[FM13]The Adriatic Adventure [Hajduk Split]

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AGAINST ALL ODDS
If anyone had told had told Igor Pami? he wouldn't have secured the Croatian First Division for the first time in his career at Christmas, Pami? would have slapped them. And, with good reason, Hajduk were a good 18 points behind the Istrians, and, with the board already celebrating, Pami? had every right to be happy with performance. The man had two "manager of the month" awards in 4 months.

But Bendiš wasn't having it, and in a move of pure desperation, the man from Dubrovnik had a closed training session and gave his team "the talk". It was aggressive. It was mean. And it worked like magic.

In the second half of the season, Bendiš's team was the most prolific scoring machine in Europe. In only the last 5 games, Hajduk have scored 17 times, conceding only 3. And that doesn't include Hajduk's massive 6-2 drubbing of Dinamo in late March. Yes, Bendiš had one eye on the title, and now, after a very close run race, he has it in his grasp once more. One more season of Champions League football, one more chance at all the money in the world. Granted, this time, he'll be doing it without Josip Radoševi?, one of his more important players, but the squad is better now. Save for Erik Janža's arrival, every single player is Hajduk born and bred. Perhaps it's time for the home grown team to make a return at Europe's biggest stage.

Although, now, Bendiš's primary concern is how to fix the Croatian Division so that Dinamo loses out on the Europa League.

JOSIP RADOŠEVI?:
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ANTONIO MILI? (his replacement):
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Ouch, tough loss losing Radosevic, hopefully Milic can fill his boots, but it's a tough ask

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POLJUD BACK IN ITS SELL OUT GLORY
Poljud has been sold out for the first time in 10 years.

In the Croatia cup final, after Hajduk defeated local rivals RNK Split in a sellout of their stadium 3-0, 35 000 people filed into the glory on the Adriatic to watch the reverse fixture.

And got terrified, as Split scored within the opening 15 minutes. Although, Hajduk had a 3 goal cushion, so everything was okay.

But it wasn't from the player's point of view. How would it look for a Hajduk born and raised team to be the first team in TEN FREAKIN' YEARS to lose at a home-ground sell-out on Poljud? So they went for everything or nothing.

And did they deliver or what. Goran Milovi?, the former Split player headed home the first goal only five minutes after Split took the lead, before Ivan Mili?evi? made a dazzling run on the right side to smash one home just before half.

Hajduk weren't done by any measure, and they continued to mutilate the Split defense, with Tomi Kiš nearly there many times. But Split kept blocking the shots. Eventually though, the rebounds were too much, and a excited Mili?evi? grabbed onto the ball and got behind the goalkeeper for 3-1, before home-grown boy, Ton?i Mujan smashed home number 4.

NUMBER FOUR!!!

It's a shame though; because Dinamo so nearly missed out on Europe in the league, and Hajduk would have been more than thrilled to let them miss out by the cup.

MEANWHILE...
FOUR HAJDUK PLAYERS CALLED UP TO CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM.

And it is:

Croatia, and Hajduk #1, GORAN BLAŽEVI?:
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hardworking, ruthless defender, GORAN MILOVI?:
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The ever-precise FRANKO ANDRIJAŠEVI?:
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AND, the (almost) teenager with one heck of a nose for goal, TOMISLAV KIŠ:
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2013-07-17 18:45#120511 Rablador : Ouch, tough loss losing Radosevic, hopefully Milic can fill his boots, but it's a tough ask

It's okay really... I mean, I might not do as well in Europe, but Milić has been coming on for him often enough. He got a great MoM award this season...

Good to see your players getting the national recognition they deserve!

Looking good.

very nice results
how are the finance going?

Hmm, four goals in a game, not a bad return. But to lose the same number of people to the national team as that guy scored goals. But I have to ask, what has the Europa League done for the club in terms of finances??

Nearly forgot about the finances... Thanks guys...

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BACK TO THE BANK!!!
Bendiš and his friend were sitting on his café balcony, before Bendiš finally dropped his paper and said, "Can't you go the bank instead of me?"

