One life changing decision to another

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willow1293

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Going on the results of the poll from my previous thread " Potential Story " the countrys I have loaded in this story are; Germany, Russia, Romania, Greece and Holland. I have started unemployed with Automatic experience. Now on with the story......

While sitting in my cold lonely flat in Leicester, with no job, no prospects and no hope, I made a decision which will change my life forever. I decided no more, I'm better than this, I'm not going to just sit here, I'm going to get a job and turn my life around. I got straight on the phone to a local Football Coaching Centre and applied for a place on a course they would be running soon. I choose this option because of my love of football and sport in general. If I work hard enough and with a bit off luck I will earn my badges and become a football coach.
6 weeks later and I'd passed, now I to apply for some jobs and start the next chapter of my life. I left it 2 weeks with no reply from the jobs I applied for at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Derby and Lincoln City. I was gutted not to get any responce from the clubs, however this rejection lead me to make yet another life changing decision. I was going to move to another country. Which country? Well thats the problem, with no money and no job, I will just have to apply for some jobs and see what happens.
I was just about to apply for some coaching roles at some clubs, when it came to my attention that some clubs were looking for a new manager and I had the badges to apply and not be lauged at. With a deep breath, I took the plunge, I applied for the managers job at Minerul Lupeni and Panionios. Now to be honest I deep down thought I was wasting my time and that no one would offer me a job, I'd never been a coach before, let alone a manager and I couldn't speak the languages. To my great surprise it didn't take long as within 2 days of my application for the jobs, both clubs came back to me and offered me the chance to be their new manager. I decided to go with Panionios for a number of reasons, 1) They are in the top division in Greece, 2) They offered me a transfer budget of £525,000 and 3) I love Greece, I love the girls, the weather and the lifestyle.
So here I am in my new rented appartment, paid for by my wages of £2,500 a week. Okat so my new place isn't the most lavish and there is a problem with insects and the beds are uncomfortable. But we all have to start somewhere, right?
When I first met the chairman of Panionios I made it clear to him that I wasn't here to be a club that fights off relegation or is a mid table side that isn't going anywhere. No I was here to make Panionios the best club in Greece and maybe Europe. I have given myself 3 years to win the Superleague and at least 1 Greek Cup along the way.

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When I first met the squad I was very nervous but confident in myself that however good they were I could make them into a quality TEAM. I was actually taken back by how good the lads were and how motivated they were to achive the goals I set them. Quickly we sorted out new trainning programs and I set about getting rid of the backroom staff as I feel there should be a complete clear out if we are to make steps towards are targets.

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Star Player Fabian Estoyonoff

June and July Update

Pre Season Friendlys
Karinthos ( A ) 3 - 1
Chaidari ( A ) 1 - 0
Siberik ( A ) 0 - 3
Zagreb ( H ) 2 - 2
Pierikos ( A ) 1 - 0
Kalamata ( A ) 0 - 2

Summary of Pre Season
A mixed Pre Season but I'm at all worried by the two defeats. We played some decent football and looked fairly organized, the goals came through silly mistakes and I think we can put them down to lack of match practice. The games have given me some idea of my strongest 11 and the formation that I am likely to use throughout the season. I can't wait for the season to begin now.

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August Update

Superleague Fixtures
Panthrakikos ( H )
Iraklis ( A )

Home
Panionios vs Panthrakikos
0 - 0

Away
Iraklis vs Panionios
2 - 0
Mauro Milano ( 19 )
Matius Lequi ( 70 )​

Summary Of Month
A decent start to the season, I am not too disappointed with 1 point from 6 as at this moment I don't know much about Greek football I know the obvious good teams but the rest I'm not to sure about. After 10 matches then we will be dissapointed about results as by then the league table will have taken some shape and we will have an idea of who is good and who is not. Looking forward to next months fixtures and hope to pick up our first win.​
 
Looks promising, good luck. I was offered a job there on one journeyman game, but I turned it down. It will be interesting to see how you do and what Greece is like to manage in.
 
Good choice; the greek league is a good league to manage in :), a good result against Panathinakios
 
September Update

I've been at the club for about 3 months now and I have to say I'm loving life here, not only is the weather hot with not a cloud in the sky but people are just so nice to eachother. I've got a brilliant tan and have been able to go surfing on my days off. I got invited to go to a bar the other night and had a great time, I even made plans to have BBQ on the beach with my new friends. The greek language lessons are going better than expected, I think its because I have to use it everyday so its now almost fluent.
The club sorted me out a new car so no more buses, taxies or lifts of people ! I can now park my Nissan Murano in the carpark and not be mocked my the lads. I have to say that life is great and can only be made better by us getting our first win under our belts this month.

