Climbing the ladder - Life of a manager

[zyndar]

Hello fellow managers!

This will be my first story in FM16. I've chosen to play a managerial career this time, which means I am starting from a relatively low level - swedish 4th tier - and my goal is to manage more high profile teams during the years. I have no specific targets at a club, I do not know how much time I will spend at the same place.

Introducing the manager, Magnus Petterson

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My first club is FC Rosengard 1917, which is playing in Swedish Second Division South Götaland. This is one of 6 leagues in the 4th division. The clubs greatest achievement is the 1st place in this division in 2007, after which it spent 4 years in division 1. The club is located in a district of Malmö and the interesting fact about this club is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic lived here and started his young career in this part of the city.

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The finances are ok, but of course there is nothing to spend. Since the players are only on part time contract, I have to extend them in November 2015 (the game starts in March 2015). Our media prediction is to finish 2nd, so our aim is promotion of course.

The squad

Key players
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The squad is quite balanced at this level, I only wanted to loan a striker, so asked the board to open a link with a senior affiliate. Fortunately they were able agree with the reputable team of IFK Göteborg.

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So I took a look at their youth squad and managed to loan a usable striker

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Tactical approach​

I have created this tactic lately when playing FM15 and the base is my fairly good tactic called Deadly Circle. Based on the tests and pre season it is extremely solid in terms of defense and attack too, playing the ball quickly around, feeding the inside forwards or the F9 with killer through balls.

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That's for the intro. My plan is to have half year summary posts. I hope you will enjoy it!

 

[Tracz]

This looks like an interesting story, different to the rest of the ones going atm, will be following.

 

[PatrickLFC]

Definitely interested to see how you go here, good luck!

 

[dllu]

I'm just glad that someone else prefers the (return of the) light skin...

 

[zyndar]

Season 2015/16 First half

The start of the season went extremely well, we won the first 9 matches and hardly gave our opponents a sniff. At that time some first 11 players got injured and this mirrored in the results. But generally I can say the tactic is great, sometimes it's a joy to watch. What annoyes me a bit are the finances, the direction we are heading should be changed.

Even the club legend Ibrahimovic praised midfielder Lai due to his great performances.

Player stats here

 

[Davey Jones]

Will be following with interest!

 

[zyndar]

Season 2015/16 Second half

Following the great start the second part of the season went also particularly well. The team really showed why the original media prediction was to finish 2nd. Our gratest rivals were Karlskrona and Nosaby, but all 4 matches ended in clear victories:

With the consistent performance during the year, our gold medal is fair enough.

In the second round of the Swedish Cup we drew against our parent team, this match was more likely a waterpolo game. I was glad due the lads since we even got the lead at certain time in the match against an opponent from 3 divisions higher.

Another interesting fact about the Swedish Cup is that you can sell the right to play at home.

Best performers:

Bjelkanovic: who made over 14 interceptions per game

Kackarovski: the young full back made awesome number of key passes and 6 assists too

Lagemyr: the goal scoring strikeforce from IFK Göteborg, many thanks for letting him on loan

Sherifi: he was not first choice on the right wing at the beginning, but after some injuries he played and did it well

Squad Stats and Player Stats

I can only hope that we can make up to the challenge of the next season. Half team's contract will run out and there is no point to renew them, so I will be looking for free players.

 

[AndySams10]

Love stories like this. Keep up the good work.

 

[xJamieWilliams]

Nice start mate, will be following!

 

[zyndar]

Pre Season update​

During the nearly 6 months long winter break, I decided to ask the board to pay my studies, which was accepted.

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Elections fever hit the club and new chairman was selected. Sadly without any investments.

Transfers​

Since I was not able to sign any useful players, 11 loans came in. This is quite a lot, but it's more cash wise, isn't it?

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I am mostly delighted by Karlsson-Lagemyr, who was our top goalscorer last year. Amongst the others Kindlund and Bergström are looking the best ones.

 

[dllu]

Good start!

Here's hoping you can bring Zlatan back to the club some day as a coach, so he can help develop the next generation of Malmö talent.


(P.S.: I actually don't think that scenario is completely unrealistic IRL - although he would probably go "home" to Malmö FF. The city clearly still has a big place in his heart, as he donated a lot of money to establish football facilities for the youth in the Rosengård neighbourhood. He also paid out of his own pocket to send the Swedish disabled national team to the World Cup in 2014...)

 

[zyndar]

Good start!

Here's hoping you can bring Zlatan back to the club some day as a coach, so he can help develop the next generation of Malmö talent.


(P.S.: I actually don't think that scenario is completely unrealistic IRL - although he would probably go "home" to Malmö FF. The city clearly still has a big place in his heart, as he donated a lot of money to establish football facilities for the youth in the Rosengård neighbourhood. He also paid out of his own pocket to send the Swedish disabled national team to the World Cup in 2014...)

I also read this about Zlatan and I think doing something like that is just great and it really shows he didn't forget his roots. Regarding the proposal of signing him as a coach I have to say since this is a managerial career, I won't be here too long So in the 3rd or latest in the 4th season I will look for other jobs.

