The Football Managing Mercenary

[DerbyJack]

Cheers dave, I would love to say it's all pure talent but I've honestly inherited a team way beyond the level of their league rivals. Thankfully the board merely want to hold up our reputation in both the Europe and Champions League. I think I can do that. Thanks again!

Thanks so much Sam, that means alot!

---

March 2025

1st March 2025
Juliper Pro League

Just when they seemed dead in the water, little Sint-Truiden bite back with vengeance. With just a handful of games remaining, the club seemingly lost in second place hit back with an unexpected victory and my first defeat at home in the league. With everything very quickly drawing to a close this is not the kind of result I need to steady my nerves.


6th March 2025
Europa League - 2nd Knockout Round - Leg 1

First blood to the Italians. Just. A spirited game in the heart of Italy saw both clubs find the back of the net within just twenty minutes as we set off in rapid style in our attempts at claiming some kind of advantage. A late goal cruelly sent us back for the second leg behind but with an all important away goal behind us. All to play for.


9th March 2025
Juliper Pro League

The final game of the league and following back to back defeats we struggle to a lowly draw against Zulte Waregem. Having had a commanding start at the end of last month we come to the mid-way point of March very much in the balance. With the Juliper Pro League about to reveal an unwanted surprise this was not a good result.


March 2025
Juliper Pro League

The league is over. Well the league as i knew it at least. My knowledge of Belgian football is quickly exposed as the league suddenly splits in two. With Club Brugge sitting pretty at the top of the table we now face a much steeper challenge as we enter the Championship Group stage. For those like me, that had no idea this was due to happen here's a brief summary; Our Current points total is halved, with games played solely between the top six clubs. Mosts points wins.


13th March 2025
Europa League - 2nd Knockout Round - Leg 1

Now that was tense. With Torino cancelling out our away goal and increasing their lead within just eleven minutes it seemed we were in for a bad evening but a deserved penalty on the half hour mark, kick started a monumental comeback with substitute winger, Trezeguet scoring with just two minutes remaining to steal a place in the next round. Time to see if our good fortune will continue in the next round...

...That's a no then.

Roberto Martinez and his mighty Red Devils are next in line for Club Brugge as the champions of England, eager to make amends for a disastrous Champions League campaign now look to claim the Europa League trophy. This isn't going to be easy.


16th March 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

Well that didn't exactly get started too well. The former most successful club in Belgium kick start the all important Championship Group stage with a huge victory at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, shooting into an impressive two goal lead after just fifteen minutes. A disappointing start.


19th March 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

That's more like it. Our talisman striker, Felype scores the only goal of the game as sneak a victory over KRC Genk. The boys however are looking a shadow of their former selves in this group stage. Could this be about to go completely wrong at the last hurdle? ...More then likely. Yes.


26th March 2025
Croky Cup - Final

This was supposed to be my moment! My gift wrapped opportunity at finally getting my hands on a cup trophy! A thrilling game at the King Baudouin Stadium saw both clubs throw caution into the wind in their attempts at claiming the Cup with the end to end football seeing both teams score twice in extra time. In the end the Yellow and Red of KV Melchen held their nerve in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out to claim the prize.


29th March 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

With the disappointment of a humbling cup defeat still lingering over the club we return to Juliper Pro League action with a two goal victory keeping us locked in our race to at least claim a sixth successive league title for Club Brugge. Given that I managed to throw away a cup seemingly destined to return to Brugge, I'm taking nothing for granted.


March 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

With the points halved and our current form seemingly very much under scrutiny we sit just five points clear with both Sint-Truiden and Anderlecht having seven games remaining to overthrow our claim to the top spot. This is going to be a nervy run in to the end of season. I surely can't throw this away as well can I?

​

 

[bashuijsmans]

With your manager everything is possible

 

[DerbyJack]

That is worryingly true bashuijsmans

​

---

April 2025

9th April 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

Having been such a care free and seemingly casual league, the Belgian top-flight suddenly seems to explode into life as we barrel towards the finale. A two all draw kicks of a frantic month of football as we once again let points slip to the chasing teams courtesy of some sloppy defending.


