Stephanus Pedalianus
 Stephanus with BP Turis in 1943 | ||||
| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephanus Pedalianus | |||
| Date of birth | 5 November 1910 | |||
| Place of birth | Cautica, Perfuliam S.S, New Illyricum | |||
| Date of death | 19 April 1986 (aged 75) | |||
| Place of death | Vesevio, Apollonia S.S, New Illyricum | |||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||
| Playing position(s) | Forward | |||
| College career | ||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |
| 1927–1928 | Trurnia University | 26 | (32) | |
| Senior career* | ||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |
| 1929–1931 | Inter Cautica | 30 | (11) | |
| 1931–1942 | BP Trurnia | 225 | (154) | |
| 1942–1948 | BP Turis | 123 | (56) | |
| National team | ||||
| 1936–1948 | New Illyricum | 37 | (18) | |
| Teams managed | ||||
| 1955-1958 | BP Trurnia | |||
| 1958-1964 | Inter Etruricum | |||
| 1964-1971 | BP Trurnia | |||
Honors
| ||||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | ||||
Stephanus Pedalianus (November 11, 1910 - April 19, 1984) was a New Illyrian football forward who is considered one of the greatest players in New Illyrian football history and won a record 12 titles in the New Illyrian Premier Football League (PCPNI). Stephanus won seven Aureae Sophorae including five straight from 1931 to 1935 with BP Trurnia and is second all time in goals in the PCPNI, with a total of 231.
Early Life
Stephanus was born in 1910 in Cautica in Perfuliam S.S and grew up around football, as his father and uncle were both professional players for several teams, including BP Turis and Penta Urbe. Stephanus spent much of his childhood honing his skills and was already a top recruit by age fourteen.
However he was required to serve a year in the New Illyrian Armed Forces in 1924 and was conscripted into the New Illyrian Foreign Army, and sent to Rakhman to fight in the Rakhmani Civil War. Stephanus did not see action the war, as New Illyricum pulled out just three weeks after his arrival and he returned back to Illyricum in early August 1924. Stephanus then was deployed to Fieri with the Foreign Army where he served for a year in 1925 fighting for the communist rebels near Lak'as.
Stephanus returned in 1926 after being badly wounded and was awarded the Medal of Valus for his service. Stephanus started to study law at Trurnia University in 1927, where his football talent resurfaced when he led the University to the national collegiate title in 1927 and 1928 as a forward. Stephanus was approached by the manager of Inter Cautica after his graduation and decided to join the small club for a salary of just 50 denareos per appearance.
Professional Career
Inter Cautica
1929-30 season
Upon his arrival to Inter Cautica, Stephanus was heralded as the next great forward in the league, and was excepted to lead his hometown team from the doldrums of near relegation to a league title. However the young forward lacked the technical skills and the mental preparedness in his first season in 1929. He struggled immensely in just ten appearances, scoring just one goal in the team's lone win 3-0 over Senatores. Stephanus also dealt with several minor injuries preventing his play for most of the season.
1930-31 season
Inter Cautica barely avoided relegation in 1929 with a record of 3-3-14, and was looking up for the next season hoping the twenty year old Stephanus could lead the team. Stephanus would play in every game of Inter Cautica's season, scoring 10 goals, including a hat trick against Pentus City, however despite his efforts Cautica lost that game and a league worst 21 others that 1930-31 PCPNI season. The resulting record of 2-3-15 was the worst in PCPNI history and Inter Cautica was relegated to the SCPNI. Stephanus quarreled with the ownership and decided to leave Inter Cautica, which would fold in 1937 after being relegated to the TCPNI.
Trurnia BP
1931-32 season
Shortly after his exit from Inter Cautica, Stephanus met with BP Trurnia's manager Lucius Tunucius who convinced the young forward to sign with Trurnia for a league record salary of 500 denareos per appearance plus a 50 denareos bonus for each goal scored. Stephanus would make his first appearance with BP Trurnia against Canes where he scored two goals in the Trurnia 4-1 victory. This would begin Trurnia's historic 17-2-1 season, the best in league history, behind Stephanus' dominant 22 goals (a new league single season record) and midfielder Marcus Paulus's 11 assists. For his performance he was awarded the Aurea Sohpora, the highest football award in New Illyricum. However in the 1931 title game against Senatores, where Trurnia were heavy favorites, they were upset 3-2 in the 108th minute, and despite his two goals he failed to raise the laurels. Shortly after this heavily unexpected loss, BP Trurnia qualified for the New Illyrian Cup, and were out to prove their brilliance. The team went 5-1-0 in the groups stage before advancing to the semifinals, where through Stephanus' hat trick they prevailed over Senatores 4-1, moving onto the finals where they crushed BP Tudino 5-1. Stephanus scored a tournament record 13 goals and had begun his tour of greatness.
