[FM 13] The two manager brothers story...

Season 2013/14 is finished in all the most important countries and we use this article to have a view on what happened in the main European leagues.


English Premier League went to Manchester United: the Red Devils had to face the competition of Manchester City and Chelsea till the end, but managed to win the league. The FA Cup went to West Ham, in a crazy extra-time against Norwich, while the Capital One Cup went to Tottenham. Finally, Chelsea won the Community Shield against Manchester United.

The Ligue 1 saw the complete dominance of Paris Saint Germain that won the league with a 16 points lead over Olympique Lyonnais, after having defeated them also in the Champions Trophy. Monaco and Olympique Marseille won the French Cup and the Coupe de la Ligue against Lille and Toulouse, respectively.

In Germany, Bayern Munchen dominated the league, ending with 18 more than the surprising Frankfurt. The penalties decided the German Cup final between Schalke and Kaiserslautern, with the first winning the cup, while the same Schalke lost the Super Cup against Frankfurt.


Serie A was a matter of Milan: the most dominated of the European leagues went to Rossoneri who finished with 29 points more than Lazio. Milan also won the Italian Super Cup defeating Inter. Coppa Italia went to Catania, which defeated Palermo in a Derby delle due Sicilie into the final stage.


As always happened in recent years, in Spain is all matter of Real Madrid and Barcelona. This has been the great year of the Blancos, that won both the league, with a 5 points margin over the Blaugrana, and the Copa del Rey, defeating in final their historical opponents. Barcelona could comfort with the Super Cup, won in a great match against, of course, Real Madrid.


For us Italians, it is great pride to have seen Milan win the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munchen. The Europa League went, surprisingly, to the French team Montpellier, that defeated Arsenal in the final and will face Milan for the UEFA Super Cup next year. The UEFA Super Cup itself that this season went to Chelsea, who defeated Tottenham in an English final. The same Chelsea failed to bring the Club World Championship to Europe, losing the final against Brazilian team Sao Paolo.

I was at my father’s house in Finalborgo, with all the family sat in the living room chatting and updating of what happened during the last months. The lunch was great: my father’s wife always cook great meals! It was some time that my brother Andrea was gone in his old room, so I decided to go and look what was happening… (Andrea, Stefano)

“Hey bro, what’s going on?”
“Hey! Well… I was only distracted by some thoughts… about my team… you know…”

I smiled...

“Yeah, I know what are you speaking about... What’s troubling you?”
“Tomorrow the holidays will finish and I have to start planning next season. I was just wondering who I’m going to let leave the side…”

He gave me a sheet of paper…

“Mmm… I see a lot of guys of your reserve team. Then, Mexes, Nocerino and… BALOTELLI?!? Are you sure bro?”
“Not at all… But I’m getting bored of that guy! He never listens to me when I speak to him, he doesn’t accept warnings and substitutions! I have some good youngsters such as Fierro, and I am really thinking about getting rid of that man!”
“Well, if the things are going like that, it wouldn't be a bad idea…”

A strange idea came to my mind, for the first time in our managers' lives…

“Hey bro, speaking about transfers and strikers…”
“Yeah!?”
“What are your plans on that young Spanish striker, Adrian…”
“Mmm… I don’t know, I don’t think he is going to be in my plans in the next future… Why?”
“Well, he could be in my plans, I may need a guy like him… How much do you want for him?”

He laughed...

“I’ve never thought of making a deal with you, but well, why not? As I signed him for free… and because it’s you… Around 1 million?”
“Are you sure? For me it's a great deal, but for you...”
“As i said, I signed him for free, it will be a surplus. And the board just told me that I am going to have 100 millions as transfer budget, I definitely don't need too much money from you!"

He laughed...

"Tomorrow I will call his agent and propose the idea. If he agrees, we can find the right price. And… Now that you are in the first division, why not a friendly among our sides?”
“This sounds great to me!”

The “manager brothers” were starting to interact in the world of football…

The new season has still to become, but my work has been already started on the market. Some days ago, on Wednesday, I gave appointment to Adrian’s agent at 11 a.m. in my office: we had to finalize the transfer of the Spanish guy back to his country, to my brother’s side to be precise. Before his arrival, a call arrived: it was Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, who was calling me to tell me that Mario had signed his new contract with PSG. That man is really unpleasant, and I has been even more since I put his man on the transfer list. We argued some days ago and now I am really happy of having got rid of the two, for the good amount of 24M€.


Just at 11 a.m., Adrian came to my office together with his agent, Paco Peréz. They told me that they had come to an agreement with my brother for a 4 year contract. Adrian thanked me for the opportunity I gave him to join Milan, and for having sold him back to Spain: the guy was missing his country and was happy to come back there. He is a good lad, as well as his agent, and I wish him all the possible luck, telling him to make my brother’s side great. We were going to meet again in a month, when our sides will face in a friendly match.