 

[zyndar]

Season 2016/17 First half

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We started the 2nd season with two awful performances and without the abilty to score any. Against Qviding we got 2 red cards in 2 minutes. But after this match 6 wins came in row scoring 19 and conceding only 5. I can say after 13 games we are on track towards the Superettan!

Injury update​

Sadly our main striker got a serious injury and the fact that there are many contenders in the squad does not mean that we have the quality too. I can only hope we can be successful without Patrik.

Update on me ​

I have successfully finished the course of the Continental C license, now learning for the B. My attributes changed a lot in the past more than 1 year:

 

[zyndar]

Revenge against our greatest rival!

I am glad that we could hit back to Qviding for that defeat in the 2nd round. I am starting to think we will be able to win the league.

Injury update

Another striker is out for months, fortunately I still have 2 players to play as ST.

 

[zyndar]

An interesting job offer from the last team in the league. Would it be a good choice to change manager seats? Never mind, just kidding...

 

[zyndar]

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With still 2 games left we were able to clinch the championship, everyone around the club is ecstatic! I hope next year the clube will turn into professional status.

 

[zyndar]

Season 2017/18 First half

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After our promotion we had the task to strenghten the squad in every area. In order to do so the money for the TV rights meant the financial basis. Of course the rest is being spent for the wages.

Transfers

This is the first time I was able to pay for anyone, but I still had to rely on loans. With the free signings now we have a decent squad.

Key signings
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Based on the attributes Mellqvist looks the best player, he will be the main ball winning midfielder.

The Superettan after 16 rounds​

After the first half we are sitting on the 5th and considering that we are amongst the 7 teams who are still semi-professionals, it's a very impressing performance.

The manager​

I have finished the next coaching course and now I am studying for the Continental Pro licence.

 

[zyndar]

Season 2017/18 Second half


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In the second part of the season we were able to maintain our magnificent form, although we conceded to many. The promotion/playoff places were close to us only at the end of the season, namely we sat down to the 3rd in the 27th round and remained there to reach the playoff.

The first leg was played at home in front of 4,000 supporters, which means the first sell out in club history. To be honest this match was the most important one at all. Started the game slightly dominated and this remained the same throughout the game. In the 52nd minute a speedy action happened on the left, Taseski passed to Karlsson-Lagemyr who placed the ball into the net. This win was truly against the odds, just a small comparison of the clubs salary per annum indicator: they are spending EUR 2.4 million per year against our 0.4 million.

We prepared suspenseful for the second leg as the Allsvenskan was only 1 match far. The first 15 minutes passed in calm boredom, without any chances at both sides. What happened after is said a real nightmare for us: they scored 2 with 2 shots on goal. After a corner we happily scored via an own goal but Sundsvall's next shot earned them the 3rd goal. From this point I instructed the team there is nothing to lose, made the subs, but we couldn't score any and conceded two more. Anyway, I can say the whole season was beyond expectations!

A funny thing: I participated in the Movember

 

[zyndar]

This was pretty much my first job in this career. I learned a lot, got higher coaching qualifications, my attributes and reputation both increased, so it's time to move on. I already refused to job offer from AIK Stockholm since I am looking for a job in a different country.

The season ended in mid November so this is a good time to search for my next station.

 

[zyndar]

The second job​

After 5 months searching for new job, applying plenty of free managerial seats, I finally got my new job. During these 5 months I was interested in 16 teams and applied for all of those. Red Bull Salzburg and Pacos Ferreira were even laughing at me. Bursaspor, Panathinaikos, Nacional da Madeira were accepting my applications but I never got the chance to meet the chairman. After 4 unsuccesful job interviews at Xanthi, KV Kortrijk, Admira Wacker and Vitóra Guimaraes, I finally was selected to manage a team at the next level:

Sporting Lokeren - end of season 2017/18

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The club​

Sporting Lokeren was founded in 1915 and never really enjoyed success, although it won the belgian cup 2 times. The home ground is the Daknam Stadium, with the capacity of 12,461.

In the past 3 years the club finished 15th, 9th and 14th and now it's participating in the European Places Playoff, since there is a special playoff system in Belgium. After the regular season, the first 6 teams are entering the so called Championship Group, from where the first 2 teams are entering the Champions League, the third goes to the Europa League and based on the current qualification places, I think the 4th goes to EL too. The European Places Playoff groups consists the teams placed 7-15 and 3 teams (placed 2-4 after some playoff...) from the second division. The interesting fact is the champion of the second leage does not reach the European Places Playoff. Anyway, the winner has the chance to play in the Europa League aswell. Detailed rules here.


The finances are a bit annoying, the club can be in real danger without cash injection. Player sale is not an option in my opinion after I took the first look at the lads

The best players


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I will have a very busy transfer season after the remaining 7 matches are from the season, since this squad is short of nearly everything. I can only hope the there will be some money to spend, at least for the wages.