To which he responded "Are you drunk? I wouldn't go to that meeting if they offered me your job"

*Sigh...

So, Bendiš walked down the street and walked into the biggest bank in Split, and shook hands with the Club board of Directors, before being directed to the back room. Now, this was officially not allowed, as the back room was strictly for bank matters only, but, seeing as the club had essentially paid for the room, it seemed only right.

Besides Bendiš, there were three club directors, the director of the bank, his personal assistant, and Bendiš's personal assistant. Oh wait... he didn't have one... So Bendiš was taking notes himself... as usual...

"Let's get started:"

"Last season, you promised that, if we didn't sell the squad to balance the budget, you'd deliver financial stability..." Let's leaf through here... September was pretty disastrous, but that was to be expected... October got a bit better, and it continued... thank you God...

"Actually, wait a second. Excuse me, Mr. Bendiš (call me Timmy, I'm 21 for Christ's sake. This was followed by a rough look by the club's director). Your prize money isn't here... who has it...

"And there it is...

"Now let's see... *leafs through papers... again... and again...*

"Congratulations Mr. Bendiš [*stern look*], you've pulled off the impossible."

----

This meeting was top secret, so naturally, the entire town knew, and most of it was waiting outside the bank. This was the club's life! Bendiš may have won the double, but without money, what was it worth.

Bendiš walked out first. The rest of the directors were still getting prepared... and, the crowd was silent, waiting until Bendiš said something.

After a moment of play-acting, Bendiš broke into a wide smile shouted "We DID IT!!!!!" And the crowd carried him down the street on their shoulders, cheering like they just won the Division

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Hajduk has been profitable, without prize money, since January. Pulling about 10K in pure cash in a month, with all the Champions League money going towards settling the debt (which is now only at 10 million). However, with the prize money, Hajduk has a balance of nearly 18 million, not to mention the extra 7 million they are set to receive for participating in the CL group stage.

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In the league, Hajduk is 6th in terms of annual salary (1.1M/annum), but (just barely) 2nd in terms of worth, coming it at 29.5M to Dinamo's 31M. Still, it's the trophy's that matter, as well as the fact that Hajduk thrashed Dinamo this season.

On a income of 22 million euros, Hajduk put nearly 11 on the side to settle their debts, and, to eventually buy their stadium, which was sold in 2010 to help settle the debts...

Not sure if you're a manager or that guy who works down in finance Great job in saving all that money!

nice job done on that financial crisis I presume another season or 2 and you will be out of debt and ready to make improvements to the squad.
it all depends on how far you get into the cl next season

2013-07-18 11:04#120608 Caelis : nice job done on that financial crisis I presume another season or 2 and you will be out of debt and ready to make improvements to the squad.
it all depends on how far you get into the cl next season

Technically, I'm out of debt now. Is there an option of paying it ahead of time, or do I just need to wait for the loan to wind down?

Still, I doubt I'll be buying any players this season or the next... Unless I run into a hot prospect from another Croatian or Slovenian club...

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Update on Janža, by the way (my incoming Slovenian). The guy was the runner up to Slovenian young player of the year, getting 6 player of the match awards. He should have won though... as should have Tomislav Kiš, but, with Dinamo coming in 3rd and Kovačić being allaround terrible, they decided to give the award to him over my 20 goal 19 year old...

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BENDIŠ STRUGGLING. AWFUL TRANSFER SEASON FOR HAJDUK
GORAN MILOVI? SIGNS IN MOSCOW
All of Bendiš's contract discussions happen on the balcony of his café. Essentially, it is Bendiš's office. He does everything there and is normally happy with the days work.

This evening, after training, he was talking with Goran Milovi?'s agent. Bendiš hated agents. They were scum. And this particular agent... well he was the worst of the worst.

See, somehow, Goran Milovi?'s agent got access to the banking statements of Bendiš's meeting with the bank last month. And, as Bendiš negotiated one of the largest contracts at Hajduk ever, (nearly 400K) he still couldn't afford it.