12th April 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

That is most certainly more like it. Anderlecht certainly had it in them to cause us more then a few problems as we look to hold back the chasing pack but a resounding victory for the Black and Blue all but ends Anderlecht's hopes of reclaiming the title after so long. I needed that.


17th April 2025
Europea League - Quarter Final - Leg 1

With a home leg getting things started we had the perfect opportunity to try and upset the Red Devils early but Roberto Martinez's men were in no mood to take things easy. With the Premier League giants hungry to add to their haul of trophies, they steam rolled to a five goal victory with only a brace from Petrak doing anything to make the tie look competitive.


20th April 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

The shocking feeling of a thrashing at the Club Brugge Stadium clearly still lingered round the ground and Waasland-Beveren soon took advantage. The club at the foot of the Championship Group pulled off one of the shocks of the season as they stole a well deserved victory leaving us once again in peril. It's uncomfortable at the top.


24th April 2025
Europea League - Quarter Final - Leg 2

With the Quarter Final all but over, I made my return to England looking to try and once again salvage some pride. Fortunately for me it seems the boys had the same idea. A late flurry of goals saw the club claim a creditable victory at Old Trafford and allowed us to bow out of the Europa League with our heads held high.


30th April 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

The pluckiest club in Belgium are next to welcome us and in what could have been a blistering title decider eventually boils down to a nervy goal-less draw. With us now down to just a couple of games until the end of season this lifeless game could well prove to be one of the most important games of the year.


April 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

Two games remain, just three points separate us. An Englishman abroad desperate to try and prove himself in his new home country against a plucky little club from Northern Belgium keen to cap an impressive season by ending Club Brugges near half decade long domination of the country. Game on.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

May 2025

7th May 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

With Sint-Truiden sure to potentially punish any mistake we put on a faultless performance against KRC Genk to secure another three points in our quest for the title. Our attacking midfielder duo of Komarov and Petrak combine together beautiful to pick up a goal either side of the half-time whistle and the result proved to be just what we needed...

10th May 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

With the final game of the season boiling down to nothing more then bragging rights, we rub salt into Sint-Truidens very fresh wounds with a three goal victory. As it turns out the club that awed nearly the entire country fall at the last two hurdles slumping over the line and picking up a very respectable second place.


May 2025
Juliper Pro League - Championship Group

Belgium remains Black and Blue.

The might of Club Brugge once again powers through to claim the title with an eight point gap putting an impressive spin on what was in fact a worrying close season. With a top flight trophy now in the cabinet and the reputation of the Belgium champions just about kept in order, I think its fair to say this has just about been a successful season.

​

 

[PatrickLFC]

Congrats on your first trophy! An impressive run in Europe and to the Cup Final too should definitely mean that you receive a massive reputation boost!

 

[Sam91]

Congrats on the league title!! Tough luck against United but hopefully a top league trophy under your belt some bigger clubs may come calling

 

[Death Ball]

Yay! First trophy, that's awesome.

 

[Godfish93]

Nicely done mate, glad to see Belgium is treating you better than it did me!

 

[MrWisdoman]

Congratulations on your trophy

 

[the_best_striker]

Grats on your trophy, slowly but surely.

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks alot Patrick, My reputation has actually increased to 50%. I have no idea what that means but Its at least going in the right direction!

Cheers Sam! I was hoping I might have been able to showcase my talents against them...At least it was an honest reflection I suppose.

Cheers Death Ball! Took my time!

Thanks Godfish, I had the advantage of inheriting one **** of a team though!

Cheers Wisdoman!

I'm getting there Kubalionzzale! Thanks!

---

Life in Belgium has got off to a superb start.

Having departed England and made a long awaited leap across the channel and into the continent, I've finally picked up some silverware worth bragging about but it seems I am not the only one with some good news this season.​

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[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]JF Hasselbaink[/TD]
[TD]Diego Simeone[/TD]
[TD]Roberto Martinez[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Manchester City[/TD]
[TD]Chelsea[/TD]
[TD]Manchester United[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]£93,000 per week[/TD]
[TD]£91,000 per week[/TD]
[TD]£91,000 per week[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink has arrived.

