[FM11] Tiki Tiki takes over Europe...

After something I touted in the challenges thread, I have decided to embark on a project to see if South Americans really could dominate European football.

The ultimate aim of the challenge is to win the Champions League with a side consisting entirely of South Americans. To get through the ‘home-grown’ rules, this would entail signing a number of young players for the under-19 team and getting them through the process of becoming naturalised. I’m not even sure if this idea is logistically possible, but let’s give it a go.

Game used: 11.2

Leagues loaded: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Holland, medium database.

The manager: Salvador Berrezzi, 30-year old, former Argentinian international. Given one cap by Diego Maradona in a friendly internation against Congo, before having to retire due to a knee injury. Applied for the vacant job at cash-strapped Dutch giants Feyenoord by e-mail to practise his English. Was surprised to be invited for interview and then offered the job, when it emerged his salary expectations were well below those of the other candidates. Struggled in his early press conferences, unable to understand any Dutch, and even struggling when reporters switched to English. Promised his chairman that he was learning both Dutch and English in fast-track classes. In reality, his study consisted of listening to CDs whilst driving to the training ground.

Alone in a strange land, his first move was to terminate the contract of the exisiting assistant manager, and immediately appoint his old rival from Argentina, Independiente goalkeeping legend Luis Islas: he turned out to be the only person he could have a decent conversation with for a while.

[video=youtube;EC-XrQybXMA]

The Feyenoord board proudly announced to their new boss that they had the best crop of young players coming through in all of Holland... Wijnaldum, Bruins, Vlaar, de Vrij, Mulder, Castaignos would be names to conjur with in the next decade. Berrezzi couldn’t even pronounce them, never mind conjure with them. In a conversation with his assistant, Berrezzi announced:

“I don’t know about this total football. I want my teams to play the South American style – tiki tiki, jogo bonito! This is what I dreamed about when I was a child. These Dutch guys can’t possibly be as good as South Americans. I’ll tell you something che: I bet you I could win this European Champions League thing with only South American players – then we would show them that our continent is better than the arrogant Europe!”

“That’s a pretty bold statement, amigo,” said Islas. “Hey, I’ve seen these Dutch players, they’re pretty good. You should give them a chance!”

Berrezzi agreed... for now. You can’t do everything in one go, especially with only just over a million pounds to spend on transfers... he couldn’t just go out and buy Tevez and Messi.

So, Berrezzi accompanied his new Feyenoord squad on a tour of Poland. And even he was impressed as his new charges ripped through four games, scoring 18 goals! Rather than see players for the future though, he started to see dollar signs – he could sell these players to big European clubs, to sign the kind of men he could work with... and then trump them all by leading his Latino dream team to glory by the end of the decade!

He was happy to find he could build the side round two Brazilians – goalkeeper Darley and defender Andres Bahia, though an injury in a behind closed doors game kept Bahia out of all the pre-season games. During the Poland tour, Berrezzi constantly kept a mobile phone to his ear to try and bring in some of ‘his kind of player’... a deal to sign Argentinian winger Nery Cardozo fell through, but he was delighted to get Ecuadorean international Fidel Martinez on a Bosman free transfer from Cruzeiro.

He immediately arranged for Martinez to be flown out to join the squad, and despite his jet lag, the youngster scored the two goals which won Feyenoord’s final tour match against the little known Arka Gdinya.

[video=youtube;3dtxV9sHNeA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dtxV9sHNeA

[video=youtube;zltTNxLl3jE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zltTNxLl3jE

“There you are, che!” Berrezzi proudly announced to Islas. “One South American player here already and he’s showing the lazy Europeans how to do it!”

With a 100% record from their Polish tour games, Feyenoord flew back to Holland to complete their pre-season. On the night that the side landed, news came through that Holland had just lost the World Cup Final in extra time to Spain. “See, che Luis?”, Berrezzi whispered. “Tiki tiki beats total football every time!”

To be continued.

