[FM26] - The Travelling Tongey

Every Football Manager save has its story. Some are about loyalty — building a dynasty at one club and etching your name into their history. Others are about redemption, revival, or glory. But this one’s a little different. The Travelling Tongey is about the journey — not the destination. The challenge? To win every playable league and cup competition in the game. From rainy Tuesday nights in tier-nine obscurity to the bright lights of continental finals, I’ll be packing my virtual suitcase and heading wherever football takes me.

It won’t be quick. It won’t be easy. Each country will demand a different approach, each club will bring new problems, and each dressing room will test my patience in fresh ways. I’ll have to adapt to languages, tactics, budgets, and board expectations that couldn’t be further apart. One year I might be scraping survival with a semi-pro side in Scandinavia; the next, I could be chasing Champions League glory with a European giant. The only constant? The drive to lift every trophy on offer before this story ends.

This save is about the adventure — the stories that emerge from the chaos. The last-minute winners, the transfer gambles that pay off (and the ones that don’t), the sackings, the surprises, the heartbreak, and the joy. The Travelling Tongey isn’t just a challenge — it’s a test of endurance, adaptability, and maybe even sanity. Buckle up, because this is going to be one long, unpredictable, and thoroughly entertaining ride.

Employment History

Trophy Cabinet

Country Completion

Europe:

Looking forward to this! 

Great intro! This'll be an interesting story, no doubt.

@r96 - Thanks very much for joining along. You here for the duration? If so, you may be more dedicated that I will be 😛 

@The OG KiKo - Thanks for dropping by! Hopefully I can keep motivated and crank out a few seasons and keep the interst!

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Welcome to Greece, and more particularly, welcome to Chania. The home of my first club of the save: P.A.E Chania, or just Chania as I'll refer to them from now on. 

Chania, on the northwest coast of Crete, is one of Greece’s most enchanting towns — a place where history, culture, and seaside charm blend effortlessly. Once the island’s capital, Chania has been shaped by centuries of Minoan, Venetian, and Ottoman influence, each leaving behind traces in its architecture and atmosphere. The old town is a maze of narrow alleys, colourful facades, and hidden courtyards that lead to the stunning Venetian Harbour, lined with cafés and crowned by its iconic lighthouse. It’s a living museum, where a stroll through the streets feels like walking through time — from ancient ruins to elegant Venetian mansions and Turkish minarets.

Beyond its historic heart, Chania offers a vibrant and welcoming modern side. The town bustles with markets, seaside tavernas, and music-filled nights, while just outside the city lie some of Crete’s most breath-taking beaches, like Elafonissi, Balos Lagoon, and Falassarna. Locals take pride in their Cretan roots, famous for warm hospitality and exceptional cuisine — think fresh seafood, olive oil, and raki shared freely among friends. Whether you’re exploring the old harbour at sunset or hiking the nearby Samaria Gorge, Chania captures the soul of Crete: timeless, spirited, and full of life.

PAE CHANIA
 

PAE Chania’s story is one of local pride and steady growth. It began with AO Chania, founded in 1945, a club with a long history in Greek football that spent many years moving between divisions. Nearby, Kissamikos from Kissamos gradually became a competitive presence in the region. In 2017, financial difficulties led AO Chania and Kissamikos to merge, forming AO Chania–Kissamikos, which was later renamed PAE Chania. Although the merger initially caused some disagreement among supporters, it ultimately created a stronger, more stable team representing western Crete, based at the Perivolia Municipal Stadium in Mournies.

Since then, PAE Chania has become a consistent performer in Greece’s second division (Super League 2). The club achieved solid finishes, including 4th and 6th place in its first two seasons, and reached 3rd place in 2019–20, marking its best result so far. Today, PAE Chania continues to build on its foundations, balancing the traditions of its predecessor clubs with a focus on long-term development. With a loyal fan base and growing reputation, the team remains an important part of Crete’s football landscape.44
 

Next Update: Mid Season 2025 (End of November 2025)

Yes, yes, yes! Im here and im on board, great intro, let's go!

All aboard the plane eh @Dan! I'm not paying for your baggage though, that's all on you! Thanks for following:

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Chania | November 2025 Update | 2025/2026

Tongey’s first few days as the new coach of Chania Football Club were a whirlwind of introductions, observations, and quiet determination. Arriving with a modest smile and a notebook always in hand, he quickly set about understanding the club’s rhythm—watching training sessions from the sidelines, speaking with players individually, and taking careful note of the team’s strengths and shortcomings. His approach was calm but purposeful; he emphasized discipline and unity, insisting that every player, from seasoned veterans to academy prospects, had a role to play in the club’s vision. Though the players were initially unsure of what to expect from their new leader, Tongey’s enthusiasm and genuine care for the squad began to win them over. By the end of the week, the training ground had a new energy—focused, competitive, and quietly optimistic—reflecting the spirit of a team ready to begin a new chapter under his guidance.

Greek Cup
(Knocked out in the 1st Round)

Things got off to a quick start here on the island of Crete as the Greek Cup kicked off mid way through pre-season. I hadn't even managed to meet the team fully before playing against Super League side: Volos. They easily dispatched us from the competition in a game we didn't really settle in. A 6-0 score line probably flattered them a little, but it's lessons to learn here. We didn't want to win that one anyway…?

Super League 2 South

(End of November Update)

September 2025

The Super League 2 South consists of 10 teams battling it out with 2 fixtures against each team, each season. We've played the first half of the season and honestly, after the first two games, I thought we were going to walk it! A hattrick from talisman striker: Nikos Ioannidis in the opener meant that we came from behind to secure a crucial 3 points to start off with a 3-1 win over Aigaleo. He followed that up with a brace in the second game that ended 2-0 against Panionios to cement us to the top of the table. A fine start! It wasn't to last as a late comeback from Ilioupoli meant we dropped points for the first time in a 2-2 draw. Right sided winger Lucas Necul netted his own brace to get us off to a quick start.

October 2025

Whilst September went pretty well for us, our form dipped massively in October where we recorded 3 losses, 1 draw and 1 win. It all started with an absolute hammering against Kalamata that ended 4-0. It wasn't our finest day in the office. I did think we bounced back well against a good Athens Kallithea side and when Mellardo curled in an absolute beauty from 35 yards to give us the lead I thought we were going to win. That didn't last. A 2-1 defeat at home.

A third defeat on the bounce followed with a humbling 2-0 score line against Greek supergiants Olympiacos's B side. Again, we were ok, but didn't really deserve to get anything from the game and rarely threatened their goal. We travelled to Panargeiakos who were rock bottom at the time, and whilst we took the lead through Lucas Necul we took our foot off the gas and succumbed to a 1-1 draw. Not a great result, but at least it's a point right? 

We did however end the month on the right note, with a fabulous 2-1 victory over Ellas Syrou. Syrian Aias Aosman, actually netted a brace (it only shows 1 on the results for some reason). A great performance where the score line could've been so much better. I like ending the month with a win rather than a loss.

November 2025

As we pulled towards the winter international break, we had two more games to squeeze in. The first was a shocking defeat to a poor Marko side which ended 2-1 to the home team. Another stunner from centre midfielder Mellardo who's proving to be so good from outside the area (take note when doing tactics Mr Tongey). 

The game of the season so far for us was saved til last, when we secured the league double over Panianios with a thrilling 3-2 victory. A goal apiece for my front three of Srdan Spiridonovic, Nikos Ioannidis and Lucas Necul meant that we secured all three points. This game was so end to end I didn't actually know if we'd get over the line, but we did and that's all that matters! It was nice to see Nikos grab his first goal since he netted 5 in the first 2.

League Table

At the half way stage, we're sat in a disappointing 7th position! The media had us down as a 4th placed finish so we are falling a little short of that expectation. I'm not sure the board are too happy with me but for now they are keeping me in charge! Let's hope we have a better second half to the season and propel ourselves up that league.

Whilst we are down in 7th, we have a fairly sizeable gap to Ilioupoli who occupy the bottom spot, and we are still in touching distance of top spot being only 6 points behind them. Interesting to say we beat the top team twice this year. It definitely shows we have the quality!

Where will we end up?
 

Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Nikos Ioannidis (ST) - (6)

2. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (4)

3. Miguel Mallardo (CM) - (2)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (3)

2. Aios Aosman (AMC), Savvas Topalidis (RB), Titos Koutentakis (CM) - (2)

3. Nikos Ioannidis (ST), Giorgos Servilakis (LB), Ivan Ortigoza (AML), Thodoris Fanourakis (AML) - (1)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Nikos Ioannidis (ST) - (7.15)

2. Aios Aosman (AMC)) - (7.14)

3. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (7.10)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Miguel Mellado (CM)

Show Spoiler

The Overview:
So, we're sat here, in the first job as a Football Manager and enjoying an ‘OK’ ish start to the season. It definitely needs to be better, but it may take a while. Consistency is what we need so I'll be looking at what I can do to tweak the tactic or training to ensure that happens. For now though, thank you for reading once again, and please make sure you interact with it along the way. It really does keep me going.

See you at the end of the season.

Tongey x

Next Update: End of Season Update | 2025/2026

Not a bad start, looking at the first month I thought here we go, we're walking this. Some work to be done for the second half of the season now tho!

And dont panick, ive been on enough Tongey flights to know my baggage isnt included anymore!

Now this is storytelling, I can’t wait for the next part. Where do you need to finish to get promoted? Or is there a playoff? 

What I can do @Dan is potentially boost your miles with Tongey Airways, you might be able to upgrade on the next flight then? Definitely some work to be done, but a good start to a new country for me! Off for a Mythos now.

Thanks @Bobo Lelo, appreciate that. So top 4 go into a Championship group, then the top placed after that goes up. A fun little league to manage in!

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Chania | End of Season Update | 2025/2026

Tongey has settled into life in Chania with a calm contentment that only the Cretan rhythm can bring. His days are filled with the gentle hum of the Aegean breeze and the distant chatter from the tavernas below, but it’s the evenings he cherishes most. As the sun dips behind the White Mountains, he sits on his balcony with a cold Mythos in hand, his loyal companion—a sleek black cat named Nikos—curled beside him. Together they watch the lights of the old harbor flicker to life, and Tongey lets his thoughts drift to formations, player movement, and how to squeeze more creativity from his side. There’s something about the serenity of the island that makes even tactical dilemmas seem poetic.

Half the season still lies ahead, and though his team has fallen short of early expectations, Tongey remains undeterred. The locals have warmed to him—his passion on the touchline balanced by his humility off it—and he’s determined to repay their faith. Each match feels like a new opportunity to turn things around, to shape a story worthy of the island’s proud footballing heart. As he finishes his drink and Nikos stretches lazily at his feet, Tongey smiles. There’s work to do, yes, but under the Cretan stars, hope feels not just alive, but inevitable.
 

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Transfers: OUT

I'll update you all on our transfers first of all, as I decided to wheel the changes after our below average start to the season. I managed to sell 5 players as the transfer window opened, with unregistered Djibril Dianessy & Kevin Yoke sold for a combined £18k. Not bad for a little old club like us. Neither were in my plans hence why they were unregistered, so it made sense to ship them off. 

Nils Perdomo was a mainstay at right back but kicked up a fuss and fell otu with me. I managed to secure him a deal to Cartagena for £41k which helped my finances! I had a replacement RB coming in on loan so again, it made sense to cash in. Another unregistered player Franko Lamce made me another £6.25k before we sold off young striker Rauf Salifu for £12k. He was a promising striker but wasn't going to get game time.

Transfers: IN

With 5 outgoing players, we needed to bring in some reinforcements, but more importantly, reinforcements with quality to move us up the table. In come:

Christos Liatos (AMC) - Loan - Olympiacos
We lacked a little bit of depth at the AMC position, so when I saw a player of Christos' talent available on loan it was a no brainer. He's got great vision, very composed and is technically very very good for our level. He'll replace Aios Aosman in that position.

Apostolis Christopoulous (ST) - Loan - Kifsia

I needed a backup striker with more quality that I had, and Apostolis brought that to the club on loan. He's only young but has raw talents to offer something from the bench. He's quick, strong and is a good finisher. Hopefully he could make an impact.

Apostolos Apostopoulous - LB/WBL - Loan - Panetolikos

With both my full backs either departing or underperforming I needed to bring some more quality in those positinos. Apostolos slotted straight in at LB. He's very good mentally and his physical attributes really stood out. Good crosser of the ball which I like in my full backs so I'm hoping for some assists from him.

