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We've all got our own Football Manager stories, and we've all got a special place in our hearts for the players who helped us achieve them.

Whether it is leading your Plymouth Argyle team up the divisions and into the Premier League or taking Napoli all the way to three consecutive Champions League titles, there are likely to be certain footballers who invoke special memories of those times you were incredibly anti-social and ignored friends, family and partners for the greater good.

But what about the real-life stories of those players who brought you such digital happiness?

Well, because it's the international break and we're all bored waiting for club football to come back we thought we'd take a trip back into the archives.

The following 50 footballers were all seen as 'wonderkids' on Football Manager 2009 which now, scarily, was released some 10 years ago.

(Image: SEGA - FM09)

Here's what they've been up over the last decade.

(The players listed were all aged 20 or younger at the time of the game's release, are shown with the club they played for at the time and have been sourced from truefootballmanager.com ).

Goalkeepers

Sergio Asenjo, 20 - Valladolid

(Image: Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty)

After two seasons at Valladolid the Spanish stopper was being tipped to become his nation's new No.1, but after moving to Atletico Madrid he ran into a certain David de Gea.

He's now been at Villarreal since 2013, and got one cap for Spain three years ago.

Rui Patricio, 20 - Sporting Lisbon

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The Portuguese had already established himself in the Sporting goal by the time the game came out, and he ended up making a mammoth 467 appearances for the club until a move to Wolves last summer.

He's now picked up 81 caps for Portugal, and got a Euro 2016 winners' medal to go with them.

Remy Riou, 20 - Auxerre

(Image: REUTERS)

The majority of the stopper's career was played out at Nantes, but he's also had stints at Toulouse, Turkey's Alanyaspor and now Caen.

Right-backs

Lorenzo De Silvestri, 20 - Lazio

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

The full-back got his first Italy cap in 2010 and has since had stints at Fiorentina, Sampdoria and current club Torino.

Davide Santon, 17 - Inter Milan

(Image: Richard Heathcote)

Viewed as one of the next generation of Italian defenders to take over the mantle from the likes of Paolo Maldini, there was much excitement when Santon broke into the team at Inter. And then not much happened.

He's since gone to Newcastle , back to Inter, joined Roma and picked up eight Italy caps.

Nenad Tomovic, 20 - Red Star

(Image: Getty)

Imposing Serbian defender Tomovic moved to Genoa the summer that the game was released, but his career didn't quite kick on from there though.

His best displays came during six years at Fiorentina, while these days he's on loan at SPAL from Chievo.

Left-backs

Marcelo, 20 - Real Madrid

(Image: Juan Carlos Hidalgo/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The Brazilian had already clocked up over 70 appearances for Real by 2009, and he's gone on to become part of the furniture at the Bernabeu.

It would be odd to imagine him anywhere else.

Gareth Bale, 19 - Tottenham

(Image: Action Images)

From a struggling left-back who couldn't buy a win whenever he appeared for Spurs, the Welshman suddenly blossomed into a quick, dynamic and at times unstoppable forward.

He's had his up and downs at Real Madrid , but he's certainly not a defender any more.

Armand Traore, 18 - Arsenal

(Image: PA Wire)

Loans at Portsmouth and Juventus failed to turn Traore into the left-back Arsenal wanted, and he then embarked on moves to QPR, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff .

These days the 29-year-old - who got the last of his five Senegal caps in 2013 - is in Turkey with Caykur Rizespor.

Emiliano Insua, 19 - Liverpool

(Image: PA)

The Argentinean played more games for Liverpool than you'd think, appearing 62 times for the Reds over four seasons.

He's had a nomadic existence since then. joining Galatasaray, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and now Stuttgart.

Centre-backs

Mamadou Sakho, 18 - Paris Saint-Germain

(Image: Getty Images)

The centre-back was tipped to be the homegrown talent who would go on to captain PSG, but the arrival of the Qatar money at the club saw him squeezed out, and he joined Liverpool in 2013.

He had his moments there, but clash of personalities with Jurgen Klopp led to his move to Crystal Palace .

Jack Rodwell, 17 - Everton

(Image: Alex Davidson)

Considered a promising centre-back when he was a teenager, it was in midfield where Rodwell blossomed and showed excellent early promise for Everton .

Performances there earned him his move to Manchester City , but after just 25 appearances he left for an ill-fated spell at Sunderland and then a stint at Blackburn.

Aged 28, he's now without a club.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos, 16 - Olympiakos

(Image: Bongarts/Getty)

The big Greek defender moved on to Schalke in 2010, and despite some links with bigger clubs across Europe he's been bouncing around Germany ever since, these days in Bundesliga 2 with Hamburg.

Defensive Midfielders

Marek Hamsik, 20 - Napoli

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

Having played 40 games in each of the two seasons preceding the release of the game it was pretty obvious how highly Napoli rated Hamsik.

The Slovakian would go on to become the club's all-time record goalscorer and appearance maker before moving to China with Dalian Yifang in February this year.

Ignacio Camacho, 18 - Atletico Madrid

(Image: Getty Images)

Plenty would have expected Camacho to earn more than one Spain cap when he broke through at Atletico, but his appearance in 2014 is still his only one for his country.

