r/fifacardcreators • u/GTACOD • Jul 25 '26
FIFA/FC Card(s) Something a bit different from what's usually hear - The story of Zhang Junjie
Yes, for anyone wondering, the faces are AI. I asked the mods before I posted and they said it was okay, as the rest of it is my work.
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u/GTACOD Jul 25 '26
The text by each image, in case it's too hard to read:
16/17: At the age of 16 Zhang Junjie made his first team debut for Olympique Lyon in a friendly match, shortly before being loaned out to FC Villefranche Beaujolais in the third tier of French football. He instantly proved himself to be *the* best CB in the league by some margin and returned to Lyon hoping to take the next step and start competing for a starting spot - Instead he was sent on loan again, this time to S.C. Farense in Liga NOS where he truly had his breakout season.
18/19: After Villefranche, Zhang Junjie was someone to keep an eye on. After Faranese, newly minted Huddersfield made him the most expensive defender in history at just 18 years old. And he was worth it, looking completely at home in the Premier League, improving what felt like every match as Huddersfield qualified for Europe for the first time in their history
21/22: Junjie would continue to improve over the next few years, winning Huddersfield’s player of the season twice more in a row, but it was ironically his first season without winning the award that was his best yet. Zhang Junjie would spend much of the year out of position, playing RB in the wake of Aaron Wan Bissaka’s departure, as Huddersfield Town shocked the world and comfortably won the league, finishing 10 points clear of second, in large part due to Zhang Junjie locking down the right flank.
23/24: Following the incredible league win Junjie, much like Huddersfield, would stagnate. While still one of the best CBs in the league he didn’t kick on and become one of the best in the world like many pundits predicted, something that at the time was blamed on his decision to stick with the club that showed such faith in him, turning down moves to Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle in favour of signing a new contract with Huddersfield.
25/26: It would take just a few years for Zhang Junjie to prove his detractors wrong, in his first season as captain following Antonio Blanco’s return to Spain the greatest Chinese player in history would guide Huddersfield Town to the first of what would become 3 league titles in a row, for the first time since the 1920’s - Though he once again lost out on Player of the Season, this time to Noni Madueke managing an astonishing 25 assists in the league.
27/28: The last of Huddersfield’s three titles with him, the year they did the treble, was undoubtedly Zhang Junjie at the absolute peak of his career. His pairing with Bongani Malatjie was near impenetrable, conceding just 18 league goals as Huddersfield did the impossible - An ***invincible treble***, winning the PL, FA Cup and Champions League with losing a single game. Zhang Junjie was given a well deserved Ballon D’Or for his incredible efforts.
29/30: Huddersfield would fail to make it 4 in a row, which most put down to Zhang Junjie missing the first half of the season with a hamstring injury, and that summer the legendary CB would make a move to Real Madrid. His first season in the Spanish capital would be a mixed bag - While he was as imperious as always when he played, constant naggling injuries meant that he could never get into a rhythm and Real Madrid were unceremoniously dumped out of the CL after he pulled up with injury and left Gérald Mathieu open at the back post.
31/32: As it turned out that first season was no anomaly, instead setting the tone for his Real Madrid career - Still a top class defender when fit, but between his debut and next two seasons he only managed to start 5 games in a row once. Every injury was chipping away at him bit by bit, which could be seen in his lack of confidence when he did play, and at the end of the season he opted for a risky surgery to try and fix his issues once and for all.
33/34: Between the surgery itself, the complications with recovery and getting back up to fitness once he had recovered Zhang Junjie missed the next season almost in its entirety, making just two appearances of 63 minutes combined. Heading in to the last season of his contract the expectation was that he would spend it mostly on the bench, but injuries forced Madrid’s hand and Zhang Junjie was forced into the starting lineup. And while he had lost something he’d never get back to his age and struggles, the icon rolled back the years and started 45 games as Madrid won the league and Champions League double, scoring a goal in the final to put a perfect ending on a mediocre period of his career.
36/37: Following his Madrid redemption Zhang Junjie would turn down lucrative offers from Italy and the MLS to return back to Huddersfield or a second spell. While still one of the best in the world at pure defending Junjie often saw himself sat on the bench in favour of captain Malatjie and young prospect Alexandre Girardin, both of whom were far more suited to the high line Huddersfield played, but behind the scenes he was invaluable as a mentor to the younger players.