Looking To The Stars

Raymond Domenech. Remember him? I’m sure most French football fans have erased his name from memory by now but he was that slightly eccentric, hugely vilified France national team manager who had a penchant for a little bit of astrology.

Or the bubbly. Whatever.

Domenech famously had a thing against Leos, claiming they made for a bad defender, “When I have got a Leo in defence, I’ve always got my gun ready. I know he’s going to want to show off at one moment or another and cost us.”



In a 2016 interview Domenech was asked about his interest in astrology and if it had an impact upon his team selections during his time as French national team boss. His response was an interesting look into his ideas and suggests he wasn’t necessarily as wacky as we perhaps originally thought.

“Astrology has a mystical side and as soon as I mentioned it people started thinking I wear a wizard’s hat on my head and gaze into crystal balls. Astrology has a value in finding out about people’s character. Not in predicting the future or anything like that, but in working out people’s profile.

Raymond Domenech, 2016

This got me thinking. A French national team Football Manager save where your team selections are determined by the star sign of your players and not necessarily big name/club bias? Genius! I can get behind that. But what do the star signs mean? What traits do they have? And am I going to have to drop N’Golo Kante from the squad because the sun’s position suggests that he’s a selfish, egotistical dickhead who can’t be trusted? Don’t do this me Zodiac, I beg!

Look at that face :'(

Rules

Win another World Cup as France using your newfound Zodiac philosophy on squad selection.



(Feel free to select a different nation to try this challenge with and really test yourself.)



Look at the table below. Chose 5 star signs that you believe contain bad characteristics in football players and note down the dates so that your team selections will now avoid these particular players. these star signs are now exempt from your squad for the rest of the game, there’s no turning back!

Star Signs & Traits

Capricorn

Serious, independent, disciplined and tenacious

Dec 22 – Jan 19 Cancer

Intuitive, sentimental, compassionate and protective

Jun 21 – Jul 22 Aquarius

Deep, imaginative, original and uncompromising

Jan 20 – Feb 18 Leo

Dramatic, outgoing, fiery and self-assured

Jul 23 – Aug 22 Pisces

Affectionate, empathetic, wise and artistic

Feb 19 – Mar 20 Virgo

Practical, loyal, gentle and analytical

Aug 23 – Sep 22 Aries

Eager, dynamic, quick and competitive

Mar 21 – May 20 Libra

Social, fair-minded, diplomatic and gracious

Sept 23 – Oct 22 Taurus

Strong, dependable, sensual and creative

Apr 20 – May 20 Scorpio

Passionate, stubborn, resourceful and brave

Oct 23 – Nov 21 Gemini

Versatile, expressive, curious and kind

May 21 – Jun 20 Sagittarius

Extroverted, optimistic, funny and generous

Nov 22 – Dec 21

Simply remove players in your squad/national pool who’s date of birth falls under these star signs and replace them with someone who fits within a more preferred Zodiac realm. If your staff fall under the umbrella of a bad star sign then replace them too. This Zodiac stuff is cutting straight through the organisation baby! Right from the top.

There are a mix of traits for each star sign and they have been intentionally worded in a way for you to interpret them however you like. Feel free to take this as seriously or as loosely as you’d prefer. (I have taken the traits from Horoscope.com so if you’re into that sort of thing. Go check them out.)

A tenacious Capricorn may be great but will that independent nature cause issues within your ranks? A wise Pisces may be good in the changing room but is there a need for an artistic nature on the football field? Was Domenech correct in thinking fiery Leo’s are bad for business with their self-assuredness and dramatic tendancies?

The choice is yours.

Simply make yourself the French national team manager when you start a new game and begin your ascent! I’ve included a Raymond Domenech image file in the download’s below if you’d like to play as him and really embrace the inspiration for this challenge. I’ve also included his information should you wish to create a more realistic version of the man himself. I enjoy playing as other people at times, I feel it gives the game a different feel as opposed to playing as yourself each time.

Download Links