However, he had a secret weapon. Inexplicably, although he didn't use any of it, most of his budget was allocated to transfers. So, after a few minutes, and an email to the chairman, Bendiš got his budgets balanced, and offered what the agent wanted.

The agent came back and asked for 450 000 €/a year. Bendiš tried to adjust the budget again, but then, the agent asked for 500. Half an hour passed...

On the street, around sundown, the tourists outside witnessed something bizarre.

*GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT! GET OUT OF MY CAFÉ, AND NEVER COME BACK. YOU WILL NEVER, EVER EVER!!!! SET FOOT IN THIS TOWN AGAIN* A very large voice bellowed

followed by the, slightly anxious, much smaller voice of Milovi?'s agent,
"Y-You ca-can't be serious Mr. Be-Bendiš-š, you've g-gone completely c-craz-AAAAAHHHHH"

A small man flew off the 1st floor balcony into the street, and crashed on a table rolling over, clearly hurt

*OF COURSE I'VE GONE COMPLETELY CRAZY. WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN, I SWEAR TO GOD, GET OUT OF THIS TOWN*

"M-my G-god. Uuuuugh, I-I l-live here y-you m-maniac." The agent rolled over.

And then, Bendiš finally emerged into the street. The former target man is one of the most imposing figures in the modern game, and definitely up among the biggest men in Split. No shorter than 1m95cm, and absolutely huge, the manager was livid, and terrifying

*NOT ANYMORE, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE*

Scooting away, the agent was gaining confidence, "W-WHAT ARE YOU G-GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?"

WHAM, Bendiš kicked the agent in the stomach. The agent flew a few feet and rolled over.

*DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU WILL NEVER.[wham] EVER.[wham] EVER [wham] SET FOOT [wham] IN THIS TOWN [wham] AGAIN*

By now, quite a crowd had gathered

"FINE! [spits blood] YOU MA-MANIAC, I'M CA-CALLING THE PO-POLICE"

*YOU CAN CALL WHOEVER THE HELL YOU WANT*

At which point the huge figure of the Hajduk manager picked up, lifted over his shoulders, and threw the tiny agent towards the street. The agent landed face first, and slid a few meters towards the sea. He made a herculean effort and managed to just stay out of the harbor water, just holding on to the pier by his fingertips. Bendiš, almost back in his café turned around and noticed the agent trying to get back up.

He calmly walked across the promenade. His Italian shoes clicked across the stone tiles. The agent looked desperately across up at the manager, who looked so very far down at the pathetic figure trying to stay out of the water.

Bendiš, very far from pity, put his shoe on the agents forehead, and, crouching, still with his foot on the agent's head whispered into his ear, menacingly

"never come back to this town again"

before shoving him into the water with his foot.

Bendiš spit into the harbor, and his best friend emerged from the crowd, putting his arm around Bendiš's shoulder, and asked "Rough day, huh?". A single tear rolled down Bendiš's face, before the manager's friend carried the emotionally broken Bendiš inside

The police came 10 mintues later, when they talked to the agent, who, with two black eyes, a broken nose, a few missing teeth, and a long black mark across the center of his face, explained the situation. Then, the police threw the agent back into the harbor and stepped into Bendiš's café for a drink.

---

The next day, Spartak Moskva had paid an undisclosed fee, and Goran Milovi? had signed to join the Russians at the end of the season.

And the day after that, Zoran Karoglan moved out of Split, and was never seen in the city again.

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And the press? They didn't write a word. Such is the respect for Bendiš in the town of Split, where only money and agents defy him...

I'm honestly surprised you didn't hang him over the balcony and threaten to drop him until he accepted your offer. It's also interesting to see how much finances have played into your story, since they usually get glossed over in favor of the football. Congratulations on becoming profitable!

Defy bendis and beware. Another great update, but surely you could have stretched for him. In terms of the squad, as I haven't noticed it in a while, how is it going in terms of nationality. Is it nearly all croatian or does it have a few? Also, what about the age of the squad? Good to see the team climb out of the trap that is debt, although what is the projection for the rest of the season?