CHOOSE LIFE

Hi everyone!

I'm starting to write about my FM saves and I'd like to share it with you. I will share a brief abstract of my first 3 seasons, but if you want to approach closely you can check my blog, where I post more extent articles about this story. 

https://thecatalanfm.wordpress.com/

BRIEF CONTENT OF THE SAVE

Who is Giorgos Palagostecoglou?

Giorgos Palagostecoglou, born in Naxos, has Greek and Catalan heritage. Raised in Australia, he developed his passion for football there. After coaching in Australia and Asia, he got his first European opportunity with Hibernian in Scotland.

Inspired by Ange Postecoglou

This character is inspired by Ange Postecoglou. After becoming fascinated with Postecoglou's early success at Tottenham, I created Palagostecoglou to recreate his playing style in Football Manager.

Objectives of the Journey

• Establish a unique playing style.
• Compete with Celtic and Rangers.
• Reach the Premier League.
• Manage a top Premier League team and/or FC Barcelona.
• Win major titles, including the Champions League.

Why Hibernian?

Hibernian was chosen due to its connection to the characters from Trainspotting. The club, based in Edinburgh, has a rich history but has struggled in recent decades. Palagostecoglou aims to restore its glory.

Now let's begin with the story.

Season 1 (22/23): THE DEBUT SEASON

Giorgos Palagostecoglou’s first season at Hibernian started slow but gradually improved, with some dark spots – like the cup competitions – and a good season in the Scottish Premiership, where he qualified among the top 6 for the championship playoff. Let’s break it down.

Premier Cup and Scottish Cup:

The team’s performance in the cup competitions was disappointing this first season. We began the season with the Premier Sports Cup group stage, against lower-division teams, which we easily overcame. In August, Dundee, a Championship team and seemingly an easy opponent, eliminated us. The first setback of the season.

The Scottish Cup performance was worse. In our first knockout round in January, we were eliminated in extra time by Falkirk from League One after a goalless draw in the first 90 minutes. At home. Devastating.

Cinch Premiership:

A promising start in the league, with 2-4 victories against St Johnstone and especially a 4-0 win in the second round against Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, seemed to excite the club, squad, and fans. But after the derby, negative results followed: losses to Livingston and Rangers in the first major clash of the season. A draw with St Mirren closed August on a bittersweet note.

From September to November, when the competition paused for the World Cup in Qatar, the team was flying. Eight wins, one draw, and two losses – both to Aberdeen, our bogey team in these early months. Along the way, the first duel against Ange Postecoglou ended with a 1-2 victory in the 88th minute with a goal from Josh Miller, the team’s backup right-back.

After the World Cup, which Brazil won, December and January were tough months with matches against Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, and the derby against Hearts. The 3-0 defeat at Ibrox Park hurt, making us feel far from Rangers, but on the other hand, the match at Easter Road, our stadium, against Celtic was a spectacle for the fans.

Unbeaten in the head-to-head against Postecoglou, we finally managed to beat Aberdeen and drew our first point against Rangers. We navigated the rest of the matches thanks to Palagostecoglou’s imposed playing style, and the only loss during February, March, and April was a heavy blow at Celtic Park (4-1).

May was for the playoff among the top six teams to compete for the title, although it was clear it would go to Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic. A good playoff, with only one loss to Celtic (5-0) and victories against the other teams – including the duel with Aberdeen – took us to the last round second in the standings with 78 points, one more than Rangers’ 77. The last match of the season was against Rangers at Ibrox Park. A draw would be enough to bring the Champions League to Edinburgh, and everything pointed to a 0-0 final score, but fate is fickle, and two goals in the last fifteen minutes of the game deprived us of the European dream.

The disappointment was greater because the third place in the standings did not give us access to the Europa League, so next season we will play in the Conference League, making our European debut. Despite this, the team responded well to the playing style, and there is a sense that this season could be the start of something. Choose Palagostecoglou. Choose Hibs. Choose European football. Choose life. 

Read the first season full story here: https://thecatalanfm.wordpress.com/2024/06/12/choose-life-hibernian-football-mangaer-ep-1-the-debut-season/

Season 2 (23-24): The EuroHibernian

Giorgos Palagostecoglou's second season at Hibernian faced significant challenges: participating in Europe, competing with Celtic and Rangers, improving cup performances, and evolving the team's playing style.

