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A matter of life or death, or much more than that?
12th December 2011
Christmas in Romania... nothing quite like your homeland for a December stay. I had decided to take a break from football, having pulled off the 'Greatest Escape in the History of La Liga', pulling Betis from 20th place, eight points from safety, to 15th, five points clear of relegation, in only sixteen matches. I had a Dutch Cup, a Dutch Premier Division title, a UEFA Cup, an English Championship Playoff Champions trophy and an English League One title to my name as well, so I was fairly qualified for anything, at any stakes. I had left Real Betis in sixth place for the holiday period, so no matter who they got in, they hopefully couldn't screw it up until at least next season.
I wanted a few months out to catch up with the family, to enjoy the sights and sounds of Galati, to relax, something a manager of a top flight club rarely gets to experience. I wasn't going to retire, I still had the Champions' League and many other trophies to win, but I needed some time to enjoy outside the pressures of the game I loved so much. My brother was the Chairman and majority shareholder in a Romanian Premier Division club, FC Otelul, so I was not the only one involved in the beautiful game.
My flight touched down at Galati airport, I was instantly recognised by the children in the line at Customs, and had to sign quite a few autographs to keep them happy. I wasn't at all bothered by it, I loved to make them happy in any way I could, the area was not as friendly to these youngsters as it would be in Spain or Holland. The amount of orphans and street kids in any city of Romania would astound any outsider, you could walk down the high street and see them, sitting, standing, playing, they never had a roof over their heads at night but you would never hear them complain. There was a real sense of togetherness in the downtrodden in this country.
My brother Marius, his wife Aryss and their son Luca were there to meet me. I could instantly see something wrong in all their eyes, little Luca looked strangely pale as he threw his arms around me. I lifted the nine year old into my arms, strangely light, and followed my brother and his wife to their car. It shone, definitely a 2011 model, an Audi, no less than I would expect from Marius.
I sat with my little nephew in the back of the car, the journey was eerily quiet, there wasn't the same bright shine I had heard in their voices on the phone only seven days before. Luca put his arm around me the whole way to their house, it was large and out of town. My brother began to speak, just as we got to the gates, "Matt, we need to talk, in private, catch up. I need to tell you about the club and stuff." I nodded, I wanted to know how his club were doing anyway, I had fallen out of the habit of checking for their results during the huge relegation battle I sustained with Betis.
"Luca, you and your mother can go shopping, okay?" Little Luca let go of me, seemingly wanting to spend more time with his uncle, I brushed my hand through his hair, "Don't worry, I'll still be here later little'un." Marius and I got out of the car, Aryss shifted over to the driver's seat. I followed my brother into his house, and upstairs to his personal study. "Marius, is something wrong?" He sighed. "I don't know where to start, Matt..."
"My son, Luca..." My heart sunk, I knew there was something wrong with the boy, "He is in urgent need of medical care for a very rare form of leukaemia. I have booked the treatment for May but... I can't afford it Matt." I was stunned, my brother was a millionaire. He continued, "I've lost a lot of money, Matt, I have a gambling problem and I'm afraid it could cost my son his life now..."
"Can't you just sell the club?" I queried, knowing that I couldn't afford the treatment on a manager's wages. "The estimated value of the club, Matt, if we go down, is negative twenty million euros. It won't sell if it's in a relegation battle, we're sitting level on points with the drop zone. The manager has just walked out on us. The medical bill is estimated at seven million euros per year, and it's a two year treatment scheme, Matt. I hate to have to say it, but you're his only hope... the treatment at that place has a 97% success rate."
I realised what he was saying. He wanted me to repeat my workings at Betis, but at Betis I had spent twenty-five million euros, here I would have no transfer funds. "Look, Marius... I don't know if you can put your son's life in the hands of a very cruel game-" He interrupted me, "Matt, the television rights for staying up will pay for the treatment, you just need to keep the club up for two years... I can't even sell the house, the bank would demand the money towards my debts. With the club, I could grant you all the money for staying up as a bonus and you could pay the bills!"
