Tanel

It is back! One story, one man, one bad day - it all returns in summer 2017. This goes beyond Cork to Inter. This is one man's fight - and this man has to fight again. Once a small Estonian manager, he built himself a way up in the world of football. The road to the top of the mountain was tough, he had to go back to find new ways, but in the end he reached the top, but only to go down again. Now two years again, he starts the journey again. Journey that involves tears & joy. He faces a new mission impossible ahead of himself. One bad vacation and once again he has to buy a plane ticket to Western-Europe.

More corrupted than ever! Yes, it returns after 2 years of holiday. Like a good book, it doesen't need no fancy graphics - it's still black and white! Welcome back, The Plane Ticket To Western Europe!


It is the return of my big debut story. In here, I don't know, but in FM scene, it was said to be one of the best stories ever in scene. Atleast it's one of the longest for sure. I spent 2 years in the game on holiday and resigned from Inter. It starts within a week as I'm going to finish my other story.

Until that, unless you haven't seen it already, you can check the old here ->
The Planeticket To Western-Europe

Raptor

Yeah, liked the original, and IIRC, it got a few nominations along the way. :thup:

Garnerish

Never saw the original, will try and read soon.
Good luck with the new story.

Pavel

Tanel simply rocks, best storyteller around ;-)

Tanel

First teaser

26th of May 2017

Stuck of football, I've spent past two years with my family. Little Martin has growed up to become a small, but funny boy. I've been quietly living by lake Como, free of everything surrounding football. I sometimes take Martin to the Giuseppe Meazza to see Inter, but that's all.

With millions on my bank accounts from Inter days I have nothing to worry about in the future. I decided to call it a day with football management. It was only a stress anyway.

Once in a while I do recieve some phone-calls here and there, but they aren't interesting me since I'm not going to miss the youth of little Martin. Maybe once he is grown up I may get to football once again.

But not as a manager, maybe start sponsor some club. At the moment I'm dealing with our company, it recorded over a billion profit last year. I'm talking about euro's though.

Talking more about little Martin, he is already making use of the talent he was gifted by me as he is part of Inter youth team. He plays with one year olders. He's getting seven this summer.

Maria is once in a while taking part of some tennis competitions, but she's quitting after next Wimbeldon. Though neither me or she are planing any more children.

28th of May 2017

Maria & Martin left to the grandma & grandpa, but I stayed, since I recieved a phone-call.

John O'Flynn: "Hi, Tanel!"
Tanel: "John! Good morning! What's going on?"
John: "Well, I was going to go to fly to Cuba, but then Linda had other things ahead."
Tanel: "Oh... that's bad."
John: "Well yeah, we were planing for it for a long time.... but I've already bought the tickets. I need someone to come with me."
Tanel: "Oh well.... Maria & Martin are going to States anyway... I talk with her. Will call you back later."

Maria had no problem with me going, so.... Here we come Cuba! Light up the cigars, put out the rum!

Tanel

1st of June 2017

So me and John set off. We met in London last night where we checked out some of the local nightlife. Nothing fancy like some hot latin nightlife, but we were happy.

Anyway, we set off at 12 AM. Luckily with no hangover as we did decide not to drink anything... before Cuba.

It was a simple trip. Nothing with travel groups or anything, we get our own car there... drive around the island, drink some rum, go to the beaches, maybe have something educational. Oh, and teach the locals some footie.

It was a two week trip.

7th of June 2017

We had spent some wild time in Havana and decided to move out of the city yesterday.

I don't think anything crazy though. Cuba isn't the same like during Fidel Castro as the impact of the Western world had strongly got that island in the Carriebean's also. 7 years since Fidel died and a lot has changed.

Today we spent in the beach, drinking rum, swiming and and checking out some women. Due to the too much rum we drank we forgot we are married, but again the wedding rings maybe luckily, maybe not saved us.

Bad thing is that some people recognized me.

9th of June 2017

Driving around the island we had reach the other end of the country, Guantanamo. There I wanted to sit down just one day, walk around the city.

But then I had my eye on some youth match or something like that. That was a double pitch. On one pitch the guys were playing. Okay okay, 10 year old boys. And on the other side, the benchers were keeping themselves warm and practicing.

So we sat on a little hill bank over there, since there was no seats. I checked at both trainings. There was that one team in black which I had my eye on mostly. They were 0:1 behind at half-time, but over the course of first half, I was noticing one youngster that was hitting and warming up.

I walked to the coach of that team. Or I thought he was the coach.

Me: "Hello... English?"
Coach: "Yes, I can speak English."
Me: "Okay... are you a coach of the black team."
Coach: "Oh, yes I am."
Me: "Good... okay, I've been noticing that young guy training. That number 18. What's his name?"
Coach: "His name is Andre."
Me: "Okay, and what's your's?"
Coach: "Luis. And your's?"
Me: "Tanel... But, Luis, put that Andre in game... replace him with no. 7. Andre is a talented youngster and he'd do a hell of a lot of more than no. 7."
Coach: "Sorry, I can't understand."
Me: "I mean put in Andre, take 7 out."
Coach: "No, Andre is physically weak. He is younger."
Me: "Well... I think he has a great technique. The defender on the right side looks ugly if you listen to me. He can't do much againist good technique."
Coach: "And should I ask who are you... a scout?"
Me: "No, I'm a 2 times Champions League winner as a manager..."

So I smiled back and turned away and sat back...

They won 3:1 in the end. Andre giving 1 assist and scoring one masterpiece of goal after getting through his defender... and sending the ball to the back post. Goalkeeper had no chance of catching it.

