[Football] The Crown of Victory

[Blurb]

Before the age of eight, Vic struggled to survive alone amid the flames of war in Croatia.

He would give anything to stay alive.

Later, Vic became a footballer, with wealth and honors beyond counting. Yet the hunger that had burned through his veins as a child still followed him everywhere.

He always wanted more, wanted to do better, wanted to climb higher.

And he did.

-

Victoriano Laureano.

On the pitch, he is a god to the fans, an unprecedented rising star to the reporters, a fearsomely efficient marksman when the German machine's strikers are in decline, and the last mad burst of glory for the Red Devils in the Ferguson era.

Off the pitch, he is a self-serving schemer who takes on the management, a madman who openly trades insults with reporters, a beast tamer who holds the reins and masters the media, an insatiable ambitious man who never stops moving forward.

One commentator once described him this way:

The flames of war in Croatia gave him the toughness to fear no physical challenge. Germany's youth development system gave him refined technique and a keen understanding of the game. England's terrifying media exposure let him thrive and ride the rising tide.

Never has there been a player who could toy with victories and matches as he pleased, sending that band of uncrowned kings charging into battle for him.

If Victoriano Laureano had no talent, he could at best be called a mediocre third-rate player. But as the most gifted and talented player in the world, he is a god rising before our eyes, enthroned in the hearts of countless people.

--Victoriano Laureano

--He is the god of victory, crowned with laurels

Reading tips:

* The protagonist's scheming and verbal sparring first come to the fore at Bayern, then flourish at Manchester United. He's an ambitious man who'll stop at nothing to stir things up, on and off the pitch, in pursuit of his goals.

* National team: Germany. Clubs: Bayern, Manchester United, Real Madrid.

* Pairing: Kuan Shi. A double act of wordsmith and clear-eyed realist.

* There's a character and skill-development arc. Vic matures gradually, both in personality and football skills. He's a genius, but he wasn't born already at the height of success.

* I love writing traditional stories about a prodigy growing up and claiming the crown. Victory is the finest crown!

[Blurb finalized 25.8.24]

Theme: Those who strive are worthy of the greatest respect