Football Card System

Gao Bo was certain he didn't know this young man. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the person was Chinese, Gao Bo would have already left in impatience.

He looked at the young man standing in front of him.

The man, about 176 cm tall, with messy hair and a haggard face, appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He was dragging a gray trolley case with peeling paint in one hand and carrying a large black backpack. He wore a black T-shirt under an old, unzipped brown jacket and ripped jeans. Shivering in the chilly October wind of England, he looked completely out of place.

Gao Bo took in this tourist-like figure and felt his smile stiffen. He suspected this was a prank. Perhaps this young man had come just to meet a "celebrity" in Luton, take a few pictures, and later embellish them with dramatic anecdotes and poetic musings for his blog. Gao Bo glanced at his watch. This little episode had already wasted fifteen minutes of his time.

---

Lin Sen, carrying his luggage and backpack, finally saw Gao Bo in person.

The real Gao Bo looked even more energetic than he did on TV, standing tall with a confident smile. Since arriving in Luton, Lin Sen had felt the warmth of the locals toward the Chinese community, largely due to this man.

Adjusting his collar, Lin Sen regarded this as his job interview. He wanted to present his best self, even though his haggard face revealed the hardships of his journey. For Lin Sen, reaching England and finding Gao Bo was only the first and easiest step. The real challenge lay in convincing him to take him on as part of the coaching staff.

Before coming, Lin Sen had studied various interview techniques online and rehearsed his pitch thoroughly. However, he failed to notice the impatience creeping into Gao Bo's expression.

"This area isn't open to tourists, young man!" Gao Bo said curtly, checking his watch before turning to leave. If it weren't for their shared nationality, he wouldn't have even entertained this encounter.

Stunned by Gao Bo's quick departure, Lin Sen stood frozen, his prepared speech forgotten. As Gao Bo walked several meters away, Lin Sen finally reacted. Abandoning his planned approach, he shouted desperately: "Please take me in, Coach Gao Bo!"

---

Gao Bo stopped and turned back, his expression one of incredulity. "Are you kidding me?"

He thought, I'm a football coach, not a philanthropist. Who shows up shouting 'take me in' and expects to be hired? Lin Sen now seemed less like a wayward tourist and more like a delusional youth.

Panicking, Lin Sen began to explain himself, hastily handing over a notebook containing his personal work—a database he had compiled of players' statistics.

Gao Bo was taken aback. He hadn't expected someone to cross continents just because they watched a few games. His expression softened, not out of admiration but pity. He saw Lin Sen as a misguided idealist, like Don Quixote charging at windmills. Still, Gao Bo wasn't heartless. He couldn't just abandon this young man in an unfamiliar country.

Taking the notebook reluctantly, Gao Bo flipped it open. His expression shifted as he scanned the dense statistics and analyses.

The notebook contained detailed data on Championship players, supplemented with Lin Sen's interpretations and tactical insights. Impressed despite himself, Gao Bo realized this young man had an exceptional understanding of football for his age.

---

After a brief pause, Gao Bo said, "Follow me."

Lin Sen exhaled in relief. After Gao Bo walked past him, Lin Sen discreetly pumped his fist in celebration—step one was a success.

---

In Gao Bo's office, the two had a deeper conversation. Gao Bo, who had full authority over Luton's first team and youth academy, decided to give Lin Sen a chance.

However, it came with conditions.

"You'll be on probation. On November 5th and November 8th, we have matches against Walsall in the Football League Trophy and Ayr United in the FA Cup. Your task is to gather data on these teams, analyze it, and present a report. The Walsall report must be ready before our fifteenth league match."

"Yes, Coach!" Lin Sen replied enthusiastically, not even asking about his pay.

"I'll arrange for club staff to help you access their matches," Gao Bo continued. "If you pass probation, I'd suggest getting a UK driver's license. You'll need it—you're going to be busy."

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While Gao Bo didn't value the Football League Trophy much (the prize money for winning was less than £100,000), the FA Cup was a different story. Luton's elimination from the League Cup made the FA Cup their best chance to earn significant revenue. Reaching the third round could mean drawing a Premier League giant, which would bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds in ticket sales and broadcast shares.

Gao Bo, aware of Luton's financial challenges, was determined to prioritize the FA Cup while managing the league campaign.