"Sir, I guarantee this is the future of European professional football!"
In a luxury hotel near Hyde Park in London, Gao Shen was enthusiastically pitching his grand plan to revolutionize European football to Ferguson. It was the same plan he had introduced to Wenger earlier that day.
He quickly noticed the surprise on Ferguson's face fading.
Something was off.
The old man had clearly been shocked earlier. With his fox-like cunning, there was no way he wouldn't see the market opportunity here.
"You told Wenger this already, didn't you?" Ferguson asked quietly.
Gao Shen instantly realized what was going on. The old man was just annoyed that Wenger heard it first. But…
"How did you know I met Wenger?"
"Just before I came to see you, he called and mentioned it."
With a bit of imagination, Gao Shen could already picture Wenger calling just to brag to Ferguson.
But on further thought, he figured Wenger probably hadn't said much. Nothing had been finalized yet.
He had only offered Wenger a position as senior consultant in the company, and many details were still unclear.
"I was planning to tell you, but you were on a business trip a few days ago. I happened to be in London and ran into Wenger, so we chatted, and I told him first. That's why I came to see you tonight."
While speaking, Gao Shen was closely watching Ferguson's expression. Once he saw the old man relax, he struck while the iron was hot.
"To be honest, Sir, Wenger has a background in economics. He's made some strides in data analysis and technical foresight. But when it comes to understanding and analyzing football tactics, I don't think he's as deep as you are."
As soon as he said this, Ferguson's face changed, and the clouds lifted.
"Just don't say that to his face," Ferguson chuckled.
"I always tell the truth," Gao Shen replied confidently.
Ferguson was even more pleased now. "That's what I like about you, kid."
Gao Shen had now truly grasped that elderly men are just like children, they need to be flattered a bit.
"So, do you agree?" Gao Shen asked tentatively.
Ferguson nodded. "Alright then. You've made quite a splash, and the potential is there. I'll take the consulting role. But let me be clear, your consulting fee can't be lower than Wenger's."
"Don't worry, it absolutely won't be," Gao Shen patted his chest and gave a solid guarantee.
Just hours earlier, he had promised Wenger the same thing—that his fee wouldn't be lower than Ferguson's.
As for how he would balance it?
Gao Shen wasn't worried.
Could these two highly respected legends really argue over something like this?
Most people wouldn't know, but Gao Shen knew full well that when these two were together, it was a case of one being more shameless than the other.
…
The reason Gao Shen and Ferguson were in London was for the FIFA Football Congress.
This conference brought together coaches and technical experts from nearly 200 member associations and federations worldwide. The theme was analyzing the latest trends and tactics in football, as well as discussing problems and potential improvements in the use of VAR, the video assistant referee.
As the most renowned head coach in world football in recent years, Gao Shen had been invited to attend and deliver a keynote speech. It was a clear sign of his prestige and influence.
Besides speaking, Gao Shen also hoped to use this opportunity to discuss the feasibility of his business model with FIFA President Infantino, UEFA President Ceferin, and others.
What Luís Campos did hadn't drawn much attention. It was viewed more as a market behavior.
But Gao Shen's plan would create a far greater stir. Although it was also a business decision, and not against the rules, it was still better to clear things up with the governing bodies beforehand.
Gao Shen, Ferguson, and Wenger were all currently without official roles, making them the most high-profile attendees.
Especially Gao Shen. After the Real Madrid saga, his name had been trending for several days straight and was being discussed worldwide. It was a sign of his current popularity and how many elite clubs had their eyes on him.
Media and fans everywhere were speculating on which club would be his next destination.
Many familiar faces were also present, including Van Basten, now FIFA's Chief Technical Development Officer, and the bald Italian referee Collina, who currently serves as the chief referee for both FIFA and UEFA.
The congress began with a speech by FIFA President Infantino, followed by presentations from Van Basten and Collina, who analyzed and summarized the challenges facing VAR.
The introduction of VAR had indeed caused considerable controversy.
As with every innovation, there were both supporters and critics.
