The Legend Returns - Aitor Herrera Managing Bilbao

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Klippybo

Klippybo

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HELLO AND WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally the day has arrived where I can start up my first FM14 story and it will come as little or no surprise to find out that I am going to be managing Athletic Bilbao!

I have been looking forward to this moment for months (sad I know) but now it is here. I didnt even try them out and research them in the BETA version so I have no inkling as to how they are in this years game.

Anywho without further ado I will introduce you to the manager;)

--

AITOR HERRERA

Quite simply the best regen I have ever had (FM12) and anyone who has read any of my FM stories is probably bored to tears about me harping on about him but hey ho. Got him in the first youth intake as a 15y/o and was still going strong aged 38. Almost played 1000 games for the club and 300 for Spain and won the World Player of the Year award about 15 times lol.

Here is a link to the original story where you can see how good he was........

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/football-manager-2012-stories/95968-basque-ing-bilbao.html

Or alternatively just google him!!!!

His biggest claim to fame was the fact that Sky Sports News had him on the squad list for Bilbao in their website!!!

So who better to return to the club as manager?

--

Now a bit more about the club..............

images

Stadium - San Mames Barria (newly opened for this season)
Capacity - 53,100
Legends - Julen Guerrero, Jose Angel Iribar, Dani, Telmo Zarra
Fiercest Rivals - Real Sociedad (Vasco derby)
League Winners - 8 times (never been relegated)
Cup Winners - 24 times

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SIGNING POLICY

For those not in the know Athletic Bilbao can only sign players born or had their footballing education up to the age of 16 in the Basque region in France or Spain. Therefore I can sign any Spanish player before the age of 16 and any player of Basque nationality only so this save will be all about youth development.

Some famous Basques are - Javi Martinez, Azpilicueta, Forlan, Griezmann, Monreal, Arteta, Llorente and Xabi Alonso. Unfortunately despite being born in the Basque region of France and having Basque parents Gonzalo Higuain is not Basque.

--

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!!!!

Please follow me on this journey and comment along the way. It should be tougher this year as there is no Llorente or Amorebieta at the start so methinks the league title will be a bit trickier to get this time round.

--
SEASON BY SEASON
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]SEASON
[/TD]
[TD]LIGA BBVA
[/TD]
[TD]COPA DEL REY
[/TD]
[TD]SPANISH SUPER CUP
[/TD]
[TD]CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2013-14
[/TD]
[TD]WINNERS
[/TD]
[TD]5th Round
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2014-15
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

​
 
Last edited:
Look forward too this again, still have not bought the game FM13 for me is still fun ATM
 
If its half of the story your previous ones have been should be amazing!
 
Kli, if you could please delete some of your PM, I want to send you one and I can't because you have to many :).

Good luck with the story !
 
so glad this is back. i feel like this story has now become a must for when fm comes out will be following. best of luck.
 
MatthewElphinstone said:
How did that happen?
Click to expand...

**** knows. It is long gone now but I was randomly checking through Bilbao info etc and there he was. Apparently he even played a Europa League qualifier!!!

It had his squad number, position and date of birth all spot on too so there was no mistaking for Ander Herrera
 
I don't know what I am looking forward to more; playing the game myself or another cracking read from the Basque region.
 
jstewart85 said:
I don't know what I am looking forward to more; playing the game myself or another cracking read from the Basque region.
Click to expand...

Is that really a question? I always get more involved and emotionally attached to Klippy's players than my own
 
images


PRE-SEASON

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

What a bore of a pre-season lol. I have not signed a single player and only released Gurpegi as he pulled a hissy fit when I stated my expectations for the season (top half) and also because I dumped him as being captain lol.

I tried to bring in Jorge Espiricueta and found a great looking 16y/o in the 2nd division but he broke his leg the day after I put a bid in!!!

I did however reshape my backroom staff. 17 were sacked and some of the newcomers were these guys.......

View attachment 461857View attachment 461856View attachment 461855View attachment 461854View attachment 461853View attachment 461852View attachment 461851View attachment 461850View attachment 461849View attachment 461848View attachment 461847

Julen Guerrero is a legend at the club so although he doesnt have great stats for being a DoF I figured he wont have much to do anyway!!! Javier Clemente as my assistant manager was a pretty nice coup and is regarded as a club icon while both GK coaches are 5 star with Lasuen getting promoted from my C team Baskonia.

--

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

I am reasonably happy. In previous years games I always signed Benat and Balenziaga so it was nice to have them there. Mikel Rico and Kike Sola are 2 other new additions who will do a job for me also.

Obviously regarding the long haul Muniain, Herrera, San Jose and Laporte will hopefully be here for the rest of their careers unless something goes wrong while Susaeta and Benat will have major roles to play also.

Oscar De Marcos somehow was in the B team so I called him up obviously but talented youngsters Aurtenetxe, Ramalho and Ruiz de Galarreta are out on loan.

--

FORMATION

I will try my trusted 4-2-3-1 but I dont know about player roles or whatever yet as this years game could be far different.

My back 5 picks itself really (Iraizoz - Iraola, San Jose, Laporte, Balenziaga) but its the rest of the side that is difficult to pick. Obviously Benat will be CM and Susaeta RW but who to play up front? Play Muniain AMC, AML (preferred position) or ST? Play Herrera AMC or MC?

In the end I decided I will start with a midfield duo of Benat and Rico with Ibai Gomez and Susaeta on the wings and Herrera in AMC behind Muniain.

--

MYSELF

I decided to put some pressure on myself and add a few philosophies!!! All are pretty bog standard when you are Bilbao manager though. I chose the following..........

Play attacking football
Play posession football
Give youth a chance

​
 
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images


AUGUST

Real Valladolid 0
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Muniain 37, Susaeta 62)

A nice way to kick off my managerial career and both goals were magnificent apparently!!!

--

Athletic Bilbao 3 (De Marcos 2, Rico 68, Aduriz 79)
Osasuna 1 (Onwu 89)

A nice derby win. Aduriz came off the bench with 15min to go and ended up getting the man of the match award somehow!!!!!

--

Real Madrid 4 (Di Maria 9, Isco 57, Benzema 65, Pepe 70)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Herrera 20)

Back down to earth with a bump!!!! Ronaldo missed a penalty for them also so it could have been worse.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real V.
[/TD]
[TD]2-0
[/TD]
[TD]Iraizoz
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*
[/TD]
[TD]Balenziaga
[/TD]
[TD]Rico
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Saborit, Iturraspe, De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Osa
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Iraizoz
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Balenziaga
[/TD]
[TD]Rico
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Saborit, Aduriz*
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real M.
[/TD]
[TD]1-4
[/TD]
[TD]Iraizoz
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Balenziaga
[/TD]
[TD]Rico
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Aduriz
[/TD]
[TD]Ekiza, Sola
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

All in all a decent start I suppose. The away game against Madrid was always going to be an uphill struggle and so it proved.

I did sign somebody though!!! Eneko Satrustegui came in from Osasuna for ?550K and was sent to help out my B team to try and get promotion.
View attachment 461835

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ANDER HERRERA
View attachment 461837
--

LEAGUE TABLE
View attachment 461834

--

OTHER NEWS

Antoine Griezmann leaves Real Sociedad for Monaco
Pedro leaves Barca who sign Cleverley, Matic and Correa
Arbeloa and Coentrao leave Real Madrid for PSG
​
 
Last edited:
Nice to see Herrera return mate:) Followed your previous Bilbao stories with excitement - looking to see how you do as I'm also in La Liga and enjoying the experience!
 
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