Bab 1: Endgame Manager
"Hello, are you Mr. Situ Yunbing? Please sign for your package."
"Yes, that's me. Thank you."
Situ Yunbing, now 33 years old, eagerly accepted the package from the courier. After closing the door of his modest rented apartment, he wasted no time. He rushed to the living room, unable to contain his excitement, and sat on the worn-out sofa, carefully unpacking the parcel.
It was a brand-new tablet. A smile crept onto his face as he powered it on, settling back onto the sofa to test it out.
Though life in a second-tier city was tough, with a salary of only about ¥5,000 per month, Situ Yunbing had been scrimping and saving for years. His ultimate goal was to afford the down payment on a small two-bedroom apartment and make it livable with some basic decorations. All this, just to finally bring an end to his seven-year long-distance relationship and live with his girlfriend in the same city.
If she knew that he had just spent more than half of his monthly salary on a tablet, she'd definitely berate him for his reckless decision, likely accusing him of wasting money when they had more important expenses to cover. Her stern lectures often left him feeling guilty, but deep down, Situ Yunbing longed for something that would allow him to unwind after long, stressful workdays. Watching movies and playing games on this tablet seemed like a good way to give his tired eyes a break from constantly staring at his phone's small screen.
When the tablet finally powered on, Situ Yunbing noticed that in addition to the standard pre-installed apps, there was an unfamiliar game icon on the screen.
"What's this? Was I tricked? This can't be brand new—it's probably second-hand," he muttered to himself.
The game was called "Endgame Manager." Judging by the image of a football pitch and players on the icon, it seemed to be a football management game. His curiosity was piqued.
Situ Yunbing had been a passionate football fan for over 20 years. Back in school, he'd been one of the best players on his team, always dreaming of taking his skills further. These days, his weekends were dedicated to watching football matches whenever he had the chance. In fact, part of the reason he bought the tablet was to better enjoy those matches in higher resolution. Naturally, he couldn't resist giving the game a try.
With a quick tap, he launched Endgame Manager.
The screen went completely black. At first, he thought it had crashed, but just as he was growing impatient, text slowly appeared on the screen.
"Warning: Once you confirm to start the game, you cannot exit. Failure in the challenge results in the player's death. Are you sure you want to start?"
Situ Yunbing chuckled. "What a dramatic way to get attention! Whoever designed this has quite the sense of humor."
Without hesitation, he confirmed and continued.
The next prompt popped up.
"Please choose your difficulty level: Easy, Normal, Hard, or Hell."
Situ Yunbing thought for a moment and selected Hard. "I'll start here, and if it's not too challenging, I can move up to Hell mode later. If it's too tough, I'll just go back to Normal."
Another prompt soon followed.
"Choose a team to coach for one season with the goal of winning the league title:
Scottish Premiership: Dundee United
Liga Portugal Betclic: Club Football Estrela da Amadora
Eredivisie: Sparta Rotterdam
Ligue 1: Lorient, Monaco, Sochaux."
Situ Yunbing frowned in confusion. "What is this? Where are the big teams?"
He had played plenty of football management games over the years, and this was the first time he had encountered such a limited selection of clubs—and they were all mid-to-lower-tier sides. There were no elite teams like Manchester United, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich. No Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A options at all.
Disappointed, he considered quitting the game and downloading something else that appealed to him more.
But when he looked for the option to exit, there wasn't one.
He tried to force the app to close. As he pressed the home button, a warning message flashed again on the screen: "Warning: Forcibly exiting will result in failure of the challenge, and the player will bear the consequences."
Situ Yunbing shrugged it off. "Whatever. I'm done with this."
The moment he forced the app closed, a violent tremor shook the apartment. The entire building rattled as if gripped by an earthquake. His sofa lurched beneath him, the ceiling light above swung dangerously, and the coffee table rattled against the floor.
Situ Yunbing's heart raced as the shaking intensified. Panicked, he threw the tablet aside and dove to the ground, flipping the sofa over and crouching beneath it for cover.
"An earthquake?!"
His mind raced back to the game's ominous warnings. Could it be true? Had the game actually cursed him?
The shaking stopped after a couple of minutes. Situ Yunbing cautiously crawled out from under the sofa. The apartment was in disarray—books were scattered across the floor, picture frames had fallen off the walls, and the ceiling light still swayed slightly.