Konstantinos Apostokalis - RB/WBR - £1.7k - Laris

He's my RB for the future. Slots straight in to replace Perdomo who left us. Naturally very fit, and like Apostolos, he can cross a ball! Looking forward to being more defensively sound, and better going forward with these two coming in.

Super League 2 South

(End of Season Update)

December 2025

Coming off a win in the last game, we played out an absolute belter for any neutral watching. A 7-4 score line that didn't go our way but was a fantastic match to manage in. It went back and forth but they had more quality at the end of the day. Nice to see Nikos Ioannidis continue his goalscoring form with another 2. Backup winger Ivan Ortigoza got our other two with some fine finishing on the counter. 

I don't know what it is about us, but we play some class games. A 4-3 win against bottom side Ilioupolo saw us claim our first 3 points since the Winter break. Another 2 goals for Nikos Ioannidis and unfortunately my star man Miguel Mellado received a straight red card and will be banned.

January 2026

Our new players were here in January when the window finally opened. A fantastic opening game of the new year saw us run out 3-1 victors over Kalamata at home. A perfect start, with Lucas Necul, Srdan Spiridonovic & Nikos Ioannidis grabbing our goals in this one. We travelled to the capital, Athens Kallithea next and put in a confident performance. It ended 2-0 and we looked so dominant. New boy Christos Liatos got his first for the club with a fine drilled finish before Srdan Spiridonovic continuing his fine form.

We ended the month with a solid 0-0 draw against Olympiacos B. My assistant was disappointed with this one as we dominated from start to finish, but I'll happily take a point against one of the stronger teams in the league. Nothing to be ashamed of here.
 

February 2026

Relegation threatened Panargeiakos visited us on Valentines Day, but there was no love lost here. We put in a real solid performance and ran out 3-1 winners. Nikos Ioannidis & Christos Liatos are proving to be a real dynamic duo and grabbed the goals.

Should we have won both games this month? Absolutely! Am I happen to continue the unbeaten run? Absolutely! It's not always about claiming all 3 points, but just keeping that momentum! Nikos Ioannidis was brilliant and is starting to hit his dangerous form we all know he's got in him. Another 2 for the main man in a 2-2 draw with Ellas Syrou!

March 2026

No, we didn't only have 1 game in March, as the league splits after this one. Top 4 grab the Championship Group to challenge for the title, whereas the bottom 6 go into the Relegation Group. Going into the game we were sat in 5th position and needed a couple of results to go our way. We of course needed to win to have any chance of getting the promotion group. 

We did just that with a 3-0 hammering over Marko. A well timed performance of real quality and I think this was Aoas Aosman's final game for the club. A brace for him to wave goodbye to his fans, and a rare goal for commanding center half Spyros Fourlanos to make it 3. Had we done enough to qualify for that top group?

 

League Table

(At the end of the Regular Season - 08.03.26)

Well, well, well, look at that! We had done it and had pulled ourselves round with a fantastic run of form through the second half of the season. A 4th placed finish just above Athens Kallithea means we qualify for the Championship Group where we'll face off twice each against Aigaleo, Panionios & Olympiacos B.

We end the regular season with 9 WINS, 4 DRAWS & 5 LOSSES.  A fantastic turn around after stalling in the first half of the season. 

 

Championship Group

Look at those results! Our form with our new boys is just insane, with pretty much all of them chipping in, in some way of form! First up was a home game against Aigaleo saw us record a 3-1 victory thanks to Christos Liatsos, Apostolos Apostopoulous & Thasanis Kostanisasios netting for us. It was a lot closer than the scoreline probablys shows.

An away tie against Panionios was next, and we really seem to have their number having not lost to them yet. A 5-2 away victory was just what we needed to assert our dominance! An own-goal and a brace from Nikos Ioannidis saw us on to victory! A real dominant performance. We made it 3 out of 3 in the Championship group thanks to a 3-2 victory over the B side of Olympiacos. It was so close and end to end, but an own goal from the center half was enough to win it for us. Could we?

I said we seemed to have the number of Panionios, but they really took that to heart and used it against us. A 3-1 defeat for us grounded our fast moving train of momentum and started to make me doubt our title challenge. Lucas Necul got the sole goal for us, but I'm hoping we move on quickly.

We did just that, and secured a 3-1 victory of Aigaleo thanks to a quickfire brace either side of the half for Lucas Necul to take us top of the Championship Group with one to play! We just needed to avoid defeat on the last day against Olympiacos B and we would take that unlikely crown.

We went down early in the first half against the visitors but we fought back brilliantly thanks to winger Ivan Ortigoza's brilliant lobbed finish, and new starlet Christos Liatsos racing through on goal past the last line of defence and slotting it home to be mobbed by the home fans as we celebrated what would be the title winning goal!
 

1 DOWN, HOW MANY TO GO? (too many!)
 

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Nikos Ioannidis (ST) - (16)

2. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (11)

3. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (5)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (11)

2. Aios Aosman (AMC), Nikos Ioannidis (ST)  - (6)

3. Apostolos Apostolopolous (LB) - (4)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - 7.45

2. Lucas Necul (AMR) - 7.30

3. Apostolos Apostolopolous (LB) - (7.27)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Christos Liatsos (AMC)


The Overview:
Tongey sits back on his familiar balcony, the warm Cretan night wrapping around him like a reward in itself. The Super League Two South trophy gleams on the table beside his half-finished Mythos, catching the soft light of the harbor below. Nikos, ever the silent confidant, purrs contentedly at his side as if sensing the magnitude of the moment. The noise of celebration still lingers faintly in the distance—honking cars, singing fans, fireworks echoing off the mountains—but here, above it all, Tongey finally allows himself to exhale. Months of pressure, doubt, and graft have culminated in this: champions at last. The journey was never smooth, yet it’s precisely the struggle that makes the victory feel so rich, so personal.

And yet, even as he soaks in the triumph, his mind refuses to rest. The question nags at him as persistently as the sea breeze—what comes next? Stay in Chania, guiding this team and this city he’s come to love into the fierce world of the Greek Super League? Or take on a new challenge, a fresh project, somewhere his ideas might reach further? Nikos flicks his tail as if offering no advice, only quiet companionship. Tongey lifts his glass, gazes out over the glittering bay, and smiles to himself. Whatever decision he makes, he knows one thing for certain—he’s built something special here on Crete, and wherever the next chapter takes him, this will always feel like home.

Quality work! Nikos Ioannidis was the man with the goals, but looks like Lucas Necul came up with a some big moments to propel you to promotion.

I hope the top-flight serves you better than it did Lawrie Sanchez:

"In the Magic Kingdom that is SuperLeague, even a Magician can only have so many powers".

One season, One club, One trophy, you've set the bar high here! Top work fella

@r96 - Ioannidis was steller at the end of the season, and so much so I nicknamed my cat after him! Can he make the step up though?
I believe myself to be more than a magician, but even I think this may be a step too far for Chania. I'll invest in some new powers maybe?

@Dan - Might just retire now? 

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Life on the sun-drenched coast of Crete continues to suit Tongey perfectly. Now leading Chania into their first season in the Greek Super League after a triumphant promotion campaign, he’s settled comfortably into his rhythm — and into his swanky new villa overlooking the sea. Mornings still start with strong coffee and a nod to Nikos the cat, who’s become something of a local celebrity in his own right. The Mythos still flows freely in the evenings as Tongey reflects on training sessions, soaking in the view while plotting how to keep his side punching above their weight. There’s a quiet pride in how far he’s taken this once-overlooked club, but he knows the real test lies ahead.

Despite the move up, Tongey hasn’t lost sight of what got him here. His footballing philosophy — discipline, honesty, and expressive play — remains untouched. The Super League brings brighter lights and bigger budgets, but he’s determined that Chania won’t lose their identity amidst the elite. He’s earned respect for his calm authority and no-nonsense charm, qualities that have made him as popular with locals as with his players. Whether his brand of football can keep Chania afloat against Greece’s giants remains to be seen, but if last season proved anything, it’s that Tongey has a knack for turning underdogs into believers — and he’s not finished writing this story just yet.

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Transfers: IN

Alexandros Maskanakis - AML - Panserraikos - £0

Johnson Eboh - CM - Kifsia - £0

Hagan Frimpong - AML - Asteras Tripolis - £0

Thanos Prodromitis - CB - Panathinaikos - £0

Apostolos Apostolopouloos - LB - Panetolikos - £195k

Christos Liatsos - AMC - Olympiacos - £8.25k

Dimitris Monastirlis - GK - PAOK - £11.5k

Giorgos Charalampoglous - ST - Asteras Tripolis - £350k

Vasilis Sourlis - CM - Larisa - £180k

Kostas Kostoulas - CB - OFI - £475k

August 2026

Life in the Super League came thick and fast, we faced a giant in the first month of competition. We actually started with a 0-0 boring draw against Kifisia but hey, we'll definitely take a point to try and accumulate as many as we can early on. We had been predicted to finish rock bottom of the pile and miles off the rest of them. 

It was the Greek Cup up next, and we comfortably dispatched Athens Kallithea. New signings, Giorgos Charalampoglou & Hagan Frimpong got off the mark with two fantastic goals, and last season hero Lucas Necul finished the tie off late on. Into the league phase for our first time. 

A trip to Greek Giants: PAOK was up next and we were well and truly beaten in this one. I kind of expected it, but we weren't particularly impressive. Even in defeat I like to see positives, but there were none. A big learning curve ahead.

We were unlucky next up though, as a decent Larisa side hosted us and fought back to claim a draw against us. We were brilliant going forward, but need work at the back. Super star Christos Liatsos was magnificent and scored a brace, with Lucas Necul & Jonathan Eboh grabbing the other two. Another point on the board.

September 2026

September was a busy month with no less than 5 games in both competitions. We got off the mark with a fantastic 3-1 victory over Niki Volou. Lucas Necul continued his good start to the season and scored the opener before defensive midfielder Jonathan Eboh and Chrstos Liatsos added to the score line. They pulled one back late but our first big 3 points!

We followed this victory up with another good point to add. A 2-2 draw with Panserraikos away from home will do nicely for me. Eboh added another to his tally with Girogos Charalampoglou getting his second for the club. A solid point there.

We travelled to another big name in Greek football, Olympiacos and came back with nothing to show for a decent display. The score line doesn't reflect how well we played, but that's football isn't it. They were clinical and we weren't. We need to improve there.
 

Back in the Greek Cup and it saw us get off the mark in terms of points on the board. We were more attacking than last time out against Kifisia and it paid off as we scored twice. We were slightly unfortunate not to claim all 3 points, but again, it's football. I did rotate slightly and gave Nikos Ioannidis his first start and he paid me back with a lovely lobbed goal! 

Our final game of the season saw us claim another point in the Super League with a 2-2 draw against Panetolikos. A brace from Christos Liatsos helped us on our way, and he was so close to a hattrick but the crossbar stopped him from claiming this. Another good performance!

 

October 2026

I'm going to christen October as ‘Christos Liatsos’ month as he was quite simply magnificent. What a player we have  on our hands and I'm thankful Olympiacos let me have him.

A 1-1 draw in the Greek Cup against another big boy in AEK Athens. Liatsos drew us level after we went behind early. A solid point against a well known name. We're starting to collect points now.

It was back to Super League action and a fantastic 3 points on the board. A 2-1 late win against Aris was lovely to witness. Charalampoglou pulled us level after we conceded in the 1st minute, before that main man Liatsos rounded the keeper and slotted home the eventual winner! Scenes from the away section!

An absolute thunerbolt from Jonathan Eboh earned us another point against Levadeiakos in a game that should've seen us lose to be honest. It's game like this that can turn momentum on it's head! A point in a game we had no point in claiming any points. Big result.

Another point in the Greek Cup in what seems to be a norm now! We'll need to start picking up some more points in order to qualify for the next round though. Another Liatsos goal put us ahead but PAOK came roaring back and scored a late goal to share the spoils.

Astereas Tripolis were 3rd in the league before we hosted them and sent them home with their tails between their legs. Liatsos claimed his first professional hattrick and all 3 were in a 17 minute period! Insane from the attacking midfielder. What a fantastic and season defining moment that could be for little old Chania!
 

November 2026

Well, not the month we would of wanted before hand. Only 2 points earned out of a possible 12. Not great but is it to be expected as the ‘supposed whipping boys’. OFI were up first at home, and we came away with a solid point thanks to a curling effort from Charalampoglou on the stroke of half time. It's going to be points like this that keep us in the league I think.

A humbling defeat against AEK follow on the road, with our striker finally hitting some decent form. He had levelled for us after the break, but we were hopeless after that. We didn't kick on and I'll take the rap for that for not changing our tactic quickly enough. A poor result in the end after a solid first half performance.

