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

Great month, I haven't even played in the CL groups yet and already have the same amount of win in them with you

Great league form though

But I have to be honest; He has 1 point more than you have. Great league results... go on and you win this one.

To start off as an unemployed manager and get to the point where a club like Anderlecht offer you a job is incredible.

Good luck in Belgium and keep up the good work.

Cheers pal. I still can't believe I managed to bag the Anderlecht job - biggest club I have managed so far.


Aye but at least I have played in the Champions League group stages unlike yourself who would bottle at the qualification stages, I have more points than you though.


Absolutely. I have one point while Dan's never actually been in the CL group stages so his opinion is irrelevant.


Cheers, very much appreciate the comment. As I've said previously, when I first applied for the vacant Anderlecht job I was expecting them to employ someone with a lot more experience than myself as I had never managed a "big" club before until now.

Belgium, I am hoping will be wrapped up at the beginning of next season.

On the back of nine league matches undefeated we entered the New Year looking to continue the good league form as we had three matches in the Pro League to deal with along with a Belgian Cup quarter final second leg encounter with Standard - we lead one nil from the first leg.


We started the New Year with a trip to Kortrijk and we turned them over three nil as Clayton broke the deadlock shortly before half time before De Clercq doubled the score a minute into the second half before attacking midfielder Clayton sealed the points near the hour mark.

Our quarter final second leg tie in the Belgian Cup was next and despite losing the second leg two one in Liege we advanced on the away goals rule. Standard took the lead a minute before the break through Kontsevay and then ten minutes into the second half Gordana doubled the lead - Falcao's goal, on the hour mark ensured we progressed to the semi finals on away goals following a two all aggregate score.

A home game against STVV followed as we returned to league action and we smashed into a three nil lead inside the opening half hour as we won the game four one. Clayton's double, in between a De Clercq goal had us three up with only twenty six minutes on the clock before Hubert pulled a goal back on forty four minutes, Sivan completed the score with the game entering second half stoppage time.

And the month ended with a trip to Lokeren and we could only manage a disappointing draw despite taking the lead after only five minutes through Sullo but despite us trying to kill the game off we were unable too and we paid the ultimate price when Camara equalised with four minutes remaining.


That slip up away from home hasn't damaged us too much as we're still top of the table and the gap has been cut to us only being three points ahead of second place Genk while Standard are further behind in third.

I didn't sign anyone in the January transfer window but I did five players depart the club - Eder has headed to Greece to sign for Panathinaikos that has seen us bag two point one million while Tassio heads to Brazil for half a million, he's joined Botafogo. Spanish side Racing Santander completed a deal to bring Oliver to the club for just shy of three million pound while Aubert has joined Beerschot on loan and Kalenga has also departed the club, also on loan.

Three players have also agreed to depart the club on frees and have agreed pre-contracts elsewhere. Charalabous will be playing his football in Glasgow next season after agreeing to join Rangers while Poletti will sign for French side Stade Malherbe Caen and Ragnoli is going to Antwerp.

Very lucky in the cup but you still seem to be on for both titles! Nice to see Falcao on the scoresheet!

We had a tough game against Standard in a game that we could have easily lost. Falcao hasn't been scoring as much as he did under me at Namur, which is a disappointing - he still has eight league goals iirc.

We remained unbeaten in the league throughout February with three wins from our four league games while we played a Belgian Cup semi-final first leg tie against former club Namur. It was a promising month heading into the business end of the season.


An away trip to Mechelen started the month and we could only manage a draw despite central defender Nunes opening the scoring but the home side equalised before the quarter hour mark through Blaauw, the home side could have won the game but they had a goal controversially chalked off.

We bounced back in our first home game of the month as we brushed Beerschot aside four one with Clayton and Sivan firing us into a two goal lead inside the opening twenty one minute and attacking midfielder Clayton scored his second and our third on forty one minutes. Away side Beerschot pulled a goal back two minutes later with Richard scoring but De Clercq regained our three goal lead on fifty two minutes.

Our next game was a tough clash away to Club Brugge and we defeated them two nil thanks to two first half goals from Praet and Sivan within ten minutes of each other.

We then had a top of the table clash against Genk and we came out on top in a five goal thriller. We raced into a three nil lead inside the opening twenty five minutes thanks to a double from Sivan on eight and twenty two minutes and De Clercq striking two minutes later but we switched off and let the away back into the game with two goals in a four minute period as Thomas scored them both but we held on.

