Football Manager Stole My Life

by Iain Macintosh

  MICHAEL DUNWELL

  Position: ST

  Real-life career: Hartlepool, Norton & Stockton Ancients, Billingham Synthonia, Durham City, Bishop Auckland, Billingham Town

  In-game high: Championship Manager 01/02

  Lower league gamers will appreciate that every penny is a prisoner – and you can’t gamble a season’s budget on a Champ Man also-ran.

  Thankfully hot-shot hitman Michael Dunwell was a sound investment, costing around £300,000 from those tough-as-teak negotiators at Bishop Auckland.

  Nowadays he leads the line as player-assistant manager at Northern Football League Division One outfit Billingham Town.

  Does this Champ Man celebrity status come as a shock to you, Michael?

  I played the game, so I remember there was a bit of chat about it at the time. If I remember rightly I was at my virtual reality peak for Bishop Auckland. I was really cheap and scored lots of goals. If you didn’t have much money to spend, I was your man.

  Did you splash out to buy yourself then?

  No, I wasn’t that bad. I never once signed myself and I’ve managed to wean myself off the game since then.

  Does that mean you’ve left your double life behind?

  Not quite. As well as playing and being assistant manager at Billingham Town I manage a mail order company called Decorating Direct, in Middlesbrough. My boss ran my name through a search engine and all the responses were about Championship Manager. He didn’t know he had a computer game legend amongst his ranks.

  It’s embarrassing to admit, but I Googled myself a couple of years ago and it was fun to read through some of the mentions.

  So have any dedicated diehards made the pilgrimage to watch Billingham Town?

  Not that I know of, but I’ve had opposition players say they’ve had me on their books. One lad had me partnering Robbie Fowler up front for his Liverpool team and apparently we were quite a prolific pairing. Sadly that didn’t translate to real life.

  How do you feel about this lasting legacy offered by Championship Manager 01/02?

  I’ve never seen it as a hindrance. It’s just a bit of fun and, in a way, it’s nice. I only played professional football for about three minutes, when I came on for Hartlepool in 1999 away at Southend. So it’s strange to think people know who I am through the game.

  NII LAMPTEY

  Position: AMRLC

  Real-life career: Anderlecht, PSV, Aston Villa, Coventry City, Venezia, Union Santa Fe, Ankaragucu, Uniao Leiria, Greuther Furth, Shandong Luneng, Al-Nassr, Asante Kotoko, Jomo Cosmos; Ghana (38 caps, 8 goals)

  In-game high: Championship Manager 93/94

  History may judge Nii Lamptey as the perfect example of a football prodigy who crashed and burned under the weight of expectation – after all, Pele himself said ‘Lamptey is the new Pele’.

  But that doesn’t do the Ghanaian’s incredible journey justice.

  Overcoming a particularly troubled childhood, he found solace at a Muslim football camp, where he had to convert to Islam to qualify. His talent took him to Europe, initially with Anderlecht, before he embarked on a nomadic career – never quite fulfilling his early potential but, at the same time, living a dream that must have seemed a distant one in those difficult early years.

  Have you even heard of Championship Manager?

  Yes! I recall on one particular trip to Europe in the 90s that someone first mentioned it to me. I can’t remember exactly who it was but I was told how big I was in the game.

  So you were aware of your legendary status?

  Yes, yes. Some people have told me that they rarely lost games whenever they had me in their team. That was a nice thought. I was not really a computer person back in the day so I didn’t get any fan-mail as such, but sometimes on very random occasions people mention how much they liked me in the game.

  Did you ever get a chance to play the game yourself?

  [Laughs] Not at all. Maybe if I get my kids back in time they can play!

  What are you doing with yourself these days?

  I’m into business and venture into areas that I think are commercially viable. I also run a school with my wife, called GlowLamp International. Cattle-farming is not a full-time business that I am into but, yes, I’ve ventured into it now and again when it has looked good. Football-wise, of course I am still involved. The game is very much a part of me. I help a few kids to join education with football so that they don’t fall into the hands of exploitative people. I also do scouting now and again.

  Can you think of a reason why you were so big on Championship Manager?

  Well, in the early 90s, people expected big things from me and I’m quite sure that was the reason. Whoever made the game will have taken that chance in the hope that if I become a big name, the game will be remembered as the one that made me popular. That dream did not really come true but it’s great that I was honoured in that way.

  Interview by Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith)

  RYAN WILLIAMS

  Position: AMC

  Real-life career: Mansfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Chesterfield, Hull City, Bristol Rovers, Forest Green Rovers (loan), Aldershot Town (loan), Weymouth, Mansfield Town, Gainsborough Trinity (loan), Gainsborough Trinity

  In-game high: Championship Manager 01/02

  It was news to Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity that amongst their ranks is an attacking midfield maestro who once compared favourably to Brazilian superstar Kaka.

  Assists, goals, pace and (crucially for the discerning gamer) high work rate stats – Ryan Williams of Hull City had it all.

  His chief cheerleader, Iain Macintosh, recalls, “Ryan Williams was an absolute miracle worker.

  “I actually had to ban myself from buying him. He was so good it felt like cheating.