I'll definitely take this result though. A 1-1 draw against 22 time Super League Champions Panathinaikos. What a result that was for us. We were brilliant and fought back from 3-0 down. Eboh got us going before Necul scored late on to give us hope, with a last minute penalty converted by Fourlanos to give us a point! What a day that has been!

Well, from the highs of claiming a late point against top of the table, to the lows of a 7-2 defeat against PAOK. Granted, our goalkeeper was injured and our backup isn't up to much. Wow, we were bad. Very bad. We'll move on.

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League Table:

If you'd had told me before the season started, that we'd be sitting mid table in 8th at the half way stage I'd have bitten your hand off. We've been pretty damn good and I'm just hoping we don't switch off and plummet down the league. We need to keep going and secure our place in the top flight for next season.

Panathinaikos lead the way ahead of Olympiacos with AEK in third. All the usual names you'd expect anyway. Can we get in amongst them soon? Probably not but we'll give it ago.

We are also still in the Greek Cup but hanging on by the skin of our teeth. We'll need to grab a win or two in order to progress. We're good enough, but are we ready?

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (11)

2.  Johnson Eboh (CM)  - (6)

3. Giorgos Charalampoglou (ST) - (5)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (7)

2. Ivan Ortigoza (AML)  - (5)

3. Giorgos Charalampoglou (ST) - (3)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (7.26)

2. Johnson Eboh (CM) - (7.07)

3. Alexandros Maskanakis (AML) - (7.00)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Christos Liatsos (AMC)

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THE OVERVIEW:

Halfway through the season, and Chania’s fairy tale in the Greek Super League shows no sign of fading. The newly promoted side have surprised just about everyone — sitting comfortably in midtable, miles clear of the relegation scrap many had predicted. Tongey’s men have earned admiration across Greece for their fearless, high-tempo football and the unity that defines their play. The cup run, though, hangs delicately by a thread after some poor results ,and the fixture list is starting to pile up. Still, there’s a sense of belief rippling through the squad, a quiet conviction that they might just pull off something remarkable. The fans have rallied behind Tongey, turning Chania’s seaside stadium into a fortress of noise and passion, and even the pundits — once sceptical — are starting to come around.

For Tongey, it’s been the ride of a lifetime. He’s still the same laid-back figure on the touchline, cool under pressure, Mythos in hand after a hard-fought win. The villa lights glow late into the night as he pores over match footage, Nikos the cat curled up by his side. Can Chania really stay up, go toe-to-toe with the country’s giants, and keep their cup dreams alive? It feels ambitious — impossible, even — but Tongey has built his career on defying odds. And if his team pull it off, you can be certain there’ll be a fair few empty Mythos bottles lining that terrace by the time the season ends.

Next Update: End of Season 2026/2027

Welcome back Tongey lad.

Let's hope this turns into one of your legendary long-running journeyman saves that never seems to end.

Solid start as usual.

@HockeyBhoy always great to have you on board the journey! Do you have your passport, because you're going to need it!

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A cool breeze rolls across the Chania training ground as Tongey stands alone by the halfway line, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the horizon. The winter sun casts long shadows over the pitch — the same ground where his team has defied every prediction so far. Yet, there’s a flicker of unease in his thoughts. The second half of the season looms, and while his side’s impressive start has silenced doubters, he knows how cruel football can be. He’s toyed with the idea of tweaking his system — a subtle tactical shift to steady the ship — but something tells him not to overthink it. The players believe, the chemistry is right, and the football has flowed better than he dared imagine. Still, the question lingers like a stubborn cloud: can they really keep this up?

Back at Casa del Tongey, life offers a different kind of reflection. The outdoor space has had a full facelift — a new terrace, soft lighting, and his pride and joy: a hot tub that merges seamlessly into the pool. It’s become his sanctuary, the perfect spot to unwind after a draining day at the training ground. Mythos in hand, Tongey sinks into the warm water as the Aegean twilight settles in, Nikos sprawled lazily on the pool’s edge, his tail flicking in rhythm with the gentle waves. For all his worries, there’s contentment here — a quiet recognition of how far he’s come. The season ahead may test every ounce of his resolve, but as steam curls into the night air, Tongey allows himself a rare smile. Whatever happens next, he’s ready for it.

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December 2026

December came around quickly and we're now over half way through the season. It was back to the Greek Cup League Phase next and a good solid 1-0 victory over Nea Artaki was recorded. Right winger Lucas Necul with a lovely finish from the middle of the box after playing a 1-2 to get there. 

We backed this up with a 3-2 victory over Kifisia in the league which saw us claim a much needed 3 points. I've been rotating strikers between Charalampoglou & Ioannidis and trying to play the hot hand a little bit to keep squad harmony. Charalampogolou got the first of the three with Ortigoza & a Fourlanos penalty grabbing the other to put us 3-0 up before a late rally from the visitors made it close.

Christos Liatsos got us off to a flyer at home against Larisa but we were useless after that. A deserved 2-1 defeat was our result and something I want to move on from quickly.

Niki Volou hosted us and we came away with all 3 points again, with Liatsos hammering one in from distance before a penalty from Ioannidis being the eventual winner for us. 3 big points again.

Greek giants, Olympiacos came to town and went away with the spoils after showing us how to play. We were never in it and quickly went 3-0 down. Hagan Frimpong got one back late on but we weren't at the races really.

January 2027

God, what a poor month of results in both the cup and the league. It didn't start well with poor 1-0 defeat to Panetolikos. We were in the game to a point, but just switched off and they took their chance. A frustrating way to lose the game.

Larisa hosted us in the Greek Cup Playoffs, but with a nasty injury to our keeper forcing him off early it meant we were shorthanded (I didn't have one on the bench unfortunately). We were battered 5-1 and out of the Greek Cup. Not to be this year, but we'll be back for that one. I probably should've played a stronger team, but fitness issues have plagued us. Something to work on?

We did get a win this month, and a good one at that. A really solid 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from Charalampoglou meant all 3 points. He was unplayable today and scored a goal with each foot from inside the area. A real poachers performance. 

We were unlucky against OFI who are abttling in and around us this year, although we started well thanks to Liatsos doing his usual thing, again we turned off and conceded quickly. They took it late on.

February 2027

I'm including the game against Panathinikos because it's the final game of the season here in Greece, so don't think I didn't know March wasn't also in February!

A fantastic month where we didn't lose and really started to play some fantastic football. A 3-1 domination over Aris saw us claim 3 points thanks to goals from Christos Liatsos, Miguel Mellado & Nikos Ioannidis (is it 2025 all over again?)

We followed that amazing victory up with a strange 1-1 draw against Levadeiakos who were rock bottom at the time. We were god awful and it's the outlier of a perforamnce this month. Giorgos Charalampoglou managed to break free of the defence in the last seconds and slotted home what could be an important equaliser. 

Asteras Tripolis welcomed us to their home but we left them without anything and came away with another 3 points in a game we dominated from start to finish. A brace from Ortigoza who was excellent wide left, and a standard goal from Liatsos saw us win 3-0!

We rounded out the month of February with an outstanding draw with AEK. We were brilliant defensively and kept them at bay for the majority of the game. We had our chances and even Liatsos missed an absolute sitter that would've won us the game!

Two big teams in a row and two big draws in a row. We actually went 3-0 up against the Champions elect Panathinaikos but got cocky and when the game because nervy for us, they capitalised and came back to draw 3-3. I think we need to do some work on the mental side of the game in order to not let that happen again.

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League Table 

We finish the regular league campaign down in 8th position, one spot below mid table! Considering we were touted to be the whipping boys and finish rock bottom, we've done extremely well! A total of 8 WINS, 10 DRAWS, & 8 LOSSES sees us claim 34 points. 

Olympiacos ended up claiming top spot with AEK, Panathinaikos & PAOK all following in their wake. It's to be expected, they are the big boys in the league and they showed their quality. All four qualify for the Championship Group.

We however, as 8th placed finishers, qualified for the ‘Group Stage' alongside OFI, Aris & Kifisia. We were 6 points clear of the rest who go into the Relegation Group. 

We'll now play each team twice more in the aim of finishing as high as we can after halving our points from the first stage.
 

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Group Stage

So joining us in the ‘Group Stage’ are OFI, Aris & Kifisia all of whom we play twice more to see who finishes 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th respectively. We start 8th.

Aris came to town and were sent home with absolutely zilch to smile about. Nikos Ioannidis scored a lovely brace in the second half with an own goal putting the cherry on top in injury time. A big 3 points to start the mini league off.

Well, back to Earth with a bump thanks to Kifisia who scored two early goals then went defensive on us. We pushed and pushed and nearly got their thanks to Johnson Eboh netting in the 82nd minute but also who missed a chance to level it very late on. Not to be this time.

A 1-0 victory over OFI away from home thanks to a stunning lob from Giorgos Charalampoglou. Honestly it was amazing  to see! It was a close game but that one bit of quality saw us claim all 3 points. 

We managed to get our own back on Kifisia and in some style at home. A 6-1 victory and my biggest victory of my career so far! Not much else to say about it other than we were absolutely fantastic and deserved the big win!

Again, we came back to Earth with a bang and once again we nearly got back to level terms. Johnson Eboh once again scored a late goal to make it close and give us a chance, but we couldn't grab the deserved second. 

A final day victory is always nice to end on, and it was a brilliant game too. Lucas Necul grabbed two, one in each half before Christos Liatsos got the 3rd in a brilliant 3-2 victory over OFI. 

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League Table (Group Stage)

Well look at that. In the mini league at the end of the season we managed to propel ourselves to the top of the tree. It actually means we finish 5th in the league and as the best of the rest after the big four battled it out. What a season it's been for small old Chania.

Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (21)

2.  Johnson Eboh (CM), Giorgos Charalampoglou (ST) - (9)

3. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (7)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (11)

2. Ivan Ortigoza (AML)  - (8)

3. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (6)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (7.17)

2. Johnson Eboh (CM) - (7.04)

3. Vasilis Sourlis (CM) - (7.00)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Christos Liatsos (AMC)

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THE OVERVIEW:

Four months later, the island of Crete is still buzzing with disbelief and pride. Chania, the newly promoted underdogs, have stunned Greek football with a breathtaking fifth-place finish — a campaign built on heart, graft, and a dash of Tongey magic. The celebrations were as wild as they were deserved: two straight days of laughter, music, and Mythos flowing like water. Players, coaches, and locals all joined in, turning the town into a carnival of blue and white. Now, with the dust finally settling, Tongey finds himself back where he feels most at peace — in the hot tub at Casa del Tongey, gazing out over the Aegean, a cold Mythos in hand and a half-eaten slice of Baklava resting on the pool’s edge. The air is still warm, the sea glistens below, and for once, he allows himself to simply breathe.

But even amid the calm, a familiar restlessness stirs. A new contract sits waiting on the table inside, the board desperate to tie him down after the club’s greatest season in history. Yet the success has brought attention — whispers of bigger offers, brighter lights, and fresh challenges. Tongey knows he stands at a crossroads: stay and try to take Chania from miracle makers to genuine title contenders, or move on and test himself on a grander stage. Nikos pads quietly along the edge of the pool, purring as if to remind him that life here is good — simple, fulfilling, sun-soaked. Tongey swirls the Mythos, eyes on the horizon. Whatever comes next, one thing’s certain: his story in Greece is far from over.

A great season at the top tier, fighting with the big boys!

Good to see Mr. Tongey punished for being one of those managers that doesn't put a goalkeeper on the bench. Schoolboy error!

What a season, though, for a club like Chania! Will he stay or will he go…

What a season that is

@Dan, certainly are fighting with them big boys, not there yet, but I'm committed now (I'd quite happily stay here as a one club save, really enjoying it!)

@r96, oh I'd definitely have a keeper on the bench, but I hit injury crisis and didn't have one available for the bench. Chania till I die (or until I win everything in Greece)!

@The OG KiKo why thank you! Cheers for joining the journey! Consider this your first stamp in your passport.

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On the eve of his third season in charge of Chania, Tongey’s villa is a scene of barely contained chaos. Suitcases half-packed, paperwork strewn across the counter, and a slightly frazzled manager rummaging through drawers in search of his misplaced passport. Tomorrow marks a new frontier — his first taste of European management — and despite the familiar pre-season jitters, there’s a sparkle of excitement in his eyes. The challenge ahead is enormous: balancing the grind of the Greek Super League with the thrill of continental football. Yet, beneath it all, there’s a quiet confidence that’s become Tongey’s trademark. Nikos, ever the faithful companion, pads at his heels as if sensing the importance of the moment — the calm before another storm of matches, travel, and tactical battles.

