Eternity RPC Board
12-01-2016, 01:34 AM
Nyland Daily News
Football Special: Much ado about Michael Stephenson
By H.A. Vartti
Published: 21 Nueva, 1580
![[Image: LaDasN1.png]](http://i.imgur.com/LaDasN1.png)
Michael Stephenson is the new manager and head coach of Nyland's men's national football team.
Flåleandshem - For two years, the future of Nylander football was been in limbo since Jurgen Baumann's initial announcement to end his work as manager and head coach of the men's national team by electing not to renew his contract. Following his departure, the NFL still had not finalized a selection, prompting former assistant head coach Martin Aguilar to agree to temporarily fill the post until a selectuon could be made.
Martin never wanted the post permanently, citing a desire to continue his career elsewhere, but it seemed he might be forced into it until, a year and a half on, the League finally announced its decision: Flåleandshem Metro coach and former architect of IF Ydrilt's rise to the Superettan, Michael Stephenson. While surprising to many, the appointment certainly isn't undeserved.
Rise to the Top
Michael began his coaching "career" with hsi son't Little League football team, at the time more well known for his job as sports writer for the Isort Daily News, a local newspaper. Never really intending to make a name for himself, his teams nevertheless did very well, winning state championships twice in six years as coach.
"It was always just a hobby," Michael commented, who stopped coaching once his son had moved from Little League to school athletics. Obviously, though, his story doesn't stop there.
Isort has never been a town known for footballing talent, and though it did have a local professional team, IFK Isort, it's amateur footballing scene remained very small. Still, when Stephenson's son was offered a position on the team of then-local amateur club IF Ydrilt after college, Stephenson once again volunteered his time to his son's athletic endeavors, this time as defensive coach.
It took several years, but he eventuallt assumed head coaching responsibilities in 1568, and immediately in '69 the team saw itself promoted from Division 4 with a State Championship and a good showing in the South Region Derby. From there, the "miracle" story wrote itself: finishing 2nd in the South Region and winning the Nationwide Championship in 1571 to move to Division 2; earning a place in Division 1 two years later; squeezing into the Superettan - a feat none predicted - in 1574. Following his miracle run with Ydrilt, Michael was hired by Flåleandshem Metro near the end of 1576 to right the floundering team after two terrible years and a threat of reaching the relegation zone...which he did, bringing the team back into Superettan prominence.
"I never imagined back in '68 that I'd be offered professional gigs, but here I am," Michael smiled with characteristic modesty. When questioned about his 'Method Man' nickname from the press for his calculating style, he offered, "I didn't do anything special, really. I just looked at what we were up against, told [the team] what they needed to do, and they responded as best they could."
Hopefully his "simple" approach will help him meet the one goal the League has set for him: secure World Cup qualification for 1582. Stephenson himself, though? "I really want to take Baumann's old youth program and revitalize it, make it something that can carry this team and this sport into the next decade and beyond. But of course, we'll focus on one milestone at a time."
As is his, well, "method," I suppose.
Football Special: Much ado about Michael Stephenson
By H.A. Vartti
Published: 21 Nueva, 1580
Michael Stephenson is the new manager and head coach of Nyland's men's national football team.
Flåleandshem - For two years, the future of Nylander football was been in limbo since Jurgen Baumann's initial announcement to end his work as manager and head coach of the men's national team by electing not to renew his contract. Following his departure, the NFL still had not finalized a selection, prompting former assistant head coach Martin Aguilar to agree to temporarily fill the post until a selectuon could be made.
Martin never wanted the post permanently, citing a desire to continue his career elsewhere, but it seemed he might be forced into it until, a year and a half on, the League finally announced its decision: Flåleandshem Metro coach and former architect of IF Ydrilt's rise to the Superettan, Michael Stephenson. While surprising to many, the appointment certainly isn't undeserved.
Rise to the Top
Michael began his coaching "career" with hsi son't Little League football team, at the time more well known for his job as sports writer for the Isort Daily News, a local newspaper. Never really intending to make a name for himself, his teams nevertheless did very well, winning state championships twice in six years as coach.
"It was always just a hobby," Michael commented, who stopped coaching once his son had moved from Little League to school athletics. Obviously, though, his story doesn't stop there.
Isort has never been a town known for footballing talent, and though it did have a local professional team, IFK Isort, it's amateur footballing scene remained very small. Still, when Stephenson's son was offered a position on the team of then-local amateur club IF Ydrilt after college, Stephenson once again volunteered his time to his son's athletic endeavors, this time as defensive coach.
It took several years, but he eventuallt assumed head coaching responsibilities in 1568, and immediately in '69 the team saw itself promoted from Division 4 with a State Championship and a good showing in the South Region Derby. From there, the "miracle" story wrote itself: finishing 2nd in the South Region and winning the Nationwide Championship in 1571 to move to Division 2; earning a place in Division 1 two years later; squeezing into the Superettan - a feat none predicted - in 1574. Following his miracle run with Ydrilt, Michael was hired by Flåleandshem Metro near the end of 1576 to right the floundering team after two terrible years and a threat of reaching the relegation zone...which he did, bringing the team back into Superettan prominence.
"I never imagined back in '68 that I'd be offered professional gigs, but here I am," Michael smiled with characteristic modesty. When questioned about his 'Method Man' nickname from the press for his calculating style, he offered, "I didn't do anything special, really. I just looked at what we were up against, told [the team] what they needed to do, and they responded as best they could."
Hopefully his "simple" approach will help him meet the one goal the League has set for him: secure World Cup qualification for 1582. Stephenson himself, though? "I really want to take Baumann's old youth program and revitalize it, make it something that can carry this team and this sport into the next decade and beyond. But of course, we'll focus on one milestone at a time."
As is his, well, "method," I suppose.