"This is really OK. I just changed my role. Everyone can still see me during the team's game next season. This is not a farewell at all..." Chu Zhongtian urged Samuelson. Instead of spending all his energy on this, it's better to think about the team's transfer budget next season.

Samuelson finally accepted Chu Zhongtian's suggestion. A large part of the reason was that he himself couldn't think of how to say goodbye to be grand enough and worthy of a player like Chu Zhongtian.

※※※As soon as the news that Chu Zhongtian was about to retire one season in advance, the number of fans coming to the team's training base during training every day increased significantly.

They all came to see Chu Zhongtian.

Within the team, everyone was also excited about Chu Zhongtian's reaction to retire early.

However, Chu Zhongtian was very calm and comforted his teammates.

"I'm very late when I retired at the age of 41, so I can't say that it's 'before' when I retire, guys? Besides, we will work together next season. You don't have to feel sad. Play these last three rounds, just like usual."

Russell watched him say goodbye to his teammates, without saying a word.

In fact, he was very happy that Chu Zhongtian was able to replace him as the team's head coach. He had long felt that Chu Zhongtian was more suitable to coach this team than him, because his temperament was similar to the "crazy spirit". Maybe he combined with the "crazy spirit" to break this bottleneck...※※In the last home game of Wimbledon Athletics, the "crazy golf course" was squeezed out. In addition to the package tickets that had been purchased in advance by members, some tickets were left in this game that were originally planned to be sold a few days before the game, but it was sold out within one day when Chu Zhongtian decided to retire. Now there are no extra tickets at all.

This modern stadium, which can accommodate a total of 45,000 people, was built by Chu Zhongtian's construction company. After three years of construction, it was named "Crazy Gang Stadium". The club did not imitate other clubs and sold their stadium naming rights. They hoped that their stadium names could be passed down to future generations like "Old Trafford", "Stanford Bridge", "White Deer Lane" and "Anfield".

A large number of Wimbledon Athletics fans rushed in to witness Chu Zhongtian's last home game as a player.

Samuelson abides by Chu Zhongtian's wishes and does not hold any farewell ceremony with great fanfare. Instead, players from both sides lined up to welcome him out before the game started, and spoke to everyone through the microphone in the middle circle.

Chu Zhongtian did not have tears in his eyes and his voice choked several times like the other retired players, making a farewell ceremony particularly tragic.

He stood in the middle circle holding a microphone and waved to everyone.

"Thank you very much for everyone to come, ha! I greet you several weeks in advance, just hope you can come from all over the country, or even the world..." He smiled, and there was no sadness and reluctance on his face because of retirement.

Some people laughed, like John and the others.

"To me, today is the last day of my player's career. It should be very sad, right? But I don't feel that way. I was in a very good mood today. I don't want to recall what happened when I first stepped into the Kings Ranch for the selection twenty-three years ago, because nostalgia means I'm old, but I haven't. I'm only forty-one years old, and I'm still half of my life. I can do a lot of things. I don't want to tell you what happened in the past, I just want to tell you what the future will be... I believe many people already know that our team's head coach Alai Russell will also step down after today's game--"

Chu Zhongtian pointed to Russell, who stood with Wimbledon Athletics players on the sidelines.

"Thanks to Alai for his 22 seasons at Wimbledon... He left halfway, but he eventually returned to the Mad Gang. Thank you, Alai."

This was not like his farewell ceremony at all, he was like a celebrant.

"Alai has left. As his successor, I will become the team's head coach..." This is no secret. It has been reported and size in the news. Everyone knows that although Chu Zhongtian retired as a player, he will not leave Wimbledon Athletics, but will continue to fight as the head coach.

At first, everyone thought that Chu Zhongtian would become a pure club director when he retired, but he didn't expect that he would actually choose to become a head coach... However, when old fans thought about the half season in 2019, they thought that Chu Zhongtian was not incredible as a head coach.

"Is it still time for what I said after we successfully advanced to the Super League? I said this is not the team's ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is to participate in the Champions League, and the crazy brags are going to Europe to play wild! Now that I am retired, some media said that I have not been able to achieve such a goal until I retire. Is it really a pity? I don't think so."

"Our goal has not changed. I am still working hard for this goal. I just changed my identity. I used to be on the court, but later on the coaching table. I still said the same thing - Wimbledon Athletics is going to participate in the UEFA Champions League! We are going to Europe to play wild! We won the FA Cup in 1988, but unfortunately, for well-known reasons, we cannot participate in European competitions. Until now, the FA has refused to return the trophy to us... But it doesn't matter, we will take back what we lose! What is a FA Cup championship? We are pursuing more championship trophys! The crazy gang will never stop moving forward! The crazy gang will want a championship!"

"This is not my farewell statement, this is my inaugural speech. Thank you, thank you!"

Chu Zhongtian handed the microphone to the real emcee next to him, the club chairman Mr. Samuelson, and then walked to the sidelines with a cool look to prepare for the game.

Thunderous applause rang out from the Mad Gang Stadium.

"It's so good!" Boss John slapped hard and exclaimed at the people around him.

※※※On May 15, 2025, the last round of the 2024-2025 season ended, and the Premier League this season came to an end. On this day, professional player Chu Zhongtian disappeared, and coach Chu Zhongtian made a comeback, leading his crazy gang to continue moving forward.

But that's already another story...
Chapter completed!