Just as Tongey’s about to give up the passport hunt, his phone buzzes on the counter. It’s a message from Edinho, his loyal Portuguese assistant and partner-in-crime through every twist of Chania’s rise. Three words light up the screen: European Journey Man?! Tongey can’t help but grin. The phrase captures everything — the improbable rise, the adventure ahead, and the promise of something even greater. He sinks into a chair, Mythos cracked open, and lets the excitement wash over him. From the dusty pitches of Super League Two to the floodlit arenas of Europe, this is the moment he’s been building toward. Chania, against all odds, are ready to take on the continent — and so is Tongey.

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Transfers: IN

Milen Stoev - CB - Botev Vratsa - £70k

Defensive reinforcements were needed to stop the goals leaking in at the back. Milen was a no brainer to bring in. In his prime at 28, 6ft, and decent in the air with brilliant heading ability. He'll be a stalwart at the back and will play the no-nonsense CB role for me.

Mate Antunovic - ST - Varazdin - £140k

With the sad news that club legend Nikos Ioannidis was leaving the club on a free, I needed a new back up striker and Mate came up in my scouting reports. Young and improving, he's the perfect option to bring off the bench to change the style. He's 6ft4, fantastic in the air and can be that real target man up top. When we are chasing the game I'm sure he'll come up big.

Matthaios Mountes - RB/DM - Volos - £300k

Matthias comes in as a utility player as he can play either RB or as a DM. I needed cover in both areas so I ticked both off with one player. He's not going to set the world alight, but he's solid enough to do a job. A fantastic tackler and his some really strong mental attributes which should serve him well here.

Denis Videnovic - AMR/L - Maribor - £375k

The player I'm most excited about is young 19 year old winger Denis Videnovic. He's going to be one hell of a player and we got him for a steal at £375k. Absolutely rapid with lethal crossing ability and a great dribbler. Exactly what I want down the left hand side which is where he'll more than likely operate.

Andrej Pogacar - AMC - Radomlje - £98k

An interesting last transfer in as we needed someone to challenge our main man Christos Liatsos for the starting AMC role, and he's been doing just that. He's deterimined, very fit and can absolutely cannon a shot in from the edge of the area. I'm sure it'll be a fantastic season battling it out with Liatsos making each other better week in week out.

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August 2027

Slovacko | A | UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round | 2-2

Our first taste of European action saw us travel to the Czech Republic to take on Slovacko in the Third Qualifying Round. A solid performance away from home ended up with us leaving with a share of the spoils thanks to an early own goal and a wonderful solo run by Lucas Necul down the right. We conceded two in the second half to level it but we'll bring them to Crete and do the job I'm sure.
 

Slovacko | H | UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round | 2-1
The home leg saw a bumper crowd of over 3500 fans at the Theodoros Vardinogiannis and once again we were 2-0 up in no time thanks to Johnson Eboh & Giorgos Charalampoglou. We hung on better even after we conceded one pretty soon after, but got our acts together and played out a 2-1 victory.

Panserraikos | A | Super League 1 | 1-3

Our first legaue game of the season was up next and we secured all 3 points after a 3-1 victory over Panserraikos. All the action took place in the second half after a drab first one. Necul put us ahead with a nice composed finish, before they levelled it up. Charalampoglou broke free and thundered a strike home to put us ahead before Ivan Ortigoza confirmed the points with a good header.

Viborg | H | UEFA Conference League Playoff Round | 3-2

We were at home first in the next qualifying round for the Conference League and we hosted Danish side Viborg. A game that was played with a real high temp any European night would be proud of. Liatsos slotted in the opener in the 25th minute before a late goal in the dying moments of the half for the visitors pulled them level. We were rattled and they pulled ahead in the second half. Charalampoglou was having none of it though and thundered a header in from a corner before Liatsos got his second and gave us a vital first leg lead.

Olympiacos | H | Super League 1 | 1-3

The big boys came to town and went away with all 3 points. I'll put it down to inexperience in Europe and tired legs. Frantic start that saw us level the game in the 5th minute thanks to Charalampoglou once again. They took control though 4 minutes later and controlled the game out to claim all 3 points.

Viborg FF | A | UEFA Conference League Playoff Round | 3-4

Another crazy tie against Viborg and what a matchup it's been. A 4-3 away leg means we've qualified for the League Phase for the first time in our history. Goals from Giorgos Charalmapoglou, Christos Liatsos & Alexandros Maskanakis in the first half saw us lead 3-2 at the break. We extended that lead thanks to tricky winger Ivan Ortigoza before they made it close and nervy late on. 

Panetolikos | A | Super League 1 | 2-0

Well we aren't really adjusting to these midweek European ties then coming back and having league action. We were rubbish and rightly take the defeat. Summer transfer target Vito Caic scored for the hosts to rub it in which annoyed me. Back to the drawing board in the league I think.

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September 2027

Atromitos | A | Super League 1 | 2-1

Our woeful start to the league campaign continued although we probably deserved at least a draw. Christos Liatsos scored the goal of the game as he nestled a free kick into the top corner, but it wasn't enough. Learning curve.

AEK Athens | H | Super League 1 | 2-1

WOW. I say we've had a woeful start but this could kick start us. A massive win against one of the big boys in the league. Even when going behind, we bounced back almost immediately thanks to Johnson Eboh thundering one in from 30 yards. We battled all game long with neither side having a clear cut chance before Lucas Necul played a one two down the right and curled in a low effort from a tighish angle to win it!

Niki Volou | A | Super League 1 | 0-2

Back to back wins in the league and this one was pretty easy in all honesty. Johnson Eboh continued his strong start from the center of midfield and new boy Milen Stoev got his first of the campaign as he rose highest from a corner to pop a header in.

Rosenborg | A | UEFA Conference League | 2-3

I'm starting to love this European lark. Another fantastic high scoring game and another victory for us to get us off the mark in the league phase. Goals from Charalampoglou, a first for Videnovic at the club and Ortigoza who's quietly gone about his business this season. HUGE. 

Kifisia | H | Super League 1 | 3-3

If you're going to play out a draw, at least make it exciting. We did just that in a 3-3 draw with Kafisia. A late equaliser for the visitors took the 3 points from us which was annoying but another good solid performance and getting points on the board this month was key. Christos Liatsos was the man of the match with a brace for the first time this season.

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October 2027

Panserraikos | H | Greek Cup | 2-1

A revenge game against Panserraikos in the Greek Cup saw us edge them out with a 2-1 victor. Messers Videnovic & Eboh got us 2-0 up but a late goal with 6 to go gave them hope. We deserved to win and a slightly rotated squad got the job done.

Irakis | A | Greek Cup | 1-2

Another Greek Cup tie and another Greek Cup victory making it two from two. Johnson Eboh got us ahead thanks to a well worked goal from the edge before they leveled after the break. We weren't behind for too long thanks to Denis Videnovic going on a mazy run, playing a 1-2 and slotting home from inside the area.

PAOK | A | Super League 1 | 1-3

Confidence is a real thing isn't it. We're on a fantastic run and we just demolished big boys PAOK 3-1 and made it look easy. A 7 minute section where we went crazy and scored all 3 goals was enough to do it. Charalampoglou, OG & Videnovic the goalscorers. These results could spark a special season…

Trabzonspor | H | UEFA Conference League | 5-2

Well well well, we hosted Turkish side Trabzonspor and sent them home with their tails between their legs. A 5-2 hammering was the reward for my players who were excellent. A first club goal for Andrej Pogacar and Matthaios Mountes with a brace from Lucas Necul and Charalampoglou saw us make it 2 from 2 in the League Phase. Could we go on a run here and qualify?

Apollon Kalamarias | H | Greek Cup | 2-3

If we're going to lose, I'm glad it's now and also with plenty of games to go in the Greek Cup so we can still qualify. It was a great game and one that could've gone either way too. I'm not to disappointed but a last second goal where we didn't pick up from a corner does grate on me slightly.

Panathinaikos | A | Super League 1 | 1-2

We've now played all of the top four in the league and have 3 wins out of 4 against them. That's some form for a club like us. We were 2-0 up in the first half with the usual goalscorers of Lucas Necul & Giorgos Charalampoglou netting the goals. They came out strong in the second half and laid siege on our goal. They got one, but we held first to claim a huge 3 points.

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November 2027

Fiorentina | H | UEFA Conference League | 2-3

Our first real test in a European competition and a real big name came to town. 5864 fans crammed into the stadium and were treated to a really good showing from our boys. We did lose, but we showed we can compete and we had fight in us. We were 3-0 down, but came back to 3-2 and had a chance to level it too. Charalampoglou is showing he's a top tier striker in Europe with another 2 here.

Larisa | H | Super League 1 | 2-0

A nice comfortable 2-0 victory in the league is just what we needed. Dynamic duo Charalampoglou & Liatsos both goal a  goal and an assist here. Easy as you like and 3 points.

OFI | H | Super League 1 | 4-1

Another league game at home and another 3 points secured. This one was really good as well. A 4-1 victory thanks to the usual scorers Charlampoglou, Eboh & Necul. Isn't it great that they have contibuted season in, season out.  Comfortably the better team on the night.

FC Utrecht | H | UEFA Conference League | 2-2

Our fourth home game in a row and another good performance for our fans. Right back Apostolopoulous got us off to a great start firing in a low drive to put us ahead. We went further ahead in the second half thanks to a good goal from Videnovic before Moadu had his way with us and got them level with 2 goals. A good point on the board.

Olympiacos | A | Super League 1 | 2-1

They just have our number don't they? We'll continue to try and get the 3 points agianst them but it's not happening yet. A sending off for us didn't help matters but at least we made it competetive when Charalampoglou pulled us level in the 70th minute before a late penalty gave them the win.

Aris | A | Greek Cup | 2-1

Interesting that we lost both games on our travels this month. The Greek Cup is getting close to the next round and we could do with some more points. This wasn't great.

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League Tables

Super League 1:

Just before the half way stage and we're sat in 5th position on 20 points. We're only 5 points off the top as well which is great to see. Could we continue our good form and challenge for a league title? That would surely be insane! 

Our record is a fantastic 7 WINS, 1 DRAW & 4 LOSSES. Brilliant performances so far for us. Noticeably, the big boys are all below us apart from Olympiacos. The season is a strange one.

UEFA Conference League:

4 games into the Conference League, League Phase and we're sitting in a qualifying spot in 10th. We do need to continue our strong performances and pick up some more points but we've done brilliantly and have not lost yet in this competition. We've got 2 games left against Botev Plovdiv & FC Astana! Both are definitely winnable so hopefully we'll progress into the next round.

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Giorgos Charlampoglou (ST) - (17)

2.  Lucas Necul (AMR) - (9)

3. Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (7)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (8)

2. Johnson Eboh (DM)  - (6)

3. Tvez Pokorn (DM) - (5)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (7.12)

2. Johnson Eboh (DM) - (7.09)

3. Milen Stoev (CB) - (7.03)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Johnson Eboh (DM)

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As December settles over Crete, there’s a festive glow in the air — and not just from the Christmas lights twinkling across Chania’s harbour. Tongey’s European adventure has been nothing short of remarkable. The club’s debut on the continental stage has captured imaginations across Greece, their fearless style earning plaudits far beyond their island home. Somehow, against all odds, they’re still competing on three fronts — league, cup, and Europe — and holding their own in each. The players are brimming with belief, the fans dare to dream, and even the pundits now whisper that silverware might not be such a far-fetched thought. Could this be the season Tongey truly cements his name in Chania folklore? Could it even be all three? The idea hangs tantalisingly in the winter air.

Back at Casa del Tongey, the night is calm and cool, the Aegean shimmering under a silvery moon. The lights from the villa dance off the pool as Tongey sinks into his favourite spot — the hot tub, of course — wrapped in steam and quiet satisfaction. Nikos dozes nearby, occasionally flicking his tail as if approving of the season so far. The second half of the campaign will bring its usual tests — fatigue, pressure, expectation — but if anyone thrives on that, it’s Tongey. He reaches for his nightcap, the choice needing no deliberation. Mythos, naturally. He raises the bottle to the sky, the faint sound of the sea below, and allows himself a small smile. Christmas is coming, the story is still unfolding, and Chania’s dream lives on.