He was in the middle of his seven year Malaga spell then, before moving on to Wolfsburg where he still resides.

Rafael Carioca, 19 - Gremio

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Spartak Moscow saw the best of the uncapped Brazilian's combustible defensive midfield talents for five years up to 2014, before he left Europe for spells back in Brazil and now Mexico.

Nuri Sahin, 19 - Borussia Dortmund

(Image: DAVID HECKER/EPA-EFE/REX)

Capped over 50 times for Turkey and with a CV including stints at Real Madrid and Liverpool, injury and positional issues ensured that Sahin could never quite recapture the form he showed in Dortmund's 2010/11 Bundesliga title winning season.

Now 31, he's still in Germany at Werder Bremen.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic, 20 - Fiorentina

(Image: Getty Images)

The Serbian has had a nomadic career since Fiorentina, joining Stuttgart, Inter Milan, FC Basel, Udinese and Malaga, the latter two on loan.

Right Midfielders

Theo Walcott, 19 - Arsenal

(Image: REUTERS)

Ah, Theo.

A player tipped for great things never quite convinced everyone despite 397 games and 108 goals for Arsenal, and 47 caps for England.

Can these days be spotted on Everton's bench.

Lautaro Acosta, 20 - Sevilla

(Image: X02147)

Now considered more of a forward, Acosta had something of a nightmare five years at Sevilla where he only made fleeting appearances, scoring one goal and suffering injury issues.

Is back in Argentina with Lanus these days, and picked up two international caps in 2017.

Axel Witsel, 19 - Standard Liege

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The Belgian has moved more centrally the longer his career has gone on, and has carved out a career as one the best in his position across spells at Benfica, Zenit, China's Tianjin Quanjian and Borussia Dortmund.

Pavel Mamayev, 19 - CSKA Moscow

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Mamayev's progress at CSKA Moscow led to a move to Krasnodar in 2013, as well as 15 caps for Russia. Then came a night out in Moscow that changed the course of his career.

The midfielder and one of his teammates, Aleksandr Kokorin, were involved in a drunken attack on driver and then a Russian Trade Ministry official.

In May of this year Mamayev was sentenced to 17 months in prison, with release not possible until November.

Left Midfielders

Stevan Jovetic, 18 - Fiorentina

(Image: AFP/Getty)

One of Europe's hot properties, Jovetic was wanted by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2009 only to stay at Fiorentina for four more years.

He ended up moving to England with Manchester City in 2013, but injuries there ensured he never really reached his potential, and after spells with Inter Milan and Sevilla he's now at Monaco.

Juan Mata, 20 - Valencia

(Image: 2019 Getty Images)

A sprightly, creative force, Mata has been a mainstay of the Premier League with Chelsea and Manchester United since 2011, and is quite unlucky not to have more than 41 Spain caps.

Angel Di Maria, 20 - Benfica

(Image: Lintao Zhang)

Joined Real Madrid in 2010 and was a key player until they decided he was expendable, which led to a disappointing stint at Manchester United.

He's been at Paris Saint-Germain for four years now though, and seems to have found a home.

Ismail Aissati, 19 - Ajax

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The teenager was the name on everyone's lips a decade ago, but he too often flattered to deceive whenever he was given the chance to start by the Dutch giants.

He's ended up floating around the Russian and Turkish leagues, these days with Denizlispor in the latter.

Fausto Rossi, 17 - Juventus

(Image: Helios de la Rubia)

There was much excitement about the teenager in Turin when he was younger, but he never played for Juventus as he was farmed out on loan to Brescia, Valladolid, Cordoba and Pro Vercelli.

He was last seen in Romania with Universitatea Craiova.

Rodney Sneijder, 17 - Ajax

(Image: Getty Images)

Wesley's little brother wasn't blessed with the talent of the former Real Madrid star, and after being advised against joining him in Madrid by his brother, the younger Sneijder never quite proved himself in Amsterdam.

After he was released by Ajax in 2012 and ended up touring the globe, including having a brief stint at Dundee United.

Attacking midfielders

Anderson, 20 - Manchester United

(Image: Man Utd via Getty)

There were flashes, but Anderson never consistently delivered on the promise United wanted to see from him.

After spells back in Brazil he's now with Adana Demirspor in Turkey's second tier.

Miralem Pjanic, 18 - Lyon

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The Bosnian shone at Lyon and has been lighting it up in Italy ever since 2011, first with Roma and now with Juventus.

Toni Kroos, 18 - Bayern Munich

(Image: Matthias Hangst)

Another who certainly delivered on his promise, Kroos joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich shortly after winning the World Cup in 2014, and he's still there.

Giovani dos Santos, 19 - Tottenham

(Image: Getty)

Tipped for the top at Barcelona , it was thought that Spurs had snapped up a gem when they brought in Dos Santos, but he ended up on loan at Ipswich.

A few moves later he found a home at LA Galaxy, but this year left them for Mexican side America.