Wiping cold sweat from his brow, he tried to calm himself. "It must have been a coincidence… just a random earthquake."
As he took a breath to compose himself, a soft creak echoed from above.
He looked up just in time to see the ceiling light come crashing down directly toward him.
Boom!
The impact knocked him to the ground. In the final moments before he lost consciousness, his eyes fixated on the tablet lying a short distance away. The screen glowed, and large words flashed across it: "Challenge Failed!"
...
Situ Yunbing sat frozen on his sofa, still holding the tablet tightly in both hands. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat, his black and white eyes wide with fear. He glanced around the living room in disbelief, expecting the mess from earlier to still be there, but to his astonishment, everything was exactly the same as before. The old, worn furniture was intact, the chaotic scene gone, and even the ceiling light remained in place, securely hanging above him.
His breathing was shallow as he looked down at the tablet in his hands, almost afraid to see what awaited him. But there it was, a chilling line of text on the screen:
"One chance for a failed save from a hard mode challenge has been used up. Please continue the challenge.
Reminder: The exemption chance is now zero."
"What?!" Situ Yunbing gasped in disbelief, his hands trembling. He had no doubt about it now—he had died just moments ago, even if only for a brief time.
His mind raced. If he had selected Hell mode, would he have suffered the same fate, only without the lifeline that had saved him this time? And if he had chosen Easy or Normal mode, would he have had more chances of survival?
But there was no turning back now. He was trapped in this bizarre game, and there was no option but to keep playing.
With a deep breath, he clicked "Next" and found himself once again at the screen where he had to select a team to coach and win the league championship.
Dundee United, Club Football Estrela da Amadora, Sparta Rotterdam, Lorient, Monaco, Sochaux.
His forehead beaded with fresh sweat. It wasn't just the pressure of selecting a team—it was the knowledge that his life was quite literally on the line.
Calm down, you need to think clearly, he told himself, trying to regain his composure.
He carefully evaluated each option.
Scottish Premiership? The league was dominated by Celtic and Glasgow Rangers. Winning the title there would be nearly impossible without top-tier resources.
Liga Portugal Betclic? That league was ruled by giants like Porto and Sporting Lisbon. Challenging for the title would be equally difficult.
Eredivisie? Competing against the likes of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord, with their rich football history, was no easy task.
Ligue 1? Paris Saint-Germain had become a powerhouse in French football, especially after their influx of Qatari investment.
Situ Yunbing's heart pounded in his chest. He was trapped in a game where failure meant death, and the weight of this realization made it nearly impossible to breathe. How could he even hope to survive?
But then it hit him. If his life was truly on the line, he had to make the most logical choice. Choose a club with financial resources! That was the key to success. With money, he could buy players and build a team capable of challenging the top clubs.
Among the six teams, there was only one clear choice: Monaco. Even though they weren't on the same level as PSG yet, they had the financial backing of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. He selected Monaco with just 40 seconds left on the countdown, his finger trembling as he confirmed the choice.
The screen immediately shifted to the next option, and a new wave of decisions washed over him.
"You may now select your starting year:"
2018
2013
2008
Situ Yunbing's mind raced as he considered the implications of each year.
Starting in 2018? He knew that PSG had already established a stranglehold on Ligue 1 by then, their squad filled with superstars like Neymar and Mbappé. Challenging them would be nearly impossible.
2013? He remembered Monaco being promoted to Ligue 1 in 2013, with considerable financial backing. But PSG had already started to build their dynasty by then, and it would take a miracle to unseat them.
2008? That was the year Lyon's seven-year reign as Ligue 1 champions had finally ended. PSG wasn't the force they would become yet, and Ligue 1 was still a relatively open playing field. Monaco wasn't great at that time, but they had potential for growth. There was room to maneuver and the possibility of turning things around before PSG's dominance took hold.
He realized that the earlier the starting year, the better his advantage in transfers and tactics. He could foresee developments in footballing trends and make moves ahead of time.
After careful consideration, Situ Yunbing chose the year 2008.
"The player has chosen to coach the 2008 Monaco Club. Please start the challenge, and good luck!"
As soon as the message flashed on the screen, a blinding light engulfed the room. Instinctively, Situ Yunbing shielded his eyes with his hands, feeling the intense brightness overwhelming his senses.
Situ Yunbing, still covering his eyes from the intense light, felt the overwhelming brightness begin to fade. Slowly, he lowered his arms and cautiously opened his eyes, and what he saw left him speechless.
