I've always liked football management games, but every "tycoon" version I tried felt really shallow. Tap a button, number goes up, that's basically the whole loop. So I started making the one I actually wanted to play.

The main idea is that you're the owner, not the manager. You don't pick the team. Your coach and sporting director bring you proposals and you make the calls. What you actually spend your time on is building three things:

• The club itself: squad, facilities, youth academy.
• The town around it. You grow it from a small village into a metropolis, and a bigger town means better sponsors, more fans and a deeper youth pool, which all feeds back into the club.
• Your own life: houses, cars, investments, a family, and eventually handing the whole thing to an heir.

It's a single-player mobile game and it's not out yet. Site's here if you want a look: https://hometownfc.app

Happy to answer anything about it.

AI disclosure (Rule 3): Yes, generative AI was used.

• Code: built with heavy use of Claude (Anthropic) as a coding assistant, and Codex (OpenAI) was used to review/audit the code. The design, systems and balancing decisions are my own.
• Art: most of the in-game art (player portraits, buildings, backgrounds, the in-game assistant character) was made with AI image generation. The club crests are partly that and partly procedural, code-drawn vector graphics.

My New Star Soccer Universe

These are all of the major players from my different New Star Soccer playthroughs, presented in the order their careers happened within my fictional football timeline.

The careers shown here are not perfect historical records of exactly what happened in the game. Most of these saves were played years ago on an old phone that was eventually destroyed, and I unfortunately never documented the careers properly. Younger me was far too busy enjoying the game, imagining rivalries and creating storylines in my head to think about preserving every result, transfer or trophy.

Because of that, some details have been reconstructed from screenshots, memories and the stories I still remember. They may not be completely accurate, but they represent how I remember these players and the legacies they built in my own football universe.

Arik Civic — “The Assist King”

Career: 2026–2043
Nationality: Croatia

Arik Civic was the player who began this entire football timeline.

He started his professional career with Kustoš FK in Croatia, where he first developed the passing ability that would eventually define his entire career. From Croatia, he moved to FC Lugano in Switzerland, followed by RB Leipzig in Germany, where he began establishing himself as one of Europe’s finest playmakers.

His career reached another level after joining FC Barcelona. Arik became a leader of the team and captained Barcelona to two UEFA Champions League titles. He was not remembered primarily as a goalscorer, but as the player who controlled matches, created chances and made everyone around him better.

After Barcelona, Arik moved to Leicester City, helping the club win the English Premier League. He later joined AS Roma, where he experienced another legendary period. He captained Roma to two Champions League titles and won the 2041 Ballon d’Or while playing for the Italian club.

He finished his club career with Kashima Antlers in Japan, adding a Japanese league title to an already enormous collection of trophies.

Across 886 appearances, Arik recorded an incredible 1,129 assists, earning him the title of the greatest creator of his generation.

His club honours included league championships in Croatia, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, England, Italy and Japan, as well as four Champions League titles—two with Barcelona and two with Roma.

For Croatia, Arik became a national icon. He helped his country win two World Cups and three European Championships, building one of the greatest international careers in the history of this fictional football world.

More than anything else, Arik Civic was remembered for his vision. He did not simply play the final pass—he seemed to know where every player would be before they got there.

Alexi Bliss — “Little Miss Pass”

Career: 2027–2043
Nationality: United States

Alexi Bliss began her career with FC Olympia, where she quickly became known as an extraordinary passer and one of the most promising young players in American football. She won two USL League Two titles before making the move to Europe.

Her transfer to Lyon should have been the beginning of her rise, but it became one of the darkest periods of her career. Alexi’s hot-headed personality caused constant arguments with teammates and coaches. She clashed with almost everyone around her and came close to abandoning European football entirely.

Her move to Atalanta saved her career.

In Italy, Alexi transformed from a talented but difficult young player into a dominant captain. She led Atalanta through two consecutive unbeaten seasons, won three Serie A titles and captured two UEFA Champions League trophies.

Her greatest individual achievement came during her Atalanta years, when she recorded more than 100 assists in a single season. That season permanently established her reputation as one of the greatest playmakers football had ever seen.

Alexi later joined Liverpool, captaining the club to Premier League and Champions League success. She won two English league titles and another Champions League before moving to Benfica.

At Benfica, she brought the Portuguese club all the way to the Champions League final. They ultimately lost, but reaching the final was still considered one of the finest achievements of her career. She also won the Portuguese league during her time there.

Alexi eventually returned home to join Columbus Crew, where she completed her career by winning the MLS title.

