Rising to Glory: Nedved's Ballon d'Or Triumph

The outcome of a match unfolds within its 90 minutes, but the forces behind that result often extend far beyond just that duration. Sometimes, the groundwork is laid a week, a month, or even two months prior, with these accumulated factors decisively shaping those 90 minutes. This also explains why, in the face of equally matched strong teams, we occasionally see an apparent powerhouse suffer a surprising defeat.

With years of experience, Aldrich no longer confines his focus to those 90 minutes alone. Preparation extends beyond just a week or two before the game—it can span a month or even longer.

A team's condition can be divided into physical state and competitive form. The club's medical staff scientifically assesses the players' physiological status, while competitive form relies on the expertise of the coaching team, especially the head coach, to fine-tune.

Under normal circumstances, Henry is a level and a half stronger than Klose. While Henry ranks among Europe's elite forwards, Klose is more of an average player. When Henry is in "prime" form, his advantage over Klose widens by two levels. But if Henry's form dips to "poor" while Klose hits "excellent," Klose might actually outperform him on the field.

Maintaining players in optimal form is a true test of a head coach's skills. Many consider it a hallmark of an elite coach to consistently keep top players in peak form, but in reality, that's impossible. No player can maintain peak performance for every minute of every match. Even legendary players in football history couldn't achieve that.

That's why powerhouse teams reliant on a fixed starting eleven often fail to sustain success due to the inevitable fluctuations in form. It's also why top coaches make surprising lineup adjustments over a long season, sparking speculation—Was it locker-room drama? A rift between coach and player? Impending transfers? In reality, the reason is often simply to regulate players' form.

A truly skilled head coach should know how to flexibly utilize his squad, adapting as needed to make the most of available talent.

Even when Henry's having an off day, he can still work wonders against weaker teams. Sure, he might struggle against top defenses, but even in bad form, he's never useless. Everyone has a baseline, and Henry's is still way too high for most defenders to handle.

Millwall's incredible run at the start of the season wasn't just due to their own strength but also a favorable schedule, which helped them keep their form sharp. Early matches against mid-tier teams like Tottenham and Liverpool allowed them to build confidence and momentum. A stretch of games against lower-tier teams maintained that momentum, and by October, the tougher matches reignited their energy. The team maintained their peak performance all the way to the Manchester United showdown, driven by everything from tactical factors to individual motivations, such as the Ballon d'Or race.

By this point, Aldrich didn't demand his team keep pushing for more. Their peak form was already reaching its limits, and with the Ballon d'Or decided, players would start experiencing physical fatigue. So, he gave them a break. Even if the players themselves didn't ask for it, Aldrich would rotate and rest them during the upcoming games.

He aimed to complete the team's mid-season adjustments by mid-February to gear up for a final push in the second half of the season. In his mind, landing in a relatively weak Champions League group was less than ideal.

While joking about wanting a "Group of Death," he actually hoped for at least one top-tier opponent, preferably a powerhouse, a strong team, or a borderline elite. That way, Millwall could focus entirely on the Champions League, using those challenging group matches to prepare for the knockout rounds. It was better to face tough competition early on than to coast through easy games, only to be overconfident when the real challenges began.

The die was cast. Aldrich couldn't go knocking on UEFA's door asking for a redraw, nor could he propose a trade with a tougher group. Even if another team was willing, UEFA would turn it down flat, and the other three clubs in Millwall's group would cry foul.

The work ahead depended on Aldrich and his colleagues' abilities.

That weekend, Millwall hosted Derby County in a home match. With a relaxed lineup that included several young players, they secured an easy 2-0 victory over a once mid-table team now fighting relegation.

With this, Millwall clinched a 22-game winning streak across seasons, leaving the European football world stunned.

"Keep going, keep going—let's see how far Millwall can push this record!"

Late at night, Aldrich slipped into a coat and stepped out of his house. He walked straight to the apartment across the street, lightly pressing the doorbell.

Yvonne, dressed casually at home for the winter, was surprised to see Aldrich standing at her door. Quickly opening it wide, she looked a bit flattered and said, "Come in."

Aldrich gave her a small smile. "I was just feeling a bit restless alone. Want to join me for a walk?"

Yvonne looked astonished. She pointed back at the living room, where the TV was displaying the live broadcast of the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

"Oh, sorry for interrupting."

