Football Dynasty

With his business wrapped up at Maddox Group, Richard wasted no time the following morning. As the sun crept over the skyline, he carefully guided his McLaren F1 out of the underground garage and made his way to Maine Road.

There, tucked away in a secluded, guarded corner near the stadium grounds, he parked the McLaren. The car would rest there, out of sight, until the next moment he needed that rush.

From the same facility, he pulled out his more modest—but still powerful—Porsche, his daily driver. It was a practical choice by his standards, though even Richard's version of "practical" could go from 0 to 60 in under five seconds, with a cabin lined in custom Alcantara.

Time has passed, and now it's June 8th—the moment has arrived for UEFA Euro 1996 to begin.

However, just as Euro '96 was about to begin, as expected, some of City's players received offers from other clubs—and a few had already submitted transfer requests.

What surprised the management was that six players had expressed their intention to leave—and not just fringe players. Among them were two goalkeepers: Richard Wright and Nicky Weaver.

If both were to depart suddenly, wouldn't City be left dangerously short between the posts?

"Do you know why they all suddenly want to leave at the same time?" Richard asked, clearly confused, as he turned to Marina Granovskaia, who was overseeing the matter.

Marina exhaled slowly. "Well..."

"First, it's about playing time. Since the arrivals of Jens Lehmann, Neil Lennon, Jackie McNamara, Theodoros Zagorakis, and Robbie Savage, both Martin O'Neill and John Robertson have clearly prioritized them in the starting lineup. That's left a number of the old guard—players inherited from the Alan Ball era—feeling sidelined.

But that wasn't the only issue.

"They're also deeply uncomfortable with the major changes City is undergoing—especially in your high-performance department," she added cautiously. "They're just… not used to this kind of environment."

Many of the homegrown or long-serving players were struggling to adapt to the club's new professional standards and structure.

Previously, meals were straightforward and traditional—high-fat, high-carb dishes like steak and chips. Now, players were placed on personalized meal plans, complete with supplements. Clubs even hired dedicated nutritionists to oversee their diets.

Training, once focused primarily on stamina and long-distance running, had shifted to include strength conditioning. Post-match recovery now involved mandatory ice baths, compression therapy, and strict cooldown routines.

In other words—it was too much change, too fast. And for many of them, it felt like it came at the cost of fun, camaraderie, and family time.

"When the club pays you every week, and you still expect fun, camaraderie, and family time every single day? How many matches do we play? Once a week. And the club only asks for an extra hour after each game," Richard grumbled, his frustration clear.

He picked up the list of names, scanning them aloud: Richard Wright, Nicky Weaver, Richard Jobson, Jamie Pollock, Graham Fenton, Steve Lomas.

Indeed, all of these players were holdovers from Alan Ball's era.

"So, what did O'Neill and Robertson say about this?"

"I've already reached out to them. They've given us the green light to move forward with the transfers."

Richard folded the paper thoughtfully. "And how much have we been offered if we sold them all? How many bids have come in?"

"About five million pounds so far," came the reply.

Richard nodded slowly, weighing the situation before he said, "What about Zanneti and the Inter Milan situation?"

"Tomorrow, I will go to Milan to discuss the contract terms for Javier. We've already accepted the bid for Roberto, and Inter is ready to release Javier."

Richard tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. "Do you remember the two players we visited last year in Italy, Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo?"

"The ones from Parma and Brescia?"

"Exactly." Richard nodded seriously before instructing, "Submit another bid for those two players. Bring them here at all costs."

With Richard Wright and Nicky Weaver both submitting transfer requests, it meant that for the next season, Jens Lehmann would be Manchester City's only primary goalkeeper. At the very least, the club would need a reliable backup. Eighteen-year-old Buffon was naturally the best choice.

Then there were Jamie Pollock, Graham Fenton, and Steve Lomas—all midfielders. Richard was determined not to keep players who were only half-committed to the club, especially if they couldn't adapt to the high standards set at City. Andrea Pirlo was definitely capable of covering all their roles. He was a complete package, a mythical player, if Richard could say so.

The only one who worried Richard was Richard Jobson, the current left-back backup for Roberto Carlos. Initially, it was a concern—but considering the presence of Gallas and Thuram, the left-back position was actually still well-covered for next season.

"We just need to follow up on last year's discussion," Richard said calmly.

"Understood. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Marina replied with a respectful nod before turning toward the door.

Richard nodded in return, watching her exit his office with quiet efficiency.