  “I even snapped him up when I was Manchester United manager in 01/02. He forced his way into the side in no time and became an England regular.”

  Sadly the real-life version has been living in blissful ignorance of his cyber celebrity status.

  Did you really have no idea you led a double life as a world class attacking midfield playmaker?

  It’s amazing to hear. My mates used to tell me I was pretty good, but I’ve never had any strange phone calls, presents or stalkers. I feel a bit cheated now.

  How did you dodge the diehards for all these years?

  No-one’s ever mentioned it to me. I’m not much of a computer whiz and I had a kid at a young age – so you can guess how I spent my time! We used to each get a free copy every season and most of the lads in the dressing room were mad on it, so I know how big the game is. My eight-year-old son, Bradley, has just got into it. He loves it, but only ever sticks to managing the big teams. He’ll be buzzing when he hears about this and I’ll need to check and see if I’m still in the game.

  You were at Hull City during the peak of your Champ Man powers. Aside from tearing it up at Trinity, what does the 2012 version of Ryan Williams get up to?

  I’m part-time with Gainsborough Trinity and I help out a charity called the SC Foundation, which is enjoyable. Former professional footballers go into schools and try to be role models for the kids. I’ll need to tell them all about this.

  www.scfoundation.org.uk

  STEFAN SELAKOVIC

  Position: AMRC

  Real-life career: Varbergs GIF, Halmstad, Heerenveen, IFK Goteborg; Sweden (12 caps, 4 goals)

  In-game high: Championship Manager 01/02

  The best wingers prize vision over velocity, as exemplified by Swedish winger Stefan Selakovic.

  A bargain buy from Halmstad at £400,000, his prolific late bursts into the box and set-piece ability more than compensated for a lack of in-game pace.

  Tell us about your Championship Manager pedigree, Stefan…

  I’ve played the game every year since 1996, so I guess that makes me an expert!

  And how have you put that accumulated knowledge to good use?

  I always go Tottenham. They’re the team I�
��ve supported ever since I was a boy and I’ve turned them into the best team in the world. Taribo West was a favourite of mine.

  He must have been the ultimate Bosman signing. I always signed Mark Kerr and I remember other names like Tonton Zola Moukoko and Cherno Samba. Good times.

  What of Stefan Selakovic?

  In the earlier versions I always signed myself – when I was good. But I’m getting too old in the game now and I’m only fit for smaller clubs. If I take charge of IFK then it’s a different matter. My real life career didn’t live up to the one predicted in the game but I’ve done OK.

  Do you still manage to squeeze in a quick game?

  Absolutely. The training camps we go on are a dream because it gives me more time to play. My team-mate, Tobias Hysen, is a big fan of the game too and sometimes we manage the same team to see who fares the best. I think every dressing room in football must have players who are keen on Football Manager.

  Your friend Anders Svensson told us playing Football Manager sparked off an interest in coaching, now that his playing days on the pitch and in the game are coming to an end. Has it had the same impact on you?

  Anders will have to deal with the bench soon enough. He’d better get acquainted with that feeling! I always saw coaching as a natural progression, but I feel like I should qualify for my badges automatically after all these years of playing the game. It’s a very good source of knowledge and you pick up different things that I’m sure you could apply to real-life situations. I remember reading with interest that Everton were using the database as part of their scouting setup.

  Anything you want us to put to the guys at Sports Interactive?

  No, they’re doing a good job. Finally after all these years Spurs have a good team with some money to spend. It makes my job a lot easier.

  TIM SPARV

  Position: DM/AMLC

  Real-life career: VSouthampton, Halmstad, VPS (loan), Groningen; Finland (22 caps)

  In-game high: Football Manager 2006

  It’s worth paying attention to Southampton’s esteemed talent factory.

  Finnish playmaker Sparv could be snapped up from the Saints for as little as £70,000 and proved equally adept as a defensive midfield shield or a bright spark in the final third.

  A real-life stand-out for Groningen and the Finnish national team, his raw talent was perceptively pinpointed by the Sports Interactive scouts.

  Of all the players we spoke to for the book, Tim, you were amongst the most excited to be involved. Can we assume you’re a fan of the game?

  I’ve been a big fan, right back to when it was called Championship Manager. For the first few years, in particular, I got very addicted and it was like nothing else mattered. I’m sure many people will have thought the same as me, when I’d say to myself ‘just one more game’. It was not easy to switch off.

  Do any of your Champ Man crusades stick in the memory?

  I was never interested in managing the big teams with lots of money. I wasn’t a glory hunter. I took pleasure in building up small teams from the lower leagues. I found myself going Leyton Orient a lot of the time, despite not knowing anything about them to begin with, and Notts County. And nothing beats signing someone no-one has ever heard of and turning them into a star.

  Who were your must-buys?

  Not me anyway. I wasn’t that good to begin with and it’s all about the team, not personal glory – even in a computer game. He wasn’t cheap, but I’d always try to get the left-back, Marcelo, from Fluminese. Now he’s at Real Madrid in real life. The midfielder Benoit Pedretti was another and I think about him and the game sometimes when I watch French football. There must be a lot of good football knowledge behind Football Manager as most of the players they tip to do well go on to big things.