Diego Buonanotte, 20 - River Plate

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Malaga took the plunge when they snapped up Buonanotte in 2011, and he also ended up playing for Granada in Spain as well.

A couple of loans back to South America took him back home, and now he's in Chile after a brief spell in Greece.

Jack Wilshere, 16 - Arsenal

(Image: REUTERS)

Believed to have had the world at his feet as he broke through at Arsenal, those feet were all too often out of action as Wilshere picked up far too many injuries.

Still a useful player though, and these days can be seen at West Ham .

Georginio Wijnaldum, 17 - Feyenoord

(Image: Getty Images)

Unlike many talented Dutch players, Wijnaldum's first big move saw him stay in the Netherlands as he swapped Feyenoord for PSV Eindhoven.

His game developed there, and after a season at Newcastle he joined Liverpool in 2016.

A crucial part of the Reds' midfield, he's now also a European champion.

Douglas Costa, 17 - Gremio

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

Like so many Brazilians before him, Douglas Costa's first move into Europe was with Shakhtar Donetsk, where he spent five years and honed his skills in order to allow him to progress at the highest level.

That has come with Bayern Munich and now Juventus, while he's been a league champion in each of the last four seasons.

Rui Fonte, 18 - Arsenal

(Image: Paul Burgman)

Fonte only ever made one appearance for Arsenal before embarking on a career taking in England, Portugal, Spain and France, and after failing to impress back in London with Fulham he rejoined former club Braga this summer.

Bartosz Salamon, 17 - Brescia

(Image: Getty Images)

Perhaps unsurprisingly because he's 6ft 5ins, Salamon has become more of a defensive figure the older he's got, and he can now be found at Italian side SPAL having bounced around both Serie A and B.

Haris Vuckic, 15 - Domzale

(Image: Mark Runnacles)

The youngest player to be tipped for the top, Slovenian Vuckic got his big move when he joined Newcastle in 2009, before loan switches across the length and breadth of the UK as he joined Cardiff, Rotherham, Rangers, Wigan and Bradford.

He's now at FC Twente, and has just one cap for his country.

Forwards

Sergio Aguero, 20 - Atletico Madrid

(Image: Getty)

The Argentinean needs no introduction, and after swapping Atletico Madrid for Manchester City in 2011 he's gone on to be the club's all-time record goalscorer.

Alexandre Pato, 19 - AC Milan

(Image: Getty Images)

For years the Brazilian was considered to be the next big thing in both Brazilian and European football, but he never quite recaptured the initial form he showed when breaking through at Milan.

Now 30, his career has taken in Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Chelsea, Villarreal, Tianjin Tianhai and now Sao Paulo again.

Bojan, 18 - Barcelona

(Image: Getty Images)

Once considered a contemporary of Lionel Messi, the nimble attacker ended up at Stoke via Roma, Milan and Ajax.

After a couple more loans he's now in Canada with Montral Impact.

Karim Benzema, 20 - Lyon

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Now entering his 10th season at Real Madrid, the Spanish giants obviously saw enough in this wonderkid to make him a key, and certainly underrated part of their squad.

Carlos Vela, 19 - Arsenal

(Image: Kent Gavin)

Looked to be a sure thing in terms of 'making it' as he broke through at Arsenal, but most of his experience at the Emirates seemed to come in the League Cup.

Eventually impressed at Real Sociedad before moving onto Los Angeles FC, where he's currently ripping it up.

Mario Balotelli, 18 - Inter Milan

(Image: Marco Luzzani)

You all know the Balotelli story by now, with bibs, fireworks, Manchester City and Liverpool all featuring.

He moved back to hometown club Brescia in the summer.

Jozy Altidore, 18 - Villarreal

(Image: Kent Horner)

The American was determined to make his way in Europe but, bar a stint at AZ Alkmaar, it really didn't work out for him, and he underwhelmed everywhere he went including Hull City and Sunderland.

He's doing well at Toronto FC at the moment though, and has amassed 115 USA caps.

Keirrison, 19 - Coritiba

(Image: Heuler Andrey)

There was a lot of hype around Keirrison as he came through in South America, with that 'Brazilian wonderkid' title all too tempting to trot out.

He ended up spending five years as a Barcelona player without actually playing form them, as he embarked on loans at clubs as storied as Benfica and Fiorentina.

Having moved back to Brazil, he was last seen as second tier club Londrina last year.

Henri Saivet, 17 - Bordeaux

(Image: Serena Taylor)

Saivet resisted leaving Bordeaux until 2016, and he might feel as though he should have stayed.

After joining Newcastle he's scarcely seen on Tyneside, instead going on loans to Saint-Etienne, Sivasspor and Bursaspor.

Alexis Sanchez, 19 - Udinese

(Image: Getty Images)

Now back in Italy, it was at Udinese were Sanchez first burst onto the scene before his spells at Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United.

He'll be hoping to rediscover some form at Inter.

Alberto Paloschi, 18 - AC Milan

(Image: Stu Forster)

It never quite happened at Milan for Paloschi, but he fared fairly better at Parma, Genoa and Chievo, before a poor spell at Swansea.

He's now back in Italy with SPAL.