Maradona, Messi, Pelé, & Zidane to play for non-league English club Farnborough
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As part of a sponsorship agreement with betting company Paddy Power, every player and staff in the Farnborough squad have changed their name by deed poll to that of a footballing legend.
Conference South side Farnborough went into adminstration in April with reported debts of about £2 million before Paddy Power swooped in with an offer to sponsor the club and provide the money they so desperately needed.
Therefore, the ground has been renamed, the kit has been updated, while their playing squad and manager have changed their names to some of the biggest names in football.
Instead of a line-up including the likes of Balls, Inns and Treacher, the yellow kit of Hampshire's finest will be adorned with all-time great names like Beckenbauer, Maradona, Messi, Pelé, and Zidane.
It means the most star-studded team ever assembled will be kicking off against the might of Chelmsford City at the Paddy Power Park this Saturday.
"Over the summer it looked touch and go whether we'd even start the season," manager José Mourinho - previously Spencer Day - told the club's website. "But now we've got by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
"Although it's not all good news, Pelé and Maradona have almost come to blows over who gets to wear the number 10."
Paddy Power, of Paddy Power, added: "We hear you, Farnborough FC. Not only does our support help secure the future of a great club but, in the modern world of sky-high money for season tickets, fans can forget the Nou Camp and now need only to travel to Paddy Power Park to see some of the world's greatest in action.
"We're waiting with bated breath for their opener on Saturday to see how Farnborough's rivals deal with a frontline led by Pelé and Messi – and a defence marshalled by our captain Hansen. Hopefully Zidane keeps a cool head in midfield and doesn't end up in our Ball of Shame season review!"
Here's the full squad:
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| The most star-studded team ever assembled will be playing at Paddy Power Park this season Photo: Farnborough Football Club |
Conference South side Farnborough went into adminstration in April with reported debts of about £2 million before Paddy Power swooped in with an offer to sponsor the club and provide the money they so desperately needed.
The deal sees the Irish bookmaker become title sponsors of the club, which will include kit branding and stadium sponsorship.
Therefore, the ground has been renamed, the kit has been updated, while their playing squad and manager have changed their names to some of the biggest names in football.
Instead of a line-up including the likes of Balls, Inns and Treacher, the yellow kit of Hampshire's finest will be adorned with all-time great names like Beckenbauer, Maradona, Messi, Pelé, and Zidane.
It means the most star-studded team ever assembled will be kicking off against the might of Chelmsford City at the Paddy Power Park this Saturday.
"Over the summer it looked touch and go whether we'd even start the season," manager José Mourinho - previously Spencer Day - told the club's website. "But now we've got by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
"Although it's not all good news, Pelé and Maradona have almost come to blows over who gets to wear the number 10."
Paddy Power, of Paddy Power, added: "We hear you, Farnborough FC. Not only does our support help secure the future of a great club but, in the modern world of sky-high money for season tickets, fans can forget the Nou Camp and now need only to travel to Paddy Power Park to see some of the world's greatest in action.
"We're waiting with bated breath for their opener on Saturday to see how Farnborough's rivals deal with a frontline led by Pelé and Messi – and a defence marshalled by our captain Hansen. Hopefully Zidane keeps a cool head in midfield and doesn't end up in our Ball of Shame season review!"
Here's the full squad:
| Position | Legend Name | Previous Name |
| Goalkeeper | Gordon Banks | Kevin Scriven |
| Defender | Franz Beckenbauer | Thomas McGarry |
| Defender | Cafu | Paul Massaquoi |
| Defender | Roberto Carlos | Oliver Treacher |
| Defender | Alan Hansen | Alan Inns |
| Defender | Paolo Maldini | Adam Doyle |
| Defender | Lothar Matthäus | Joshua Huggins |
| Defender | Bobby Moore | Nathan Koo-Boothe |
| Defender | John Terry | Djibril Fofana |
| Midfielder | David Beckham | Scott Donnelly |
| Midfielder | George Best | Reece Jones |
| Midfielder | Johan Cruyff | Tyrone Berry |
| Midfielder | Paul Gascoigne | Stephen Laidler |
| Midfielder | Zinedine Zidane | Merrick James-Lewis |
| Forward | Gary Lineker | Reece Connolly |
| Forward | Diego Maradona | David Tarpey |
| Forward | Lionel Messi | Daniel Bennett |
| Forward | Pelé | Elvis Hammond |
| Manager | José Mourinho | Spencer Day |
| Assistant Manager | Paddy Power | James Dynan |
| First-Team Coach | Sir Alex Ferguson | Simon Gardener |
| Kitman | Terry Venables | Roger Peirce |