Having made his name guiding Queens Park rangers into Europe, the Dutch striker soon kick-started a rapid rise to the top, taking up the reigns as the England manager. Four years at the head of the Three Lions, saw him continue the fine tradition of winning nothing at all before moves to Dutch Champions Ajax and then The Citizens confirmed his status as one of the biggest in the game.

The addition of Hasselbaink however saw the departure of Laurent Blanc. The French legend had been having a torrid time at the helm of Real Madrid and his departure signals the end of the big spending from the Liga BBVA.

The Premier League is where the money is.

Diego Simone continues to prove he is very much worth every penny as he overthrows the dominance of Roberto Martinez's Manchester United to claim the Premier League title and only narrowly misses out on the Champions League trophy due to the return of the Serie A Powerhouse AC Milan.

For Manchester United it was a season to forget. A second place finish in the league and a disastrous Champions League campaign saw Martinez's golden touch finally start to fade with even the Europa League proving to be out of his reach.

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[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Derby Jack[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Club Brugge[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]£20,500 per week[/TD]
[/TR]
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For myself it was a season to remember.

With my first ever top-flight title, a relatively promising European campaign and a squad full of hungry and motivated players, I'm for once not looking for a new club.

Only one down-side. For a manager whose only target involves fitting as many notes in his wallet as possible I remain rooted on the same wages I have had for nearly six seasons.

The life of a football managing mercenary is never quite that easy.



​

 

[dani3w]

Still regularly catching up with this man, superb work with Brugge!

 

[Mercurial66]

Considering the team will have been adjusting to your tactics and new players for a while, that's a great season - especially in Europe!! Hopefully you can add the cup next season as well.

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

The building of reputation takes time though! Congrats on the League. Champions League win now? Soon enough Madrid and Manchester will come knocking.

You may have mentioned it before, but have you thought about international coaching? It may help get some reputation up?

 

[DerbyJack]

Cheers Dan, thanks for popping in!

Thanks Mercurial, I never really thought about it that way! The Cup is a must but I have some horrific luck in knock-out competitions.

It sure does Raar, especially when it takes you a quarter of a century to win a title. I can only dream about the Champions League, I feel I might need it to be gift wrapped to me like the Juliper Pro League was. I've looked at International coaching, expecially given the EUROs but truth be told I'm not a massive fan of managing two teams at the same time. If a nation was to offer me more money then my current club though, that would probably do the trick.​

---

With the club literally at the top of their game, the transfer window for once presented me with a different kind of problem.

I have literally no areas that need strengthening.

With the team seemingly leaps and bounds ahead of their closest rivals on the domestic front and certainly proving that they can hold their own in the European competitions, the only issue it seemed I was going to have this time around, was keeping this impressive squad together.

With our mighty neighbors in Germany and France both taking a worrying interest in some of our stars, it was going to be a tense time in Brugge.

Not bad.

A busy window but with a host of young players all departing on loan, the only real departure of any real significance was that of Portuguese winger Toze.

Having played out of his skin last season, he became a key part of my squad but having been at the club for four all conquering seasons, he soon decided that he was looking for challenges beyond what he could find in Belgium.

With his contract ticking down and him adamant at leaving, a struggling Leeds United quickly snapped him up on a bargain free-signing.

A side from that sole disappointment the window was a relative success and with a healthy transfer budget burning a hole in my pocket, I still managed to make some moves in the window myself...

From: Atletico Madrid
Cost: £12 million
​

​

Just the one arrival in the window sees Jimmy Kerkhofs making a return to his home country. Another player to help us towards meeting the home-grown player rule in the league but Jimmy will certainly be doing more then just making up the numbers. The Twenty Year old has a bright future ahead of him and is quickly placed as our starting right-back already.




A quiet window. A successful window.

Things really have changed.

With the club once again bolstered with another future Belgian star, I have no time to waste as the Juliper Pro League looks to get started just a month and a half after it came to a close. Jimmy best be ready to defend my one and only title!


