A Scandal That Shocked England

In late November, Liverpool.

Aldrich sat cross-legged on the soft carpet in the hall of his estate, with an additional cushion beneath him. He held a remote control, watching a recorded match on the TV. In front of him, four-month-old Bert and Earl had already grown 14 centimeters taller since birth, and their weight had more than doubled.

The little ones wore adorable baby outfits. Bert busied himself with a large block, and each time he attempted to put it in his mouth, Aldrich would laugh and stop him, signaling him not to. Occasionally, he'd even give a long-winded explanation as to why he shouldn't, even though Bert couldn't understand. Undeterred, Bert kept trying to bite the block, and Aldrich didn't seem to mind repeating himself over and over.

Earl, sitting curiously in front of him, glanced around with a quieter demeanor than his brother. His little eyes sparkled with interest, especially when he looked at the football game playing on the screen, seemingly more engaged than Aldrich himself.

During FIFA match days, Aldrich had given his team a few days off as a reward for their stellar start to the season. This applied to those players without national team duties, of course. Meanwhile, he took on the role of a full-time dad, spending time with his sons and watching recordings of national team matches, analyzing the tactics of teams he found interesting.

The England national team had struggled in the Euro 2000 qualifiers, needing a playoff to secure their spot. Recently, in the playoffs, Scholes had been the hero, scoring twice to ensure England's qualification.The entire nation seemed to be celebrating, a scene that might appear normal at first glance. However, thinking back to the end of the qualifiers when Hoddle faced harsh criticism and the national team felt the weight of public pressure, this current jubilation feels less like true joy and more like a collective sigh of relief.

Aldrich predicted that within a week, the media's tone would shift back to criticism of Hoddle and his team. Proud Britons, from the birthplace of modern football, had a national team that their fans expected to be favorites for every World Cup and Euro Championship. How had they fallen so low that they needed a playoff?

Turning off the TV, Aldrich took the blocks from Bert's hands. Bert didn't cry—he just reached out, silently asking for them. When Aldrich kept hold of the blocks, Bert simply lost interest and turned to find something else to occupy him.

Picking up both sons, Aldrich settled them into the double stroller, ready to take them outside for a walk to enjoy the evening air.

Contrary to popular belief, evening air, not the early morning, often has the best air quality.

As Aldrich was about to leave, the doorbell rang. He opened it to find Carter at the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had business in Liverpool, and the talks ended a bit sooner than I expected. So I figured I'd drop by to see you—and check in on these two little rascals."

Carter came bearing a gift—a charming wind chime made of brightly colored metal tubes that created a clear, pleasant sound when they clinked together.

"The salesperson claimed that the colors and light reflections from this wind chime are supposed to be good for infant development. I'm not sure if it actually works, but consider it a decoration for Bert and Earl."

"Thanks."

Aldrich accepted the gift and hung it in Bert and Earl's nursery.

As they walked through a nearby scenic park, with Aldrich pushing the stroller, he and Carter chatted casually about everyday life, just like any two friends.

"Oh, by the way, I brought you a book. I just finished it and didn't feel it was worth keeping, so here's some light reading for you."

Carter pulled a book from his briefcase and handed it to Aldrich.

Before even glancing at the cover, Aldrich chuckled. "You think it's not worth keeping, so you're giving it to me?"

"It's by Glenn Hoddle, England's national team coach. Aren't you a bit curious?"

"An autobiography? I bet it's the usual fluff. Not really interested," Aldrich replied dismissively.

He had read plenty of autobiographies by players and coaches—most were repetitive, though not in content but in substance.

Typically, they would recount career highlights, with a few scandalous revelations thrown in to entice readers. But in Britain, where the tabloids were relentless, there was hardly any secret left to tell.

He had read several footballer and coach autobiographies, most of them repetitive—not in content but in essence. They'd review their careers, sprinkle in some scandal or gossip to attract readers, but in a place like England, where the paparazzi leave few secrets untouched, there's hardly anything left to reveal.

He remembered, in his previous life, following the trend and buying Beckham's autobiography, My Story, a bestseller at the time. But now, he felt no interest. It wasn't because he was closer to Beckham now or understood him better, but because he realized he'd been played; the book was just Beckham cashing in on fans' idol worship. The foreword and afterword by Bryan Robson and Piero were little more than praise, while the main content tediously recounted every international match Beckham had played. For the average fan, wasn't it easier to just watch the match footage? The book's only real draw was a glimpse into Beckham's relationship with Victoria.