Nice start BB, and a great idea for a career. Not sure quite how long you'll need to pull it off, but I like the way this is going

An idea that's a little different... and I quite like it. I'll be interested to see how it pans out.

Interesting challenge, football will be entertaining to watch. Good luck!

On the Feyenoord squad's return to Holland, manager Sal Berrezzi found that things had taken a turn for the better - the board had hired for him a new office secretary called Saskia... beautiful, efficient and, most importantly, a speaker of perfect Spanish. Also after the Poland tour, Berrezzi appointed a new first team coach - another Spanish speaker from his time at Depor La Coruna, but also popular with the Dutch players and fans, recently retired striker Roy Makaay. As the season drew closer, the four were frequently to be found in Berrezzi's office, in meetings where nothing but Spanish was spoken, with Saskia busily taking notes and keeping everyone refreshed with copious amounts of Argentinian wine. And this was Rotterdam?

Among the items under discussion were a poor performance in the first friendly back in the Netherlands - a 1 - 1 draw at feeder club Excelsior, in which victory, through Jerson Cabral's nicely worked goal, was snatched from Feyenoord's grasp at a free-kick four minutes from time, which saw Stefan de Vrij out-jumped for a header. How the side needed Andre Bahia's presence again, and also, Berrezzi figured, a solid back-up player to cover if either of the first choice centre two were injured or suspended.

Berrezzi thought he had this player in Argentine veteran Jorge San Esteban, but excessive wage demands put a block on that signing... moves for another veteran Guillermo Barros Schelotto and powerful Brazilian striker Rafael Mouro were also stalled, as Berrezzi found the going tough in the transfer market with Feyenoord's now limited financial reach.

Berrezzi decided that one or two players were going to have to go to give him a transfer fund. South African teenager Mokotjo was quickly deemed surplus to requirements and sold for 2.6 million to Loko Moscow. The boss was also considering listing veteran full back Tim de Cler, and right flank man Ruben Schaken, neither of whom had impressed him in Poland, as the team travelled to London for a friendly against Queen's Park Rangers. One player who was not leaving, though, was young striker Luc Castaignos, for whom a bid from Arsenal was rejected as Berrezzi sought to cash in on the forward's potential after he'd got a few goals in Eredivisie.

The trip to London fulfilled a lifetime's ambition for Berrezzi, who became an excited tourist for the day.

But that evening at Loftus Road, he got down to business, unveiling a Bert van Marwijk-style defensive formation involving two defensive midfielders, Fer and al Ahmadi, with the Moroccan detailed to 'look after' (in an Al Pacino sense, not a Julie Andrews sense) Rangers' highly rated Adel Taraabt.

In the end, QPR had no answer to Feyenoord's swift, punishing counter attacks, with fast rising Ecuadorean star Martinez scoring two more goals, including another stunner, in a 4-0 win. Berrezzi was smiling again. This was followed a few days later by a fans' open day at de Kuip, incorporating a friendly against minor side Zutphen, against which what was recognised as Berrezzi's first choice eleven quickly ran up a five goal lead (with a hat-trick for Luc Castaignos), only for his 'reserves' to stall after a mass of half-time substitutions, and add just one to the total.

Meanwhile, Berrezzi continued to try and mould the squad to a more Latin-image. Unable to spend anything in the transfer market despite the sale of Mokotjo (Berrezzi was quoted £5 million pounds for one Argentine player he was keen on!), he decided to concentrate on loan deals and free transfers. Thus came in Marcos Rojo, a defender from Estudiantes, and exciting attacking prospect Luciano Nieto from Huracan, both of the Argentine league, on one-season loan deals. Berrezzi also heard that former Sunderland midfielder Nicolas Medina was without a club after a call from the player's agent, and offered the 28-year old a four-week trial. Medina impressed enough in training and in a narrow 2-1 friendly defeat in Wolfsburg for Berrezzi to offer him a four-year contract to become the all-action lynchpin of midfield, and it was clear how the new manager's mind was thinking.

