10 Football Manager Legends Who Flopped In Real Life
6. Lebohang Mokoena
In the game:
Available for around half a million from Orlando Pirates, pacy winger Lebohang Mokoena was one of the bargains of Football Manager 2006, rapidly increasing his value to in excess of £100 million with the right management.
In reality:
"Cheeseboy", as Mokoena is popularly known (township slang for someone with money enough to put cheese in their sandwich, a reflection of his success while still young), never played outside his home country. That was not, however from lack of interest.
While still just 16 he had almost joined Deportivo La Coruña (then still a major force to be reckoned with in European football), while his South Africa debut in 2005 prompted interest from Benfica. Pirates' management blocked every potential move, though, keeping him at the club until the end of his contract in 2009 when he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Over the years a series of injuries did for the blistering turn of pace that Football Manager fans remember and that was the main strength of Mokoena's attacking game.
Cheeseboy did not make the squad for South Africa's home World Cup in 2010 and made his last appearance for Bafana Bafana in 2012.
Over the past few years he has struggled to find a club to take a chance on him after his injury history, but Mokoena is still playing. Currently the captain of Moroka Swallows, Pirates' Soweto neighbours, Mokoena was rumoured earlier this year to be considering retirement at the age of 33.