Zidane's Best XI (BAP) - Story

[Mkmillwall]

Zidane Announces New Youth Competition
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Famed football legend Zinedine Zidane gave hope to youth footballers around the world yesterday when he announced he would be holding trials around the globe in order to help clubs notice talents that had gone unnoticed by youth academies from the large teams of the world. Why hold this? Zidane stated in a press conference following the announcement that he wanted to continue his legacy through the talent of other players that hadn't been given a chance by the behemoth club academies. His competition, named the Discover Football Event, will track the progress of the players discovered at his trials in order to assemble a Best XI from them each year. The reward for becoming part of the XI? Other than small monetary bonuses, simply gaining the recognition for receiving this soon to be prestigious award is more than enough for helping the careers and reputations of the participating players. The only rules for getting into the trials are that players must be eighteen years of age. Zidane took time to specifically wish all contestants luck, and even went so far as to say the next "him" could now get his chance to shine.

NOTE: This is the story thread. No comments or discussion/screenshots here. Please look to http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...-zidanes-best-xi-registration-discussion.html for that!

 

[Mkmillwall]

July 1st - Tryouts
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Yaounde, Cameroon:
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It was a hot summer day in the north of Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. The Rishta Hills, home to the city's unofficial football pitches, were filled with noise and commotion. Why? Because today was the trials for Africa's finest youth talents to prove to the world that they deserved to enter the greatest football competition yet. Zidane's Best, that's what the players could call themselves. They had to prove to all of the footballers across the globe that they were ready to shine, to be among the best. But for now... tryouts had begun.

Sao Paulo, Brazil:
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The Estadio de Morumbi, home to the most storied club in Brazil, Sao Paulo, had spectators and scouts alike sitting in the stands. But, there was no game today for the Soberanos, so why were people in the stadium. The simple reason was, they were there to witness history. Trialists from around the continent had journeyed to the stadium to compete for their chance at entering the next generation of top footballers. Players from favellas and the beachfront alike all joined together to earn the right to call themselves Zidane's Disciples. As mosquitos and fleas flew around the pitch in the not-so-hot temperatures of South American Winter, the whistle for the first match blew and what pace the game had. The sweat, the exhaustion, would it be enough? Only time would tell.

Vancouver, Canada:
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With city-sponsored trials for North American competitors being held at Trillium Field, contestants from Canada, USA, and Jamaica arrived in buses to take part in the continent's trials. With the matches and teams being organized very quickly, tryouts began earlier than usual as players attempted to shine and stick out from their peers. One thing is for certain. The scouts were definitely watching.

Nagasaki, Japan:
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Asia's trials; where technique is king. With the flags of all the participating nations hanging from the banners, the players must have felt a certain sense of pride in representing their nation in this awesome quest. A quest in the search of fame and reputation, and most importantly, a quest to see out a footballer's dream. Each player wants it more than the next, and as the whistle blew for the first training match, it was unclear who would progress to the next level of recognition. Only time will tell.

Adelaide, Australia:
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In the land down under, the winter day made it hard for the players participating in the trials to breathe easily. It was quite tough to play, but only the best were meant to be chosen, and they did distance themselves from the rest by conquering these tough and grueling conditions. After all, only the best could advance on to professional football.

Milan, Italy:

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The third largest stadium in Europe and by far one of the most important. Today, after all, was a very important day, so it is fitting that the trials for Europe, the last trials of the competition, be held at this very important stadium. And these trials were held with larger anticipation than the rest, not just because they were in Europe, but because the legend himself, Zidane, would be arriving to watch the final fixture. Journalists, scouts, and parents all sat on the edge of their seats as the first match began, knowing that today, history would be made.

 

[Mkmillwall]

July 2nd - Global Television Premiere

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"It all comes down to the luck of the day," stated a proud Zinedine Zidane as his televised press conference began. "Whoever can perform the best when everyone is watching. This is the pressure, and in order to succeed in the game, you can't just live with it. You have to thrive with it."
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A dim light in Madrid on the ninth floor of an apartment complex still shown. The television turned on just as the narrator began to say: "These were the forgotten ones. The ones nobody thought would make it, the ones clubs had rejected and not bothered to look at. These young hopefuls would redefine the meaning superstar. That's the plan anyway. Because apart from skill and vision for the game, these players all have one thing that sets them apart from the rest. The mindset to win. To succeed at the greatest game. The people's game. Our game. Who knows what will happen to them? One thing is for certain. Football is about to be redefined."

The city square in Takapuna, New Zealand was bright and lit as fans welcomed the two trialists from the town onto the stage. A projector behind them showed a large screen, with a voice narrating and explaining: "Throughout the day yesterday, trials around the world focused on over 1,000 individuals, each vying for a chance to be noticed by the best scouts out there. And now, our scouts at the Discover Football Event have made their decisions on who will be selected to become a professional footballer." The people in the square gripped their seats and friend's arms alike in anticipation.

As the names were called for the 38 winners, houses around the world became parties, rooms of congratulations, and areas of festivities and happiness alike. In the favellas of Sao Paulo, streets erupted in noise. In the televised event center located in Zurich, Switzerland, journalists and guests applauded each name being called. And somewhere, in the dim-light apartment in Madrid, a smile touched the face of one lucky competitor.