This wasn't to everyone's taste. Blazing rows with Ruben Schaken when the midfielder was transfer-listed then banished to the reserve squad unsettled coach and translator Makaay, worried about 'Dutch' and 'Latin' factions developing within the squad. This was in stark contrast to Berrezzi's eagerness to have Spanish fullback Dani Fernandez (whom he saw as an 'ally' in the squad) tied to a huge new contract to fend off interest from a top Greek club.

Then, after the Wolfsburg game, Berrezzi was astonished to read criticism from former England boss Steve McLaren, who mocked his desire to see a team that could 'walk in' its goals, eschewing a more direct approach. Berrezzi was stung into responding that there was more likelihood of finding life on Mars than of McLaren winning a trophy in Germany... well that wasn't exactly what he had said, but Berrezzi was also starting to learn of the Dutch press' fondness for 'paraphrasing'.

With pre-season out of the way, Berrezzi was lucky enough to begin his competitive Feyenoord career with two home matches. Both were won, without a goal conceded, giving him 6 points out of 6 before his first major tests.

Ironically in view of McLaren's comments, tough Heerenveen were beaten 2-0 with a muscular performance from the Dutch core, a perfectly-worked corner kick routine resulting in a Smolov goal from Ron Vlaar's knock down after just 3 minutes, and Bruins doubling the lead from the penalty spot. Ecuadorean Martinez came on as a second half sub to a rousing reception, after his pre-season high jinx, but failed to make an impact.

The second league game, against Willem II, started badly, though - captain Vlaar injured after just seven minutes. This time, though, de Vrij performed pretty well as substitute, and slowly Feyenoord started to get a grip as the Argentine trio of Rojo, Nieto and Medina started to strike up an understanding. It took 77 minutes to break through though... Nieto getting a debut goal after a crazy, pin-ball sequence started when Castaignos hit a post.

[video=youtube;LMp4SwsJ98A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMp4SwsJ98A

Castaignos missed an easy chance for 2-0, but one was enough and Feyenoord were third as Berrezzi looked at the rest of August in his diary.... now it was about to get a lot tougher! Early leaders Roda JC, AWAY; Champions League regulars AIK Solna in the Europa League, AWAY; PSV Eindhoven AWAY; before closing the month with the return against the Swedish outfit. Transfers? They would have to wait... he knew which players he wanted, but now realised it was going to have to wait until January, or possibly the next season if he got that far... he was happy with the four players he had brought in, but he was going to have to trust also in the likes of Bruins, Castaignos and de Vrij as the 2010-11 season started to kick in.

A great update, glad to see you haven't let this die I shall be following with interest

Nice, dude. Very, very nice.

A great update, glad to see you haven't let this die I shall be following with interest

Thanks.

I usually only play three or four matches at the time at most, probs because I spend way too long poring over the opposition and choosing the best side to face each opponent... this could go on a while, I don't know how people can do a whole season in one go!

Nice, dude. Very, very nice.

Many thanks :-)

This is great, good luck!

A tough fixture list for the remainder of August looked even tougher after Feyenoord were convincingly beaten 2-0 at leaders Roda JC. Manager Salvador Berrezzi had decided on a defensive 4-5-1 formation for the match, with Tomasson leading the line as sole forward, but after a goalless first half, Roda turned the screw in the second and were threatened only twice, by Andre Bahia headers that were saved. The unfortunate Marcos Rojo gave away a penalty in the match and Berrezzi was dismayed to see him perform poorly in the centre back role in the absence of the injured Ron Vlaar.

Having seen that a defensive approach didn't always work, Berrezzi decided to be a little more adventurous when the team went to Sweden for the first leg of their Europa League qualifying tie. And he was delighted to see the match turned by a superb display by Luciano Nieto. His mazy run forward put the ball on a plate for Tomasson to score the first goal, and recovering from the shock of a Swedish equaliser just before half time, with just ten minutes left Nieto won the match 2-1 with a typically flamboyant South American shot from distance.