​

 

[DerbyJack]

Preseason
2025/26​

9th July 2025
Friendly

With little time to get down to the actual season the warm up games are rammed into a ten day period. With the boys just arriving back from some well deserved holidays they quickly get themselves back up to speed with a short trip to Scotland and a five goal demolition of Motherwell. These guys certainly know how to keep the pace high.


12th July 2025
Friendly

A return to Belgium and a routine victory over non-league Coxyde. A first half demolition job of the minnows was a routine run out for the national champions, with a goal just after the break ensuring the club runs out comfortable winners and keeps morale sky high with the season now just days away.


19th July 2025
Denswil Testimonial

Rounding off the pre-season is a testimonial for long server defender Stefano Denswil. The Dutch defender has been at the club for a decade now and with his career drawing to a close the boys put on a solid display to show their respects as they cruise past Italian side, Bologna. With these kinds of results the season should be a breeze.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

July 2025​

17th July 2025
Supercup

The season kicks off with a cup trophy. An actual Cup trophy. Proclaiming myself as a reformed manager and cup specialist following our victory in Belgiums equivalent of the Charity Shield would be completely unjustified and quite frankly embarrassing...Non the less I have no shame! All hail the Supercup champions!

27th July 2015
Juliper Pro League

With the victory in the Supercup added to my quickly growing collection of Belgian winners medals, which now stands at a quite frankly dizzying two, we set about our campaign to continue my ever growing stash of gold with a comfortable victory over one of the leagues potential roadblocks, KRC Genk. A solid sart.


July 2025
Juliper Pro League

One game down, one victory in the bag. With a long season ahead of us we have got plenty of time to over throw table topping Charleroi but we already can afford to cast an eye around at whoever will become our next contender to try and overthrow the half decade long dominance of black and blue.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

August 2025​

3rd August 2025
Juliper Pro League

It seems Charleroi might actually be up for the fight. A two goal lead after just sixteen minutes seemed to suggest that we were about to secure an extremely comfortable victory however the club wasted little time in over throwing our lead and in the end left us clinging on to a solitary point for dear life.


9th August 2025
Juliper Pro League

Commanding midfielder Ndong rarely gets his name in the spotlight but the defensive minded ball winner eventually finally found his way up to the other end of the pitch and quickly smashed home a well taken brace to sink Zulte Waregem. A penalty five minutes from time marred an otherwise perfect performance.


16th August 2025
Juliper Pro League

The Brugge derby comes up early this season and the boys leave it late to send their side of the town home happy with a three goal victory, inspired by our rapid winger Dembele down the right flank eventually making a brutal breakthrough. With performances like this we seem to be set for an easy romp to the title.


24th August 2025
Juliper Pro League

And the one-way traffic continues in the league as we smash three goals past the hapless Mouscron-Peruwelz. With a goal apiece from every position on the field the boys are certainly showing that they are all up for retaining this title across the pitch. With the boys in this form I can simply sit back and relax.


29th August 2025
Juliper Pro League

With six goals in the last two games, I was eager to see what the boys would pull out of the bag for the final game of the season but they instead narrowly managed to squeeze out a narrow one goal victory with midfielder Castellano scoring just after the break following an impressive introduction from the bench at the break.


August 2025
Juliper Pro League

Top of the table and four points clear. This season could be over before Autumn even ends. With just a three year contract with Club Brugge, I would love to round off a hopefully brief but successful spell in Flanders with a trophy every season, with the boys in fine form the club is even starting to look beyond the borders of Belgium...

Schalke are back up against us for the second season in a row as we head into a comparably easy group. Ducth Champions Ajax are certainly no pushovers but should give us a good route for three points, whilst Portugese giants Sporting will be the favorites to smash their way out of this group, a sneaky second place however is very much up for grabs.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

September 2025​

13th September 2025
Juliper Pro League

Our fine title holding form continues into another month as we destroy Westerlo with a comfortable three goal victory. An impressive midfield performance saw the boys find the back of the net three times within just the first forty five minutes, leaving them to cruise to a comfortable victory in a relaxing second half.