The new year dawns bright over Crete, the winter sun glinting off the Aegean as a fresh chapter begins for Tongey and his Chania side. Halfway through the season and still punching above their weight, the dream continues — third in the league, a European knockout round on the horizon, and whispers of another historic campaign beginning to take shape. The players return from the short break rejuvenated, the training ground alive with energy and laughter. Tongey stands at the touchline, hands in his coat pockets, watching with quiet pride. The progress is undeniable; the football is flowing; the belief is real. New year, same ambition — maybe even more. The question isn’t whether Chania can compete anymore; it’s just how far they can go.

Off the pitch, life has never been sweeter — quite literally. News has spread of Tongey’s latest off-field triumph: an all-you-can-eat baklava sponsorship deal that’s made him the talk of the island. The perfect pairing to his long-standing devotion to Mythos, it’s become something of a running joke among the squad — their gaffer powered by honey, nuts, and lager. But beneath the laughter, everyone knows he’s serious about the journey ahead. With Nikos lounging nearby and a cold Mythos glinting in the afternoon light, Tongey raises a toast to what’s to come. “Mythos,” he mutters with a grin, “we’re coming for you.”

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December 2027

Panserraikos | Super League | Home | 4-0
Well if we wanted to continue the good form, this was some way to do it! A relatively easy match with plenty of goals to improve our goal difference. Johnson Eboh continued to show he's an absolute goal machine from the holding midfield role, with in form striker Giorgos Charlampoglou netting a brace himself. The perfect way to kick start ourselves after the winter break.

Botov Plovdiv | UEFA Conference League | Away | 0-1

4 days later and we were back in action in the UEFA Conference League determined to secure our place in the next round with a win. It was a tough game with a lot of unsexy midfield battling. We did have a moment of beautiful football though when Christos Liatsos latched onto a fantastic through ball, and finished with ease past the on rushing keeper. The eventual winner and our place secured.

Panetolikos | Super League | Home | 0-3

Wow, the hangover from the highs of the European win mid week was real, and we were terrible! A rather torrid performance and we got our asses handed to us. Not much else to say except they deserved what they got. 

Astana | UEFA Conference League | Away | 1-5

WOW. we are so Jekyll and Hyde this month. Europe is my safe place at the moment and with qualification already secured I rotated slightly. Lucas Necul got us the opening goal before Giorgos Charalampoglou netted a second. They did get one back before the break, but we resoted the 2 goal lead a minute later through Tevz Pokorn's fantastic diving header. We eased to a 5-1 win thanks to Johnson Eboh & Titos Koutentakis's second half goals.

Niki Volou | Super League | Home | 1-0

Back to league action, and 3 points secured against relegation threatened Niki Volou. It was a tight affair with attacking midfielder Andrej Pogacar netting the only goal of the game with a curling effort from just inside the area. I'm slightly disappointed with how we played, but a win is always the best thing.

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January 2028

Kifiisa | Super League | Away | 0-5

We start the new year in the perfect way. A win on New Years Day and a thumping one at that. Kifisia stood no chance. My players were well behaved in their celebrations the night before and got rewards. Andrej Pogacar & Lucas Necul both got a goal, with the star of the show being Giorgos Charlampoglou who scored a wonderful hattrick to complete the win. 

Athens Kallithea | Greek Cup Playoff | Home | 4-1

After not qualifying directly from the Greek Cup, we had to go through the playoff and came through a potential banana skin. A solid 4-1 victory sees us through and drawn against PAOK. 

AEK | Super League | Away | 3-2

A tricky away league game against AEK was next, and a fantastic game was played out. It was end to end and unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 score line. Johnson Eboh headed us ahead before they equalised 2 minutes later. It all happened in the last 10 minutes as we took the lead again through Ivan Ortigoza before a double in 2 minutes from the hosts secured them all 3 points. We should've won it to be honest.

PAOK | Greek Cup Quarter-Final | Away | 3-0

The furthest we've got in the Greek Cup, but our journey ended at the Quarter-Final stage unfortunately. A 3-0 defeat at the hands of PAOK who were the eventual winners of the competition. A totally dominant performance from the hosts. Bigger fish to fry maybe?

Atromitos | Super League | Home | 3-1

Back in league action we continued our good form and secured another 3 points. It's always good to have good form in front of your own fans and we're doing just that. Andrej Pogacar who has been the standout player so far this second half of the season netted a brace with the 3rd coming from an own goal.

Aris | Super League | Home | 2-2

Well I said we were strong at home, but we dropped the ball in this one. 2-0 up and we switched off to let them claim a point. Players may have been a little jaded after a busy winter schedule. 

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February 2028

PAOK | Super League | Home | 4-3

After they had dumped us out of the Greek Cup last month, we got our revenge and secured a vital 3 points in the league. The rotation fo Christos Liatsos & Andrej Pogacar is proving to be the right move. They are inspiring us to win after win at the moment. Liatsos scored a hattrick here with Festim Shatri scoring the eventual winner in this close fought battle of top teams.

Aris | Super League | Away | 1-1

Aris are just that team who know how to play against us at the moment. We share another point with them after a stunning goal from them put them ahead before a last gasp penalty from Christos Liatsos levelled things up. It was literally the last kick of the game.

Aigaleo | Super League | Home | 4-3

The first of two games in a row against Aigaleo and the first of 2 wins. This home game was really close with some free flowing attacking football. We are shipping a fair amount of goals at the moment which is concerning. Eboh, Charlampoglou, Videnovic & Necul grabbed the goals for us to secure 3 points.

Aigaleo | Super League | Away | 3-6

The last game was close, but this one was extremely one sided. They did score 3, but when you've got a potent attack that doesn't really matter. You score, but we'll score more is my motto at the moment. Our goals came from 5 different players too. Giorgos Charlampoglou got another brace, with Christos Liatsos, Alexandros Maskanakis, Apostolos Apostolopoulos & Lucas Necul scored the other. Brilliant performance.

Panathinaikos | Super League | Home | 0-1

A poor performance led to a 1-0 defeat at home against the former champions Panathinaikos. We couldn't even string a pass together let alone get a shot on target. Not good. 

Larisa | Super League | Away | 1-4

Bounce back wins always feel good. The players weren't happy with how they played last time out, so came out firing on all cylinders determined to get the win. Our attacking midfield 3 of Lucas Necul, Denis Videnovic & Christos Liatsos were causing them all kinds of trouble, and netted all 4 goals between them. They were inspired today, linking up brilliantly with one another.

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March 2028

Sparta Prague | UEFA Conference League | Away | 2-1

The first leg of our Knockout Round game against well known Sparta Prague was up in March. We played really well but came out on with a defeat. We threatened plenty of times but couldn't get the ball over the line another time. Andrej Pogacar got us level after we went behind in first half injury time. We were looking like we got a draw, but a late goal from the winger got them a slender lead heading into the return leg.

OFI | Super League | Away | 2-0

Well, the final game of the ‘Regular Season’ was a damp squib for us. We travelled to OFI knowing we had already secured our place in the ‘Championship Group’ for the first time, but came away on the end of a 2-0 defeat. Tiredness after midweek European games perhaps?

Sparta Prague | UEFA Conference League | Home | 4-2

YES! A massive result in front of  a bumper crowd in Crete secures us passage to the Quarter- Finals. We were brilliant and deserved to progress despite losing in the first leg. We relied on our senior players of Johnson Eboh who ran the show from the middle and got an early goal. Charalampoglou got us 2-0 up within 10 minutes before Andrej Pogacar put us 3-0 up in 21 mintues. Crazy start and we added to it through Pogacar again. We held on through their storm of chances and qualified.

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League Tables

Super League 1 | Regular Season

We've come a long way since we were in the Super League 2 at the start of the save. A 3rd placed finish in the Regular Season means we qualify for the Championship Group for the first ever time in our history. 

26 GP | 15 W | 3 D | 8 L 

To finish ahead of Panathinaikos is a huge statement in itself, but we also finished just ahead of AEK Athens too. Aris top the tree with Olympiacos just behind. A further 10 points adrift you'll find us but we're there, which is all that matters. We'd require a miracle to actually win the league to be honest, but it's all good experience. 

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Championship Group

AEK | Super League | Away | 3-0

Wow, not the start we wanted to life in the Championship Group. We're going to be up against it for sure but a 3-0 defeat is not good enough. 

Aris | Super League | Home | 1-0

We put it right this time, with a 1-0 win against Aris who seemed to know how to beat us this season. Tevz Pokorn popped up with a fine finish from the edge of the area after a corner was cleared to give us all 3 points.

AEK | Super League | Home | 4-4

AHHH! What a game this was and we were an inch away from securing the victory too. A last second goal line clearance stood in our way. Vasilis Sourlis our stand in striker (Charalampoglou was injured for a month) netted a brace in his first start before Pogacar also scored. Going into the last seconds, we were losing 4-3 but right back Festim Shatri scored  alst gasp header to level it, before he was at it again ot head another corner goalwards a minute later but it was cleared off the line.

Olympiacos | Super League | Home | 1-1

Obviously it's just tough match after tough match at the moment, but with a European Quarter-Final coming up I rested some bigger names to give them a chance. A draw in this situation is actually quite pleasing. Teams don't actually like playing us do they as we frustrate the living hell out of them.

Girona | UEFA Conference League Quarter Final| Home | 0-2

Our big night at home ended in a disappointing defeat. We were lacklustre and missed our target man Charalampoglou. We couldn't get out of our half much and nothing stuck up front. They capitalised and showed why they are doing well in the Spanish league this season and took away a 2-0 lead to defend at their place.

Girona | UEFA Conference League Quarter Final | 4-3

We were definitely better in this one, and pushed them close. It's no coincidence that Charlampoglou was back in this game. He netted twice to give us half a chance, but we weren't great at the back. Maybe this is just one step too far for the small club from Greece. Next year?

Aris | Super League | Away | 1-1
Another draw in the Championship Group. If we had just a little bit more luck, we'd be winning this god damn thing easily. A late Charalampoglou goal levelled it up and he had a fine chance later to put us ahead but fluffed his lines. Not to be.

Olympiacos | Super League | Away | 1-1
We're becoming the thorn in the side of Olympiacos, and secured another draw against them. Our final game, but we had nothing to play for really having already secured our spot in the league and our spot in the Europa League for next season. 

A third place finished is Chanias highest finish I think. Not bad eh? Could we go on to win this one day with Chania, I think I'll stick around to find out. We're building something special. Olympiacos ended up running away with it with Aris finishing a huge 10 points ahead of us in 2nd. What a season we've had. 

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Giorgos Charlampoglou (ST) - (30)

2.  Christos Liatsos (AMC) - (15)

3. Lucas Necul (AMR) - (14)

Most Assists:

1. Lucas Necul (AMR), Johnson Eboh (DM) - (13)

2. Tevz Pokorn (DM) - (11)

3. Denis Videnovic (AML) - (9)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Festim Shatri (RB) - (7.17)

2. Johnson Eboh (DM) - (7.10)

3. Giorgos Charlampoglou (ST) - (7.07)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Andrej Pogacar (AMC)

As the season draws to a close, the island of Crete is once again alive with celebration. Chania, under Tongey’s steady hand, have written yet another golden chapter in their astonishing rise — a third-place finish in the Greek Super League, the club’s highest ever, and a heroic run to the quarter-finals in Europe. The streets are awash with blue and white, fans chanting Tongey’s name long into the warm Mediterranean night. And amid the revelry, another twist to the fairy tale: Mythos themselves have come calling, offering to sponsor the man who’s become as synonymous with the beer as he is with Chania’s success. It’s the perfect match — a manager who embodies hard work, charm, and a touch of mischief, now backed by Greece’s favourite brew.

But while others celebrate, Tongey’s mind has already drifted to what comes next. Sitting by the pool at Casa del Tongey, a newly delivered case of Mythos at his side, he watches the Aegean roll gently in the distance. Third place is good — incredible, even — but it isn’t enough. He wants more. The title. To topple the giants of Greek football and bring the league crown to Crete. He knows it won’t be easy: he’ll need smart recruitment, depth to manage Europe again, and the same fearless mentality that’s defined his Chania side from day one. As the sun dips beneath the horizon, he takes a long sip of Mythos, a knowing grin forming. “Next year,” he mutters to Nikos, who purrs approvingly at his feet, “we finish the job.”