[video=youtube;kxqH_Rqq9so]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxqH_Rqq9so

[video=youtube;StqdQcc9JeE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqdQcc9JeE

Encouraged by having adopted a more attacking approach in Sweden, Berrezzi decided this was the way to go for the forthcoming crunch at PSV Eindhoven. Not only that, but he said so in a pre-match press conference.

"We are going to attack them from the first minute!" he declared. Islas and Makaay were worried.

"You can't go out and play this way in Eindhoven!" warned Makaay. "Why? What is the worst that could happen? It's not as if we're going to lose ten-nil is it?!"

After ten minutes of intense PSV pressure in the Philips Stadion, it looked like a 10-0 scoreline was a possibility. Stefan de Vrij, recalled to the centre of defence after another poor performance in Sweden from Rojo, fouled needlessly to give away a penalty. But up stepped PSV's Berg and... blasted over the bar! It was just the piece of luck that Berrezzi needed.

In the 25th minute, Danish veteran striker Tomasson silenced the ground with an astonishing curling shot that looked like an early contender for the goal of the season. The ever emotional Berrezzi excitedly ran onto the pitch and hugged the Dane and was warned by the fourth official for doing so.

[video=youtube;5k5h1aoIVYY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k5h1aoIVYY

Five minutes later, Tomasson was again in the thick of the action. A long ball out of defence was flicked on by the Dane for Nieto to run at the PSV defence, and when the Argentinian's shot was saved by the keeper, Wijnaldum was on hand to tap the ball into an empty net - Feyenoord were winning 2-0 at PSV! This time, Berrezzi leapt out of the dugout and ran half the length of the pitch to celebrate with the small knot of Feyenoord fans in the ground. The fourth official threatened to send him to the stands.

Berrezzi looked like he would face more problems as, just 2 minutes after the second goal, PSV dangerman Affelay immediatley reduced the deficit. But a memorable rearguard action in the second half, with de Vrij recovering from his mistake to perform well alongside Andre Bahia, albeit at the cost of six yellow cards for Feyenoord, sealed a memorable victory and an early suggestion that Berrezzi's squad might be a major contender for the title. Berrezzi also felt that this was the afternoon on which he was finally accepted by the Feyenoord fans, after again celebrating ostentatiously with them after the final whistle.

In an almost anti-climactic end to August, AIK Solna were polished off in the second leg of the Europa League tie. Despite de Vrij's heroics at PSV, Berrezzi brought Rojo back into the centre of defence, and Ecuadorean Martinez to partner Nieto up front, with Tomasson rested.

Two Andre Bahia headers from Nieto crosses, the first from a corner and the second when Nieto's initial corner towards Rojo's head was cleared, put the tie out of the Swedish side's reach, and a late goal for AIK meant little. Feyenoord were into the Europa League group stage.

Before August was out, there was still time for a little transfer wheeling and dealing. £85,000 bought Brazilian central defender Alberis da Silva from Swedish outfit Atvidabergs, on the recommendation of the club's Scandinavian scout. After the struggles Rojo and de Vrij, Berrezzi felt he needed cover for captain Ron Vlaar, and also saw the Brazilian as a possible long-term replacement in the event of Vlaar's move to the Premier League, which Berrezzi saw as inevitable.

He also managed to strike a loan deal with Portugese side Maritimo to get the unhappy Ruben Schaken off his wage bill for a while, and using the money saved to bring in another Argentinian loanee, Alexis Danelón, struggling in Rosario Central's reserves - Berrezzi had good memories of him in Central's eternal relegation battles over in Argentina, and was delighted to bring in another squad member he could trust.

With the transfer window slammed shut, and players taking part in the international week, Berrezzi was fairly happy with his first team squad to take him into 2011....

(Not forgetting on loan Russian striker Fedor Smolov, who couldn't fit on the screen...)