August – Qualifying for the Conference League Group Stage The season began with a draw against Aberdeen in the Premiership. Hibernian then faced a hectic schedule with the Conference League qualifying rounds, successfully advancing past Maccabi Tel Aviv and Portimonense to reach the group stage. However, they were eliminated early in the Premier Sports Cup by Morton.

September – The Wall Solid defense marked September, with only two goals conceded, though one led to a home defeat against Livingston. The team won their other matches, including their Conference League debut against Dinamo Kyiv.

October – The Reality Despite early league struggles, including losses to Rangers and Celtic, Hibernian's European campaign saw a surprise defeat to Derry City but a win in Astana.

November – Undefeated with 2 Victories November was marred by too many draws, distancing Hibernian from Celtic and Rangers. They ended the month with a decisive win over Derry City.

December – History and Disappointment A 0-0 draw in Kyiv secured Hibernian’s place in the Conference League round of 16. However, league performances were disappointing, prompting Palagostecoglou to experiment with tactics. The derby win masked another harsh defeat against Rangers.

January – A Signing and the Same Old Ghosts Martin Boyle's injury led to the signing of Domingos Quina. The team struggled in the league but advanced in the Scottish Cup, with academy talent Reuben McAllister making an impact.

February – Back to the Winning Days A single defeat to Rangers prevented a perfect month. Hibernian's performances were otherwise strong, including further advancement in the Scottish Cup.

March – Give Me Two Cups! In the Conference League round of 16, Hibernian triumphed over Lugano. They also reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they were defeated by Celtic. League performance remained consistent.

April – And Dreams are Just Dreams… April was a busy month with mixed results. Despite competing well, Hibernian were eliminated from the Conference League by Betis and lost the Scottish Cup semi-final to Celtic. The league campaign ended with a defeat to Motherwell.

May – One Step Below Despite a victory against Aberdeen, defeats against Celtic and Rangers left Hibernian in 4th place, one spot lower than the previous season. They will compete in the Conference League again next season.

Season Review The 23/24 season highlighted the need for a larger, stronger squad to compete on multiple fronts. Despite good performances in the Scottish Cup and Conference League, the Premiership campaign suffered. Future transfers need to significantly strengthen the team to close the gap with Celtic and Rangers. The strong community connection and development of homegrown players remain positive aspects.

Read the full story of this 2nd season here: https://thecatalanfm.wordpress.com/2024/06/26/choose-life-pt-2-the-eurohibernian/

SEASON 3 (24-25) – ONE NIGHT IN AMSTERDAM

August – Undefeated and Qualified for the Cups Hibernian starts the season strong, winning league matches, advancing in the Premier Sports Cup for the first time, and progressing through the Conference rounds by defeating Sarajevo and Zilina.

September – We Have a Goalkeeper Ed McGinty becomes the starting goalkeeper after Brian Kinnear’s error against Aberdeen. Despite a heavy 1-4 loss to Motherwell, Hibernian enjoys clear victories, including a 6-1 win over Cove Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup.

October – Ups and Downs October sees mixed results with a 6-0 win against Sligo Rovers in the Conference League but a loss to Mechelen. They beat Rangers 2-1 but suffer a 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park. Tactical adjustments against Celtic are noted for future encounters.

November and December – Dangerous Territory In November, Hibernian reaches the Premier Sports Cup final after a narrow victory over Rangers. However, they struggle in the Conference League, losing to Rennes and Portimonense. December features crucial matches, including a trip to Austria where a win against Sturm Graz secures a Conference League playoff spot. The team falls short in the Premier Cup final against Celtic.

January and February – Consistency The new year brings consistency with six consecutive victories. Hibernian secures a 3-0 win over Basel in the Conference League playoff, despite a tough return leg. They continue to excel, including another victory against Rangers, securing their spot in the Champions League playoff.

March – Finally! Hibernian defeats Celtic for the first time this season and progresses to the Conference League quarter-finals by overcoming Portimonense. However, a loss to Rangers in the league affects their title hopes. They also advance to the Scottish Cup semifinals.

