HNK HAJDUK SPLIT THE LAST OF THE DEBTS
"Mr. Bendiš, do come in"
Bendiš had walked down the street to Hajduk's bank... The Bank of Split. He hated this part of the street. It was clean, there were lovely trees, it was right next to the cathedral, and that bank. Damn that bank. Bendiš's annual go-kart race even made steps to avoid that part of the street, with a chicane cutting outside to the water's edge, rather than going for the obvious straightaway. Granted, the route chosen was beautiful, and definitely added to the course, especially as it gave an awesome loop around said cathedral... but it was still a bit unorthodox.
"Please say we're done with this..."
"Oh, Mr. Bendiš, don't worry... we'll be fine
"Mr. Bendiš, we are pleased to tell you that the clubs debts have been cleared, entirely, for the first time in 25 years."
"Excuse me?"
"Yes Mr. Bendiš, you are free. Congratulations, it took you nearly 10 years to do it, but you did. It is, according to the chairman, his gift to you for winning the Champion's League."
And with that... Hajduk, and Bendiš was free... He was free, he was allowed to do anything he wanted! Buy random excessive transfers (Perhaps Ibrahimović would come along)! Build a new youth center! He could even open a club sponsored casino! Imagine...
Or he could keep doing what he was doing and go for another Champions League...
Yeah... that sounded nice.
And, with the sounds of his café streaming from up the street, Bendiš crossed his chest, bumped it twice, kissed his fist, and pointed to the sky; because he was done. He was finally done with the banker's nightmare of the club.
Great work Timmy. Hopefully you don't go all Manchester Shitty and go nuts on the transfer market and leave Split back where they first came on. Good luck.
Wow, quite an achievement. Now sign up Ibrahimovic
2013-10-24 04:02#139305 Neal :
Wow, quite an achievement. Now sign up Ibrahimovic
He had the GALL to retire on me... FOR SHAME IBRA... He's now a manager studying for his licenses (no club, doubt he'll get one either)
Y u do dis Ibra? Are they too good for you after winning the UCL and showing Man U how it is done?
On a more serious note, congratulations on the Champions League win, and the clearing of the clubs debts. May the future bring much for HNK Hajduk Split.
Bit of a random comment, this, but I do love the way that you still write it like most FM12 stories were written (but better) whereas everyone else has seemingly gone onto another format. Makes it unique. I do find it odd that you use so little picturs, for someone as good with Photoshop as you
WELCOME BACK, MR. BENDIŠ
He hadn't been there for years... Ever since he took his fiancé to that fancy restaurant in the center... open only to the most exclusive people in the world... and some random football manager from Croatia and his girlfriend at the time.
"Nice restaurant, yes? It's the same owner... "
Bendiš was sitting on a rooftop restaurant, overlooking downtown Munich. It was a pretty city, granted. Not Split... but it was pretty. Frauenkirche was prominent in the foreground, while you could see the gap between the buildings for Maksimillianstraße in the distance. It was a walking district though, so it was rather quiet, especially for downtown Munich at noon.
It was July, Bendiš had just lifted the Champions League trophy with the most unlikely club in the world. But he had done it. The club's debts were finally cleared. It was the first time that Bendiš might have left: everyone knew he wouldn't leave the club with debts... it just wasn't in his nature. He couldn't leave his club to die all over again.
He was sitting down with Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoeneß, and the recently retired Lucien Favre... who, as the Bayern manager had only failed to win the Champions League.
"Welcome to München, Mr. Bendiš... it has been a long time..."
"Indeed it has, Karl, indeed it has..."
"I'm sorry we had to bring you here during your vacation"
"You know, it is not my policy to go to job offers. Normally, my suitors come to me. Wouldn't you agree that this is correct? So, unless you're making a bid for one of my players, than I will have to bid you good day. I'm meeting my fiancé for coffee later."
"Surely, she can come here..."
"I don't honestly know who you think you are, Mr. Rummenigge, Mr. Hoeneß, Lucien... but I'm certainly not going to tell my wife to come to a place to meet with, effectively, Bayern München, when Bayern München isn't going to tell me what the hell they want."
