Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!

As soon as I handed in my resignation at Anderlecht that was reluctantly accept by the clubs board I departed the club and boarded to Bulgaria in anticipation to continue by adventure around Europe. Four trophies are up for grabs in Bulgaria and I can't wait to get started, it's the final "B" country and once that's completed it'll be onto the C's.


Once "A" Group league side Levski sacked their manager following a poor start to the season that sees the league favourites down in seventh place, I had no problems applying for the job as I've been unemployed for quite a while since departing Anderlecht at the end of July. They're expected to finish second.

They're still in the Bulgarian Cup too and face Lokomotiv (Mezdra) in the second round.


Well, at least they're flattered with my interest so all I need to do is wait and see if they approach me to take the reigns although I'm sure their is more experienced candidates interested in taking the job so nothing is guaranteed. Should they employ me then it will be my sixth managerial job on this adventure across Europe.

I've previously managed Austrian side SCR Altach, Belarusian duo Zhlobin and Torpedo Zhodino and Belgium clubs Namur and Anderlecht.


I'm pleased that they have approached me to become the new manager, offering me a four year contract with a transfer budget of just under five million quid and I'm sure that's quite a lot for a Bulgarian club. The clubs minimum expectation is that Levski compete against the top teams in the league and I'm sure we'll cope this season once I stamp my influence on the side.

The board have offered me a full time contract that will see me earn two thousand four hundred pound per week while I'm under contract until the summer of twenty twenty-seven. I've also been told that I've a philosophy to play attacking football and I had to accept that or else I wouldn't have been appointed manager.


Finally I didn't waste any time in accepting the job and now my Bulgarian adventure can begin. I've been unemployed for almost four months so it's good to be "back in work" and I can't wait to get started in Bulgaria. Please don't expect immediate success as I've never managed in Belarus before.

So with the club down in seventh place and expected to come second in the "A" Group, it's time to get started and the pressure is on.

Nice to see you at another big club matey! Bet you win the league this season!

Nice club to manage. 25k room in the wage budget and 4.9M transfer budget gives you some tools to improve the squad.

Low wages btw in Bulgaria. In Austria my wages are higher in the First Division.

I can guarantee that I won't. Litex will be too good.


Can't wait until the transfer window opens so I can attempt to strengthen the squad as their is too much back-up who simply aren't good enough for the club, the defence especially needs slightly strengthened. I will be playing the same formation as per usual so I hope the players get used to it quickly.

Since I took over the club near the end of the month, I faced just two games in November with one of them being a league game while the other was a Bulgarian Cup second round second leg tie away to non-league Lokomotiv (Mezdra) that saw us progress while we failed to win my first league game.


We started what turned out to be a two game month with a Bulgarian Cup second round second leg trip to Lokomotiv (Mezdra) and we defeated them three one away to progress and progressed five one on aggregate as we broke the deadlock in the opening minute when Antonov scored the first goal in my reign but the non-league side equalised through Abadzhiev but second half goals from Dobrevski and Mihaylov sealed progression.

Our only league game of the month was away to Ludogorets (Razgrad) and my first league game at the helm ended scoreless despite the home side missing a penalty.


We have moved back into seventh place following our scoreless draw away from home. When the transfer window opens I am going to have to be on the hunt for a new striker since the side has only scored eleven goals in the opening twelve games.

December brought us four games, two in the league and a two legged Bulgarian Cup tie against Slavia (Sofia). I picked up my first win since arriving at the club but all in all it's been another disappointing month as I haven't yet made in impact in Bulgarian football... so far.


Our month started with my first home game since arriving at the club and I picked up my first win since taking the reigns thanks to a single goal victory over Beroe with Dobrevski scoring the only goal of the game inside the opening five minutes and that was enough to separate the sides.

We then played our second home game in succession but this time it was a Bulgarian Cup third round first leg tie against Slavia (Sofia) and we slipped to a disappointing and well deserved home defeat as Ignatov's goal on twenty six minutes was enough for the visitors.