This was no regular job. If a normal manager's job was pressured, what was this? I sighed, thinking of my little nephew. "I'll do it Marius. But you have to quit your ****ing gambling, and sort your debts." He threw his arms around me, "Thank you Matt, you're the most amazing person I know..."
My break from the game lasted three days, now it was back to business for the highest stakes ever.
12-12-2006, 06:39 PM
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? Post #2
'Matthew Doughty is Otelul's Knight in Shining Armor!' Bloody tabloids, I thought, taking a long look at what was in front of me. Certainly no superstars, this squad was going to need strengthening, although my brother had told me that the directors were willing to sanction quite a bit of spending power considering my track record. I was wondering why this couldn't just be spent directly on Luca's medical bills, but my brother assured me that the Better Business Bereau would have none of it.
I immediately sent my scouts around to check out some prospective players. I knew the squad would need strengthening to avoid relegation, and the expectation on a manager of my level would be high from the off. I also submitted hopeless bids for a few players I had once worked with, although I was fairly sure that the chance of them coming was none.
The board knew what the plan was, in regards to Luca, and said that they were willing to sanction paying for his medical bills on the grounds that I had to keep the club in the division this season, and reach expectations next season as well. I told them that the training facilities were far below the standard I expected, and put some of my transfer budget into that, knowing that the players I would need to attract would not be happy with the current ones.
I identified coaching set pieces and defence as my priorities for new training staff. I picked up Serbian free agent Branislav Miljkovic and Romanian Iulian Miu to shore up these training requirements, which I felt would put Otelul on a level playing field with the rest of the division, except the big clubs, which I wouldn't need to challenge anyway.
Luca sat with me in my office for a while, I knew that this was the only place I would be for a while considering how hectic the transfer window was going to be to shore up the squad. The next match wasn't for seventy-five days, away at Otopeni. He spoke, suddenly, "I'm not stupid, you know, I know what's wrong with me, uncle Matt. And I know why you're doing this. I know my dad couldn't save me, and I trust you."
"Better put your trust in the players, they're the ones I'm counting on," I told him, he nodded. "I trust them too." He sat on my knee while I tapped messages to my coaches and scouts, stating my expectations. I decided to go down to training with him, and survey the players in their work environment. I needed to know where to strengthen when the window opened.
12-12-2006, 10:36 PM
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? Post #4
Playing my favoured 4-4-2 diamond formation, I decided to look at who would be first choice for the first game, I knew the squad would need some friendlies during the closed season and this would give me a good chance to get a better look at the players, but for now, I would have to make do with watching a training session.
Goalkeepers
Valentin Bors - Romanian - 28 years old - This goalkeeper's arial ability seems to be his main weakness, as well as not having the agility I would expect from a keeper. Definitely not first choice, probably barely even adequate backup.
Andrei Marinescu - Romanian - 26 years old - Current first choice keeper, certainly not too error prone, but his lack of strength would worry me, as well as weak anticipation and composure.
Centre Backs
Calin Uzun - Romanian - 26 years old - A solid, if not spectacular, centre back, physically strong and great in the air. Not afraid to get stuck in.
Salif Nogo - Burkina Fason - 24 years old - Another fairly solid centre back, although Uzun was certainly a better defender due to more ability in the air. Should at least be good cover for the first team.
Ionut Paraschiv - Romanian - 21 years old - An ambitious defender, Luca's favourite player, so he tells me. I would have no worries fielding this player in league matches. He could definitely end up being a great leader at whatever club he plays for.
Full Backs
Sorin Rãdoi - Romanian - 26 years old - An all rounder, I have appointed him captain of the team as he can play well in centre back or right back positions.
Bogdan Cistean - Romanian - 24 years old - Can play centre back as well as his favoured left back position, although his arial weakness would make me cautious about deploying him there. Not a poor left back but he wont set the world alight.
János Rósa - Romanian - 20 years old - A little gem possibly, he can play right-back or right wing and his crosses, long throws and creativity have forced me to earmark him as one to watch.
