Chapter 1088: When the curtain call arrives


Southgate’s refusal didn’t shock Audridge, but he nodded his head in silence after a moment of silence.
This is not a unique behavior.
Players have strong self-esteem. Mo said that Southgate was full of honor. When Blackburn won the Premier League championship, the team’s tough guy David Batty refused to receive the championship medal because of the league’s absence for most of the season. Southgate The situation is the same as Batty.
It is nothing more than wanting to keep the past season in memory with the image of "mixed champion".
Aldridge is just to avoid the embarrassment of Southgate at the awards ceremony. After all, the first team basically has the championship medals except for the third goalkeeper. Southgate does not. The captain will inevitably meet Be lonely.
It was getting late, the two almost circled the park, Southgate suddenly stopped, staring calmly at Aldridge, and said softly: "Boss, I am going to retire after the end of the season."
He told Aldridge this decision in a calm way, and Aldridge frowned and replied: "I think you should think about it again, Gareth, there is no deception or concealment between us, now Let’s talk openly and honestly, yes, your competitive level has dropped significantly after a serious injury, it must be that you think you can’t fight for the team, so you decided to hang up boots, but I think, like you are changing clothes Highly respected players in the room can help the team in other ways, even if it is just a few words of experience, it is very helpful to some young players on the team. I hope you stay and stay for another season. ."
Southgate shook his head and still said in a light voice: "Boss, if things were last season, I would choose to stay, but this season, we faced the challenge of a strong enemy like Chelsea in our league. , But the team did not have me, and still defended successfully. Boss, at this point, I think we have different views. Young players like Cristiano, Thiago, Xavi, etc., they are not Ordinary players, they have super psychological qualities, their growth is much faster than ordinary players, and in the past two years, the weather has also withstood the test, they do not need an old captain who is old and old Discipline, they need to show themselves, they need to be alone, real, thorough, to become the backbone of the mad lion! So, I think it is time to leave."
Aldridge looked at Southgate’s calm and serious eyes. In fact, Southgate was right.
Before they won the honors by themselves, most of the young players will pick up their tails and listen to the teachings of their predecessors. However, in these two seasons, last season was a double crown, and they have defended the league this season, which gives them confidence. Further promotion, saying that they are young and age, but mentally, they must have become a completely independent "person".
Aldrich actually understood these reasons.
The reason why he wanted to stay Southgate may be just a nostalgia between the master and the disciple.
Eleven years ago, Aldridge brought Southgate from the Crystal Palace to the Lion’s Cave Stadium.
That was the first player he signed.
After 11 years of ups and downs and rainbows, this mentor and apprenticeship on the green field finally reached the end of fate.
How can he be free and easy?
Moreover, Southgate did not have a glorious moment to end, it was more like quietly retreating, which made Audridge very uncomfortable.
His first captain, devoted his youth and loyalty to the team, how could he not give Southgate a decent curtain call performance as much as possible?
But reality is so ruthless.
Aldridge was not a mother-in-law, and since Southgate had decided his mind and was reasonable, he could no longer retain.
He stepped up and gave Hughesgate a soft hug, and smiled after letting go: "Well, then I will prepare a retired farewell game for you."
Southgate smiled and shook his head: "It doesn't have to be this way. I'm just a regular player. It's not worth playing retired games."
Aldrich shook his head and said, "No, this is your selfishness. You are leaving, and you have to say goodbye to everyone, and the fans will not agree. Say, what is your wish?"
Southgate's eyes flickered, revealing the color of recollection, and muttered: "The memory of the past 11 years has begun to be a little vague, but I always want to see my old friends again."
"Okay, then in your retirement game, please bring back all the former people, as well as the England national team, I came forward, rest assured, it will be very lively by then."
As he walked out of the park, Aldridge asked him again: "Did you think about what you would do after retirement? If you want to develop in the football world and be a coach, stay with Millwall, or play sports on the team. Director? There are quite a few retired veterans who like to write columns or commentary guests, what about you?"
Southgate chuckled and said: "I have no idea yet, but I think it will definitely not be unemployed, as the boss said, and most of the time, I can also go to Dangdang to explain the guests to run a trick."