17th September 2025
Champions League - Group H

We welcome Dutch giants Ajax to Belgium and quickly give the former European Cup winners a humbling lesson as we run out three goal winners. Creative Russian midfielder, Komarov opens the scoring within just six minutes with another strong performance from our central midfielders guiding the club to a memorable victory.


20th September 2025
Juliper Pro League

On the back of four victories in the league and a triumphant opening game in the Champions League we seemed destined to romp our way through the rest of the season until Waasland-Beveren arrived at Club Brugge Stadium. Our visitors are certainly not set to be embroiled in the title race but held our usually ruthless attack at bay with ease.


23rd September 2025
Croky Cup - 6th Round

The brilliantly named Rupel Boom greet us in the first round of Belgiums only cup competition and we disapatch the lowly club with ease to cruise into the next round. Given the heart break of last years final defeat, the boys are keen to restore their pride and I'm certainly eager to pick up a long awaited victory in a prestigious cup.


27th September 2025
Juliper Pro League

Anderlecht seem to continually mount small signs that they are returning to their former selves and the former most successful club in the country certainly ensured that the Club Brugge fans would take notice of their down trodden rivals in the future as we are once again held to a disappointing draw in the league.


30th September 2025
Champions League - Group H

Our main rivals for a spot in the next round of the competition cautiously welcome us to the impressive Veltins-Arena and the game certainly reflected the Germans wary nature. Having been humiliated by Sporting the club seemed determined to try and restore some faith in their Champions League campaign but a goalless draw did little to strengthen either clubs hopes of progressing.


September 2025
Juliper Pro League

We remain at the top of the pack but only on goal difference alone. Our two previous draws proved costly as Gent mount an impressive push of their own. It seems our title rivals have finally emerged. With a game in hand and the most ruthless defence in the league behind us we don't need to worry quite yet.


September 2025
Champions League - Group H

A solid start to our Champions League campaign. With Sportings emphatic victory over Schalke and a hard earned point in Germany, we now sit poised to hold on to our second place and a spot in the next round of the competition. To make an appearance in the knock-out stages of the worlds biggest club competition would certainly do my reputation no harm.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

October 2025

4th October 2025
Juliper Pro League

With the club failing to find the back of the net in the previous two games of the competition we return to scoring and more importantly winning ways with a three goal demolition of a struggling Lokeren. With our visitors fighting grimly against relegation, the victory was crucial to solidify our title chances.


18th October 2025
Juliper Pro League

Gent are making one **** of a push for our title with the club racking up the wins at rampant pace with a game billed as an early title contender boiling down to a disappointing goal-less draw. With nothing decided in this game, it seems our title race is set to last for quite some time. The race is on.


21st October 2025
Champions League - Group H

A monumental victory for the Black and Blue. Sporting seemed set for the top spot and a comfortable ride into the knockout stages but a humbling defeat in Belgium certainly brought an end to the Portugese Champions high spirits. A brace for the rarely featured Blanco certainly gave us cause to question Felype's regular starting place in the team.


25th October 2025
Juliper Pro League

These draws are starting to mount up at a worrying rate. A determined Oostende were welcomed to the Club Brugge Stadium and despite being given a convincing lesson in attacking football the club still managed to leave with a snatched point. The club seem to be rather hap hazard in front of goal this season. Brazilian striker Felype has seemingly lost his shooting boots.


29th October 2025
Juliper Pro League

Another disappointing point rounds off the month. Argentinian striker Blanco made a superb start to the game as he makes a strong impression having been handed a rare start following Felype's poor form but his efforts go unrewarded as another sloppy second half see's Kotrijk steal more points from the title holders.


October 2025
Juliper Pro League

Those draws are costing us. Gent continue to impress with yet another month of impressive victories, over throwing our hold of the top spot and sending a clear message of intent across the country. We might be unbeaten in the league but we are most certainly not showcasing our title credentials. So much for winning the title by the end of Autumn.


October 2025
Champions League - Group H

An unbeaten and impressive start to our Champions League campaign sees the club sit not just in a qualification spot but at the top of the table. With Sporting and Schalke now seemingly fighting it out for the last remaining place in the next round it seems we are set for an impressive campaign in the continent.

​