This morning I received the most astonishing news: Nocerino has signed his new contract with Bayern Munich. This is itself a great news… The same day I transfer listed the guy, I immediately received news about the interests of Real Madrid and Bayern on the player: he is not bad, but this two sides are two of the most powerful ones in Europe and I was astonished by their interest! But the most amazing news was that they offered me 28M€ for Antonio! They were paying a good midfielder more than PSG paid a good striker as Mario! Well, they are crazy… But this sounds good to me: I obtained 52M€ selling two players, undoubtedly a record…


I don’t think I’m going to spend much of this amount, the squad is almost done in my opinion. This money are making the club richest and can become good in the future…

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The season is not officially started yet, but my work is starting to become harder, day by day.
Together with my second in charge, Cristian Torres, I’m planning the pre-season of our side to make them ready to the difficult year that is waiting us. Yesterday, a phone call to my brother has been enough to set up a friendly match between our sides: this will be the first time we will face each other. I hope one day my side will be that good to be able to face Milan also in an official match!


I am planning to stay here as long as I can, and what happened some days ago, the 28th to be precise, confirms this. I was in my office, the very first day I came back here, and I was having a look at my squad to find out if something was still missing there. I was thinking about the two positions in which I feel I need something, the goal and the left midfield, when my phone rang (Stefano, Mr. Michael Born).

“Yes?”
“Hello Mr. Gagliardo, I’m Michael Born, the managing director of Paderborn. Do you know our side?”
“Yes sir, I know you’re a German team playing in second division, if I am right. What is the reason of your call?”
“Well, some days ago our chair sacked our former manager and I am investigating the availability of some managers. You are the first on my list. Your result with Oviedo are great and known all over the football world…”

“I thank you very much for your compliments sir, but I have to tell you to look somewhere else. In this two seasons I felt in love with this team and this town, I have become the first fan of Oviedo, and I am not ready to leave this place. I feel my work is not finished here yet.”
“Well, it’s very rare to hear such a love for his team in a manager words, I am happy for you and your side. I wish you all the possible luck for your work in Oviedo.”
“And I wish you all the possible luck for your future sir. Bye!”

Ok, one may think ‘You refused a job at Paderborn, not at Real Madrid or Barcelona’. Well, in a sense it was an insulting offer: a club that was looking for avoiding relegation from second division wants to sign a first division manager with two consecutive promotions in the last two seasons? But the main point is that after that call I was aware that I was going to answer with the same words to everyone who was going to propose me a job.

I don’t know how, but coincidence or not my chair entered my office the day after (Stefano, Toni Fidalgo)…

“Hi Toni, it’s a pleasure to see you!”
“Hi Stefano! I found you perfectly fit for the next season!”
“Well… I am studying our team and you came in the right moment…”
“Before that my friend, I came here to discuss something with you, in particular about your contract. I was thinking about extending your contract till 2017, with some wage rise…”
“It sounds nice sir! How much we are talking about?”
“What about 600k?”
“To me it’s great, sir! I am really happy for the new contract, in particular for the extension. I love this side and I want to stay here for a long time!”

“I am really happy to know that. Now, what were you telling me?”
“Oh… Right… Studying the team for the next season I was coming aware that I am going to need a goalie and a left midfielder…”
“Well, due to the results you obtain with the team, to the fact that you claimed for avoiding relegation as the objective of the season, and the healthy financial status of the society, I set for you a 7.52M budget, with 5.66M for the wages. Do what you think can be the best for the team, I completely trust in you! Now I have to leave… Have a nice day Stefano: I am happy you accepted my contract proposal!”


A new contract, this was wonderful! And I have a large budget in my hands… Then, let’s look for what I need…

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The Brazil World Cup has just come to its end and here we summarize what happened during this month of wonderful football.


Some important surprises came out from the very beginning! France was incredibly sent out from the World Cup by the great performance of Algeria, that won Group D ending even up to Spain! In Group C, Cameroon could overcome Russia in the last match, sending Capello’s team out of the competition.


Last 16 round was full of outstanding results! Uruguay defeated Argentina in a very tough match, thanks to a goal by Ramirez during the extra time. Germany defeated Spain in another tough match, sending the holders of the trophy out of the competition! Also the previous finalists, Holland, was defeated by Brazil in the extra-time, while Mexico won over England. The surprising Algeria continued his wonderful world cup defeating Cameroon.


No surprises in the quarterfinals, with the four favorites teams, Germany, Uruguay, Brazil and Italy, going through the respective opponents and obtaining the pass to the semifinals, where the two European and the two South-American team would face each others.


Italy confirmed his tradition against Germany winning 2-0 in the semifinals and going to the final to play against Brazil, that won in a tough match against Uruguay thanks to the stunning performance of Leandro Damiao.


Thanks to two goals at the beginning of the second half, Brazil defeated Italy in the final, becoming world champions for the sixth time in the history and winning the championship in their country. Germany won the third place final against Uruguay, completing the podium.

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