"Okay, no matter what you want to do, I will support you. When you have a decision, tell me, don't see me. There is something I can help with a word."
Southgate nodded with a smile.
The two returned to Aldridge's door, and Aldridge saw Southgate drove away.
In fact, Southgate does not need to consider income issues after retiring. Although the past 11 years have not been the prime time for modern football professional players to earn income, but through 11 years of wealth accumulation, there are agents Andrew to help manage money, plus Some small investments made by Sgate and his teammates have yielded very impressive returns over the years, and can be used for long-term investment. So what he does after retirement is to relax and choose and face, or it is a This pure passion is invested in a new career.
On May 15, the Premier League ended.
This year's Premier League finale, the top four teams have no suspense.
The champion, Millwall.
Runner-up, Chelsea.
Champions League qualification, Manchester United and Arsenal.
But there is still suspense in the relegation situation at the end of the list.
The unlucky West Brom played Millwall at home in the final round. They must win to ensure ashore. If they lose or draw, there is a high probability of relegation.
Also participating in the relegation battle are Crystal Palace and Norwich.
At the pre-match press conference, Aldridge took Southgate to attend, Southgate became the protagonist, he announced to the outside world that he would retire after the end of the season!
At the end of the press conference, all the reporters present on Fleet Street stood up and applauded Southgate.
He is the captain of England's second World Cup championship!
I believe that on the day Beckham retires, he will also receive high-standard praise and tribute, because Beckham, the European Cup champion trophy, was picked up as the captain.
By the end of the battle, almost all the headlines on Fleet Street were related to Southgate.
Greatness, legend, meritoriousness, and so on are beautiful words to explain Southgate's contribution to Millwall and the England national team.
There is an inventory of Southgate’s 11-year legendary track at Millwall.
Some sorted out the representative games of Southgate highlights.
It also summarized the legendary journey of Southgate from the sinner to the captain of the hero in the English national team, and even finally withdrew from the national team at the European Cup, resulting in the choice to retire when he was under 35 years old. Typical English player's spirit.
The market for relegation teams is definitely narrow, so when news of Southgate's retirement dominates the headlines, no one cares about the fate of relegation teams.
"Times" analysis is correct: in terms of Southgate's current state, it is difficult for Sir Hall to list him as the starting player of the Champions League final. Of course, if the game of the Champions League final is relatively smooth, Millwall can Make sure to win the championship, then Southgate will appear in the UEFA Champions League final as a substitute. As a curtain call for him to bid farewell to the green field, the UEFA Champions League final is unpredictable, only the league finale is irrelevant. This game, Not surprisingly, it will be the last start of Southgate on behalf of Millwall in the official game!
When Millwall came to West Brom’s Hawthorn Stadium, the home team was not only fans, but even the players were very depressed.
They want to relegate!
However, there are a lot of visiting team fans in the stands. Even if the price of the scalper ticket is high, there are still many crazy lion fans who have to endure the pain and are going to watch the game, and even many crazy lion fans are sitting on the home team fans. In the middle of it, they could not make them timid, still holding a slogan to bless Southgate in the stands.
At the Hawthorn Stadium, some fans of the Lions in the stands held high jerseys with the Southgate jersey number, while others held high slogans with praises and blessings.
Fan organizations have been singing their love and blessings for Southgate since the opening.
West Brom coach is an old friend of Aldridge. When he just stepped into the green field 11 years ago to become the coach, in the then Bundesliga competition, the current West Brom coach is Middlesbrough, led by Aldridge Millwall competed for the biggest opponent to qualify for the Premier League. Although no one thought that at the time, at the time, Millwall pressed Middlesbrough to win the Champions League and rushed directly into the Premier League.
This old man is Brian Robson.
Robson took over West Brom in November last year. His results were relatively bleak. Two months after he took office, he won the first Premier League game. West Brom has been struggling in the relegation whirlpool. Now comes the final battle. West Brom ranks still In the relegation zone.
Brian Robson still shook hands with Aldridge with great enthusiasm before the game started, and took the initiative to greet Southgate wearing the captain's armband in the player channel.
Only when the game was about to start, Robson's expression changed, trying to hide the bitterness inside.
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