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Superleague Fixtures

Xanthi ( H )
AEK ( A )
Aris ( H )

Home
Panionios vs Xanthi
3-2
Sito Riera ( 27 )
Tomas Belic own goal ( 28 )
Nathan Ellington ( 41 )
Bedi Buval ( 53, 61 )​

Away
AEK vs Panionios
1 - 0
Dimitris Siovas sent off ( 69 )
Michalis Pavlis ( 83 )​

Home
Panionios vs Aris
2 - 0
Marios Nikolaou ( 6 )
Bedi Buval ( 51 )​

Summary Of Month​

A good month all round, unbeaten at home with two wins this month and a good performance away at AEK. The sending off in the AEK was a big turning point and we just ran out of defenders in the end. 6 points from 9 and sitting in 8th in the league. Bring on October and the next round of matches !​

Player of the month​

Bedi Buval - 3 goals and has become my super sub. Hopefully he will continue this good form in October.​



 
October Update

After a strong month in September I decided to take the lads on a team bonding day. We went on a boat trip in the sun before going to a water park, I certanly enjoyed myself and I think the lads did too. I've met a girl I like called Molly, shes stunning with a great personality. Mollys an actress so at times its hard to see each other with me being away with Panionios, but we do our best. On the down side my I heard my Granmother has passed away at the age of 87, I will be returning to the UK for the funeral. As she has been ill for a while and my parents have been taking care of her, I think i will invite them to come stay with me for a few weeks, it won't get cold here until late October so it should be a good holiday for them. My bestfriend Theo has asked me to be his best man at his wedding, so I am nervous about the speech I have to make. Its funny because I shouldn't be nervous about making a speech infront of people as I do it every week !

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Superleague Fixtures
Gionnina ( A )
Larisa ( H )
Asteras Tr ( A )
Greek Cup Fixture
Ethnikos Fil ( A )

Away
Gionnina vs Panionios
0 - 0
Bennard Yao Kumordzi sent off ( 90 +2 )​

Home
Pannionios vs Larisa
0 - 2
Naim Aarab ( 18 )
Salim Toama ( 56 )​

Away
Asteras Tr vs Panionios
0 - 2
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 45, 56 )​

Away
Ethnikos Fil vs Panionios
1 - 3
Bennard Yao Kamordzi ( 12 )
Datr Kukec ( 34 )
Bedi Buval ( 90 +1 )​

Summary of Month​

Over all I am please with the results although we were truely awful against Larisa and the lads can expect to be working hard in the trainning sessions in November. We ended the month well with two impressive wins, scoring plenty of goals and giving our travelling fans something to cheer about. Currently sitting in 6th in the Superleague and are through to the next round of the Greek Cup. Hoping to move up the league in November and kick on for the rest of the season.​

Player of the Month
Fabian Estoyanoff, scored goals, created goals and ran his blood to water all month. A very impressive month from my star player, and I only hope that he can continue this fantastic form.​


 
November Update

I have to say that we have had a better start to the season than I could ever have imagened. I honestly believe we can kick on and push for Europe if results go our way and we keep performing . Things are great with Molly, she got a part in the greek version of EastEnders, so thats fantastic as she works really hard and deserves her opportunity. My parents came to stay and had fun in the sun. My dad found a bar which he liked, I wonder why? Mum bless her was acting like I was a child, this isn't always a bad thing as she was helping with the cooking and cleaning. They went to all the historical sites and really enjoyed themselves at the match I took them too. They are home now and have subscribed to Panionios TV!! Theres a new member of my household, no Molly isn't pregnant, yet. I've got a dog called Freddy. He loves going for long walks along the beach and sleeping all day on my sofa and bed. I thinking of asking Molly to move in, but don't want to rush things so we will see what happens I guess. A really tough month ahead with the two biggest clubs in Greece Olympioakos and Panathinaikos coming to the Nea Smymi. Even if things go pear shape this month I believe we can turn it around, the squad are great and we are really looking forward to the challenge that these two great clubs bring.

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Superleague Fixtures
Astronitos ( A )
Olympiakos ( H )
Panathinaikos ( H )
Ergotelis ( A )
PAOK ( A )

Away
Astronites vs Panionios
2 - 1
Emanuel Perrone ( 62 )
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 68 )
Andreas Tatos ( 85 )​

Home
Panionios vs Olympiakos
1 - 4
Matt Derbyshire ( 9 )
Enzo Maresca ( pen 33 )
Bedi Buval ( 48 )
Avraam Papadopoulos ( 52 )
Kostas Mitroglou ( 90 +1 )​