 

[Mkmillwall]

Player Profiles:
North America -

James Roots:
Position - DC
Nation - USA
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Positioning

Vincent St. Leo:
Position - LM
Nation - Jamaica
Clubs Interested - Sassuolo
Best Stat - Flair
​

South America -

Ricardinho:
Position - CM
Nation - Brazil
Clubs Interested - Sassuolo, FC Utrecht
Best Stat - Passing

Gustavo Silva:
Position - CB
Nation - Brazil
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Strength

Simon Medina:
Position - CM
Nation - Argentina
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Passing​

Africa -

Mustapha Ouedraogo:
Position - RW
Nation - Burkina Faso
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Flair

Alexis Malong:
Position - GK
Nation - Cameroon
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Handling
​

Asia -

Dai Ikeda:
Position - CM
Nation - Japan
Clubs Interested - FC Utrecht
Best Stat - Stamina

Adjema Soetadana:
Position - RW
Nation - Indonesia
Clubs Interested - Sassuolo
Best Stat - Passing

Sarun Grindo:
Position - CAM
Nation - India
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Determination

Mahmood Al-Masouri:
Position - GK
Nation - Saudi Arabia
Clubs Interested - Al-Fateh
Best Stat - One on Ones

Terry Jones:
Position - DC
Nation - Israel
Clubs Interested - Fenerbahce
Best Stat - Marking
​

Oceania -

Bruce White:
Position - ST
Nation - Australia
Clubs Interested - Adelaide, Oldham and 10 others
Best Stat - Dribbling

Tai Clark:
Position - CB
Nation - New Zealand
Clubs Interested - FC Utrecht
Best Stat - Marking

Chai Clark:
Position - LB
Nation - New Zealand
Clubs Interested - Al-Hilal
Best Stat - Acceleration​

Europe -

Jordan Crows:
Position - CM
Nation - Belgium
Clubs Interested - Tubize, Turnhout
Best Stat - Leadership

Mundo Martens:
Position - CB
Nation - Belgium
Clubs Interested - Genk
Best Stat - Tackling

Ogromni Stojko:
Position - CAM
Nation - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Clubs Interested - Sassuolo, Adelaide
Best Stat - Flair

Daniel Thygesen:
Position - CM
Nation - Denmark
Clubs Interested - Helsinger, Fremm and 2 others
Best Stat - Decisions

Michael Henson:
Position - LB
Nation - England
Clubs Interested - Crawley, Morton and 10 others
Best Stat - Strength

Alan Robson:
Position - RB
Nation - England
Clubs Interested - Colchester, Derry City and 9 others
Best Stat - Determination

Jack Burbridge:
Position - LW
Nation - England
Clubs Interested - Hamilton, Shrewsbury and 15 others
Best Stat - Stamina

John Snow:
Position - RB
Nation - England
Clubs Interested - Colchester, Port Vale and 8 others
Best Stat - Crossing

Jesus Cortez:
Position - CAM
Nation - Spain
Clubs Interested - Hercules, Las Palmas and 2 others
Best Stat - Flair

Roy Keane Jr.:
Position - CDM
Nation - Ireland
Clubs Interested - Derry City, Dunfermline and 2 others
Best Stat - Passing

Rocco Russo:
Position - ST
Nation - Italy
Clubs Interested - Chievo, Siena and 8 others
Best Stat - Natural Fitness

Alessandro Maldini:
Position - RB
Nation - Italy
Clubs Interested - Atalanta, Parma and 13 others
Best Stat - Anticipation

Manuel Rodriquez:
Position - RB
Nation - Italy
Clubs Interested - Sampdoria, Verona and 14 others
Best Stat - Tackling

Petar Georgievski:
Position - CM
Nation - Macedonia
Clubs Interested - Napredok, Sileks and 5 others
Best Stat - Creativity

Ronald Foof:
Position - LB
Nation - Netherlands
Clubs Interested - De Graafschap, Westerlo and 4 others
Best Stat - Passing​

Martijn Ronaldo:
Position - ST
Nation - Netherlands
Clubs Interested - Adelaide, DOVO and 3 others
Best Stat - Determination

Thomas Hornsletten:
Position - ST
Nation - Norway
Clubs Interested - Moss, Sandjeford and 6 others
Best Stat - Flair

Jose Morgano:
Position - CM
Nation - Portugal
Clubs Interested - Leixoes, Oliveirense and 6 others
Best Stat - Determination

Thomas Dorin:
Position - CM
Nation - Romania
Clubs Interested - N/A
Best Stat - Acceleration

Seung Hyun-Min:
Position - LW
Nation - Russia
Clubs Interested - Lokomotiv, Anzhi and 4 others
Best Stat - Agility

Mire Castella:
Position - RW
Nation - Switzerland
Clubs Interested - Basel, Young Boys and 3 others
Best Stat - Composure

Xerdan Bianchi:
Position - GK
Nation - Switzerland
Clubs Interested - Basel, Eschen/Mauren and 3 others
Best Stat - Anticipation

Aurel Novak:
Position - CDM
Nation - Slovakia
Clubs Interested - Sassuolo
Best Stat - Heading