Midfielders
Ionut Dantes - Romanian - 28 years old - Versatile squad player, I can't see him getting many starts because of a lack of pace and determination.
Andrei Enescu - Romanian - 24 years old - Squad midfielder, nothing to write home about. Determination makes up for his lack of technical ability and keeps him in my plans for the time being.
Andrei Schwartz - Romanian - 22 years old - Fan favourite already, and a very physically strong player. My deputy captain because of his apparent influence in the squad.
Alexandru Benga - Romanian - 22 years old - Offensive midfielder with a vicious long shot. Positioning and composure could be a bit of a worry, one to keep an eye on.
Wingers
Mihai Vãtavu - Romanian - 22 years old - Right winger with a beautiful cross and a bit of a corner specialist. Solid starter and another to look at for the future.
Radu Somodi - Romanian - 25 years old - Unspectacular left winger, will not suffice for the first team.
Strikers
Claudiu Croitoru - Romanian - 19 years old - Unlikely to make it at this level, will look to loan him out and review the situation.
Otniel Sighiartáu - Romanian - 26 years old - Clinical striker with a high value, should prove a great asset.
Daniel Marin - Romanian - 26 years old - Loanee, will not suffice.
The Shopping List
As decided by myself (and Luca, he will have me point out, much to my assistant's dismay) the shopping list for January is as follows:
One Goalkeeper - First Team
One Left Back - Cover or First Team
One Defensive Mid - First Team
One Left Winger - First Team
One Striker - Key Player
One Versatile L/R/C Midfielder - Cover or First Team
Little'un seems to have some clue what he's talking about, although in this family it's hardly surprising. With these purchases, my expectation is that we could take this squad to the mid-table quite safely. The thought crept into my mind, that my hope would have to be right.
I also decided to take the squad on a tour, Luca had always said he wanted to go to Cyprus, so I decided to look into that possibility...
12-13-2006, 12:06 AM
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? Post #5
The tour of Cyprus has been arranged. The team will play Alki on 4th January, Nea Salamina on 6th January, Apollon L. on 9th January and Nea Salamina again on 14th January. The main reason I chose Cyprus was to help the morale of the squad. Luca getting to visit the country was a secondary consideration. I had toured Cyprus before this with my Feyenoord team and the squad had really gelled in their superb wins.
Immediately, as I'd expected upon my return, clubs were offering me their vacant positions. Celta Vigo and Reál Madrid were stunned to be turned down by Otelul's manager, the board were ecstatic. Luca told me that in the whole history of the Romanian top flight, I was the most famous manager to work in Romania.
Luca asked me a question, "Why, uncle Matt, is your surname different to ours?"
"Because I'm only your father's half brother, we share a mother but my father is British, I'm not full Romanian."
"That's why you didn't play for Romania?" He queried.
"Yeah, I wish I had but I was greedy, I thought England had more chance of winning a trophy, I never got a game though."
He knew the story, I had been forced into retirement by an injury when I was twenty-seven, after being called up to the England squad. I had broken both legs upon collision with a young Ledley King, playing for Lazio in the UEFA Cup. I had almost instantly started taking my coaching badges and in 2006 I was a shock appointment as Bristol City's manager.
My little nephew was enthralled, we had never really spent much time together, even though he called me his 'favourite uncle'. I was so determined to do this for him, I felt I owed him for being so loyal to me, for always being the first to call and congratulate my results despite his age, for always calling me his favourite uncle, for never turning to the streets of Romania, or to vices, even though his father, my brother, was an unsavoury person.
It was no secret that my brother didn't love Luca the way a father should, he loved his club more than his son. I knew for a fact that he could sell the club and pay for this medical treatment and it hurt me that he wouldn't, but I also knew that I really was my nephew's only hope, and if anyone could keep this club in the league, I could.