So me and John went away...

And then someone shouted from the back, "Tanel! Tanel Tursk! Ex-manager of Inter!"

Tanel

So I looked back at him.

Me: "I told you..."
Luis: "Yes...I wanted to ask you one thing..."
Me: "And that'd be?"
Luis: "Could you and your friend come with me?"
John: "Friends name is John... Hi!"
Luis: "Luis."
Me: "I don't think I've got any problems with it..."
Luis: "What about you, John?"
John: "No problem... we haven't got any plans..."
Luis: "Hehh... are you guys gay?"
John: "hahaha... no, we're friends... we just left wives at home. See, here's the picture of mine..."
Luis: "Okay... sorry for asking. My deep apoligies."
John: "Happens..."
Me: "Shall we go now... Is it far?"
Luis: "Twent kilometre drive..."
Me: "Okay, we'll take our car then..."
Luis: "Yep... I'm in front of that red building over there..."
John: "Okay... by the way, where are we going?"
Luis: "Let this be a secret..."

So we went into our car and started driving. The seaside was beatiful in the place where we were going to. Beatiful bikini's and babes bathing in the beach, we stoped near the gas station as Luis car had some problems. While he was fixing it we ran to the beach and played some beach volley with few babes. Luckily we look quite young despite being over 30 both.

Then Luis shouted, "Let's go now." So we bought few cold drinks and sat into car. Luis told us that there are around 8 kilometers to drive.

Then suddenly we heard all the police sirens and things. We drove past one Ghetto like town, it sort of looked new, but gunshots heard everywhere, screams etc. This wasn't a pleasing site to see young starving boys sitting outside. There seemed to be a bit better area there also, but it was mostly a frighting place. Eventhough I had traveled around quite a lot I hadn't seen something like that before.

I was beginning to have my doubts over Luis...

Tanel

We drove past the city luckily though and my doubts were probably wrong. I note up, probably. Then Luis ahead of us turned into a pumpy road which end I didn't see.

We drove on it for like few kilometers when we turned down once again. Then I start sawing some big house, almost a villa. Luis stopped in front of it, so did we.

Luis told us to come out of the car, and we did. He guided us in to the yard. There was a huge pool, few trees, a huge place to take some nice rum in night.

Then suddenly a old grey haired guy comes there and shouts, "Hey son!"

I was about to tell John, "Is he the f-cking cuban godfather? Why did we came here anyway... What on earth will we do in here?" But I changed my mind and wanted to see what things bringed me. John, himself looked rather calm, though a bit weird with his small mumbling.

Then Luis told that guy, who probably was his father if we're going to be mr. obvious's, "Hi papa. I want you to meet those guys... the first one you'll probably know, Tanel Tursk... and other is ex-footballer John O'Flynn. He spent one season in Inter with Tanel."

So godfather shaked our hands...

Godfather: "Hi! ?."
Me: "Pleasure to meet you."
?: "Gentelmans, this is my wife Maria, she'll guide you to the back yard. I go talk with my son."

So we walked through the house for like a 30 seconds until we reached the other end of the house. And in the backyard there was that huge sitting place, even bigger than in the front. I sat down on the chair and thought what on earth is going to happen now. I was rather confused though looking at the size of the house, son coaching a football team, cuban godfather knowing football I thought he was owning some frieking football club in Cuba and wanted me to take charge for big money. Or maybe smuggle me into the national team?

Tanel

? = Manuel... I forgot to edit that before posting.

Tanel

Authors Note: The name of Manuel is Miquel. I forgot that name before

Luis & Miquel came back. We were already sitting down behind a wooden table.

Then Miquel started to talk.

Miquel: "You know, Tanel, I'm not from Cuba."

Tanel: "Oh, really."

Miquel: "Yes, my son lives here, but I live in Spain."

Tanel: "Well okay..."

Miquel: "And back there I have a football club. Have you heard of a guy named Miquel Pons?"

Tanel: "Slightly, but yes... Didn't your club get caught with match fixing like 5 years ago."

Miquel: "Yep, two players actually, but that game got us relegated to Segunda B anyway... Unió Esportiva Lleida."

Tanel: "Now you play in Primera?"

Miquel: "Yes, and about that..."

Tanel: "I know what you want to ask. But sorry, I'm out of the game now."

Miquel: "I'm serious. We're not in easy situation. We avoided relegation by only one point this season, half of our first team squad are loans, we're financially bad."

Tanel: "Well, you're not the only club."

Miquel: "That's what people like about you. Our current manager is a great person, but not a great coach, while you are a nice person with a strong character eventhough you may sound cocky."

Tanel: "Seriously, I sound cocky?"

Miquel: "Yes, you do."

Tanel: "I never thought of it...."

Miquel: "Anyway, I'm begging you... we can't give you much money or not even a fancy house in Lleida city, but we need someone like you because next season we're destined for relegation otherwise."

John: "Look man, the guy told you that he is out of the business... He has wife and a kid who's youth he doesen't want to miss."

Tanel: "John stay out of this. Eventhough yes I want to spend time with my kid. And in football management, I and my kid are in danger. You know how things go in football business for past decades..."

Miquel looked rather shocked, he just in case gave me his visit card and told me that he'll be back in Spain in three days time. Then we changed the subject and chatted about football in general for half of hour or so.

We found out that his son is running Lleida youth academy here and also there's some kind of a Carribean scouting network they have which headquarters are based here.

Then I told that we have to go.