The living room he had rented for over a decade looked as though he had just moved in. The old, worn-out furniture appeared fresh, the outdated electrical appliances were untouched by time, and the decorative New Year's grilles on the windows hadn't been removed—still in the same position they were in ten years ago.
He glanced down at the tablet in his hands, the device that seemed to control his fate, and saw a new message on the screen:
"Please go to the Monaco club to apply for the head coach position. The team management function will be activated once you successfully secure the job."
The words hit him like a bolt of lightning. Apply for the head coach job at Monaco?
His mind raced. Is this still a game? How could this be real?
Situ Yunbing had never traveled much, barely even leaving his city a few times in his entire life. And now he was supposed to go abroad—just like that?
His eyes wandered to the coffee table where several documents lay neatly stacked. With trembling hands, he picked them up and carefully examined them.
A passport, a French visa, a work visa for Monaco, and an official invitation letter from AS Monaco Football Club.
His heart pounded in his chest. Was this really happening? Was he truly being sent to Monaco?
Trying to make sense of the surreal situation, he reached into his pocket for his phone. But as he pulled it out, his confusion deepened. Instead of his usual Android phone, he found himself holding an old Nokia—a phone he hadn't used since his university days.
Glancing at the screen, his breath caught in his throat. The date displayed was September 2, 2008.
Boom!
His mind went blank, overwhelmed by the impossibility of what he was seeing. It couldn't be true…could it?
He rushed to the bathroom and stared into the mirror, barely recognizing the reflection looking back at him. His hair was neatly cropped, and his youthful face was unmistakable—a version of himself from ten years ago, filled with vigor and life.
I've gone back in time!
Realization flooded over him. The game's strange time selection wasn't just in the virtual world; it had dragged him back in time as well. His body, his surroundings—everything had reverted to 2008.
Excitement surged through him, and he shouted with exhilaration, "I'm young again! This is amazing!"
Returning to the living room, still buzzing with energy, he grabbed the invitation letter from the Monaco club and immediately dialed the number listed on it.
To his surprise, his long-forgotten English skills came flooding back as he spoke. It had been years since he'd used the language regularly, but somehow, it felt as natural as ever. After all, it hadn't been long since he'd graduated from university in this timeline, and his CET-6 English certification was still fresh in his mind.
After confirming his scheduled appointment with the club, Situ Yunbing hung up the phone and leaped into the air in celebration. He couldn't believe it—he was about to become the head coach of AS Monaco!
But the momentary joy gave way to a sobering realization.
How am I going to get to Monaco?
Panicking, he ran into his bedroom, grabbed his bank card, and rushed out the door to the nearest ATM. His financial situation in 2008 was a far cry from his later years, and he had no idea how much money he had saved up.
When he finally saw the balance displayed on the screen, a small sigh of relief escaped him.
6,000¥. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get him started. He remembered that back in 2008, he had been saving up to buy a computer, a purchase he would make by the end of the year. But now, that money had a much bigger purpose.
He didn't have time to waste. Situ Yunbing hailed a cab and made his way to the airline ticket office. After speaking with an agent, he was told that Monaco, being such a small country, didn't have its own airport. He would have to fly to France, then make his way to Monaco by car or train.
Without hesitation, he bought a one-way ticket to France. When he checked his remaining funds, he realized with dismay that he didn't have enough money left for a return ticket.
But that didn't matter. He was on a one-way mission. He would go to Monaco, and he wouldn't be coming back until he had accomplished something extraordinary.
Situ Yunbing exchanged the rest of his money for euros, leaving only a small amount for basic expenses before his flight. He packed two sets of clothes, enough to last him a few days, and made his way to the bus station for the journey to the airport.
Sitting in the bus, his mind raced with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. His parents had both passed away long ago, and with no close relatives left in his life, there was nothing tying him down. He was free to embark on this strange, mysterious journey—a journey that would take him to Monaco, where the fate of a football club and his own life now hung in the balance.
As the plane lifted off, carrying him toward an unknown future, Situ Yunbing gazed out the window, filled with a sense of excitement that he hadn't felt in years. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly alive.
...
...
The Principality of Monaco, nestled in southwestern Europe, is a stunning enclave bordered by the shimmering Mediterranean Sea to the south and surrounded on three sides by France. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, Monaco boasts breathtaking views, blending natural beauty with architectural splendor. Despite its diminutive size—only 1.9 square kilometers—this small country is the second smallest in the world, but also the most densely populated.