I recieved an email saying that the first signing, of young forward Sergiy Kravchenko, had been set up for 15th January, costing us €140,000. Serbian left winger Dragan Ceran was next on the list, from Smederevo, for €1,000,000. Because of the transfer window date, I had set the Cyprus tour up to end the day before it opened, so that I could see who would be worth keeping in my first team squad.
The next day, yet another transfer was decided, the club's record, €2,200,000 for highly-rated Serbian striker, Zoran Martinovic. It was widely considered that I was the reason players of this stature were willing to talk to us, and in Zoran's case, to turn down Dinamo Bucharest to sign for Otelul.
Left-back Bucuricã's move from FCU Poli on a free transfer was setup to go through in July, as well as the €1,600,000 move for Cristian Daminutã, a 21-year-old highly-rated Romanian defensive midfielder from Craiova.
I told the team that I expected a win, the squad was chosen by my assistant because of the injuries and the fact that he knew the team better than I did. I took my seat in the dugout of GSZ in Larnaka for my first game in charge, and watched the action unfold.
My first observation was that the team wasn't as bad as I'd expected. We missed a few good opportunities but we were by far the better side. The defense were brilliant, keeping Alki out very well in the first half.
It was 0-0 at half time, I subbed Schwartz on for Benga, and reminded the team that we needed to win this. Vãtavu had a goal disallowed on the 65th minute for offside, admittedly it probably was. Alki looked pretty good on the break, but we were the dominant side.
Super-sub Schwartz put Otelul ahead in the latter stages of the game, and after more end-to-end football, the game finished 0-1 to the visitors.
Later on, I was walking down the streets of the city with Luca, my brother had gone to a press meeting and left me to take his son out to Larnaka. I couldn't picture that in a few months he would be on high-octane treatment for leukaemia, I couldn't picture that his life was so threatened, he looked slightly pale, the disease must be far more dangerous and ravaging than I'd ever expected.
"When did you find out?"
"The doctor diagnosed me two days before you came."
"How do you stay so strong?"
"Because I love being alive, and I know I'll stay alive, uncle Matt."
We found a nice restaraunt in the middle of town, and ordered some Indian. My mind wasn't on football, football could wait, life stood still for no one.
12-13-2006, 01:25 AM
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? Post #6
Sportul's chairman, Vasile Siman, accepted our offer for the goalkeeper, €2,600,000. So much for the record being broken, I had to break it again. The board concurred with me that the club iwas moving in the right direction with my signings, and plans were already afoot for another tour.
I looked away from my emails, to the sleeping boy in the other corner of the Cyprus hotel room, then sighed and went back to thinking about where we should tour. I wondered if teams from the United States would be willing to play a low-reputation club from a league they'd never heard of.
I emailed Miticã Ragea, one of my two assistants, and asked him to find out about a US tour. He emailed back almost instantly, regretting that we could only fund tours inside Europe at the current time, so I replied asking about Turkey. He said he would do what he could but due to their league structure it would be non-league clubs only.
The expectation was once again, a win, I started with a very similar lineup to the last match, but promoted Constantin to the first team and started goalscorer Schwartz as my attacking midfielder in the diamond.
Somodi put us 0-1 up on the 7th minute from a headed corner, playing in our lovely black kit (Luca could say whatever he wanted, this kit was brilliant). We certainly weren't the only team on the pitch, Salamina showed their quality and kept attacking even against our better players. The defense were definitely needed.
Enescu was unlucky not to score on the 38th minute, his free kick hitting the post, but we were lucky not to concede six minutes later, when Salamina striker Kenan blazed straight over the bar from a one-on-one.
On the 80th minute, I made two substitutions, Elek on for Vãtavu and Tismãnaru on for Sighiartãu. Again I felt we had defended very well but lacked any real cutting edge, all in all a solid performance.
The Turkish tour was confirmed, our opponents would be Beykozspor (30th Jan), Göztepe (1st Feb), Bandirmaspor (5th Feb) and Bergama Bld. Spor (7th Feb). Luca was very quiet that evening, I didn't think he'd slept very well the night before, so I slept early in order to make sure he had a good night of rest. He would need it.