Match Review
I knew that Olympiakos would be good but nothing could have prepared us for that. They are where we should aspire to be. They were clean, quick and clinical in everything they did. The goal we scored was off side and shouldn't have counted, but I'm not complaining at us be given a goal I'm just saying that it was harsh on Olympiakos and makes us look like we were in a game, when we weren't. Hopefully we won't lose 3 in a row, we will be doing some soul searching over the next 3 days and come back refreshed and raring to go against Panathinaikos.​


Home
Panionios vs Panathinaikos
2 - 1
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 24 )
Davor Kukec ( 47 )
Dimitris Salpingidis ( 72 )​

Match Review
What a difference 3 days makes ! The lads were brilliant today, stopped Panathinaikos in their tracks when defending and sliced through them like a hot knife through butter when attacking. I am chuffed for the lads, our first scalpe, hopefully the first of many.​


Away
Ergotelis vs Panionios
2 - 1
Sergio Leal ( 11, 64 )
Marios Nikolaou ( 85 )​

Away
PAOK vs Panionios
1 - 1
Sito Riera ( 42 )
Zlatan Muslimavic ( 82 )​

Summary of Month
Even though we got a good win over Panathinaikos, the media are still saying that the board are losing patients with me and that I am going to get sacked. Okay so not the best month in terms of points, but we are not going to have to face Olympiakos and Panathinaikos every month. Currently down in 11th in the Superleague, so we need to string together some wins and kick on up the league to a position which reflects our performances more.​


Player of the Month
Marios Nikolaou, scoring goals and creating goals, putting 100 % in every game and can't ask anymore than that. Hes keeping some very good players out the team and I expect to get some phone calls about him if he keeps this form up.​


 
Well done sir, great story and great layout. I have just realised that in all the years I have been buying football manager I have NEVER managed a foreign club, not even in Scotland. The nearest I have come is Cardiff although I also managed the Cameroon national team. I think it has been wasteful of me and next year provided I get a decent computer I will try a foreign save game. Sorry for the life story, I went off on a tangent. Good luck, I will follow this!
 
DavidDavid said:
Well done sir, great story and great layout. I have just realised that in all the years I have been buying football manager I have NEVER managed a foreign club, not even in Scotland. The nearest I have come is Cardiff although I also managed the Cameroon national team. I think it has been wasteful of me and next year provided I get a decent computer I will try a foreign save game. Sorry for the life story, I went off on a tangent. Good luck, I will follow this!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just pleased that someone if following as it takes my quite a while to write up the story part in a note pad each night and then theres playing the game and adding bits and pieces. So its nice to see someones interested. I love managing foreign clubs and I recommend you have a go yourself. :)
 
willow1293 said:
Thanks, I just pleased that someone if following as it takes my quite a while to write up the story part in a note pad each night and then theres playing the game and adding bits and pieces. So its nice to see someones interested. I love managing foreign clubs and I recommend you have a go yourself. :)
Click to expand...

I will do for sure next year as I am wasting the game as I may as well play English football manager. I admire your dedication to the story because I could never find the time to write a story. Well done. :)
 
DavidDavid said:
I will do for sure next year as I am wasting the game as I may as well play English football manager. I admire your dedication to the story because I could never find the time to write a story. Well done. :)
Click to expand...

Well I have just finished my exams so other than going out or going to the gym I have lots of time on my hands, I also play into the early hours of the morning so quite of alot of playing time, FM is just so addictive I find :) Expect the next update tommorow and I am aiming to do 2 updates each day so the story will move at a fast pace. Hope you can keep up :P
 
December Update

For me personally last month wasn't good, the media were on my back, our league position wasn't good and I'd broken up with Molly. However with my birthday and christmas coming up this month I'm trying to remain up beat. Just the 3 matches to play in December and I firmly believe that we can take at least 6 points from them. the January transfer window is right around the corner and as I didn't sign anyone in the summer and managed to sell a player I still have £625,000 to spend. I think we do need to recruit in certain areas if we are to improve our league position. To get into the shopping spirit I have been to Athens to do some shopping and have purchased a nice D&G sunglasses and watch. As well as that I have bought a new iphone, ipad and mac book, yes thats alot of apple gear but boys and their toys and all that. Freddys been putting on weight lately so I will be taking him for a few more walks and begin to feed him some new obesity management food ! I can't wait for my birthday on the 9th of December, 30 at last and then theres christmas and new years. I have a feeling that December is going to be a good month not only for me but for Panionios as well.

