The announcement of Aldrich's appointment as England's national team manager sent Fleet Street and the entire European football media into a frenzy. The reactions were mixed—some rejoiced, while others worried.
Media outlets thrived on the spectacle and drama, but for England's national team players, the stakes were far more personal.
Who would be dropped from the squad?
Who might see a career revival under the new leadership?
Newly appointed Aldrich had to act swiftly. His first task was to call the core players of the national team, not to beg for their support, but to clarify their positions and provide reassurance about their roles.
Sitting in his office, Aldrich began reviewing the squad list, starting with the goalkeepers.
By sheer ability and experience, David Seaman was the obvious first choice. Aldrich picked up the phone and dialed. Their conversation was short and professional. Aldrich informed Seaman of the next national team camp, reminded him to stay in peak condition, and emphasized how vital he was to the team's future—a clear signal: "You're my starting goalkeeper."
Seaman, a veteran of countless battles, took the news in stride, showing neither surprise nor excessive gratitude. The call ended smoothly.
As for the other two spots, Aldrich decided to shake things up. The second and third goalkeepers from the last European Championship—Nigel Martyn, now at Arsenal, and Richard Wright—were being replaced.
Aldrich called David James and Paul Robinson. James was named the backup, while Robinson was designated as the third-choice keeper with an eye toward eventually succeeding Seaman.
James, a controversial figure from his Liverpool days, had been indirectly criticized by Aldrich before. The unexpected call left him pleasantly shocked. Robinson, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with gratitude. He had recently joined Leeds United and couldn't believe his fortune at being included in the squad, even as a backup.
Next on Aldrich's list were the defenders. Finalizing the starting lineup for the backline posed some challenges, though the pool of candidates was relatively stable.
He called Gareth Southgate, his chosen captain.
"Hi, Gareth."
"Boss! Congratulations. You've always deserved this. England couldn't ask for a better manager."
"Flattery won't earn you any bonuses."
"I mean it. No flattery here."
"No problem, boss. I might not even be able to sleep tonight from excitement."
"One more thing. At the next camp, I'll announce it formally: you're the new captain of the England national team. Any objections?"
"Well… some people might think I'm not the right choice."
"I'm asking about your opinion, Gareth. Do you have the confidence to lead this team? I know the squad dynamics—the Liverpool clique, the Manchester United faction, and so on."
"Absolutely. No doubt about it!"
"Good. That's the attitude I want to see. See you soon."
"Thanks, boss. Talk soon."
Hanging up, Aldrich smiled knowingly. He anticipated backlash over his decision to name Southgate captain, with accusations of favoritism and nepotism bound to arise.
He didn't care. From a purely footballing perspective, Southgate's club achievements and on-field leadership were beyond question. Years of top-flight experience at Millwall had made him stronger and steadier than ever. With Adams gone, England needed a true leader on the pitch.
At center-back, Aldrich's primary selections are Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand, with Wes Brown and Jamie Carragher as alternatives. Brown earned his spot through solid performances, while Carragher's inclusion is more about his untapped potential—Liverpool hasn't yet recognized his natural role as a center-back.
John Terry, the Chelsea prodigy, remains a consideration. Aldrich is willing to set aside club affiliations for the team's sake, but he knows full well that including Terry in the next call-up would unleash a torrent of criticism.
Was Terry a diamond in the rough or just another prospect doomed to fade away?
If Terry could prove himself with consistent performances over the next year, Aldrich was open to giving him a chance—assuming he was still England's manager by then.
The position of full-back remained a significant headache.
For the right-back spot, Aldrich had a handful of options: Gary Neville, Mills, and Phil Neville. First, he called Gary Neville to secure his place as the starting right-back. As for Phil Neville, the scapegoat of last summer, Aldrich assured him of his spot in the national team but didn't promise a starting role. Meanwhile, Mills was explicitly told he needed to secure a regular starting position at Leeds United to make an impact in the national team.
The real problem lay at left-back, where suitable candidates were incredibly scarce.
After much hesitation, Aldrich picked up the phone and called Ashley Cole.
Although Cole had been a regular in the lower-tier national teams, he had yet to make an appearance in an official senior match—not even as a substitute.
Cole had spent two years with Millwall's first team. In his first season, his appearances were limited. During the second season, he played 21 matches, including cup ties and rotation games, putting in commendable performances. Despite a Champions League appearance against AC Milan, his experience in high-stakes matches remained minimal.