April – Whatever happens, we’ve already made history April is pivotal as Hibernian competes in crucial league matches and progresses to the Conference League semifinals with a historic 0-5 win against Braga. Despite a narrow loss in the Scottish Cup semifinal against Rangers, they maintain focus on the Premiership and Conference League.

May – Maybe this year… May brings the Conference League semifinals against Rennes. Hibernian secures a spot in the final after a 2-0 win at home and a 0-0 draw away. They also draw against Celtic, ensuring a Champions League spot for next season. The season concludes with a loss to Aberdeen and the Conference League final.

ONE NIGHT IN AMSTERDAM: THE CHRONICLE In Amsterdam, Hibernian faces Atalanta in the Conference League final. An early goal by Wright is quickly answered by Atalanta. Hoppe scores to make it 2-1 in the 18th minute. Despite an intense match, Hibernian controls possession and wins their first European title. This victory brings recognition to Hibernian and their coach, Palagostecoglou, as they prepare for the UEFA Champions League.

Read the full story here: https://thecatalanfm.wordpress.com/2024/07/11/choose-life-ep-3-one-night-in-amsterdam/

Feel free to share your thoughts and feedback.

Thank you!

SEASON 4 (25-26) – THE YOUTH REBELLION

Part 1: Champions League and Injuries

Current Game Date: 12/26/2025

Merry Christmas, everyone! This is the fourth installment of the Choose Life series, following Hibernian’s manager Giorgos Palagostecoglou. Here’s a brief update on our journey after last season.

After winning the UEFA Conference League title, Hibernian and manager Giorgos Palagostecoglou gained significant prestige. This summer, several clubs expressed interest in hiring Giorgos, including Osasuna, Genk. Also Bournemouth, and Lille were interested in Giorgos during the season. However, Giorgos decided to stay in Edinburgh, aiming to compete in the Premier League or possibly join a top club like Barça someday.

Squad Overview for 2025/26:

• Goalkeepers: Ed McGinty remains the starter, with young Murray Johnson as the backup. Brian Kinnear was sold to Manchester City.
• Defenders: Key signing Anthony Ralston joins from Celtic. Watford activated James Furlong’s release clause, so Kerr Smith was brought in on loan from Aston Villa. Owen Hastie joins from the reserve team.
• Midfielders: Minimal changes, with Clarkson and Myslovic continuing from last season. Alex Lowry and Nicolas Raskin join on loan.
• Forwards: Injuries led to the signings of Rocco Vata and Jay Henderson on loan. Philip Johnson and Kenzi Nicolson are promoted from the youth ranks.

Injuries: 

Pre-season injuries were significant, with 22 injuries across July and August. Many injuries were due to tackles and impacts during friendly matches, making the early months challenging.

Champions League Journey:

• 2nd Qualifying Round: Hibernian defeated St. Gallen 2-1 on aggregate.
• 3rd Qualifying Round: Faced Feyenoord. Despite a valiant effort, Hibernian lost 3-6 on aggregate but secured a spot in the UEFA Europa League.

2025/26 Season: The Youth Rebellion

• August: Faced Champions League qualifiers and started the Premiership season. Despite a painful 4-3 loss to Saint Mirren, we ended the month with a win against Livingston.
• September: A tough month with eliminations from the Premier Cup and losses in both the Premiership and Europa League.
• October: Tactical changes helped, leading to five consecutive victories in the Premiership and Europa League.
• November and December: The team stabilized, finishing the year strong with significant wins, including a 2-0 victory against Rangers at Ibrox Park.
• Philip Johnson: The 17-year-old forward has been a breakout star, scoring 12 goals so far.

Currently, Hibernian is 5 points behind Rangers in the Premiership and 5 points above Aberdeen. The young talent, particularly Philip Johnson, has been crucial. As the season progresses, the goal is to challenge for second place and secure another chance at Champions League qualification.

Stay tuned for more updates as we aim for a strong finish to the season!

Read the full story here: https://thecatalanfm.wordpress.com/2024/07/19/choose-life-ep-4-the-youth-rebellion/

Feel free to share your thoughts and feedback.

Thank you for reading!

Yes mate!! Love the Trainspotting reference! Absolutely following this!!