Lucien Favre spoke for the first time... calmly, slowly, as if every word was more important than the last, "You are my chosen successor. You took a small club to the top, and now you are expected to bring a big club further than that. You will be paid 3 million euros a year for your troubles and for moving out of Split. Your living arrangements will be subsidized by the club, your other homes will be bought out, if you wish, and you will be given a heroes welcome in Munich."
It took Bendiš just a moment to formulate his response. He had heard rumours, whispers, along the dark corridors of football, but his mind was made up, "I doubt you are told this very often: No. Good afternoon gentlemen, and good luck."
Steffan Hoffman, Hannover's manager over the last four years, was announced as Lucien Favre's chosen successor to the German media 3 days later.
Stupid Bayern, who do they think they are. Hajduk for life!
Small sabbatical. Not more than a month, I promise.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, to one and all. It is my pleasure to announce that my "one month, tops" sabbatical is ending after two and a bit months, but, make sure to keep an eye out for this, as we fight our way, not from the depths of the Croatian first division, but from the ghastly graveyard that is the "FM 13 stories" part of the forum that is inaccessible to everyone...
Welcome back to the Adriatic Adventure everyone,
It's going to be one hell of a ride
VALENCIA TAKE OUT BENDIŠ ON RETURN
EUROPEAN SUPER CUP Cadíz, Spain
VALENCIA 3-1 HAJDUK T. KIŠ ('33)
"Where were you?"
Bendiš had been missing for a few months... ever since the Final match of the Champions league. And by missing, we mean, completely off the grid. There were a few sightings of his Ferrari across Europe, but it had only been when the training season had started and Bendiš had still not arrived in Split that the club had begun to worry.
Then the sightings started all over the place. The European press were all over it, and who could blame them: Champions League winning manager disappears after the final. There was even a day in July that he was spotted in five different cities, according to five different newspapers. But then, when it all seemed like it was over, the rumors made even less sense. On his mother's birthday, in the thick of August, when Bendiš was supposed to be overlooking Maksimir against Dinamo, his Ferrari was sighted in Bora Bora.
"BORA FUCKING BORA", his best friend threw the newspaper at him, "who the hell takes a Ferrari to BORA BORA?!... As it turns out, you were IN ZAGREB, of all places, not 100 meters from where the match was being played out..."
His best friend paused for a moment, calculating the next words in his head
"...Look, I know you're taking the break on the engagement hard but..."
Ah, that minor detail, pondered Bendiš. It had been too perfect for too long, it seemed. She had left him, with not even a note, the day after the Champions League win. He was still sleeping, when she got out of their bed, and, at six in the morning, was in a car for the airport. Bendiš woke up six hours later, after a long night of piano and fun to an empty bed, an empty home, empty cabinets wherever he turned, and a diamond ring on his nightstand. It took him another hour to search his building, and to go to the airport. He was greeted only by his best friend, who could do nothing but frown, shake his head, and hug him. Bendiš held it together though, barely, but he did. The two of them drove home... Bendiš, for the first time, not driving, and as they stopped in front of the café, Bendiš got out, went to the edge of the pier, sat down and sobbed.
She was gone.
The next morning, he packed his Fiat and a suitcase onto a flight for Paris, and vanished. While the press were having a field day on him, he spent three long sunny months on the sands of Copacabana, showing Neymar and his friends what's what. At 26, he played every day on that beach, and when he came back to Zagreb for his mother's birthday, he looked the part. At 203cm tall, the Hajduk manager was something else to behold. But, behind the sunglasses, behind the casually faked smile, behind the tan that made even the Brazilian locals swoon, there were his eyes. And, while every other part of his body feigned happiness, they betrayed him. They didn't light up anymore - like when Kiš scored, like when he played the piano in the evenings, like when his fiancé smiled at him - Both his mother and his best friend saw it, and knew... they knew why he had skipped the first two weeks of the season... why the only transfers from the club were organized before he left... why he had left and told no one where he went... why he had made such a colossal effort to stay hidden.
But he was there now, for better or worse.
"... it's okay mate... it'll get better"
But Bendiš wasn't listening. He rarely did anymore
He wasn't even listening? Damn that guy is rude
Phew, didn't think this was returning! One of my favourite stories, absolutely love it, hopefully it can carry on for a while yet.