Time passed, and the UEFA Euro '96 group stage slowly came to an end.

First match – 8 June, Wembley: England 1–1 Switzerland.

England took an early lead, but Switzerland equalized late in the match with a penalty.

Second match – 15 June, Wembley: England 2–0 Scotland.

David Seaman saved a crucial penalty from Gary McAllister, and Paul Gascoigne followed it up with a world-class solo goal. He then celebrated with the now-iconic "dentist chair" pose, which instantly became a symbol of the tournament.

Just after the match against Scotland ended, an incident occurred that shocked not only England but all of Europe—and the world.

On Saturday, 15 June 1996, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a massive truck bomb in the heart of Manchester city centre. The explosion was one of the largest on British soil during peacetime.

The IRA issued a 90-minute warning via phone calls, allowing the police to begin evacuating over 75,000 people from the area.

Remarkably, no one was killed, but more than 200 people were injured—some seriously. The early warning and the quick response from law enforcement likely saved many lives.

The damage, however, was staggering. Over half a billion pounds' worth of destruction was recorded. More than 1,200 buildings were damaged, many of which had to be demolished or entirely rebuilt.

Fortunately, Maine Road—where Richard lived and where many of his employees and staff resided—was located in a quieter residential area, far from the blast. No one in his immediate circle was harmed.

But Richard acted fast.

The first thing he did was place a call to Fay. Acting swiftly on behalf of Rover Group, he instructed her to mobilize support for the bombing victims in Manchester. The gesture wasn't purely corporate—Richard genuinely cared—but he also understood that in times of tragedy, compassion spoke louder than any advertisement.

"Organize emergency transport. Offer our facilities as shelter if needed. And send our mechanics to assist with damaged vehicles in the area."

It was a decisive move that not only provided real aid to the shaken community but also earned Rover Group widespread positive exposure in the media. In the headlines the next day, the company wasn't just another corporate name—it became a symbol of solidarity in a time of crisis.

The second call Richard made was to Stuart Olm, head of Maddox Construction and Property Management.

"Maddox Group will inject another £100 million," Richard said firmly. "Our top priority is the damaged buildings—especially those whose owners are willing to sell during this uncertain time. We'll focus on structurally compromised sites near the blast radius. This is our window. Many will be unsure of what to do, and we can offer them a way out."

Stuart understood immediately. Crises caused hesitation in some—but opened opportunity for others.

"We'll target commercial blocks and old mixed-use buildings," Stuart confirmed. "Especially those without insurance, or with owners who are too overwhelmed to recover. We'll offer clean buyouts and handle all the paperwork quickly."

"Good," Richard replied. "We're not just buying property—we're helping rebuild Manchester's confidence."

Over the next 48 hours, Maddox agents moved swiftly through the city, identifying viable acquisitions and offering fair but firm deals. For some property owners, it was a much-needed lifeline. For Maddox, it was an opportunity to turn devastation into renewal—and cement their position at the heart of Manchester's recovery.

Naturally, the incident disrupted the atmosphere surrounding Euro 1996. However, it also led to strengthened security protocols across the UK. With these measures in place, the tournament was able to continue as planned.

Third match – 18 June, Wembley: England 4–1 Netherlands.

Arguably England's best performance of the tournament. They dominated a highly-rated Dutch side with confidence and flair, securing a commanding win.

England topped the group with 7 points, and fans across the country erupted with excitement. Their beloved Three Lions were through to the quarterfinals—looking strong, united, and full of promise.

With the group stage concluded, it is now certain that England will face Spain in the quarterfinal.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Just as Richard was gathering his thoughts—wondering if there was anything he might have overlooked for the upcoming season—a sharp knock echoed from the office door.

"Come in," he called out.

He was still in his office at Maine Road, working as usual.

The door creaked open, and Miss Heysen entered, clutching a folder tightly to her chest.

"Richard, Umbro just faxed over the design for next season's jersey. Please take a look at this."

Richard's eyes lit up.

John Humphreys, the owner of Umbro, who had tripled their sponsorship this year, said they had a very special design for the upcoming season to celebrate City's return to the Premier League.

Naturally, Richard couldn't wait to see the jersey.

1. Home Kit (Home Jersey)

2. Away Kit (Away Jersey)

3. Third Kit (Alternative Kit)

4. Goalkeeper Kit

5. Training Kit (Jacket)

The home kit, as expected, proudly retained Manchester City's iconic sky blue color—an identity that had become synonymous with the club over the decades.