Of all the books on football legends, Hand of God by Maradona held a special place for Aldrich. Carter, a Maradona fan himself, once joined Aldrich for a three-hour discussion just about this book.

Beyond the book's philosophical musings and lyrical prose, it dives deep into Maradona's life—particularly his long-running feud with FIFA, his personal vendetta with Havelange, and his ultimate downward spiral.

In a sense, this book went far beyond a standard biography; it offered a stark look at society's underbelly.

Aldrich kept The Hand of God on the top shelf of his bookcase.

Holding the new book in one hand while pushing the stroller with the other, he glanced at the cover.

Glenn Hoddle: The Story of the 1998 World Cup

Carter suddenly asked, "Surprised?"

"Wait a minute." Aldrich looked at the price tag: £17.99. "Hoddle's lost his mind!" he exclaimed.

"What? You haven't even read it yet."

"Just from the title and the price, ha, Hoddle better have put some explosive content in here, or why would a publisher even take him on? And who would buy it?"

Carter chuckled, giving Aldrich a thumbs-up, impressed by his deduction.

With such a high price, especially for a coach who hadn't achieved legendary success, the book had to have some juicy revelations.

"It's an interesting read, but once you're through it, you won't feel the need to keep it," Carter added, sparking Aldrich's curiosity.

"Since you've read it, give me a summary."

"Sure," Carter said, laughing. "The book's packed with stories about national team players. Like, why hasn't Andy Cole, despite his stellar form at Manchester United, caught Hoddle's eye? Or how Gascoigne reportedly threw a massive fit in the hotel when he found out he didn't make the 1998 World Cup squad…"

Aldrich listened intently as Carter outlined the book over dinner. By the time they parted ways that evening, Aldrich had a pretty good idea of its contents.

Once Aldrich had put his sons to bed, he lay alone, deep in thought.

What on earth had gotten into Hoddle?

Even if Hoddle hadn't exposed the private lives of his current players, who among the England squad could ever truly confide in him now? Around him, they'd need to be wary; anything said or done today might just end up in Hoddle's next book.

Why had he done it?

Was Hoddle cashing in because he knew his days with the team were numbered? He could definitely score a hefty sum from the publisher.

Aldrich couldn't wrap his mind around it.

Multiple renowned European publishers had frequently approached Aldrich, asking him to write an autobiography. But he'd always declined, refusing to churn out a dry memoir just to cash in on his fame.

Eventually, his mind grew tired, and he drifted into sleep.

The issue that puzzled Aldrich back then never did receive a clear answer. However, Carter, while reading this book, had indeed missed a certain detail that rapidly ignited a public outcry.

Beyond the private revelations about many England players, Hoddle also included his personal beliefs about disabled individuals, suggesting that their disabilities were a form of karmic retribution for misdeeds in past lives.

When Aldrich woke up, he took his two sons to Melanie's parents' home before boarding a flight back to London. As he disembarked, the storm was already brewing.

Today's training session would start later than usual, as they were taking into account the schedules of players returning from international duty. Even though some players hadn't traveled far from London, those who played friendlies abroad, especially outside of Europe, would return slightly later.

A short coaches' meeting was scheduled for the morning. Aldrich arrived at the club's meeting room right on time, only to find the other coaches already present and deeply focused on the news broadcast.

"Is something going on?"

Aldrich placed a hand on Boas's shoulder. Boas looked up, saw it was him, and then pointed at the TV. "A huge crowd is outside the FA headquarters, demanding Hoddle's immediate resignation!"

"What?! So soon?"

Aldrich had anticipated the book's negative impact, assuming that any fallout would take time to brew. He never imagined the backlash would hit with such force and speed.

Everyone was absorbed in the news, so Aldrich took a seat to watch the live **c broadcast.

If the public only wanted to learn some juicy secrets about famous players, it might have made for some fleeting amusement, but it wouldn't lead to mass protests.

But Hoddle's views on "karmic retribution" enraged people, especially those who had disabled friends or family members.

The uproar grew louder and more heated, eventually even drawing the attention of the Prime Minister, who issued an unreserved condemnation of Hoddle.

Under immense pressure, the FA announced Hoddle's dismissal.

With only six months left before the Euro 2000 tournament, the England national team was suddenly without a head coach!