The next day, he was quite a bit more boisterous, my main concern, however, was Paraschiv's absence from training. I fined him two weeks' wages for his unprofessional attitude, then spent a couple of hours playing PES with my nephew on the Xbox IV.
I was glad that he was a lot more active that day, the condition he had been in the day before had concerned me. Maybe May wasn't soon enough for his treatment, I emailed my brother and told him to get his first course of treatment sorted for sooner, but he said that the hospital would require cash up front.
Getting a loan was out of the question, obviously he didn't believe quite so much as he said he did that I could keep the club up...
Same starting line up as the last friendly. Marin wasted a great chance in the early game, blazing wide when it would be easier to shoot on target. He made up for his miss on the 27th minute, blasting home from a tight angle.
Again one goal to the good at half-time, unfortunately our inability to score multiple goals was starting to worry me, I hoped that my new signings would be able to get this up and running, knowing that if I could get the club into a good position soon, my nephew would probably be able to get a head start on his intensive treatment.
Sighiartãu missed a one on one from four yards later on, the fans were singing to get him off, he was really having a poor game. Twenty minutes into the second half, I substituted him off for Elek, and Vãtavu off for Rósa.
Apollon drew level on 70 minutes due to some uncharacteristic terrible defending. Antoniou netting from one yard out into an open net after Bors committed and failed to claim the ball. Although we were the stronger team, it finished 1-1.
I wasn't unhappy with the performance, although the scoreline was pitiful. I couldn't wait until our new lads came in to mix up the squad and create some competition for places. Mocanu, a young player I had been looking at, turned my offer down for Dinamo Bucharest, although he wasn't incredibly important to the immediate survival of the club.
I found out later that my brother had gone home during the friendly for a meeting, leaving his weakened son alone in the stands. Luca would have to sit in my dugout for the final game of the friendly, although I deeply refuted any comparison between myself and the legend, Brian Clough, whos son was often found doing the same thing at a young age.
Marin was taken ill before the final game, and ruled out of it, so we went back to Larkana with a weakened forward line.
So, the only change was Croitoru, back from injury, for the virus-stricken Marin. Michail missed a golden opportunity for Nea on the first minute, and Croitoru put us ahead on the twelfth to stake his claim for a place with a clinical strike.
Luca jumped up and down, looking anything but sickly, much to the bemusement of our bench. Panagiotou was sent off for the home side after cynically fouling Croitoru eight minutes later, but Vãtuva dismissed the free kick over the bar.
Sighiartãu sent Otelul two up later in the first half, followed by a lot more pressure and the eleventh man advantage really showing for our boys. Luca's passion for the game reminded me of my own at his age, he kicked every ball and scored every goal. Football was in his blood.
Half-time was just a request for more of the same, we continued to dominate into the second half, but were still throwing away chances. Schwartz's goal fifteen minutes from time was my cue to make a double substitution, Sighiartãu off for Tismãnaru and Rósa on for Rãdoi.
Somodi was the unsung hero, assisting Schwartz's goal and really looking like a threat for the whole ninety minutes.
Attendance: 5,461
Nea Salamina Goalscorers: 0 (Panagiotou sent off 21')
Otelul Goalscorers: 3; Croitoru 12', Sighiartãu 33', Schwartz 76'
All in all, a pretty good tour, Schwartz and Somodi proving the MVPs of the trip. Luca said his favourite part was sitting in the dugout with me, and recalling it, he didn't seem to realise the powerful illness was even in him. For those ninety minutes, Luca was as healthy as you or me. I decided that from this point on, he would always come in the dugout during the game.
For good luck, of course...
12-13-2006, 01:58 AM
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? Post #7
Transfer window opened with the signings I'd set up for the club, I sent Croitoru on loan to feeder club Dunãrea to get some first team experience. The sale of reserve player Alan Ilin to Sportul went through, for €14,000.
On 22nd January, Sky Sports interviewed me regarding the open position for Rangers' manager.