For the United States, Alexi captained the national team to a Women’s World Cup victory. However, her international career was never peaceful. Just like at club level, she frequently argued with teammates and coaches. Her temper constantly caused problems, and without her incredible understanding of football, she may never have been trusted with the captaincy.

But her football intelligence was impossible to ignore.

Alexi could see passes that nobody else could imagine. She was difficult, emotional and confrontational, but when the ball was at her feet, she controlled the entire match.

That contradiction defined her career: a player who could struggle with almost everyone around her, yet still understand them perfectly once they started moving on the pitch.

Usama Awan — “Ghuror”

Career: 2047–2065
Nationality: Saudi Arabia

Usama Awan was one of the most talented and arrogant footballers this world had ever seen.

He began his career with Ohod Al-Medina, winning the Saudi domestic double before earning a major transfer to AS Monaco. His arrival in France turned him into a global star. Monaco dominated during his time there, and Usama became the centre of everything the club accomplished.

However, his Monaco career ended unexpectedly when the club sold him to Paris Saint-Germain during the January transfer window. Even Usama himself was shocked by the decision.

He responded in the only way he knew how: by winning.

Usama helped PSG win the league and Europa League during his first period with the club, taking revenge on Monaco in the process. The following season, he led PSG to their first UEFA Champions League title in 2050.

After Paris, he moved through a series of European giants, including Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid. At every club, he became the central figure, captain and biggest personality.

His time at Real Madrid was perhaps the closest Usama ever came to becoming a true team player. There, he played alongside his great rival, Alexei Petrov—the Russian Tank. Their rivalry forced Usama to adapt, cooperate and share the spotlight in a way he rarely had before.

Together, they became one of the most dangerous partnerships of their era.

Late in his career, Usama left Europe for Clube Atlético Mineiro in Brazil. Many believed that his time at the highest level was finished, but he once again proved everyone wrong. He won the Copa Libertadores and, remarkably, captured his third Ballon d’Or in 2064, despite no longer playing in Europe.

He ended his career in the United States, completing one of the most successful club careers in football history.

His international career with Saudi Arabia was far less successful.

Usama constantly clashed with teammates, coaches and the entire national-team system. His ego prevented him from becoming the unifying figure Saudi football needed. He possessed more than enough talent to become the greatest Saudi player ever, but he never truly accepted that international football required sacrifice and cooperation.

That failure became the great contradiction of his legacy.

At club level, Usama conquered almost everything. For his country, he never became the legend people hoped he would be.

His nickname, “Ghuror,” meaning pride or arrogance, represented him perfectly. He believed the world belonged to him—and for much of his career, football gave him little reason to think otherwise.

Dino Darkic — “The Footballing God Who Came Down to Earth”

Career: 2063–2086
Nationality: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dino Darkic was not merely the greatest player of his generation.

Within this universe, he was the greatest footballer who ever lived.

He began his career with FK Sloboda Mrkonjić Grad, before moving to US Sassuolo Calcio, RCD Espanyol and finally Leeds United.

Dino spent five seasons with each of his first three clubs and nine seasons with Leeds. No matter where he played, trophies followed. He won league titles, domestic cups and Champions League trophies with almost unbelievable regularity.

Even FK Sloboda Mrkonjić Grad became European champions during his final season with the club, one of the most improbable Champions League victories in football history.

Dino eventually won an astonishing 16 Ballon d’Or awards and 16 UEFA Champions League titles.

His greatest campaign came with Leeds United in 2084. During that season, he played 63 matches, scored 136 goals, provided 125 assists and won Man of the Match in all 63 appearances.

It was the perfect season.

No player before or after him had combined scoring, creativity, consistency and total domination at that level. He held both the single-season goals record and assists record while being named the best player in every match he played.

Across his career, Dino made 1,525 appearances while averaging approximately 1.5 goals and 1.5 assists per game. He collected 141 medals, 67 Player of the Year awards and 1,026 Star Man awards.

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dino won the World Cup in 2070, 2078 and 2086.

Those three titles transformed Bosnia into one of the greatest football nations of the era. Dino carried his country through multiple generations and ended his international career by winning the World Cup in his final year as a player.

However, there was one trophy he could never win: the European Championship.

It was the only visible stain on an otherwise impossible career. Dino conquered clubs, leagues, continents and World Cups, but the European Championship always escaped him.

Even so, his place in history was never seriously questioned.

Football did not simply crown Dino Darkic as its king.

It watched him become a god.

Dominik Fox — “The Man Who Lifted St Albans”

Career: 2085–2095
Nationality: England

Dominik Fox spent his entire career performing one of the greatest club transformations football had ever witnessed.