Our final game of the five game month was a Belgian Cup semi final against former club Namur and we came out on top thanks to a three one success, despite dominating the entire first half that ended goalless and the second half was no different. We continued to dominate but were stunned when Andre struck on fifty one minutes for the visitors but we struck back with three goals in the final eleven minutes - Clayton equalised on seventy nine minutes before defender Stepanyan headed home on eighty seven minutes and then a couple of minutes later Villalba deflected the ball into his own net.


February has ended with us remaining top of the table and with a four point gap over Genk. Their is one league game remaining before the league is split with the top six teams facing each other twice to take the league games played to forty. We're still not guaranteed the league title and as stated before I wish I had a bigger lead at the top.

Another fantastic month, still not running away with it though! Nice to see you beat your former side in the cup! They are performing well in the league

great unbeaten run mate, keep it going

You're in a good position heading into the split.

Hopefully your good form can continue for a while longer.

Great league form keep it going but unlucky in the champions league you had a really tough group.

We have three more months (eleven league games) to wrap up the title.


Thanks pal, the unbeaten run has been excellent and long may it continue.


Cheers.

That's the plan but whether the form continues remains to be seen. We still have some extremely tough games coming up, especially in April.


Getting through that Champions League group was near on impossible so it's no surprise we failed.

March saw us face just three league games, two in the Belgian Pro League in between a Belgian Cup semi final second leg tie away to my former club Namur. It was a good month as we remained undefeated throughout in the league with one draw and victory as well as progression to the final.


We started with a game against Gent that was played away from home and we picked up a point despite taking the lead in the thirty sixth minute courtesy of Falcao's ninth league goal of the season but we were pegged back on the hour mark as Clayton struck for the hosts.

The Belgian Cup semi final second leg was up next as we made the trip to my former stomping ground Namur with a three one aggregate lead and we progressed and won the second leg two one thanks to second half goals from Clayton who struck a minute into the restart and Sivan who found the net with fifteen minutes left. Namur were reduced to ten men on seventy eight minutes when Armendariz was shown a straight red card but Aguirre halved the deficit but we advanced.

Our final league game of a short month saw us face our third away game on the bounce as we made the trip to Cercle Brugge and beat them four two. We took the lead after only five minutes as Creemers tapped the ball home and the same man doubled the lead on twenty two and then Gonzalez made it three before Nys pulled a goal back, our three goal lead was restored on sixty nine minutes with Gonzalez firing home his second before Cercle added a second consolation goal in second half stoppage time through van der Heijden.


Just the two league games were played in March and we're a point clear of second place Standard who moved into second following the month with Genk slipping to third.

The penultimate month of the season saw us play six leagues, all in the league as we looked to wrap up the league title. Unfortunately despite going through the month unbeaten with four wins and two draws from the six leagues the league challenge will be going down to the final month,


So it was a crunch month and I couldn't have asked for a tougher start as we hosted Standard and beat them four two as we raced into a three goal lead inside the opening half an hour as Sivan, De Clercq and Creemers all scored in a six minute period. The visitors pulled two back in the second half through Gordana but Praet's goal with the game entering stoppage time sealed the points.

We then made the trip to Gent and overturned them two nil with goals in either half from Praet on thirty eight minutes and Clayton on fifty two separating the sides.

Our next game saw us face Genk but both sides cancelled each other out and it ended goalless.

Westerlo away was up next and we brushed them away as we picked up a four one win. In-form striker Creemers scored his fourth goal from the last five after only three minutes before central defender Stepanyan headed home, Clayton added a third before half time with Praet adding a fourth on fifty seven minutes - Hajji bagged a late consolation for the home side as we struck with four minutes left.

Cercle Brugge made the trip to Brussels next and we demolished them four nil with Praet opening the scoring before Creemers continued his fine goal scoring form with a goal in each half and in between a third goal thanks to Clayton. It was a one sided victory and deservedly so.

Our final game of the month was a tough clash against a Standard side looking for revenge following out four two home win earlier in the month but they couldn't get it as the game ended two all. Standard got off to a flyer with van der Horst opening the scoring after only two minutes but we flew back and had the lead midway through the half as Praet converted an eleventh minute penalty and Sivan then curled home a free kick eleven minutes later. When I thought we were going to hold on, Matias struck for a share of the spoils.