First off, an apology for not updating this in the past 6-7 months. I fell out of love with FM as I usually do half way through a cycle, but I have recently rediscovered my love for it, and I'm back here in Chania hoping to get this journey back on track…
 

Ahead of the 2028/2029 season, Tongey feels something different in the air - expectation, belief, and the quiet pressure that comes when a dream starts to feel truly attainable. Years of steady progression, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, have transformed his side into genuine contenders, and after narrowly missing out on the title last season, the message is clear: it has to be this year. At Casa Del Tongey, the smell of charcoal and grilled souvlaki drifts through the warm evening as he and his trusted assistant, Arjen Robben, clink bottles of Mythos beneath the Cretan sky. Staring out over the Aegean Sea, they talk football deep into the night - pressing triggers, transfers, mentality - two men completely aligned in their belief that something special is brewing. No one knows how the season will unfold, and football has a cruel way of humbling even the boldest ambitions, but Tongey watches the waves roll beneath the moonlight with complete faith. This team is ready, and so is he.
 

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Squad Overview:

Since it's been a while, I'll talk through where our squad is and there role in the team. Not to much detail but just something for you to get your lips around in case you were wondering who some players are in the later report.

Goalkeepers:
Klidman Lilo (GK) - Clear #1, Albanian U21 international and solidly improving at only 26 years old.

Dimitris Monastirlis (GK) - Back up, but pushing to start. Greek U21. Great option to have backing up Lilo.

Defenders:
Apostolos Apostolopoulos (LB) - Say that twice when drunk. Starting LB. Greek U21, and just a class act out there. Get him on your shirt.

Renan Guedes (RB) - Bit part player, comes in does a job as cover, then sits on the bench again. Old man at 31 but good for experience.

Josue Mwimba Isala (CB) - My favourite CB here, developing nicely into a leading CB in the league. 6ft2, good in the air. Leader.
Timon Kikec (LB) - Rotational LB, Stamina to get up and down the left wing all match. Chips in with assists.
Stelios Kokovas (LB) - Player on the fringe, rotation option only if injuries plague us.

Festim Shatri (RB) - Starting RB, very tidy little player. Does what needs doing.

Filip Taraba (CB) - Back up option, only players every now and then when starting two need a rest. Ball player.

Matthaios Mountes (RB) - Excellent option at RB if I want to go more attacking. Gets lots of assists and a goal from a corner or two.

Volnei (CB) - partners Josue at the back and again, is naturally strong in the air. Absolute monster pair together.

Midfielders:
Jahshaun Anglin (DM) - the Jamaican ball winning midfielder. Experienced at 28 and is a bit part player.
Johnson Eboh (DM) - Leader in the midfield. There to win back the ball and keep it simple. The general I call him. Absolute star.
Christos Liatsos (AMC) - Greek U21, creative midfielder, chips in with the odd goal, but there to unlock a defence with his natural passing ability.

Andrej Pogacar (AMC) - This guy is a dream to have. What a player. Just contributes all over and the fans love him.

Tevz Pokorn (DM) - Scores goals for fun as a defensive midfield player. Just a quality quality player in there. Technique for days.

Kostas Thymianis (DM) - Rotational option as we play with 2 DMs, he gets plenty of games. More defensive minded and a brilliant tackler. Think Roy Keane.

Attackers:

Anas Ali (AMR) - Youngster at 19, but slowly easing him into the team. Speedy, tricky but sometimes makes the wrong decision.

Giorgos Charalampoglou (ST) - The star man. Scores goals for fun. My favourite player. Going to be an icon of the save.

Antwoine Hackford (ST) - New signing on a free. Provides back up to star man Charampoglou but can play anywhere in the front 3. Speedster.

Lucas Necul (AMR) - Started in the lower league with me, have to keep him around. Still plays a part with goals every now and then.

Theodosis Machairas (AML) - Greek baller on the left hand side. Great crosser, great pace, Work rate is good. Doesn't start as much as probably should.

Denis Videnovic (AML) - The starter out left. Scores for fun. More of a Bruno Fernandes kind of player. Assists and Goals.

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July 2028

Besiktas | UEFA Europa League Second Qualiying Round 1st Leg | Away | 1-3

A game against Turkish giants Besiktas, and a resounding victory at a place that's hard to win at. Comprehensive victory with goals from Charampoglou (4) & Liatsos (12) setting us up nicely early on. An own goal sealed the deal after Besiktas had pulled one back.

Besiktas | UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round 2nd Leg | Home | 1-2

Back at home, but a defeat at the hands of Besiktas. Charalampoglou had put us ahead in the 1st minute of injury time in the first half to sit us comfortably ahead on aggregate, but two injury time goals for the visitors made it close and nervy at the end. Loss on the night but we progress with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

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August 2028

A month full of action here, with 8 competitive fixtures and a random friendly in-between. Let's crack on.

Slask | UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg | Home | 4-2

We were rewarded for a fine victory in the previous round, with an easier match up against Polish side Slask. We did the job easily in the first leg, thanks to goals from Andrej Pogacar (2), Milen Stoev (22), Christos Liatsos (40), Johnson Eboh (71). We were fully in control and with 4 different scorers it sets a precedent that we get goals from everywhere. Strong position for the next leg.

Slask | UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round 2nd Leg | Away | 2-4

We repeated what we did in the first leg at home, but this time away. They must be annoyed at drawing us in this round. Denis Videnovic (13, 24) netted a brace to put us firmly in control, before Christos Liatsos (28) volleyed home another. New boy Antwoine Hackford (79) netted his first goal for the club to seal the deal.

Larisa | Super League 1 | Away | 0-2

The league finally got underway, and we started strongly with a 2-0 victory over Larisa. It took a bit of time to get going, probably trying to shake off travelling. Festim Shatri (40) grabbed a goal from right back, before Giorgos Charalampoglou (48) got his league campaign off to a flyer.

Brann | Europa League Playoff 1st Leg | Home | 2-1

The final stage before the group stage is upon us, and we secured a 2-1 victory over Norweigen side Brann. We fell behind in the 18th minute before Kostas Thymianis flew down the left, cut inside and curled a beauty into the top corner to draw us level. Tevz Pokorn then made everyone wait for a winner but popped up in the 89th minute to head home a corner to snatch us a win.

Panathinaikos | Super League 1 | Home | 3-1

A toughie at home in the second league game, but we dispatched them easily with a 3-1 victory. Again, we fell behind just after the break, but that man Festim Shatri (64) netted a vital goal to draw us level. Andrej Pogacar (68) & Kostas Thymianis (90+2) grabbed the goals that sealed us 3 points. A solid performance against a big gun.

Brann | Europa League Playoff 2nd Leg | Away | 3-1

Confidence was high before this as we thought we'd done enough. Shows that complacency can come back to haunt you as we were dumped out of the competition at the hands of Brann. Denis Videnovic (90+1) managed to take us to extra time after Brann had clawed back the advantage. We were out of ideas in extra time though and were made to pay when they scored the eventual winner in the 100th minute. Oh well, Conference League it is.

Asteras Tripolis | Super League 1 | Away | 0-5

Back to winning ways, and what a performance it was. We're one of the better teams in the league now, and it showed here. Antwoine Hackford (11, 37) got his first brace for the club with two fine finishes after racing through. Theodosis Machairas (40) converted a penalty to put us further ahead, before Volnei (45) headed home a 4th on the stroke of half time. Luka Baruca (88) rounded the keeper late on to put a cherry on top.

Atromitos | Super League 1 | Home | 1-0

After storming through the last game, we made hard work of this one, but a win is a win and I'll take that everyday of the week. It took a while and after missed chances galore, Theodosis Machairas (57) went on a mazy run down the left before getting into the box, playing a 1-2 with Charalampoglou and slotting home the winner. An unbeaten start to the league.

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September 2028

AEK Athens | Super League 1 | Home | 0-0

A second game against one of the so called ‘big boys’ in the league, and it was about as eventful as a summer holiday with no Fanta lemon. Only a couple of chances for both sides, but both keepers made wonderful stops to deny each time. Charalampoglou did spurn a guilt edged chance but that's football aint it.

OFI | Super League 1 | Away | 6-1

WOW. This was terrible and so out of character for us. OFI are an average team in the league and we were extremely humbled here. Not good enough. The only positive was a wonderful solo goal from Antwoine Hackford (60).

KRC Genk | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Home | 2-4

Back to back defeats for the first time this season, and to be honest, they deserved the victory. We were 2-0 down within 29 minutes, but Denis Videnovic (29) managed to get one back with a well placed finish on his weaker foot. They then went full throttle and added a further 2 to their lead, before Giorgos Charlampoglou (90+1) got a consolation goal. Not how we wanted to start our Europa Conference League journey.

Kifisia | Super League 1 | Home | 4-2

It was important to end the month on a victory, and we did just that. A brilliant bounce back performance saw us run out 4-2 victors over a poor Kifisia side. Goals from Anas Ali (29), Theodosis Machairas (35, 54) & Apostolos Apostolopoulos (52).

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October 2028

PAOK | Greek Cup League Phase | Away | 0-1

The Greek Cup is back, and we started with a brilliant, hard fought 1-0 victory over PAOK. We did leave it late but I believe we deserved it overall. Giorgos Charlampoglou managed to thunder a finish past the keeper in the 86th to give us 3 points in the league phase.

Asteras Tripolis | Greek Cup League Phase | Home | 4-0

A much easier tie in the cup this time, and we never really got out of second gear. We came out flying though and were 3-0 up before the 16th minute and 4-0 up at the break. Goals from Anas Ali (5, 12), Renan Guedes (15), Jahshaun Anglin (38).

PAOK | Super League 1 | Away | 4-4

Wow, what a fantastic game of football, especially for the neutral! Goals galore and just a fabulous game. Andrej Pogacar (6, 11) got us off to a flyer with two well worked team goals, before a penalty from Kostas Thymianis (16) put us in a commanding position. Anas Ali (21) made it 4-0 before an absolute collapse happened in the second half. A last second goal managed to level it for the hosts, and points were shared. You could say we dropped points, but just appreciate that game was incredible.

Qarabag FK | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Away | 0-1

Our UEFA Conference League campaign is underway properly now with 3 points on the table for us. It's not an easy place to go and get a victory so I'm delighted with it. Theodosis Machairas weaved round 2 defenders before finding the bottom corner from the edge in the 87th minute.

Levadeiakos | Super League 1 | Home | 2-0

Back to winning ways in the league, and a solid 2-0 victory against a decent footballing side. It was Jahshaun Anglin our Jamaican maestro who put us ahead, before club legend Lucas Necul thundered a rocket into the top corner to seal our 3 points.

Volos | Greek Cup League Phase | Away | 0-4

A game we dominated from start to finish. Not a lot else to say except we were brilliant. Goals from Anas Ali (7), Kostasa Thymianis (34) & a brace from Tevz Pokorn (49, 78) got us over the line. I do love a clean sheet, which makes it 3 in a row now.

Panserraikos | Super League 1 | Away | 0-3

Back to back away clean sheets, and 4 of those lovely things in a row! Excellent football and a commanding performance once again. We're on a roll in the league now. Goals from Lucas Necul (72) Christos Liatsos (83) & Giorgos Charlampoglou (88) were enough.

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November 2028

ML | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Neutral | 2-2

No idea why this is being played at a neutral ground. I can only think their ground didn't meet regulations. A 2-2 draw was to follow though, and points dropped in my eyes.  A game of back and forth. We were dragging into their game of fouls and wasting time. Lucas Necul (45) continued his fine form, before Antwoine Hackford (57) put us ahead before we conceded 20 minutes later.

Olympiacos | Super League 1 | Home | 1-1

Well, the first time we've played the favourites for the league, and we managed to secure a draw. A good performance for us and a fabulous result. The main aim is just not to lose against them. We were ahead in the 71st minute thanks to Andrej Pogacar but a late, late equaliser in stoppage time meant we shared the points. Concentration dropped and we were punished.

Nottingham Forest | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Away | 4-2

We were humbled once again, this time to English side Nottingham Forest who blew us away really. A red card in the 36th minute didn't help us, but our 2 goals were taken really well as a positive. Jahshaun Anglin (31) and Tevz Pokorn (50) with ours.

Panetolikos | Super League 1 | Home | 2-1

A close fought 2-1 victory secures us all 3 points in a game we needed to win really. Anas Ali (69) got us level a minute after conceding, before Giorgos Charlampoglou (81) powered a fine finish past the keeper when one on one. 

Panathinaikos | Super Legaue 1 | Away | 2-1

This was a proper last gasp victory for the hosts. I'm gutted as we played really well, but couldn't find a final goal to win us the game. Girogos Charlampoglou got us ahead with a lovely flicked header. We were down to 10 once again though when Renan Guedes got sent off for a second yellow, and it left us short. In the final minute they broke free and tapped into an empty net when two on one.