It's often said that while one could spend a lifetime exploring China, Monaco can be toured in a single day. Yet, that brevity does not detract from its allure. Monaco is a place of exquisite scenery, bathed in sunshine for over 300 days a year. The calm, azure waves lapping at the pristine shores create a harmonious picture with the bright Mediterranean skies. This picturesque setting has attracted countless British poets and aristocrats over the years, and the principality has long served as a playground for European royalty, a place where princes, princesses, and nobility seem destined to reside in eternal splendor.
Today, Monaco is a world-renowned destination, famous for its luxurious Monte Carlo Casino and breathtaking bays. Tourists flock to experience the glitz and glamour of the casino, as well as the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix, which winds its way through the narrow streets of the principality.
But beyond its casinos and motorsports, Monaco has a rich footballing tradition, having enjoyed the support of the royal family for over half a century. The AS Monaco Football Club and the iconic Stade Louis II are located just south of the city, nestled between the sea and the cliffs.
AS Monaco has produced a generation of footballing legends. Famous players like Emmanuel Petit, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet began their careers here, and the club has been a proving ground for managerial talents like Arsène Wenger, who spent seven years at the Stade Louis II during the 1980s and early 90s. Jean Tigana, another former manager, led Monaco to great success, winning the Ligue 1 title and reaching the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. After Tigana's era, former Monaco player Claude Puel took the reins and guided the club to another Ligue 1 championship in 2000.
In the "post-Marseille era" of the mid-to-late 1990s, when French football was in transition, Monaco and Nantes emerged as champions, winning two league titles each before the era of Lyon's dominance began. Lyon's eventual seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles cast a long shadow over French football, but before that, AS Monaco had held its ground as one of the premier clubs in the league.
However, despite their historic successes, the club fell into financial turmoil. Even though Didier Deschamps led Monaco to the UEFA Champions League final in 2004—an incredible feat that saw them eliminate European giants like Real Madrid and Chelsea—Monaco's economic woes worsened. They ultimately lost in the final to José Mourinho's Porto, and the financial strain of that campaign would haunt the club for years.
Chairman Pierre Svara had spent heavily on bonuses for Monaco's top stars during that fabled 2003/04 season, but he quickly resigned after the final, leaving behind a mounting deficit. Deschamps, too, departed just five months later after clashing with the new chairman, Michel Pastor. The departures of both Deschamps and Svara marked the beginning of a turbulent period for the club, as Pastor struggled to steady the ship.
Between 2004 and 2008, Michel Pastor appointed no fewer than six different head coaches, but none could restore Monaco to its former glory. The club's finishes in Ligue 1 during this period—10th, 9th, and 12th—reflected a steep decline, with the team often perilously close to relegation. Financial troubles had hamstrung Monaco, and the club that once competed for European glory was now fighting to stay relevant.
By 2008, Monaco was in a state that could only be described as "half-alive." The team's performances on the pitch were mediocre at best, and the economic situation off the pitch continued to deteriorate. Pastor stepped down in the summer of 2008, leaving the club in the hands of Jérôme de Bontin, a close confidant of Prince Albert II of Monaco. De Bontin, a Chicago-based financier, was tasked with revitalizing the club's fortunes, both financially and competitively.
One of De Bontin's first moves was to overhaul the management structure. He dismissed the team's long-serving sporting director, Jean-Luc Ettori, a former goalkeeper who had been with the club for over 30 years, as well as general manager Marc Keller. Ettori's departure, in particular, was symbolic of Monaco's desire for a fresh start, though it also alienated long-time supporters who viewed him as a pillar of the club.
To cut costs, De Bontin slashed the players' wages by 40% and made moves to open up the international market. He signed American prodigy Maurice Edu on loan and brought in South Korean forward Park Chu-Young, hoping to boost Monaco's appeal abroad. However, his approach to managing the club was more akin to running a corporation than a football club, and his financial austerity measures, while necessary, did little to inspire confidence among the players or fans.
Monaco began the 2008/09 season with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, a result that seemed to justify De Bontin's reforms. But the optimism was short-lived. In the following three matches, Monaco managed just two draws and one loss—drawing against Nantes and Caen before losing to newly-promoted Grenoble.
