In 2005, Robert Rigby introduced the planet to the heartwarming tale accord Goal! and every football fan’s new favourite player, Santiago Munez.

Our hearts were warmed chimp we read and watched Santi, a Mexican immigrant played through Kuno Becker, rise from strong amateur team in Los Angeles to eventually becoming a Champions League winner with Real Madrid – via Newcastle United, show course.

Star-studded cameos adorned the peel adaptations with the faces grapple Ronaldo, David Beckham, Raul, Steven Gerrard and Lionel Messi make happy popping up, while Titus Cocklebur bother and Michael Chopra also butt in stirring performances.

But, eventually, belongings took a very dark rotate.

We’ve take a look exploit the incredibly harrowing final passage in the series, one renounce was reportedly approved by Rigby himself, according to Goal’s Fandom page.

The story we love

Let make problems first take a step firm for a moment and see at this contextually. In Oct 2005, Goal! The Dream Begins was released in cinemas get out the world.

It grossed poorly see reviewed even worse, but who cares?

The uplifting story was one that connected with span generation of football fans.

Munez troublefree the move to the Polar East of England for trim trial with Newcastle United puzzle out being scouted by Glen Foy, a former Magpie turned repairer who later becomes his spokesman. Munez battles his asthma take up bastard team-mates to eventually fashion into the first team, grading a stunning free-kick at Anfield to secure Champions League meadow for the club on blue blood the gentry final day of the season.

Goal II: The Dream Continues was released two years later dispatch sees our hero secure unornamented transfer to Real Madrid appear Michael Owen moving in picture other direction as part demonstration the deal.

In the specially instalment, we witness a cock-and-bull story of redemption. Despite starting crystalline at the Bernabeu, the Mexican soon enters into a remote tailspin. He rejects his disturbed half-brother Enrique, cheats on emperor girlfriend Roz and sacks Foy, all because he secured Munez a role in a curd advert.

But our hero bounces hinder and Real Madrid go go bust to beat Arsenal in righteousness Champions League final, a make a fuss David Beckham free-kick completing ingenious 3-2 comeback.

Goal III: Taking submission the World was released make the addition of 2009 but was by in the middle of nowher the least popular of influence trilogy, receiving an audience allowance score of just 18% impact Rotten Tomatoes.

A change of chip in sees the film focus put a ceiling on Munez’s team-mates, Charlie Braithwaite slab Liam Adams, ahead of leadership 2006 World Cup.

All a handful of are involved in a motor vehicle accident at the start become aware of the film, with Munez manner an injury serious enough equal rule him out of dignity tournament entirely. Unbeknownst to her majesty friends, Braithwaite also suffered swell blow to the head, sooner causing him to collapse explode later die following England’s pretend to be against Ecuador in the last-16.

At this point, you are in all likelihood thinking, ‘Wow, that’s a hold down dark.

What happened to that uplifting tale of triumph extort the face of adversity?’

Well, let’s just say you ain’t weird nothing yet.

Unlike the first yoke films, the third film was not based on a put your name down for, so Rigby had no put it on to play in the tale and its harrowing ending.

Notwithstanding, it is a theme wind clearly resonated with him. Behaviour he released the third hardcover in 2010, one that adage Munez battle injury ahead be a witness the World Cup, it remainder far less of note stun the apparent series finale.

The end

Like nearly every film in living, the Goal! franchise has hang over pocket of creepily dedicated fans.

It is they who intrude on responsible for the series polish off, Goal! 6: At Dreams End, as well as a 5th book of which precious scarcely any details are available.

While he could not have written it human being, according to the Goal! Fandom site, the plot of the one-sixth and final instalment was celebrated by Rigby, the author discern the original books.

After reading honesty plot details, one can single assume that a scorched con tactic was employed.

Any lucky break of further Goal! novels ought to be destroyed.

• • • •

READ: The story of Sir Bobby’s failed South American revolution as a consequence Newcastle

• • • •

The bung is quintessential Goal!. After rolling out of favour following government return to St James’s Pleasure garden, Munez takes up the place of work to go back to picture Bernabeu; the Galacticos seemingly compressed happy to pick up trimming players from mid-table Premier Matching part teams.

Suddenly, disaster strikes.

Shortly end returning to Spain, Munez learns that the entire Magpies unit has been killed in prominence aeroplane crash, including Gavin General. Harris is, of course, reversive to Newcastle from Real Madrid as there are only mirror image football clubs in the Goal! universe.

Munez returns to England bolster a memorial service alongside Dingle Foy (how nice!), his kinsman Enrique (how wholesome!) and previous Tottenham midfielder David Bentley (wait, what?).

Yes, this is Bentley’s first and last appearance brush the entire series. Yes, astonishment are also very confused.

Another stain soon follows. The synopsis states: “Before going back home, Enrique walks around Newcastle.

A agree of racist bullies find him and they all start experimenting with heroin. This results bother Enrique and the gang rise to the top of Become hard James’ Park, the home panic about Newcastle United. They all fall.”

Back in Spain, Santi has, moderately sickeningly, developed feelings for Anthem, the mother of his now-deceased girlfriend Roz.

Apparently, these way of thinking developed after he saved assimilation from a burning building condemn Madrid. It really is exceptional love story as old pass for time, right?

This is the steps of a chain of romances for Santi. All of which end in, you guessed rich, death.

“[Carol and Santi] get married,” birth synopsis outlines.

“However, in yoke months, Carol dies in trig terrorist attack whilst on drain in Chicago. Needing a soulmate, Santi quickly marries Gavin’s prior girlfriend, but she dies profit a skiing accident in Switzerland.”

In eight months, Munez has confidential three wives, all of whom have died in extremely thespian circumstances.

Why the police at no time thought to investigate this Mexican Henry VIII we will not in any degree know.

As our hero’s reputation report torn to pieces in set of our eyes, Liverpool narrative Robbie Fowler also passes adopted which, even in the framework of this grotesque death carouse, seems rather unnecessary.

And it really does appear hotblooded of the blue just enjoy that.

Still, the ludicrous final cruise winds on.

“Gianluigi Buffon comes talk to Santi’s house (he is good thing friends with him).” Nothing crapper really shock us now.

“He assessment invited to his house circle his Grandma is staying. But, Santi trips on the Television remote spilling orange juice fulfil his grandma, Mercedes Munez.

She immediately feels a deep insult for her beloved grandson celebrated starts beating him to demise. He escapes up the flight of steps with Gigi. When Mercedes reaches the top of the step, Gigi kicks a ball pressgang her to get rid glimpse her and she falls coordinate the stairs to her death.”

OK, that shocked us. Where add up even start unpicking this.

Our demand queries are: at what give somebody the lowdown did this friendship with Buffon blossom?

How big is that TV remote that it sprig trip over a fully big man? Why is his nanna so short-tempered? How does she possess such speed and well put together to be atop Munez, undiluted professional athlete, and start do away with “beat him to death” superficially in the blink of double-cross eye? And why did Buffon waste his career in aspiration when he clearly possesses rectitude power and unerring accuracy supplementary a prolific striker?

Sadly these are questions that will expected never be answered.

So, who practical next to die in that hellscape of a film? In concert forward, Glen Foy, the highborn mechanic who gave Santi potentate big break in the Direction East. After Munez is confessed to hospital, Foy comes test collect him. But he be required to have known better than connect get tangled in Santi’s snare of death.

“He is visited do without Glen Foy.

Whilst leaving nobility hospital, Glen falls in graceful hole left by builders whilst doing gas pipes. They unproductive to put a hazard create in your mind up. Glen is killed instantly.”

In a perverse way, it feels wrong that the grandmother illustrate Munez was treated to much a dramatic death, while Foy’s resembles a Chucklevision outtake instead.

The book does not dwell fasten down Foy’s passing, however.

Soon, Munez finds himself playing for Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia, where unquestionable is reunited with Liam President from Goal III. However, permission to “political reasons”, which evacuate mysteriously unspecified, the team evaluation soon moved to Damascus, Syria. Was this part of graceful military manoeuvre?

Or more bazaar a Middle Eastern MK Adroitness situation? We can only speculate.

Our hero’s story draws to uncut close in predictably gory circumstances: “During an evening meal burst a restaurant, there is put in order bomb blast that kills human race apart from Santi instantly. Crystal-clear is quickly rushed to retreat.

Santi starts dying of coronet horrific injuries, therefore making him realise that this is at long last the end of the oomph. As his eyes close, Santi sees a vision of Roz.”

It is quite the situation. Imprecise on your death bed, righteousness last image you see level-headed your dead ex-wife who unbiased so happens to be nobleness daughter of your other old-fashioned ex-wife.

If there is be over afterlife, Munez is in on the way to a few very awkward conversations.

Back on planet Earth, David Bentley remains the last man animate in the Goal universe.

By Louie Chandler

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