Panathinaikos | Greek Cup League Phase | Home | 1-0

This time we managed to get our rewards against Panathinaikos, and purely down to penalty from Theodosis Machairas in the 76th minute. We were woeful in front of goal and couldn't hit a barn door. I'll take a win against them all day, but wish it was in the league.

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December 2028

Larisa | Super League 1 | Home | 4-1

A thumping display of attacking football to claim all 3 points. A brace from Andrej Pogacar (11, 21) and a brace from Giorgos Charlampoglou (36, 71) was all it took. Both had chances to complete hattricks, but neither could take them thanks to some good goalkeeping. We weren't really troubled too much here.

Dynamo Kiev | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Home | 3-0

Back to winning ways in the Conference League and in some style against a good Dynamo Kiev side. They were no match for us though and more goals from Andrej Pogacar (26,27) put us firmly in control. Some player that kid. Apostolos Apostolopoulos grabbed the third and rounded things off. Some finish from him too by the way.

Asteras Tripolis | Super League 1 | Home | 2-0

A third win on the bounce this month, and a clean sheet which is pleasing to see. Christos Liatsos (21) worked it well down the line, before sneaking a cheeky effort in at the near post. Giorgos Charlampoglou got a well deserved goal with a lovely flick from a low cross. 3 points.

FC Noah | UEFA Conference League League Phase | Home || 3-1

They probably should've brought more animals, as it may have helped. Little religious reference for you there…Anyway, another good solid victory in the League Phase of the Conference League and we were moving up the table. Goals courtesy of Theodosis Machairas (15), Christos Liatsos (48), & Matthaios Mountes (56), secured us the crucial victory.

OFI | Super League 1 | Home | 1-0

I went into this with a vengance and a score to settle. They hammered us last time we played them, and we got our own back this time. Full back, Festim Shatri (22) got his 3rd of the season with a wonderful side foot volley at the back after a wonderful cross found him. We held on from that moment and did enough to come out of there with 3 points.

Kifisia | Super League 1  | Away | 1-3

Giorgos Charlampoglou grabbed 2 goals as he dominated the Kifisia back line all day. We were brilliant and managed to complete an unbeaten month for the first time this season. Denis Videnovic was the scorer of the third!

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January 2029

Aris | Super League 1 | Home | 3-0

As the new year arrived, the level needed stepped up as we started reaching the latter end of the season and competitions. A good start though with a 3-0 victory over Aris at home. Girogos Charlampoglou carried on his fine form with another brace, before the General Johnson Eboh netted his second of the season from 35 yards or so. Another clean sheet for Lilo.

PAOK | Greek Cup Quarter-Final | Home | 3-0

Back to back, 3-0 victories. This time against a brilliant PAOK side in the Greek Cup Quarter-Final. We didn't give them a chance and controlled the game from the start. Denis Videnovic (17) opened the scoring before young winger Anas Ali (28) tapped home from close range and a lovely pull back. Johnson Eboh (68) made it 2 in 2 games to secure the win.

Atromitos | Super League 1 | Home | 3-3

Another brilliant game for the neutral, but one I can't help but we threw away. We came back two times to lead thanks to goals from Giorgos Charalampoglou (48), Andrej Pogacar (53) and Kostas Thymianis (63), but once in that winning position we didn't kick on. They equalised pretty quickly and that was that. Shared points.

AEK Athens | Super League 1 | Away | 4-2

Back to back poor performances, this time against a title challenging rival in AEK. We're moving on from this one as we didn't perform half as well as I know we can. Goals from, Johnson Eboh (33) & Denis Videnovic (81)

Panathinaikos | Greek Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg | Home | 4-3

HUGE victory here in the first leg, to give us control of the tie. A game of end to end that could've gone either way but we got our luck that we needed and got the win. Two goals from Giorgos Charlampoglou (22, 76) and a fine strike from Kostas Thymianis (43) put us ahead, with the eventual winner coming from an own-goal. There's the look we needed and were delivered.

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February 2029

PAOK | Super League 1 | Home | 1-1

With games coming thick and fast now, we are starting to rely on squad rotation. A 1-1 draw with PAOK is not a bad result to be honest, considering we were down to 9 men at the end. Festim Shatri & Jahshaun Anglin both received their marching orders. The referee must've been in a bad mood. Giorgos Charlampoglou netted an equaliser which shared the points for us.

Aris | Super League 1 | Away | 0-4

With squad depth tested, securing a 4-0 victory is massive! HUGE 3 points on the road as well. The big players stepped up here with Denis Videnovic (40), Giorgos Charlampoglou (53), and a brace for Andrej Pogacar (70,82) getting us over the line. No issues in this one.

Slask | UEFA Conference League Knock Out Play Off Round 1st Leg | Away | 1-3

For the second time this season, we've been drawn against Polish side Slask in an European Competition. Knock out style! Again I rotated with some youngsters coming in, but it was the old guys who did the job. Kostas Thymianis put us ahead with a penalty before Theodosis Machairas (49) and Johnson Eboh (76) put it beyond doubt. Solid win in this one. 

Levadeiakos | Super League 1 | Away | 3-1
I think fixture congestion is catching up with us as we fall to a shock defeat to an average team. 3-0 down before Giorgos Charlampoglou (83) bundled one over the line to give us some hope. False hope that was as we didn't manage a shot after that. Move on.

Slask | UEFA Conference League Knock Out Play Off Round 2nd Leg | Home | 3-2

With a commanding lead going into the 2nd leg, I rotated once again thinking the job was done and our backups could do the rest. They did just that and secured a 3-2 victory on the night. Theodosis Machairas netted a fantastic brace of volleys, before Anas Ali got us a third which turned out to be the winner on the night. Into the hat for the next round we go.

Panserraikos | Super League 1 | Home | 4-1

Come the latter part of the season, and cometh the man. Giorgos Charlampoglou hattrick alert! He's some player and quite possibly the managers favourite. I know we shouldn't have them, but he's mine. Don't tell him! Kostas Thymianis grabbed the other, but a professional job done here on one of the poorer teams in the league.

Panathinaikos | Greek Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Away | 2-2
Starters back in, and a narrow lead to defend going into this. We secured a 2-2 draw to help us progress into the Final. Lucas Necul put us ahead, before Denis Videnovic danced past 3 men, curled one into the top bins. Goal of the season potentially. 2-2 on the night, 5-4 on aggregate.

Olympiacos | Super League 1 | Away | 5-1

GOD! An awful result, and an absolutely trash bag of a performance. I have nothing positive to say, but have we thrown the title away with this result?

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March 2029

Rennes | UEFA Conference League Round of 16 1st Leg | Home | 1-1

A decent result against one of the bigger teams left in the competition. Rennes are a tricky outfield to go against, so I'm happy with the draw going into the reverse fixture. A fine Jhashaun Anglin finish secured us a draw in the 81st minute.

Pantetolikos | Super League 1 | Away | 1-2

With this victory, we've secured our place in the Championship Group of the League when it splits which is fantastic. Now to keep as much pressure on Olympiacos as we can! I can't say this was an easy one, but we got over the line which is the main thing. Jahshaun Anglin (11) & Christos Liatsos (50) grabbed us the goals that put us 2-0 up, before they hit back to make it a nervy end.

Rennes | UEFA Conference League Round of 16 2nd Leg | Away | 3-2

We bow out of the Conference League after suffering a 3-2 victory away from home. I think this may be a blessing in disguise to be honest, as were we ever going to win it? Not quite yet I don't think.

PAOK | Super League 1 | Away | 1-1

Not the result we wanted, as we want to stack as many wins together as possible. Nonetheless, a draw is still positive and keeps the points ticking over. A fairly late Antwoine Hackett thunderblaster to level it up after PAOK took the lead in the first half. Points mean prizes right?

AEK | Super League Championship Group | Home | 3-2

A fantastic win, at a good time of the season! This one could've caused problems, but we were too good for them. The score line makes it look closer than it was! A brace for Giorgos Charlampoglou (41,48) & a free-kick from Denis Videnovic (83) grabs us 3 points to round off the month.

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April 2029

Olympiacos | Super League 1 Championship Group | Away | 2-4

Well, what a time to prove we're a legitimate title challenger! We were BRILLIANT! We did need our 3 biggest players to come good for us when it matters. Andrej Pogacar (3) broke free of the defense to slot home early. We were in dreamland when Giorgos Charlampoglou proved why he's one of the best strikers in the league and added 2 more to the scoreline in the 9th and the 14th minute. One a fine header and the second a well placed finish. They pulled one back before Johnson Eboh hit one first time when a corner was cleared and it flew into the bottom corner. We held on as Olympiacos threw everything at us.

PAOK | Super League 1 Championship Group | Home | 2-1

Every game is big at this stage, but we've come through another test and secured 3 big points again. Again it was the big time players of Andrej Pogacar (1) and Johnson Eboh (27) coming up with the goals that took us to the win. Eboh is really showing up now!

AEK | Super League 1 Championship Group | Away | 1-2

The train keeps moving, and of course, Andrej Pogacar (19) put us ahead. A lovely little dinked finish from close range. They hit back and levelled, but the main man Giorgos Charlampoglou (65) raced away from the last man, kept his composure before slotting past the on rushing keeper.

Olympiacos | Greek Cup Final | Neutral | 2-1

VICTORY! IN THE GREEK CUP! WE ARE GREEK CUP CHAMPIONS! Do we deserve it? Absolutely not. We rode our luck after taking a 2 goal lead thanks to Giorgos Charlampoglou (7) and an own goal in the 28th minute. They quickly got one back, before a sending off happened with 20 minutes left. Even with 10 men, they were pushing for an equaliser and hit both the post and the crossbar. We held on though, and lift the Greek Cup high into the sky.

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May 2029

Olympiacos | Super League 1 Championship Group | Home | 4-1

Going into this final game of the season, we needed a win to secure the league title! My god, did the boys listen to my team talk, and deliver the goods! In front of our loyal and fantastic fans at the Municipal Ground of Perivoila they really put on a show. We actually went behind early in the 3rd minute, but an own goal got us level 12 minutes later. Johnson Eboh (29) rose highest at a corner and headed down into the bottom corner to put us ahead. Festim Shatri (34) hammered one home from 4 yards out after a missed clearance, and Giorgos Charlampoglou sealed the victory and the league title as he hit a sweet strike from just inside the area!

CHANIA ARE GREEK SUPER LEAGUE 1 CHAMPIONS!!!

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League Tables

This is how the league finished at the end of the regular season. We sat in 3rd position on 53 points, with little to no hope of challenging for the title. Little did I know eh? Olympiacos sat top with 60 points, and AEK Athens sat above us in 2nd on 56. PAOK were the other team to join us in the Championship Group on level points and level goal difference. We actually had level on everything so I guess it went to Head to Head or alphabetical.

After the Championship Group, as you all know we finished top of the pile! We actually picked up 16 out of 18 points on offer which is incredible! Who'dve thunk it eh? A close battle with Olympiacos but we edged them to the title! One to remember!

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Giorgos Charlampoglou (ST) - (31)

2.  Andrej Pogacar (AMC) - (15)

3. Theodosis Machairis (AML), Denis Videnovic (AML) - (10)

Most Assists:

1. Denis Videnovic (AML) - (16)

2. Andrej Pogacar (AMC)  - (13)

3. Antwoine Hackford - (10)

Highest Average Rating: (minimum 20 games)

1. Anas Ali (AMR) - (7.22)

2. Giorgos Charlampoglou (ST) - (7.14)

3. Johnson Eboh (DM) - (7.11)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Johnson Eboh (DM)

The years have etched themselves gently onto Tongey’s face now, a few more greys woven into his beard and hair like medals earned through endurance rather than glory. But tonight, none of that matters. Chania stands at the summit of Greek football. After defeating Olympiacos F.C. on the final day to seal a historic Greek Super League title, and then lifting the Greek Cup high into the warm Cretan sky only weeks later, Tongey has completed the impossible. The city has fallen into delirium around him—flares burning red in the harbour, chants echoing through the old streets until sunrise—but once again he finds himself where he always seems most comfortable: on the balcony, Mythos in hand, staring out across the dark Aegean with Nikos curled nearby. Across from him sits Arjen Robben, smoke from the evening barbecue still drifting through the air as the two men sit mostly in silence, exhausted but fulfilled. They know what they built together will be remembered forever on this island.