Stanley Menzo was sacked today, Mr Doughty, do you believe you could be his replacement?
I don't know what Rangers think, but I'm not interested in the position.
Surely the chance to manage at Ibrox would have some interest for a manager such as yourself?
I don't want to leave Galati, I think we've got a very positive feel here. Rangers is a great club but I have a job to do and a contract to fulfil.
The board declared themselves very happy with me for distancing myself from the position at Ibrox publically. Privately they all knew the reason why I'd chosen a struggling Romanian club over a European qualifying giant. I hadn't lied, I definitely had a job to do, and something to fulfil, but it had nothing to do with football.
The next day worth remembering was 26th January 2012. Luca was looking very lethargic that day, so I told my brother that I would lay out the €1,000,000 for the first two months' treatment from my own personal balance.
Marius didn't seem to see what the rush was all about, but on the 27th he drove us to the hospital. Luca held my hand all the way there, crying and afraid. He would be all alone in Bucharest while I was taking the team to Turkey, but I promised to call him every day and fly him out to Turkey after the three days of treatment to meet up with the squad and myself after the first fixture against Beykozspor.
Marius told me he had no intention of staying in Bucharest as he had a Poker tournament to attend back in Galati. I kissed Luca on the forehead and after a long hug, gave the doctors my credit card number to authorize a one million Euro payment for the medical treatment for February and March. They said that they were glad I had brought him so early. "At this stage we have a ninety seven percent success, he's in good hands, Mr Doughty."
I queried, "What would the success be if I brought him in May?"
The doctor looked at me, wide-eyed, "If you brought him in May, Mr Doughty, I'd tell you to call the funeral arrangers, below ten percent."
I thanked him, and left, seething that my brother could put him at such risk. Most of my personal fortune was gone but my nephew could finally begin his treatment for the rare cancer in his system.
When I boarded the plane later that day, I was thinking of Luca, all by himself in Bucharest. I thought I'd had it hard battling for the Dutch Premier League, or Promotion for Bristol City, but those of us involved in football were so detached. Worst case scenario, I'd've lost money and my job, but my nine-year-old nephew was battling for his life.
Three days later, the game finally came. Luca had been on the phone, mainly to complain about the awful food but also to say he couldn't wait to see me later, and good luck for the game. He sounded a lot more alive than before he had gone.
My new signings' first chance to prove themselves, against a Turkish non-league side got underway. The first time since I'd agreed to let Luca come in the dugout for every game, and he wasn't there, but at least it was for good. He had sounded a lot better before the game and genuinely rested, and I'd be seeing him in a few hours to share stories.
We conceded in the fifteenth minute, a penalty kick given away stupidly by Uzun. Several chances just after were wasted, but Sighiartãu drew level by getting on the end of a great ball eight minutes later. We took the lead through Paraschiv's 30 yard strike on thirty-one minutes.
Two-one up at half time, I handed Kravchenko his debut in place of Vãtavu and put Tismãnaru on for the still-recovering Martinovic. Four minutes into the second half, Kapacu Yasin was sent off for pushing Kravchenko in the chest. I swore, "This is meant to be a ****ing friendly!" as the player walked down the tunnel.
Sighiartãu again scored on sixty one minutes, from close range, and Ceran added another three minutes later. Daminutã scored our fifth in the dying seconds, and I substituted Kravchenko off as a precaution as he had picked up a knock. I was overjoyed with the win, it was a huge result, especially after they took an early lead.
Luca was overjoyed when he heard the result. "How did you get so good at being a manager?"
"I thought of someone I really loved, before picking the team." I grinned at him. "I'm so proud of you, Luca."
The colour in his face looked to have returned as he enthusiastically brought about an imagined example of the hospital food having a face and tentacles trying to grab him. "I take it it wasn't very good then, let's go get a pizza." He giggled and followed me down the street of Istanbul to Fat Tonino's Pizzeria, for his first real meal in three days.
A matter of life or death, or much more than that? 
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