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Superleague Fixtures
Levadeiakos ( H )
Kavala ( A )
Panthrakikos ( A )

Home
Panionios vs Levadeiakos
2 - 1
Nacho Gonzalez ( 57 )
Marios Nikolaou ( 78 )
Bedi Buval (90 +1 )​

Away
Kavala vs Panionios
2 - 3
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 7, 19, 45 +2 )
Ebi Smolarek ( 30 )
Vangelis Oikonomou ( 55 )​

Away
Panthrakikos vs Panionios
4 - 0
Pablo Casar ( 11, 49 )
Nikos Soultanidis ( 16, 67 )​

Summary of Month
I am pleased with how this month has gone, 6 points from 9 is exactly what I thought we would get and some strong attacking performances made it a good month all round. Its a shame we couldn't win all 3 and the hammering we took at Panthrakikos left me in a foul mood but once I'd carmed down, then I realised that this will only make the players hungryier for the next match and not complacent. I have already done some transfer business but won't share with you who I have signed, you will have to wait and see, all I will say is do some research on Belarus. Bring on January !​

Player of the Month
Fabian Estoyanoff, some good performances and he scored a hat trick so it could only ever be him this month, Keep it up Fabian !​


 
January Update

December was a good month for me and Panionios, I turned 30 and had a good christmas, while Panionios took 6 points from a possible 9 and it doesn't matter what team you are thats a good return of points. I got lots of presents from the players and my friends and family for my birthday, I have to say my favourite present was a copy of this new game thats huge back in the UK, Football Manager 2010. I play it quite alot and try out new tactics and stuff with Panionios and other teams. Some people like to relax from their jobs in the evenings but I can't stop thinking about football, its in my blood, its my life. I went with some friends to watch Lady GaGa in Athens the other day, she was AMAZING !! I only wish that our fans could make a noise as loud as she got when she started singing Badromance, it was loud it sounded quiet if that makes sense. Already bought my ticket to watch Usher and Ne Yo in concert in the new year, can't wait as I'm a huge fan of both artists.Very very busy month in January with 6 matches in total, thats including the Greek Cup match where we will be looking to go through to the quarter finals with a win over Larisa.

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Superleague Fixtures
Iraklis ( H )
Xanthi ( A )
AEK ( H )
Aris ( A )
Giannina ( H )

Greek Cup Fixtures
Larisa ( H )

Home
Panionios vs Iraklis
1 - 0
Sito Riera ( 59 )

Away
Xanthi vs Panionios
2 - 0
Nathan Ellington ( 9, pen 37 )

Home
Panionios vs Larisa
1 - 2
Fanouris Goundoulakis ( 6 )
Aleksandar Simic ( 77 )
Salim Toama ( pen 90 +1)

Home
Panionios vs AEK
2 - 3
Ismael Blanco ( pen 65, 90 )
Krisztian Nemeth ( 68 )
Sito Riera ( 84, 87 )

Away
Aris vs Panionios
0 - 0

Home
Panionios vs Giannina
1 - 0
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 45 +1 )
Giorgos Kousas sent off ( 49 )
​
Summary of Month
I am disappointed with how this month has gone and then recent speculation in the media linking me with various jobs are looking more and more attractive as I see Panionios as a stepping stone, however if the other jobs done come up then I am happy to stay here and wait until the right job comes up. Yes thats how badly I feel January has gone, I'm looking for the exit door !

Player of the Month
Dimitris Anastasopoulos, this guy had a strong month, he was some what of a rock in our midfield, the only driving force we had in the team, credit to the lad hes earned the player of the month award.

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​
 
February Update

After a good night sleep and a long chat with the chairman, I decided to put my future on hold until the end of the season and will remain in charge of Panionios for the immediate future. I am less than happy at the moment and I'm still looking towards the media speculation thats linking me with other clubs with an open mind. The players know nothing of what is happening with my future as at this moment in time all they need to be thinking about is the matches in February, and picking up as many points as we can. I would like to remain in Greece, just with another club with larger transfer pulling power, I feel very restricted at Panionios with who I can attract to the club and because of this I think my targets of becoming the biggest in Greece are very very unlikely.

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Superleague Fixtures
Larisa ( A )
Asteras Tr ( H )
Astromitos ( H )

Away
Larisa vs Panionios
1 - 0
Nikos Dabizas ( 41 )

Home
Panionios vs Asteras Tr
3 - 3
Leonel Rios ( 4 )
Marcelao ( 47 )
Bedi Buval ( 61 )
Fanouris Goundoulakis ( pen 71 )
Bennard Yao Kumordzi own goal ( 72 )
Marcelao sent off ( 86 )
Sebastian Bartolini own goal ( 90 +2)

Home
Panionios vs Astromitos
2 - 0
Fabian Estoyanoff ( 12 )
Sito Riera ( pen 34 )
​
Summary of Month
Not the best month it has to be said, I am still very unhappy at Panionios, the players arent playing very well and there will be no player of the month as none of them are playing well. Hopefully something will click in March and we can push up the league.

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