Next up was a tricky fixture away to league favourites and rivals CSKA (Sofia) and we lost out in a five goal thriller as Evitmov broke the deadlock for CSKA after twenty six minutes before central defender Ederson equalised shortly before the hour mark but the home side retook the lead on seventy eight minutes with Kochev scoring but that lasted two minutes because Uzunov found the net for our second equaliser. CSKA (Sofia) won the game with five minutes remaining as Kochev's second goal of the game won it.

And the month ended with us crashing out of the Bulgarian Cup at the third round level following a second leg defeat away to Slavia (Sofia), we lost the second leg one nil and crashed out two nil on aggregate with Ignatov scoring the only game of the game on twenty two minutes - it was extremely disappointing for us to crash out as I was confident we could have progressed, obviously I was incorrect on this occasion.


Despite picking up our first win of the season we haven't moved out of seventh place and we're still in danger of relegation as we're only eight points ahead of the team in second bottom with only eight leagues remaining. Since we're now out of the Bulgarian Cup, we've no excuse, survival MUST happen, would be embarrassing if a club our size in Bulgarian football went down.

The winter break is upon us and now I've got a chance to strengthen my squad ahead of the final handful of games. Players will/should be signed and they will leave the club too. First thing is first and that's I need to bring in a striker who can score goals - would be a nice welcome change.

December was a shocker pal, however your now at the winter break so can make the money you got pay off with some big transfers!

well done beating belgium mate, another intersting country im sure

I've been unable to stamp my authority on the team immediately yet unfortunately but it's all about finishing this season and avoiding the drop.

It's time for me or my assistant manager to arrange some winter friendlies so the team could (hopefully) get used to my formation that I want them to play because whenever we return their is eight league fixtures remaining and we'll soon be in a relegation battle unless we get the form sorted and quickly.


Thanks pal. Bulgaria could be short or it could be long, four trophies are up for grabs so I want to try and crack this as soon as possible.

Difficult start but here is the winter to reshape your squad. Get some good players to give you a head start for the next season. Good luck with it!

I didn't expect it to be easy but I expect more than one league win from our three league games currently played. I've arranged eight winter friendly matches so hopefully the players will then get used to my tactics.

With the team struggling domestically down in seventh place I entered the transfer market during the winter break to try and strengthen the squad so we could try and avoid the drop as that was a real possibility as we're only eight points above the team in second bottom. I also arranged around eight friendly matches so the team could/should get used to my formation.


Seven new faces have arrived at Levski!

My first signing arrived back in December as Venalainen arrived on a free transfer following his release from HJK's Klubi-D4 team, the twenty-three-year-old is a full Finland international as he's won three caps for his nation but hasn't yet found the net for the Finns.

I needed a good back-up central defender so I headed to fellow "A" Group side Ludogorets (Razgrad) to capture Danov who is a twenty-two-year-old centre back and has cost me seven hundred and twenty five thousand pounds to sign him and he's made eighty one career appearances (INC. a loan deal at Botev (Plovdiv) a few seasons ago) but he's yet to score a competitive league goal.

With goal scoring being a seriously problem I broke the clubs transfer record to bring in Moran from Uruguayan side Danubio and the twenty-one-year-old striker can also play as an attacking midfielder if needs be. Before the big money switch, Moran scored fourteen goals in eighteen appearances for the Uruguay based club - can he continue the scoring here?

Our next season was a young Northern Irish lad Morrow who has cost us thirty five thousand pound from Republic of Ireland side Derry City. The winger has made thirty eight appearances for The Candystripes and has scored six times before his switch, I don't expect much from him immediately as he's young and needs to settle as he's only eighteen.

Another eighteen-year-old has joined the club with Mustafov becoming the fourth player this season to join from Lokomotiv (Rezgrad) as I've signed two and so did the previous manager, the youngster who can play in central midfielder along as a defensive midfielder has cost us a quarter of a million pound for his services.

I've went to make the right back stronger with the capture of Guevara from Argentine club Boca Juniors, he's cost us two hundred and thirty thousand as he was transfer listed and I'm expecting him to be my first choice. Or that's what I thought but when I went to select him he's ineligible due to playing for two clubs in the one year. Should I have known that then I wouldn't have signed him until the summer - he's now going to get paid to do nothing.

So I had to head back into the transfer market as I still needed to strengthen the right back section of the team so I've brought in Kravtsov who is a twenty-year-old and has only cost us seven thousand due to him being on the transfer list at Spartak Moscow. He's only made three appearances in as many seasons for the club.


Our winter friendlies have been a success despite slipping up once.

In the eight games that I arranged we have won seven of those and have also scored plenty of goals as in the game we've won we have scored three or more although the opposition wasn't the strongest it's still impressive nonetheless.

All the games were scheduled away from home and it started against Akademik (Sofia) and we beat them three nil with Dimitrov, Morrow and Slavchev scoring before we hit four without reply in our second friendly and again Morrow scored alongside Uzunov, Kepov and Slavchev. Two nil success followed against Levski (Elin Pelin) with Kepov and Moran on target.

We then picked up a four two win against Kostinbrod with Dobrevski, Kepov with two and Slavchev finding the net before we beat Kameno three nil with goals coming from an own goal, Kepov and Uzunov. Fair Play were trounced five nil as Dobrevski hit two along with Kepov, Ederson and Mihaylov.

Our penultimate game was against Dobrudzha and we beat them three nil with all the goals coming in the first half. Kepov, Uzunov and Ederson scoring before we played Nesebar to conclude the winter friendly programme and could only manage a draw with Moran scoring our only goal of the game on eighteen minutes.

Fantastic winter break, hopefully you can take that form into the league.

Good to see your new signings. Had it once too that a player was ineligible for half a year. He became one of my better players later on so I didn't regret it after a while. But I found it strange that there was no warning when I signed the player.

Decent winter break against weaker teams, spending some dollar now, lets hope it works out to give you a strong league finish and put you in a good position for next year!

Cheers, was actually nice to pick up a consistent amount of wins albeit against lower teams but wins are wins when you’re unable to win. Whether I can take the confidence into the league season remains to be seen.


The club had already signed quite a lot of players so that could have explained the poor start to the season, or it could have been that some were complete dog crap. I’ve brought in seven quality players in my opinion (one is obviously ineligible) but I am sure they’ll do a job in the final handful of games.


I think I’m the only team that arranged winter break friendly games, don’t think anyone did that I found surprising. If I can finish in the top four at least then I will be quietly happy and it will be something to build on for next season… unless I get sacked for failing to meet the expectation. Err, think I spent nearly £3m on players during the winter break – could be slightly more but could be slightly less but most of it went on Moran from that Uruguayan club.

Just checked the league rules and you end up playing twenty two league games before the league splits into two and then their is ten more league games after that to take the league games up to thirty two games.

On the back of a successful winter break we returned to league action and in an attempt to rise the league table with six games in March and it was a successful month as we picked up five wins from the six games with the only blip being in an undeserved reversal against Lokomotiv (Sofia) away from home.


The first match back following the break was a home tie against Botev (Plovdiv) and we won three nil that saw us give debuts to some of our winter signings and it was one of them that opened the scoring after only ten minutes whenever former Derry City winger Morrow put the ball home before another debutant Moran doubled the lead on thirty three and then Stoyanov added a third in first half stoppage time.

We then entertained Lokomotiv (Plavdiv) in our second consecutive game at home and it was the first time since I arrived at the club that we won back to back games as we secured a two nil win with both the goals arriving in the final half an hour - on-loan defender Ederson tapped the ball on before Moran capitalized on a mistake to double the lead with the game entering stoppage time.

Our next game was our first league fixture away from home since returning from the winter break as we visited Lokomotiv (Sofia) and they defeated us two one and they took the lead on the quarter hour through Simeonov but we equalised after twenty one minutes with Antonov finding the net but Tintor won the game for the home side, undeservedly, after thirty four minutes.

We managed to bounce back in our next game as we had to come from behind to defeated Slavia (Sofia) as Ignatov gave the away side the lead but we equalised early in the second half with a thunderous effort from central defender Ederson before Moran won us the game with the match entering second half stoppage time.

The penultimate game of the month saw us make a tricky trip to Cherno More and edged the game as we picked up a single goal victory with defender Uzunov scoring the only goal of the game after sixty two minutes.

Leaders Litex came to Sofia to face us to conclude the month and what a game it turned out to be after we defeated them four one. The away side were reduced to ten men after only nine minutes when Trifonov was shown a straight red card for a professional foul and we had an immediate response as we took the lead two minutes later through Andanov before Moran scored his first on twenty three minutes, Dobrevski made it three nil before Stoykov pulled a goal back but Moran's second of the game sealed the win.


We've started to climb the table and after a top month (bar that one defeat) we are up to fourth in the table and only seven points behind the league leaders Litex who we've just defeated four one. The more important thing is that we've started scoring goals as I found that to be a problem before the winter break, we have now scored twenty seven times in twenty games and conceded fifteen.

Putting the defeat against Lokomotiv Sofia to one side, you had a brilliant March.

The top three have set the pace but there's still a way to go yet.

Wow that was a turn of fate, maybe the top spot is still on offer

great turnaround mate

We should have defeated Lokomotiv (Sofia) so that’s put a damper on what could/should have been a perfect month but it doesn’t bother me too much. I’m still in the hunt for the title but I’d rather not win the title this season but next along with the Bulgarian Cup.


Isn’t it amazing what a little bit of confidence/good signings does mate?

Couldn’t believe the turn around I’ve had, maybe playing those friendly games against the lower teams actually worked and that’s got the side confidence or it could have been the signings I’ve made – either way, it’s a remarkable turn around and long may it continue.


Cheers pal, it’s been a remarkable turn around but it’s important we build on that as there is still a lot of football to be played.

The club returned from the winter break with a bang and quite a bit of confidence as we picked up five wins from a possible six with the side only suffering a defeat away to Lokomotiv (Sofia). The penultimate month brought another decent month that saw us win two, draw two and lose once in five games.


We started with a trip to bottom of the table Minyor (Pernik) in a game that had to see us come from behind to pick up our second four one win in succession. Minyor took the lead in the thirteenth minute through Weber but we soon bounced back with Venalainen's first goal for the club and Dimitrov scoring twice in the space of two minutes to turn the game around. We were awarded a penalty on thirty four minutes as Antonov converted before Iliev made it four in the second half.

Our next game was a home game against another struggling side Chernomorets (Burgas) and Venalainen's second goal in as many games had got us off to a flyer on three minutes but it didn't last long as they equalised two minutes later, two late goals from Dimitrov on eighty three and eighty five sealed the points.

A tough away game against Slavia (Sofia) was next and we left their stadium disappointed at squandering a two goal lead given to us by Moran as he slotted home a penalty on ten minutes before he doubled the lead with his second with the game entering stoppage time but two goals in the space of a minute near the hour mark from Lukic and Todorov meant the points were shared.

We then hosted Cherno More and they ended their recent barren run with a well deserved four two win at our home ground with Boev and Kapitanov firing them into a two goal lead inside the opening quarter hour before Kisel added a third on the half hour. We rallied in the second half and two goals in four minutes from defender Ederson on sixty seven minutes and striker Moran on seventy one had us straight back into the game but Iliev's goal sealed a deserved win for the away side with thirteen minutes left.

And the month concluded with a draw against CSKA (Sofia) in a game that we could have picked up maximum points from and Dabrevski broke the deadlock and gave us the lead on thirty seven minutes but they equalised early in the second half courtesy of Paulao. We missed a penalty through I think Moran that could have won us the game, oh well.


Heading into what I believe is the final month of the season we are in fourth place and still deep in the title picture as we're only nine points behind the new leaders Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) as the previous leaders Litex have slipped to third. With the league now currently split in two for the remaining ten games (three have already been played) we will be only facing teams in the top six so it'll be a tough end to the season.

Surely Minyor (Pernik) are as good as down? It will take a miracle for them to survive as they're twenty six points adrift with only twenty one (or something) to play for.

Good results. Confidence and fitness are great factors in FM2013.

Considering you two are playing at different speeds (I assume partly down to Dan playing FMC and partly down to available play time) is this going to be judged on who it takes the least seasons to complete it?

Most champions league wins has to be the tie-breaker if it's even, surely?

Thanks, I should have May posted as soon as possible.


I suppose the person who get Wales completed first between us two wins the challenge but to be fair, we're just doing it for the craic and to eat up time so we can't get bored of Football Manager as we usually do around this time of year. Dan's destined to win it since he's about to enter Czech Republic and I'm still in Bulgaria.

We've agreed that Champions League and Europa League success is a "luxury" rather than it's needed.

We entered the final month of the season with still a slim chance of winning the league but unfortunately it wasn't to be as the season concluded quite disappointedly with three draws and a defeat from our final four league fixtures and that was annoying, especially with the promising start.


And a home fixture with Litex started the final month of the season and we picked up an excellent two one home win with Dobrevski scoring in either half to give us a two goal advantage before Slavchev converted a spot kick with five minutes remaining on the clock but we held on.

We then made the trip to Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) and played out an absolute "A" Group classic as we fought from three nil down to win four three away from home, a double from Aubert had the home side 2-0 lead at half time before Kalaydzhiev added a third early in the second half. Moran struck on sixty one minutes for what looked like a consolation goal but then the final fifteen minutes shocked the home support as Dobrevski and Mihaylov both scored to level the scores before winger Morrow struck to win us the game in stoppage time.

We stayed on the road with a trip to Cherno more with us looking for revenge following the four two home defeat but we picked up maximum points as we won two nil with Dimitrov opening the scoring after twenty minutes before defender Uzunov headed home a second late on,

Back at home with a game against Slavia (Sofia) and with confidence high we took the lead on fourteen minutes courtesy of Morrow's goal but unfortunately we could only secure a one all draw as Georgiev struck on seventy four minutes for a share of the spoils.

Our next game saw us host CSKA (Sofia) and they trounced us three nil as Ginev struck twice in the first half along with Dogan as the visitors won three nil.

The penultimate game of the season saw us face Litex at home and we had to come from behind to rescue a draw as Nedyalkov fortunately (for us) put through his own net ten minutes into the second half to cancel out Magrao who struck for Litex six minutes earlier.

And the season concluded with a game against Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) and it ended with another disappointing draw as yet again we fell behind, this time after only four minutes with Barth opening the scoring but we pegged them back with twenty minutes remaining through Mihaylov.


The disappointing form in the final four games of the season has seen us only finish down in third place, which is a little disappointing as we were predicted to come second. I should be happy though because the club was down in seventh when I took over and we've only lost (I think) four times in all competitions since I've arrived.

A brilliant comeback pal! its all about next season for you now!

Good luck for next season, hopefully you can find that little bit extra to push on and win the league.

You have done great job with Levski so far. Good starting point for the next season.

I'm just a little disappointed with how we finished the season, it's important we start the new season better.


I certainly hope so.


Thanks. Definitely hope I can continue the job this season and try to wrap up the league and Bulgarian Cup this season, it'll be hard.