It's going to the wire. With three league games remaining we have a four point lead over second placed Genk but our final month isn't going to be an easy one as we host Gent, travel to Genk before ending the season with a home clash with Westerlo.

We will face Gent in the final of the Belgian Cup. We're still in a shout for the double.

And now the time is upon us, the final month of the season that will determine whether I have two more trophies to add to my trophy cabinet or whether I have nothing to add and this season has ended in extreme disappointment. Our final three games are against Gent, Genk and Westerlo along with a Belgian Cup final, vs. Gent.

I definitely don't think I could have asked for a tougher end to the season.


The final month of the season began with a home encounter with Gent and two second half goals defeated us. Visitors Gent took the lead after sixty nine minutes with Caniggia finding the net and then Madsen doubled the lead with ten minutes remaining to seal the points and end a disappointing performance and result from ourselves.

We then made the trip to Genk and another dire performance saw us defeated for the second game running by the same two nil score line with Thomas, who has been a pain in my side every time we've played Genk, opened the scoring on twenty three minutes with Souza doubling the lead just before half time.

So those two defeats meant the league had gone to the final day with Genk top of the table and travelling to Standard and with us now in second place facing Westerlo, how will the season end? Will we secure the league as champions or will I need to spend another entire season in Belgium?


Sensational. We are the Pro League Champions in my first full (bar the opening game) season in charge.

We did what we had to do against Westerlo and that was to pick up maximum points and we did in style as we beat them five nil with ourselves racing into a four goal lead before half time. De Clercq broke the deadlock on thirteen minutes before an own goal from de Groot doubled the lead, the advantage was trebled on thirty two minutes with Clayton scoring and four minutes later Stepanyan headed home before Praet added a fifth in the second half.

Standard's 4-2 home win (iirc) over Genk ensured the league was won in dramatic circumstances.


We won the league by a single point in the end but at least the league was won. Did I ever doubt it? No, not until we lost those two games back to back at the beginning of the month that saw us lose top spot but I'm just pleased we crawled over the finishing line.

Just one more competitive game was to be played and that was the Belgian Cup final versus Gent, could I add a second trophy this season to my cabinet?


Absolutely. A strong crowd of fifty thousand fans saw us wrap up the Belgian Cup and the treble (although I wasn't in charge for the Super Cup so sadly that doesn't count) but we picked up an excellent two nil win against a strong Gent side and the lead was took on the quarter hour through De Clercq before the same man doubled the lead on sixty four minutes.

Told you that you'd win the double! is it just the super cup now?

Well done mate

Just the Super Cup to win mate and then I can finally depart Belgium.


Thanks pal.

This update will have the seasonal expectations for the forthcoming season as well as our pre season fixtures and the draw for the Belgian Super Cup as I look to depart Belgium before the league season even starts.


With the seasonal expectations being announced I am not at all surprised that the board are expecting us to yet again win the Pro League title and in return they've given me a transfer kitty of just under seventeen million pounds to spend and I'm unsure on how much I will spend of it, it depends on who I think is good enough for a club the size of Anderlecht.

I have players coming back from loan spells so I will see if they're up to much while I have players departing the club after they agreed pre-contracts elsewhere.


Five pre season fixtures have been arranged by my assistant manager with three of them being away from home and two at home.

We face away games against Dynamo, Krasnodar and Koniz while we face giants Monterrey and Stuttgart at home.

Finally the draw for the Super Cup was also announced:


In what could possibly be my final game in Belgium, we will face Genk in the Super Cup in what will be a tough game. We will have home advantage as the game will be played at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock stadium on the twenty eighth of July twenty twenty-three.

It says that Genk have only won the Super Cup ONCE in their one hundred year history and that one came back in 2011, I hope when we face them their wins in the competition remain at one.

Congratulations on winning the double.

You've got a very nice transfer budget, will be intersting to see who you bring in.

Cheers.

Apart from a new defender or two I don't think I need to bring anyone in and that's how strong my team is but we'll see.

I didn't have an overly busy in the transfer market this season as I only brought in four players ahead of the forthcoming season while quite a few players who were unwanted departed the club, four were released and I wish them well. Five pre season friendly games were played as we remained unbeaten throughout them - highlight being the seven two win over German side Stuttgart.


Four signings were brought into the club while twelve departed.

