My Football Manager 16 Story #1: Goodfellas

by Brucevsky · Published 8 June 2017 · Updated 28 July 2017

My plan was different in many ways. After years of coaching in England, France, Norway and Italy, I just wanted to take a well-deserved break from being an artist in the crazy football circus and rest for a long time. My dream was just to sit at home and relax with a glass of whiskey, a good book in other hand and soothing sounds from the sound system in the background. I deserved it after years of constant work under stress, some harsh winters in Scandinavia and hours spent analyzing and developing new tactics for my teams. Life, however, often plays tricks on us. In my case, it also had some other plans.

Life’s a funny proposition

June. My peaceful existence somewhere in the remote area was destroyed by the annoying sound of a phone. I heard a familiar voice in the receiver. We need your help Brucevsky – caller went straight to the point – the situation is really bad. The president of Chateauroux didn’t beat around the bush and shared with me details that only members of the board should know. After the degradation to Ligue 2 my former employer found himself in a very bad position. Only immediate return to the backdrop of the French Ligue 1 could help him avoid gigantic debts and perhaps bankruptcy. Immediate – repeated the president. Before the end of the call, I’ve learned that I am the only man who can save Chateauroux. I’m the last hope of La Berrichonne.

I’ve very fond memories of Chatauroux. I’ve spent there few good years. With that in mind, I didn’t give him a straight answer. I’m wasn’t planning to return to football anytime soon, but I didn’t want to say this too soon. Some small coach inside my soul wouldn’t forgive me if I would do that. A few hours later I started regretting my decision, when another familiar person showed on the porch of my modest residence.

A corpulent Japanese in a suit, with a big smile on his face. I’ve already suspected why the president of Sabadell Football Club would show at the doorsteps of my house. We need your help Brucevsky – he went straight to the point – the situation is really bad. The same scenario, the same trouble. Degradation from the second league, dissatisfied creditors, and a much needed quick rescue mission. This cannot be just a coincidence – I thought.

My Japanese visitor was motivated. He was also smarter than his colleague from France because he came to me personally and declared to start a hunger strike if I don’t fly with him immediately to Spain. Even if only as a tourist, just to look around in the situation. I had no choice.

A few hours later I was taking my hastily packed suitcase from Catalonia Airport. I didn’t even take my toothbrush. President Sakamoto went for the car and told me to wait in the front the building. Tired of the recent events, fast and unplanned travel and the sudden break from the peaceful rhythm of existence, I went to the main entrance of the terminal…

The black mercedes stands few meters away from me. Some bald guy starts waving at me, so I go to him and sit in the car. President? – I ask. He’s already waiting at the club – says the driver. Cute, just take me to the club – I say to myself. The journey strangely drags and eventually my body surrenders. I fall asleep in the back seat. When my new bald friend wakes me up, I don’t even know how much time has passed. He informs me that we are in place. I get out of the car, straight to the sun-burned asphalt before some buildings. Heat is pouring from the sky. The neighborhood does not look even a little familiar. What the hell is Pena Sport FC?

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Goodfellas

For a long time, I will wonder, why I entered the club building of Pena Sports FC. At this point, however, sitting on the leather couch face to face with a mysterious bald guy with a gold chain around his neck, I had more important questions in my head. An unpleasant silence was finally interrupted by the ringtone of my cell phone, but the only thing I could do before my driver took it, was to notice the name of the caller on the display – President Sakamoto. You won’t need it now – said my new “bodyguard”. Moments later, I went to the office to meet this good-looking guy in his late thirties. Expensive suit and elegant watch suggested that he’s important or at least rich.

Brain quickly began to grasp the situation. Posters from the films “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas” hanging on the walls of the room certainly helped him with that. Stranger offered me a glass of whiskey, then instructed his colleague to pour me some alcohol. I didn’t even get a chance to respond to this generous offer. I wanted to ask the first questions, like – what am I doing here at all, but the caller probably sensed my intentions and started his monolog.

Welcome to Pena Sports FC Brucevsky – the new strength of the Primera Division in the next five years. Let me apologize for the strange way of greeting such visitor, but you understand, there was no other option. We have a job offer for you, and as you probably already know, it is irrevocable. You will be a coach that will lead our club to the top. Of course with a little help from our side. You did a good job at Lillehammer, I also read about your adventures in England and France. You will definitely like this environment, because for now, we’re poor and unknown in the football world, just like yours previous clubs. I heard that you like to build something from scratch. Arturo will take you right to your new home where you will find documents that you need about your new team. Well, welcome again and see you in a few days – said my self-styled boss.

Wait, wait, wait, what kind of job, what house – I started talking without any sense, still shocked about words I just heard. Strange man smiled and advised me to rest. There will be time for questions – he ended my hopes of getting any information. The signal was clear, for my own good, I should be silent and do as he says. And so I did. In some big estate on the outskirts of town, which I arrived a few minutes later, I found a detailed report on Pena Sports FC. In the absence of more interesting things to do, I flipped through the pages.

How did I get into this? I had a long, well-deserved vacation, and now I’m in business again. What’s worse, in some provincial club, which will be fighting to avoid relegation even in the third league. I had two options. Take the challenge and try to get something done, and in a right moment run, or make a suicidal attempt to evacuate immediately. I looked out the window and saw a car parked in front of the house and familiar face of Arturo. I knew that without a good plan I would not run away. So I have to play the coach again for a moment – I said to myself, still in disbelief about current situation.

One of the not so many good points is that my new employer is a realist and has small expectations as for my work in the first season. I must avoid relegation and try not to fail badly in the cup. With current team, it might have been difficult, but fortunately, the finances look fine (of course fine as in third Spanish division fine) so I could look for reinforcements in the free agents market.

My new assistant, a guy who has been with Pena Sports FC for years, was ordered to help me in any way I need. So I asked him to get rid of some unnecessary players. In the same time, I started hunting for young and cheap talents that would like to play in such club. I have a good striker, good midfield defenders, excellent defensive midfielders. To set up 4-2-3-1 I needed a decent left-back, winger and someone to do any good in midfield.

In the next two days, I got the chance to speak to chairman again. He decided to share with me another “good” news. You probably don’t know this Brucevsky, but Pena Sports FC is the filial club of Osasuna Pamplona. Ring any bells? Jan Urban had worked there no so long ago. This beautiful city is famous for its monuments or bullfights. Some people also know it as the home of the mafia of Navarra, which is also very interested in football. And our dear friends decided to help us a little by arranging a loan from Osasuna. Arturo, please introduce Kiko. Brucevsky, meet Kiko Barilla. I didn’t know whether to sympathize with myself or the poor youngster who ended in such situation…