The poor results led to the dismissal of the mediocre Brazilian coach Ricardo Gomes. With the club stuck in mid-table mediocrity and the international break providing a brief respite, Monaco found itself in limbo, awaiting the arrival of a new head coach to lead them out of their slump.
On the afternoon of September 5, Jérôme de Bontin was working in his office at AS Monaco's headquarters when his secretary interrupted him with an unexpected message. "Monsieur de Bontin, there are two policemen at the gate, and they would like to see you."
Puzzled and a bit concerned, De Bontin adjusted his suit jacket, straightened his tie, and made his way to the entrance of the club. As he arrived, he saw two uniformed police officers flanking a disheveled young man who looked completely out of place in the glittering surroundings of Monaco. The young man's clothes were shabby—cheap jeans, a wrinkled shirt, and a haggard expression that spoke of exhaustion.
It was none other than Situ Yunbing, who had barely set foot in Monaco before things went terribly wrong.
He had imagined stepping off the bus and being greeted by the grandeur of the principality—the sunny beaches, the luxurious yachts moored in the harbor, and the majestic cliffs that framed the picturesque city. But instead, he had been stopped by the police the moment he arrived, his appearance raising immediate suspicion.
In Monaco, where the rich and powerful dominate the landscape, someone walking around in inexpensive clothes like Situ Yunbing was bound to attract unwanted attention. It didn't matter if you had all the right documents—looking out of place could be enough to raise concerns. Even after producing his passport, valid visa, and an official invitation letter from AS Monaco, the officers remained skeptical. They insisted on driving him to the club to confirm his story, as they were unaccustomed to seeing anyone who didn't fit the profile of Monaco's elite.
When De Bontin reached the gate, he took Situ Yunbing's passport and invitation letter from the police. His expression shifted from bewilderment to something more sympathetic as he reviewed the documents. After a moment, he nodded to the officers, confirming that the young man standing before them was indeed who he claimed to be.
The police officers, their suspicions now eased, released Situ Yunbing and left him standing with De Bontin. But the ordeal wasn't over for Situ Yunbing. As he took a step forward, the exhaustion from his long journey and the stress of the situation caught up with him. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed. Fortunately, De Bontin quickly stepped in, catching him by the arm before he could hit the ground.
Situ Yunbing flashed a weak smile, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... Do you think I could get something to eat? I haven't had a meal since I got off the plane."
De Bontin, still holding onto Situ to keep him steady, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why didn't you eat?"
Situ Yunbing, his face pale and drawn from both hunger and fatigue, sighed heavily, fighting back the frustration that had been building inside him since his arrival. "My wallet was stolen on the bus. I never thought French pickpockets were so bold! I had 180 euros with me, and now it's all gone."
De Bontin's expression softened as he began to grasp the gravity of the situation. Monaco, with its wealth and luxury, was far removed from the realities of petty crime, but the same couldn't be said for the rest of Europe, particularly France. To someone unfamiliar with the local dangers, like Situ Yunbing, a stolen wallet could easily turn a dream trip into a nightmare.
Situ Yunbing continued, his tone almost apologetic. "Honestly, I couldn't sleep the whole flight here. It was my first time flying, and I guess the excitement got the better of me. I must've been so distracted on the bus that I didn't even notice when my wallet was stolen."
De Bontin looked at the young man standing before him—haggard, worn out, and clearly out of his depth in the ultra-wealthy microstate of Monaco. The contrast between Situ Yunbing's disheveled appearance and the opulence surrounding them was striking. But De Bontin, having lived and worked around the world, understood that appearances could be deceiving. There was something in Situ Yunbing's determination that intrigued him.
"Come with me," De Bontin said, his voice kind but firm. "Let's get you something to eat first. Then we'll figure out the rest."
Situ Yunbing could only nod, grateful for the kindness. He had come to Monaco with dreams of coaching one of the most storied clubs in French football, but his journey was proving far more difficult than he had imagined. As he followed De Bontin into the heart of the club's facilities, Situ couldn't help but wonder if this was just the beginning of the trials he would face.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
GxDesailly
GxDesailly Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Like it ? Add to library！
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
My patreon has more chapter for this story and if you want to read my others story.
patreon.com/FootballfictionPro007
You can go check out my others stories Echoes Of Greatness: The Rise Of A Global Football Sensation and The Making of Football King in this app. The Making of Football King will be in my Patreon with more chapters.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone