After 15 years in charge of Colombian wonderkid factory Envigado FC, Robinho Lazaró had proven that focusing on youth development alone can deliver success. In that time, Lazaró hadn't spent a single penny on new players but brought in an incredible £92m by selling 131 players.
Robinho Lazaró was proving that transfers weren't everything in the beautiful game. He'd relied on Envigado FC's prodigious youth development to continually churn out new starlets that had won 10 league stage titles.
Robinho Lazaró ticked off one of the overarching aims of his Wonderkid Factory challenge as Envigado became the most reputable team in Colombia. They're also the 25th most reputable team in all of South America.
Envigado FC wrapped up a third-successive Finalización title at the end of the 2031 campaign. But the summer ahead of the 2032 season was set to be one of significant changes and record-breaking sales.
Envigado FC's homegrown heroes enjoyed a historic season in 2030, winning a famous quadruple as they bagged both the Liga BetPlay Dimayor Apertura and Finalización titles, Copa Sudamericana and Súperliga BetPlay Dimayor.
The wonderkid factory that is Envigdo FC saw its exciting prospects flourish in 2029 as, free from the shackles of continental football, a young team dominated Colombia's Finalización stage. But the hard work began now.
Robinho Lazaró came into his eighth season as manager of Envigado FC with the board's full backing despite a couple of tricky seasons and failing to qualify for continental football for the first time in five years.
The summer of 2027 saw significant change at Envigado FC as club icon James Rodríguez retired from football on a high aged 35. He was joined in leaving by stalwart midfielder William Hurtado, which saw manager Robinho Lazaró turn to his exciting young academy prospects.
Robinho Lazaró's focus on youth development at Colombian wonderkid factory Envigado FC was undeniably yielding results. After four years in charge, he'd led the club to its first Colombian title with a Finalización win, three Apertura runner-up finishes, a Súperliga success and three straight Copa Libertadores campaigns.
The depth of talent at Envigado FC could not be argued against. Robinho Lazaró's young charges qualified for Copa Libertadores for the first time in club history by winning the Liga BetPlay Finalización league stage in 2023 - but, crucially, not the playoff stage that sees the trophies handed out.
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