"Rebirth of the Football Tycoon".

With the startup funds in place, David knew the first step to building a world-class football club was not assembling a luxurious lineup of future superstars but finding the right coach—a leader who could maximize the team's potential and lay the foundation for long-term success.

A great coach could take an underdog team to championships, while a bad one could ruin even the best squad. Fortunately for David, the departure of the traitorous coach Scott, along with two core players, left the position wide open, giving him the freedom to choose the ideal candidate to lead Notts County.

David briefly considered taking on the role himself but dismissed the idea. While he had a deep understanding of the future of football, he lacked the tactical knowledge and managerial expertise to lead a team effectively. Instead, he focused on identifying a coach who shared his vision.

The Shortlist

David's mind raced through potential candidates:

Pep Guardiola was a tempting option. The future tactical genius would leave Barcelona soon and retire as a player in Italy. While David admired his football IQ, he worried about Guardiola's lack of coaching experience. Could he successfully lead Notts County in the tough English leagues at this stage? José Mourinho, then an unknown assistant at Barcelona, would soon take over as manager of Benfica. Though David respected Mourinho's tactical acumen, his pragmatic style clashed with David's vision for attacking football. Ancelotti, Van Gaal, and Del Bosque were all managing top clubs or preparing for future big projects and would never consider coaching a third-division side. Diego Simeone was still wrapping up his playing career. David admired his passion but thought it was too early to gamble on him as a manager.

Then, one name stood out: Joachim Löw.

Löw was a coach who embraced attacking football, modern tactics, and youth development—qualities David highly valued. Although Löw's future would see him lead Germany to World Cup glory, at this moment, he was unemployed after an underwhelming stint in Turkey. Soon, Löw would accept a job in Austria, but David was determined to intercept him before that happened.

The Meeting

David flew to Freiburg, Germany, where Löw was living. Showing up unannounced at Löw's home, David was met with a surprised expression from the future coaching legend.

"You're the chairman of a football club?" Löw asked, eyeing David with skepticism.

David shrugged with a sheepish grin. "I know I don't look the part, but yes, I'm the chairman of Notts County, and I want you to be our coach."

Löw's surprise turned to curiosity. "Notts County? The oldest professional club in the world. But… they're in the third division, aren't they?"

"Yes," David admitted. "But we don't plan on staying there long. My ambition is to turn Notts County into one of the greatest clubs in the world. And I believe you're the perfect coach to help make that dream a reality."

David then laid out his vision: building a modern training facility, a state-of-the-art stadium, and a world-class youth academy. While the ideas sounded like the daydreams of a naive young chairman, David's conviction left an impression.

However, Löw hesitated. While flattered, he questioned whether David was truly committed. "In England, the head coach also acts as the manager, overseeing transfers. Will I have full authority over the squad?"

This posed a challenge for David. He intended to micromanage the club's transfers, leveraging his knowledge of future superstars to assemble a world-class team. Delegating such decisions to a coach, even one as promising as Löw, felt risky.

"I can promise you this," David said firmly. "By the end of the summer, Notts County will have a squad that's competitive enough for promotion. It will be a team so strong, it could compete in the Premier League without embarrassment."

Löw remained skeptical. "That's a bold promise. But words won't convince me."

A Bold Proposition

Realizing that words alone wouldn't sway Löw, David made an unusual proposal. "Come with me on a scouting trip across Europe. You'll see for yourself the talent we're bringing to Notts County. Once you see what's in store, I'm confident you'll want to be a part of this project."

Intrigued, Löw agreed. The two set off on a journey to meet young, unpolished talents and hidden gems across Europe—players who, in David's mind, would become future stars.

David knew that once Löw saw the quality of players joining Notts County, he wouldn't just accept the job; he'd embrace it wholeheartedly. The trip marked the start of a partnership that could change the fate of Notts County forever.