Calling him up and establishing his place in the squad would mean Aldrich had to bear immense pressure and take significant risks.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Ashley, it's me."
"Oh, oh, boss! Why are you calling me now? I knew it! I knew it! Boss, are you telling me I've made it into the national team's 18-man squad?"
Aldrich's expression turned strange as he held the phone.
The kid sounded overly excited. Judging by his tone, being a substitute seemed to satisfy him entirely.
After a long silence, Ashley Cole's enthusiasm gave way to nervousness.
"Boss? Boss? Say something! Did I mess this up?"
"Ashley, calm down first."
"Okay. Okay, I'm calm now."
"I'll call you up for the next national team training camp, and you'll play in the next match. Your future with the team will depend on your performance in that game. If you perform well, I'll handle the pressure to make you the starting left-back. If not, I'll have to give the opportunity to Bridge. From now on, focus on training harder and improving yourself. Get ready for your moment and seize it."
There was sudden silence on the line. Aldrich waited for a response, but none came.
"Hello? Hello? Don't tell me you fell asleep!"
"No! Boss! Thank you. Thank you so much! I'll give it my all. I promise!"
"F! Defenders don't just rely on giving it their all. Calm down. Getting overly excited doesn't help."
"Got it. I'll remember that!"
After hanging up, Aldrich shook his head and dialed Bridge. The reality was that left-back options were so limited that, even if Bridge wasn't ideal, there weren't better alternatives.
In midfield, there was an abundance of players, but the lack of specific types still made it a challenging area for Aldrich.
The team desperately needed a purely defensive midfielder or a defensive anchor.
Neither Lampard nor Gerrard fit the mold of a true defensive midfielder.
The idea of a well-rounded midfielder who excels at both attacking and defending sounds appealing. But in the fluid dynamics of a match, when these players focus on offense and the team suddenly faces a counterattack, can they provide the most effective defensive response? Their positioning—or lack thereof—is critical.
Aldrich had always been firm in his belief at Millwall: using specialized defensive midfielders yielded better results than relying on hybrids. While versatile players exist, their effectiveness in both roles simultaneously is rarely optimal.
Manchester United's Nicky Butt was one such defensive midfielder who could be relied upon. However, he had been overshadowed by Keane at United, struggling to maintain consistent form. His progress had stagnated, and there was little room for further improvement.
This was precisely why Aldrich was eager for the U21 team to focus on nurturing Hargreaves.
Years later, Hargreaves would struggle with injuries, but in the immediate future, his rapid growth was evident. He would soon secure a starting role at Bayern Munich and even earn recognition as one of Europe's best midfielders.
Pushing aside his worries for the moment, Aldrich called Beckham, Scholes, Gerrard, and Lampard. For players like Barry, who had been converted to defense, and Butt, he planned to observe them further. As for Newcastle's Dyer, Aldrich decided to rule him out entirely.
Finally, after a moment's hesitation, Aldrich picked up the phone and dialed Hargreaves.
Getting Owen Hargreaves' phone number was no simple task. Aldrich had to go through the FA and request it from Bayern Munich.
At this point, Hargreaves had multiple national teams to choose from—Germany, Canada, or England.
When Aldrich finally got him on the phone, Hargreaves sounded confused.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Hargreaves, it's Aldrich Hall…"
"The Millwall manager? Are you serious? This isn't funny!"
It was clear he thought someone was impersonating Aldrich to prank him. After all, with the transfer window closed, what business could the Millwall boss have with him?
Aldrich spent some time convincing Hargreaves of his identity, only for the young midfielder to learn something even more surprising—Aldrich was now the England national team manager.
"Owen," Aldrich began, switching to a serious tone, "I'm calling you as the England manager. I want you to represent England. The U21s will send you an invitation soon. You've made it to Bayern Munich's first team this season, and when the time is right, I'll give you an opportunity to prove yourself in the senior team. Work hard, and you'll become a crucial player for me in the future."
Of course, Aldrich's own position as national manager wasn't exactly secure, but when talking to players, promises like these were necessary—even if they were a bit premature.
Hargreaves stood frozen, shocked into silence for what felt like an eternity. But once the initial shock faded, he didn't hesitate. He agreed to Aldrich's invitation in an instant. He wasn't of German descent, but his time in Germany gave him the eligibility to represent their national team. However, when Aldrich, whose name echoed across Europe, personally extended the invitation, Hargreaves knew this was a turning point—and he made his choice without a second thought.
"Boss, I'm in!"
He had made his choice. Follow the young lion of a manager—Aldrich.