My first summer signing saw Sievers join the club from German side Stuttgart for a fee of eight hundred thousand as the twenty-three-year-old was surplus to requirements. I expect him to be first choice.

With only one left back at the club I found it important to get suitable back-up so I headed to Gent to "open talks" with Tessier after he was placed on the transfer list and the 21 year old cost just under three million pounds. He will be a rotation option.

Twenty-year-old Miranda has arrived on a free transfer and will be back-up for Sivan. The youngster was released by Portugese side Sporting Lisbon in the summer.

And my final signing was another central defender as Seaz has arrived from Real Madrid's Castilla team for a snip at three hundred and seventy five thousand pounds, he will add experience to the team as the twenty-eight-year-old will be first choice alongside Sievers.

I released four players in the summer due to either not being good enough or they wouldn't play for me. Mercier, Masudi, Tur and Flavio were the unlucky players to have their contracts terminated.

Four players also departed the club after agreeing too last season. Maykon has headed to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro that has seen us bag just over two million while Ragnoli, Charalabous and Poletti had agreed pre-contracts at other clubs and have joined Antwerp, Rangers and Stade Malherbe Caen respectively.

Several players also departed on-loan as Hajji joined Lokeren, Kalenga is Beerschot bound, Serlippens has joined Woluwe and Lukunku has signed on-loan at fellow Pro League side Cercle Brugge.


Pre season was quite a success with only one slip up in five games.

It started with a trip to BFC Dynamo and we produced a five star performance as Creemers scored four times including a hat trick inside the opening fifteen minutes before he struck his forth in the second half with Sullo making it five nil on sixty seven minutes.

We then made the trip to Krasnodar and won two nil. Creemers on the stroke of half time and Praet nine minutes into the second half.

Our only slip up in pre season was against Monterrey as they picked up an undeserved two all draw in a game we should've won. Creemers netting twice for us while Navarrete and Cuevas found the net for the visitors.

A trip to Koniz arrived and we beat them four one with De Clearcq, Praet (2) and Clayton on target.

And pre season came to an end with arguably our best performance as we demolished Stuttgart seven two in a game that could have went anyway and I find it hard to believe that the German side took the lead on eight minutes but we turned it around in style to lead five one at half time as Creemers opened the scoring, Praet scored a hat trick and Vermeersch was also on target. Second half goals from De Clercq and Clayton made it seven one before Neitzel scored a second Stuttgart goal late on.

Good signings and great preseason results. Good luck this season.

Cheers, I don't plan on being in Belgium this season if I can help it as once I (attempt to) win the Super Cup, I'm heading to Bulgaria.

One single trophy was remaining in Belgium before I could depart for my next European Adventure chapter in Bulgaria, that was the Belgian Super Cup and it wasn't an easy tie as we faced Belgian Cup runners-up Genk but the only good thing was we had home advantage for the tie.


Bye Belgium, I will depart you.

It might have took a dramatic penalty shootout win but I won the Belgian Super Cup following a two all draw with Genk in an entertaining game as we took the lead on ten minutes as Creemers broke through he slotted the ball past the keeper but Genk equalised through Ibertsberger before a mistake on the hour mark allowed Sievers to regain our lead but another mistake let in Genk's Ibertsberger for their and his second to level yet again.

We won the penalty shootout four two to win the final trophy available.


Conformation that we have won the Belgian Super Cup four two on penalties following a two all draw, it's a shame that an entertaining Super Cup encounter was only watched by fifteen thousand seven hundred and seventy six spectators. Genk's Ibertsberger was the Man of the Match following his two goals.

We got lucky as both of our goals saw us capitalize on mistakes.


I haven't even been in charge of a year but my reign at Anderlecht has come to an end as I didn't even see the point in continuing once I picked up the final possible trophy available. Twenty twenty-three was a remarkable year as I completed Belgium following Pro League, Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup success.

Had no doubt you'd win the super cup matey, well done! Only one year behind me your leaving

Keep it up

Was lucky as both of our goals were mistakes on their part. I didn't really want the game to go to penalties but it did and I'm just glad I've been able to mark it off.

Good luck in Bulgaria! Good to see you finish Belgium this year.

Cheers. I just wish someone would take a punt on me that isn't a dead end job.

So far I have only had two job offers, one was a team who was expected to struggle against relegation and the second was a team in Belgium.... no thanks.