, and the chest of the St. Pauli shirt is open for you for the new season."

"Thomas ......"

Gottlich, who was gradually stunned like Magnum, was just about to speak when he was interrupted by the steaming sports director.

"I understand, Jack is his own person, then 400,000, I can sign a contract now."

All of a sudden, 300,000 less? Is your face so valuable? Or is that all he has for his psychological price?

The case has been solved.

The first time I encountered this kind of self-harm negotiation omnipotence, it is no wonder that St. Pauli not only had poor results last season, but also had a mess in business operations, this Thomas Megler is okay to play football, but it is really not good to be a director, plus there is a rookie chairman standing behind him, it is no wonder that the club is not thriving.

It's really Wolong with phoenix chicks, and the fans are the most painful.

Fortunately, Ben Xuande Gong came to save my big man, no, the fans of Great St. Pauli are in dire straits.

Almighty suddenly felt that his whole body was full of strength, and a sense of justice arose.

"I'm here to sign the contract and help the team through this."

Megler was overjoyed, the chairman did not deceive me, and there was good news, but he was not happy for a few seconds before he fell into doubt, because Magnum went on to say:

"But I'm not spending money, I'm taking money."