In order to increase their football fame worldwide New Illyricum attempted multiple times to obtain an invite to the 1932 Terraconservan Cup, however due to the political tension between hosting Creeperopolis and New Illyricum they were not invited, which angered most football players and fans, including Pedalianus who wished to challenge Creeperian Federico Rivas Velázquez for best forward in the world.
1932-33 season
Stephanus went into the next season determined to win the championship and BP Trurnia was once again the leading team in the league with a record of 16-2-2, and Stephanus scored 25 goals to secure his second straight Aurea Pedesophora. Stephanus then led Trurnia to the finals where they faced Inter Etruricum, and in the finals he scored two goals in Trurnia's 3-1 victory, and Stephanus hoisted his first league laurels. Trurnia would go on to win the New Illyrian cup as well defeating BP Turis in the final 4-0.
1933-34 season
Stephanus would go onto led Trurnia to repeat as PCPNI and New Illyrian Cup champions in another Aurea Sohpora campaign with a league leading 20 goals and Stephanus was beginning to cement himself as a legendary forward in the game. Stephanus scored a league record 3 hat tricks, including a brilliant 4 goal performance against Senatores in the quarterfinals.
1934-35 season
Trurnia continued their run of dominance in the 1934-35 season with a league best record of 17-2-1, and dominant wins in both the cup and league finals. Stephanus raised his record fourth Aurea Sophora for his 15 goal effort and captured the all time Trurnia mantel for most goals scored, with 82 at the time.
Shortly after the end of the season, the 1936 Ecrosian Terraconservan Cup Qualifications, and as the cup was no longer invite only, New Illyricum attended with Stephanus as their captain. Stephanus would score both of New Illyricum's goals in their 2-0 victory against Terranihil national football team in their first international game, and the team would qualify with a record of 2-1-1, with Pedalianus scoring 4 goals.
1935-36 season
Legendary BP Trurnia manager, Lucius Tunucius, retired prior to the 1935-36 season, and the team and Stephanus heavily struggled in his absence, going just 13-4-3. Trurnia was then defeated 3-0 by eventual champions BP Turis in the quarterfinals. Stephanus scored just 6 goals in a minor injury riddled season and failed to continue his streak of Aurea Sophora, losing the award to young forward Nausicus Julianus.
Seeking to regain his pride and establish New Illyricum as a world football power, Pedalianus and the New Illyricum national football team travelled to Karimun where they competed in the 1936 Terraconservan Cup. Pedalianus and the team however struggled in their first cup appearance, going 1-1-1 and failing to qualify for the knockout rounds, and Stephanus scored just 1 goal. However New Illyricum had now begun to establish themselves on the international stage.
1937-38 season
At the behest of Stephanus, Lucius Tunucius unretired and rejoined BP Trurnia with the intent of winning another league title. Trurnia was catapulted to the top of the table, going 16-4-2 in the new 22 game season. Stephanus scored 10 goals however, and struggled with minor injuries all season, once again failing to win the Aurea Sophora. Despite their loss in the 1938 New Illyrian Cup 2-1 against BP Turis, they raised once again the PCPNI trophy, defeating Inter Armoria 5-1 in the final with a hat trick from Stephanus.
1938-39 season
BP Trurnia and Stephanus came into the 1938-39 season lacking much confidence, as manager Tunucius had retired after his lance dance in '37, leaving the team without the rock which had guided it. In addition many football critics believed Stephanus' best days were behind him, he had struggled heavily as of late, scoring just 16 goals in the previous two seasons and had dealt with many injuries which caused wear and tear on his knees and ankles. Knowing this, Stephanus relied much more heavily on his technical skills and relied significantly less on his exhausted body, resulting in an awesome return to glory. Stephanus would score 18 goals in the '38-39 season, on the road to a BP Trurnia 3-0 victory in the league final against Alephonia Supera and a 5-2 victory over BP Turis in the cup final. Trurnia finished a league record 20-1-1, and Stephanus had one of the most dominant seasons, brining back a fifth Aurea Sophora.