  Including you…

  I’m lucky to have had a good career so far. Anything can happen so, who knows, I may end up at Leyton Orient before I finish.

  Do your family and friends know about your Football Manager mini-me?

  A lot of my friends are addicted to the game too and they are forever threatening to drop me. The nicest thing is that I often get messages from supporters around the world to say that I’m awesome in Football Manager. They’ll say things like ‘I’ll follow you on Twitter because you were so good for my team’. I think it’s great that social media allows people to interact like that and that a computer game can bring people together.

  TOMMY SVINDAL LARSEN

  Position: MLC

  Real-life career: Odd Grenland, Start, Odd Grenland (loan), Start, Stabaek, FC Nurnberg, Odd Grenland; Norway (24 caps)

  In-game high: Championship Manager 97/98

  Tommy Svindal Larsen was the general around which title-winning teams were built.

  Snap him up from Staebek and you’d possess a midfield maestro blessed with creativity, passing accuracy and tenacity in the tackle.

  TSL carved out a top-flight career in his native land and the Bundesliga with FC Nurnberg, before retiring at 38 years of age in December 2011.

  Now he’s putting that on-field expertise to good use.

  Tommy, how does it feel to have arguably the most famous name in Championship Manager history?

  It feels pretty cool! I’m not sure I understand how it all came about but I’m not complaining. No-one’s ever really brought it to my attention that I was such a valuable player.

  Back in the day you were a hot prospect…

  One of the scouts must have been very kind to me, but I had some tremendous years when I was young. At 16, I was tipped to be the next big Norwegian player and I was recognised as a greater talent at that point than the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But I had some difficult years between 16 and 21. I achieved a lot and had the opportunity to play in Germany and for the national team, even if I didn’t quite hit the same heights as Ole.

  Ole’s a self-confessed Champ Man addict. Have you ever dabbled in it?

  I’ve played the game a few times with my son. He’s really into it, as are a few of my friends. I think my family would have turned against me if I got hooked too. However, I do understand the appeal. It’s a great learning tool if you want to go on and be a coach or a manager.

  With that in mind, what are you up to nowadays?

  I’ve just started a new club – FK Grenland (www.fkgrenland.no). We’ve gone in at the seventh tier but I’ve no doubt we’ll make it to the top level.

  What is the thinking behind that?

  Football is in a bad way in Norway just now. The quality isn’t that high and the attendance figures are dropping off. Supporters here need football that comes at it from a different angle. We’re engaging with the community to use football as a force for good – to help young people who are in trouble at school or those without a job. We’re very serious about building this club up.

  Are you not tempted to dig your boots out?

  My playing days are over but I hope to implement my philosophy on the club. I’ve always been a great fan of the Barcelona way and people often said I played in their style. That’s the approach we want to promote here at FK Grenland, which is a whole new way of thinking. Maybe when we’re more established we’ll appear in the latest version of Football Manager.

  TONTON ZOLA MOUKOKO

  Position: AMC

  Real-life career: Djurgarden, Derby, Carlstad Utd, IK Sleipner, Syrianska FK, Atlantis FC, IFK Lidingo

  In-game high: Championship Manager 00/01

  This guy was so good we named a chapter after him.

  Deployed behind the strikers, he had no equal – carving the opposition open at will while regularly rattling in 50-plus goal tallies.

  Tonton turned down the likes of AC Milan and Juventus to sign for Derby County as a 15-year-old, but off-field problems meant he wasn’t able to make the anticipated breakthrough.

  In 2003 he re-emerged on trial with Scottish side Falkirk.

  Ross Wilson, formerly of Falkirk and currently Watford’s head of football business, r
ecalls, “He was a likeable lad, really fit and quick. I’ve never seen anyone try more step-overs!”

  He’s currently starring for Swedish minnows IFK Lidingo, the formative club of fellow Championship Manager legend Mikael Dorsin.

  You’re a hard man to pin down, Tonton…

  A lot of people have tried to track me down over the years but it’s difficult for them. I don’t like Facebook so I’m not on there either. My sister is and she gets a lot of messages from people telling her how well I did for them in the game. Then there are the newspapers.

  What about them?

  I get newspapers from all over the world, from England to Australia, that want to speak to me. There was a funny example in 2003, when Championship Manager Magazine tried to find me for a story. When they couldn’t work out where I was they printed a ‘WANTED’ poster and offered their readers a $97 cash reward for information on my whereabouts. I laughed at that, especially when my girlfriend and friends joked that I should have told them so they could have got the money!

  Does the interest bother you?

  It’s just harmless fun – if a bit strange. The funny thing is I probably get more people asking me about it now than 10 years ago when I first appeared in the game. It’s got so popular now.

  When did you first realise that you had such superstar status?

  I was a 17-year-old at Derby and I remember going to play in a normal reserve game. But things were different, as a lot of supporters were there and they got excited when they saw me. People started coming to these games looking to talk to me, to get autographs and photos. It was a lot to take in. My agent at the time didn’t like it. He would rant about wanting to get in touch with the people who made the game to see about taking me off it. He thought there was too much talk about me.