Aldrich kept smiling, already turning to leave.

"Wait! I meant, aren't you watching it?"

"Oh, I'll know the results by the time I get home."

"Give me five minutes… no, three!"

With that, Yvonne dashed upstairs. In less than two minutes, she reappeared, her look hastily refreshed and dressed in a snow-white coat, ready to join Aldrich outside.

At the Ballon d'Or ceremony, six Millwall players attended, creating a focal point as they sat together in dashing suits. Their families were also there, adding to the atmosphere.

Ronaldinho and Schneider were chatting and laughing with ease. They knew they were here mostly for the experience and to support their teammates; despite making the shortlist, there were plenty of other players with more impressive stats this season.

On the big screen, clips of the candidates' best moments of the year played. Such highlights were naturally an advantage for attacking players, especially strikers. The thrill of a goal was unmatched. For defenders and midfielders, however, it was harder to showcase their true skill in a single moment, as scoring wasn't typically their primary role.

When the final result was announced, thunderous applause filled the hall.

Nedved rose from his seat.

Millwall's second Ballon d'Or winner was born!

Nedved had outshone Rivaldo and Beckham to claim the 1999 Ballon d'Or.

He might lack Rivaldo's Copa America victory or Beckham's Champions League triumph, but the Ballon d'Or often balanced out achievements. If it hadn't been for Zidane's World Cup win last year, would Nedved have only placed second?

This year, as a midfielder, Nedved scored more goals than Rivaldo and only had six fewer assists than Beckham, whose goal tally didn't come close to his. Leading Millwall to a league and cup double last season, Nedved helped establish them as Europe's standout team, recently setting a record with 22 consecutive wins in the top leagues—a record that might yet continue. His contributions were undeniable.

At the ceremony, he kissed his wife before, with reluctance, heading to the stage. He paused to hug each of the five teammates who had come to share in this moment with him.

Shevchenko, who ranked sixth in the final Ballon d'Or standings, was seated nearby. He stood up to congratulate his former teammate Nedved, and the two shared a heartfelt embrace.

As Nedved walked onto the stage, he held the Ballon d'Or in his hands, gazing at it for a full ten seconds before lifting his head. He smiled, but his eyes were already moist. A tear slipped down his face, which he quickly wiped away with a smile.

"In the summer of '94, I came to London from the Czech Republic to join Aldrich Hall's team. At that time, he told me that one day I'd be a star. I believed him, just as my teammates did. Now, five and a half years later, here I am. I want to thank my family and teammates who've supported me on this journey. But, Boss, I won't express my gratitude to you here. No, because you and Millwall will always be here, always."

Nedved, holding the Ballon d'Or in his left hand, placed his right hand over his heart.

Larsson, Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Schneider, and Henry stood together, applauding, followed by another wave of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

In the Ballon d'Or rankings, Larsson and Henry placed fourth and fifth, respectively, Ronaldinho took tenth, Pirlo ranked thirteenth, and Schneider garnered only a handful of votes, ending up twenty-fourth. Nonetheless, with four Millwall players in the top ten and Nedved bringing home the Ballon d'Or, it was a monumental night for Millwall.

Beside the Thames, Aldrich rested against the railing, his gaze on the vast, starry sky. Yvonne boldly melted into his arms, holding him close. He shut his eyes, allowing her fragrance to fill his senses, reaching straight to his heart.

...

In three years, Millwall had produced two Ballon d'Or winners, with both Larsson and Nedved earning the prestigious honor. This year, six Millwall players were shortlisted, and with promising young stars like Pirlo, Ronaldinho, and Henry, people had no doubt that these players would also be top contenders for the Ballon d'Or in the future.

Millwall's success on the field was already well-known, with their youth development approach yielding tremendous rewards. The club had not only nurtured two Ballon d'Or winners but had also established its Leo Training Base, now widely hailed as "The Cradle of Superstars."

At the same time, 23-year-old coach Aldrich had been given a new title by the outside world:

The Kingmaker!

Speculation was already brewing about who Aldrich's next Ballon d'Or protégé might be. The candidates were plentiful—Ronaldinho, Henry, Pirlo—all prime choices. And as for the young players steadily growing within the club, who's to say they won't also shine brightly in the future?