New Illyricum once again had a chance to bring themselves international fame, and Stephanus was named co-captain with fellow forward Nausicus Julianus. In the 1940 Ecrosian qualifications New Illyricum dominated, going 6-0-0 through a combined 7 goals from the two captains, and easily qualified as the top Ecrosian team for the 1940 Terraconservan Cup.
1939-40 season
Trurnia continued their new found run of dominance in the 1939-40 season, going 17-3-2, with Stephanus scoring 19 goals and finishing second in the race for the Aurea Sophora. Trurnia defeated Inter Etruricum in the final 2-1 in the 108 minute on a game winning goal from Stephanus, however they were defeated by BP Turis in the 1940 New Illyrian Cup final, 3-1.
New Illyricum would travel with high hopes to Derry in Paleocacher to compete in their second Terraconservan Cup, and were heavy favorites to make it to the finals due to their dominant run in the qualifications. In the groups stage they would go 2-0-1, losing by one to Rakeo in the final game. They would advance for the first time in team history to the knockout round, where they faced Entropan. At the end of regulation of the match, the score was 2-2, and the game advanced into overtime. In the 154th minute, Entropanian forward Åge Hovda scored the game sealing goal, winning 3-2. Stephanus and the national team, despite being defeated, returned happy with their performance, as New Illyricum was now becoming a respected football nation.
1940-41 season
Coming off the brilliant campaign in the Terraconservan Cup, Stephanus and Trurnia fell well short of expectations, ending at 15-4-3. Stephanus scored 13 goals and won the Aurea Sophora, most critics believed only due to BP Turis star Nausicus Julianus' injury. Trurnia would go on to lose in the final 1-0 against Armorolaus Iuvenes, however they did win the New Illyrian Cup, defeating Supera Alephonia 2-0 in the final.
In 1940 the New Illyrian Football Alliance organized the Communist International Cup and hosted the 1940 Communist International Cup. Stephanus would captain New Illyricum with 6 goals in the Cup on route to a 2-0 victory over Terranihil in the final, hoisting the first CIC.
1941-42 season
BP Trurnia had a much less successful season in 1941-42, going just 12-5-5 and finishing sixth in the table, their worst result since acquiring Stephanus in 1930. Stephanus struggled heavily with age, scoring just 5 goals. The team became frustrated by the aging players and declining Stephanus, and the two were in great disagreement. Trurnia would be knocked out of the 1941 New Illyrian Cup in the quarterfinals by Supera Alephonia 3-1, and in the semifinals of the PCPNI 4-0 by BP Campo de Porto Enateo. Stephanus and the team continued to have great disconnect and Stephanus eventually announced he would be leaving the team.
BP Turis
1942-43 season
BP Turis had fallen on rough seasons after numerous injuries to former star player Nausicus Julianus and were looking for some hope to reinvigorate their franchise and return to the top of New Illyrian football. Manager Marcus Rosus convinced Stephanus to join the team for a commission of 750 denareos per appearance and 300 denareos per goal, beating the offer from competing Inter Etruricum.
With the arrival of Stephanus and a partially healthy Nausicus, BP Turis held a record of 17-3-2, with Stephanus winning his sixth Aurea Sophora from his 20 goal season. The team was revitalized and would win the title over Armorolaus Iuvenes 2-1, while BP Trurnia was relegated. They would also defeat Armorolaus Iuvenes in the 1942 New Illyrian Cup final 3-0.
Due to injury Nausicus was unable to join the 1944 New Illyrian nation team which managed to qualify under Stephanus' leadership with a record of 3-1-2 for the 1944 Terraconservan Cup in Monsilva.
1943-44 season
Turis continued their dominant run behind Stephanus, who with 19 goals won his second straight Aurea Sophora and led the squad to an 18-2-2 season. They would defeat Armorolaus Iuvenes for the second straight year in the finals by a score of 1-0, however in the semifinals of the 1943 New Illyrian Cup they were defeated by rivals Dynamo Turis, who would go on to lose in the finals 5-0 to Armorolaus Iuvenes.
Stephanus travelled to Monsilva to compete in the 1944 Terraconservan Cup, captaining his third New Illyrian national team. In the groups stage New Illyricum went 2-0-1, however Stephanus scored just one goal, letting Volettus Antoninus, the Armorlaus Iuvenes forward, take the lead. However once again New Illyricum faced Entropan in the knockout round, and were crushed 3-0, failing to make much of a fight against the overpowering Entropanian team.