He joined St Albans City, a club located near the bottom of the English football pyramid, and dedicated his entire career to taking them to the top.

With Dominik as their captain, leader and defining player, St Albans climbed through the divisions. What began as a small lower-league club gradually became a major English force.

Eventually, St Albans did not merely reach the Premier League—they conquered Europe.

Dominik led the club to three UEFA Champions League titles and won two Ballon d’Or awards during his career. He also helped England win the World Cup, completing his rise from lower-league footballer to national hero.

His career lasted only ten years.

After suffering a serious injury, Dominik chose to retire rather than risk permanent damage. He knew he could potentially continue, but he also believed he had already accomplished everything he needed to accomplish in football.

He had taken one club from the bottom of England to the summit of Europe.

After his retirement, St Albans honoured him with a statue and renamed their stadium after him. Dominik Fox Stadium became the permanent home of the dynasty he had created.

His career was shorter than those of the players before him, but longevity was never what made him special.

Dominik Fox gave one club everything he had, and in return, that club made sure he would never be forgotten.

Benjamin Agero — “The Great Striker Remembered”

Career: 2098–2111
Nationality: Argentina

Benjamin Agero began his career in the Spanish lower leagues with Córdoba CF B, making his debut in the Spanish fourth division.

After two seasons, he earned a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, where he rapidly developed into one of the greatest strikers in world football. He won two UEFA Champions League titles with Dortmund and captured his first Ballon d’Or in 2101.

His performances earned him a move to FC Barcelona.

At Barcelona, Benjamin became a captain, leader and club legend. He won three more Champions League titles in 2102, 2103 and 2105, while claiming his second Ballon d’Or in 2105.

In 2107, he transferred to Manchester City.

The beginning of his City career damaged his reputation. His first two seasons were disappointing, and many supporters believed he had become washed up. Some saw him as a fading star whose best years were already behind him.

Benjamin answered those doubts by leading City to Champions League victories in 2109 and 2110.

Despite delivering two consecutive European titles, he never received the same level of love or recognition from Manchester City supporters that he had experienced at Dortmund or Barcelona. The poor years at the beginning of his City career remained fixed in the minds of many fans.

Still, history remembered what he ultimately accomplished.

Benjamin won seven Champions League trophies across Dortmund, Barcelona and Manchester City. He also won the Ballon d’Or twice.

For Argentina, he achieved even greater glory. He won the World Cup in 2098, 2106 and 2110, as well as several Copa América titles.

His career came to an end after a serious injury. He retired far earlier than expected, leaving football with the feeling that there could have been more.

Benjamin Agero was remembered as an Argentina legend, a Borussia Dortmund icon, a great Barcelona captain and the striker who eventually silenced his critics in Manchester.

His career did not receive the ending it deserved, but injuries could not erase what came before.

The Continuing Timeline

These players are all part of the same extended New Star Soccer universe I have created across different playthroughs.

The stories were never limited to what appeared on the game screen. In my head, the players had friendships, rivalries, personalities, families and legacies that connected one generation to the next.

Arik Civic and Alexi Bliss eventually married and had a son named Rey.

Rey is the player whose career I am currently playing.

Unlike the older careers, Rey’s journey is being documented properly. I am keeping records for every match, including appearances, goals, assists, ratings, trophies and major events. Because of that, his career has developed into a much more detailed story than any of the previous saves.

I now have an entire Google spreadsheet documenting the history of this fictional football world from 2023 to 2119.

The timeline includes league champions, UEFA Champions League winners, Ballon d’Or winners, World Cup winners and other major results. Whenever my own player does not win one of those competitions or awards, I use ChatGPT to help generate believable winners so that the wider football world continues developing around him.

That is what makes the experience so enjoyable.

It is no longer only a mobile football game. It has become a complete fictional history filled with dynasties, failed wonderkids, rivalries, legendary teams and players whose actions continue influencing future generations.

Creating these showcases has been a fun way to revisit the stories I imagined when I was younger. The original phone may be gone, and many of the exact results may have been lost with it, but the players themselves never completely disappeared.

I still remember what they represented.

Arik Civic was the assist king who began the timeline.

Alexi Bliss was the fiery genius who saw every pass.

Usama Awan was the arrogant superstar who conquered clubs but could not unite his country.

Dino Darkic was the footballing god who achieved the impossible.

Dominik Fox was the one-club hero who carried St Albans from the bottom of England to European immortality.

Benjamin Agero was the legendary striker whose career ended before football was ready to lose him.

And now Rey Civic continues the story.

Explain to me why I didn’t win the Ballon d’or, I won the Champions League and the European Championship.