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps also spoke. He shared the mental and emotional journey of France's World Cup win in Russia, along with some of the challenges they encountered.
Deschamps focused mostly on traditional points like the importance of teamwork and man-management.
In contrast, Gao Shen—who delivered the closing speech—was the most anticipated speaker at the event. His topic was the impact of the big data era on professional football.
He emphasized that big data was not the enemy of the head coach, but their best assistant.
"I know many traditional coaches are wary of big data. It's not perfect, and it won't always be right. That's why we must identify the most effective data, select the right tools to analyze it, and use it to make informed decisions."
Standing at the podium, facing attendees from around the world, Gao Shen spoke with passion and conviction, laying out his vision for big data in football. He firmly believed this was an unstoppable trend.
"I've always believed in science. It helps us better understand the world. Data is science. It exists objectively. With it, we can better understand what happened in the past and predict what may happen in the future."
Gao Shen pointed out that some head coaches fear the power of science and advanced technology, which is misguided.
"History has shown us time and again that complacency and resistance to change will only hasten our decline. We must actively embrace change and better utilize new technologies, which can help us perform better."
He also shared some behind-the-scenes insights from Leeds United.
Everyone knew Gao Shen liked to give players analysis reports. But later, he realized reports alone weren't enough for players to quickly understand a coach's intent. So he introduced video analysis.
"Now, all clubs in Europe's top five leagues have video analysts. Coaches are trying to communicate with players in faster, simpler, and more efficient ways. This is the power of technology."
Some still say, even in the Premier League, that data could replace head coaches, turning football into something cold, emotionless, and boring.
Gao Shen strongly disagreed.
"I think the reason data sometimes takes over is because coaches aren't strong enough."
As a long-time friend of Collina, Gao Shen also supported the decisions made by UEFA and FIFA. He believed VAR was a step forward.
"My team calculated that last season in England, VAR improved refereeing accuracy by 10 percentage points, bringing it to nearly 95%. That's a remarkable result, but it introduces a new challenge."
He believed the current offside rule had fallen behind the VAR era and needed adjustment.
"We don't need to call offsides based on a few hairs. The rules should be relaxed."
He also proposed increasing the number of substitutions from three to five in the future. This would reduce player fatigue and pressure, maintain the level of play in the latter stages of matches, and introduce more variables, making games more unpredictable and entertaining.
Gao Shen's speech was excellent and received a warm round of applause from the audience.
Even with so many football legends and world-class coaches in the room, his address earned the most enthusiastic response.
During the Q&A session, several coaches asked questions or shared views.
One question in particular stood out. Many believed that as Ronaldo and Messi aged, the next generation of players looked mediocre. What did Gao Shen think?
He disagreed.
He felt this perception came from a broader shift. Over the past ten years, advancements in science and technology had significantly improved youth development systems. The widespread adoption of total football concepts and positional flexibility had led to more well-rounded players, narrowing the gap between top stars and the rest.
"Of course, talents like Messi and Ronaldo are once-in-a-generation."
Gao Shen believed this increased emphasis on comprehensive skills and reduced talent gaps would place greater importance on tactical systems and data analysis.
"We must never stop questioning what affects match outcomes, why certain teams succeed, or what mistakes we've made in our own coaching. With data analysis, we can find answers and adjust our methods to better guide our players."
He noted that the era where players blindly followed the coach's instructions was over. The dynamics between coaches and players had shifted dramatically.
"As head coaches, we must evolve. Ambitious players are always thinking about how to improve. Our job is to support them, understand them, and make them believe that with our help, they can continue to grow."
"I believe this is the most important role of the head coach or first-team manager in the future!"
Gao Shen's conclusion was met with thunderous applause.
Ferguson and Wenger, seated in the audience, clapped along while exchanging a look.
They both saw it in each other's eyes.
Gao Shen's speech at the FIFA Football Congress would soon spread, further elevating his status in world football.
It also meant that he was one step closer to realizing his grand vision.
(To be continued.)