And yet, beneath the satisfaction lies the unmistakable feeling of finality. Tongey knows he is leaving. There are no more Greek mountains left to climb, no more trophies left to conquer, and somewhere deep inside him the next challenge is already calling. England? Italy? Spain? Perhaps a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened, or a club desperate for belief and identity. Nobody knows where he’ll land next—not even Robben, whose own future remains uncertain—but one thing is undeniable: their bond goes beyond football now. Whether they continue side by side on another touchline or share only the occasional beer beneath different skies, they’ll always carry Crete with them. Tongey lifts his bottle one final time toward the sea below, allowing himself a small smile. Chania made him a legend. The question now is whether the rest of Europe is ready for him.

The next chapter of Tongey’s story begins far from the sun-soaked harbours of Crete. After conquering Greece with Chania and leaving behind the legendary Casa Del Tongey, he has traded the Aegean sunsets for the Black Sea coast, taking charge of PFC Cherno More Varna in what many are calling the most ambitious appointment in the club’s recent history. The Bulgarian side found themselves staring nervously over their shoulder at the relegation places and were determined not to let their season drift away. Club officials pulled out all the stops, treating Tongey like footballing royalty during negotiations—lavish dinners, promises of investment, and endless assurances that he was the man they believed could save them. In the end, it worked. With Nikos the cat—named after the immortal save-game icon Nikos Ioanidis—securely installed in their new apartment overlooking Varna, Tongey has arrived with a reputation that commands attention and an expectation that he can once again work miracles.
 

The football challenge excites him, but life’s smaller adjustments may prove just as difficult. Gone are the evening strolls to the beach shop for an ice-cold Mythos, gone are the familiar faces who greeted him around Chania's harbour. Now he finds himself studying supermarket shelves full of unfamiliar Bulgarian lagers, wondering if one might earn a place in his post-match routine. As he sits on a new balcony with Nikos stretched across the railing, a local brew in hand and tactical notes scattered across the table, he can't help but smile at the uncertainty ahead. Cherno More need belief, organisation, and points—and history suggests Tongey has a habit of delivering all three. The supporters are desperate for a saviour, the squad is desperate for direction, and Tongey has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Whether he can rescue the club remains to be seen, but if his journey through Greece taught him anything, it's that the best stories often begin when everyone else thinks it's too late.

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December 2029

CSKA Sofia | First League | Away | 5-3

Do first games get any harder than an away game to CSKA Sofia? Probably not, but that's the hand I was dealt. Without really knowing the team I picked what I thought was a team that could perform well, and we did just that. We battled well and managed to show our attacking intent, but the issue was, we couldn't defend. A 5-3 loss isn't disastorous here, but with only 7 more games left in the season we needed to find points quick in order to stay in the First League.

Slavia Sofia | First League | Home | 2-0
Ivan Yordenov may well become the saviour of our season. The youngster put in a performance of the highest quality and scored two brilliantly taken goals in order for us to claim 3 points. These are the games we needed to win, so I'm glad we beat a team around us in the league! (sidenote here, Yordenov actually left after this game after throwing a tantrum)

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January 2030

Ludogorets | First League | Away | 7-4

Wow, what a horrendous defensive display from us. Another game against a ‘bigger’ club in the Bulgarian leagues and a dreadful result. A 7-4 hammering. I mean, I'm glad we're scoring goals, but we've got to be better than that at the back. Goals from Nikolay Aleksandrov (42, 45, 65) and a debut goal for Joswe Mwimba Isala (81) who I recently brought in from my old club Chania.

Beroe | First League | Home | 3-3

Another game against a team around us, and a poor result. We really needed to win that one, but couldn't find the defensive stability we needed, nor the winning goal. We went 2-0 behind, before hitting back through Theodosis Machairas (21), who is another I brought in from Chania. We then went on to equalise and take the lead through Petar Atansov (52, 69) but couldn't hold on to that lead as they equalised in the 79th.

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February 2030

Botev Vratsa | First League | Away | 1-4

Finally we kick a month off with a brilliant performance! A 4-1 hammering of a semi-decent side in Botev Vratsa. New signing, Theodosis Machairas (26) got us off to a good start by scoring a lovely solo goal. It got better when Nikolay Zlatev (29) scored 3 minutes later with a well timed header. They pulled one back, but never threatened meaningly again after that. 2 goals in the second half including an injury time header from former Chania man Isala (90+3) was all we needed. We pull clear of the relegation spots.

Levski Sofia | First League | Home | 1-5

And just like that, we put in a shocking performance. We'll need to get better against these big clubs, but for now, we need to beat the teams around us. A 5-1 defeat isn't good, but we move on quickly to the big last 2 games.

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March 2030

Septemvri Sofia | First League | Away | 2-3

The game that I think ensures us safety in the league! A wonderfully gritted performance that we just about edged against a team below us. Nikolay Aleksandrov (24, 68) put us ahead with a driven effort from just inside the box, before they took the lead with 2 decent goals. Aleksandrov then headed us level before my guy Theodosis Machairas (83) popped up late in the game to latch onto a wonderful through ball and side foot finish to give us a big big win!
 

Lokomotiv Plovdiv | First League | Home | 1-3

We end the season with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home. But the main thing is, we'd survived and were in the First League next season! That was the aim when I came in, and now we can kick on to rocket up the table next season. Goal from Celso Sidney (78).

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League Table

After coming in with the team down in 14th position, rooted to the bottom of the table and in dire need of some tactical direction, I'm delighted with what we've been able to do! A final place of 10th for us sees us rise 4 places and by 3 points we escape the relegation playoff which Slavia Sofia find themselves in. It was extremely close at the bottom mind, but we've done it. Onto the Relegation Group we go, but a chance to solidify ourselves in this league!

In my time in charge this season we had the following record:

GP: 8  |  W: 3  |  D: 1  |  L: 4

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The main season may have come to an end, but Tongey's work at PFC Cherno More Varna is far from finished. The Relegation Group was always going to be his destination when he accepted the job; the damage had been done long before his arrival. Yet rather than seeing it as an inconvenience, he views it as an opportunity. Every match is another chance to embed his philosophy, sharpen his tactical identity, and prepare the squad for a far more ambitious campaign next season. The immediate objective is clear: secure safety as quickly as possible and remove any lingering doubt. Beyond that, it's about building momentum. Training sessions have become more intense, patterns of play more familiar, and the players are beginning to trust the process. Tongey can see the foundations taking shape. The table may still place Cherno More among the league's strugglers, but in his mind, the club is already looking toward a different future.

Away from football, life in Varna has slowly won him over. What began as a temporary stop now feels increasingly like home. His morning walks along the Black Sea coastline have become a daily ritual, often accompanied by a coffee from a small local café where the staff now greet him by name. The city moves at a gentler pace than the pressure cooker of football management, and Tongey has embraced it. Evenings are often spent on his balcony with Nikos, the ever-faithful cat named after save-game legend Nikos Ioanidis, stretched out nearby while a cold Zagorka rests on the table beside a notebook full of tactical scribbles. His new sponsor, Duolingo has proven surprisingly useful too. What started as a light-hearted partnership has become a genuine part of his daily routine, with Tongey spending countless evenings practicing Bulgarian phrases and expanding his vocabulary. The locals have taken notice of his efforts, often smiling as he confidently orders coffee or exchanges greetings in their language. He misses Crete at times—the harbour, the Mythos, the memories of Casa Del Tongey—but Varna has its own charm. The sea is different, the language unfamiliar, yet the feeling is strangely similar. A football club searching for better days. A city slowly opening its arms to him. And a manager who, despite all he has already achieved, still wakes up every morning convinced that the best chapter of his story is yet to be written.

The closer the Relegation Group draws, the more the lights stay on at the Cherno More training ground. Long after the players have gone home and the groundskeepers have finished their work, Tongey remains. Days blur into nights as he pores over match footage, tweaks tactical plans, and prepares training sessions designed to drill every movement into his squad's muscle memory. More than once, the cleaning staff have found him asleep on the worn sofa in his office, tactical diagrams scattered across the desk and an empty coffee cup balanced precariously beside his laptop. He knows exactly what is at stake. Survival isn't just the objective—it's the foundation upon which everything else will be built. The players are beginning to understand that too. Every pressing trigger, every passing lane, every defensive shape is becoming second nature. Tongey isn't simply trying to keep Cherno More in the league; he's building the version of the club that he hopes can challenge much higher up the table next season.

A familiar face has helped make the workload a little lighter. Tongey's old friend, Niko Kranjčar, has arrived in Varna as his new assistant manager, reuniting a partnership that stretches back to their playing days. They've shared dressing rooms, victories, disappointments, and enough stories to fill several lifetimes. The trust between them is effortless. While Tongey obsesses over the finer tactical details, Kranjčar provides the perfect balance—calm, experienced, and never afraid to challenge an idea if he thinks there's a better solution. The players have quickly noticed the chemistry between the two men, the constant conversations on the training pitch, and the occasional burst of laughter that cuts through the seriousness of the work. When the day is finally done and the training ground empties, they often find themselves sitting together overlooking the Black Sea with a couple of cold Zagorkas in hand, discussing football, life, and whatever challenge lies ahead. They have shared countless memories already, but both suspect the story is only just beginning. If Cherno More are to rise again, they'll do it together—as they always have.

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April 2030 (Relegation Group Only)

Beroe | Relegation Group | Away | 1-2

The only game of the Relegation Group in April, and it was against the one team above us, Beroe. Denislav Georgiev (29) put us ahead with a stunning finish from distance, before we went 2-0 up thanks to a lovely looping effort from Martin Haydarov (50). We were comfortable after that until a mad panic at the end of the game which saw them pull one back and put on all kinds of pressure. We stood firm and claimed a first 3 points of this stage.

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May 2030

Septemvri Sofia | Relegation Group | Home | 3-1

Well, we made it 2 from 2 in a fabulous game for the home fans! They were no match for us really, especially after Theodosis Macharias (38) lobbed an onrushing keeper  to put us ahead. They did draw level just before the break, but we kicked on after that and a side foot finish from Celso Sidney (73) and a penalty from Ivan Tilev (80) gave us all 3 points.

Slavia Sofia | Relegation Group | Home | 3-2

It's clear we're one of the better teams in this phase, so whilst it's nice for now, we don't want to be here again. It was that man, Theodosis Machairas (6) who put us ahead again. He's too good. Celso Sidney (62) made it 2-0 before a thumping header from Vitor Hugo (79) made it 3-0. A little lapse in concentration at the death led to them scoring twice in quick succession, but we still claimed the win.
 

Montana | Relegation Group | Away | 0-5

As easy as you like, as we dispatch Montana in a 5-0 demolition. Nikolay Hristov (6, 9) scored two quick goals to establish an early lead, before Nikolay Zlatev (19, 72) got the first of his 2 goals to add to the lead. Ivan Tilev (66) made it 4-0 when he found space in the box and fired home low into the bottom corner. Zlatev got his second with a flueky effort that deflected in off a defender. 5-0 the final score.

Arda | Relegation Group | Home | 1-1

Not the way we wanted to end the season, but a point is a point. It did mean we dropped a place in this phase and handed Beroe the top spot in the Relegation Group. They did start 7 points ahead of us mind so we pulled it back nicely. I rotated the squad massively for this one and Berk Beyhan scored a wonderful team goal that put us ahead in the 4th minute! We didn't deserve to win so when they scored an equaliser I accepted it with grace. A point to end the season.

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League Table

After a fine performance in the Relegation Group, we managed to solidify our position in the league and finish just behind Beroe in this stage. We managed to close the gap from 7 points to 2 points, and had a chance to finish ahead of that had we just scored another in the final game. We'll be better next season for sure! Montana find themselves relegation to the league below, and Septemvri Sofia will contest a Relegation Playoff against a Promotion side from the league below.

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Player Stats

Top Goalscorer:

1. Nikolay Zlatev (AMR) - (8)

2.  Nikolay Aleksandrov (AMC) - (7)

3. Denislav Georgiev (AMC) - (6)

Most Assists:

1. Dani Martin (CB), Nikolay Zlateve (AMR), Nikolay Aleksandrov (AMC) - (5)

2. Eder (DM), Celso Sidney (ST), Theodosis Machairas (AML), Martin Stoychev (RB), Emanuil Nyagolov (LB)  - (3)

3. Berk Beyhan (DM),  Gabriel Zlatanov (AMR) - (2)

Highest Average Rating:

1. Nikolay Hristov (AMC) - (7.60)

2. Nikolay Zlatev (AMR) - (7.23)

3. Theodosis Machairas (AML) - (7.14)

MY PLAYER OF THE UPDATE:
Theodosis Machairas (AML)

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With survival secured and Cherno More's place in next season's league confirmed, Tongey finally allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The mission he'd been hired for was complete. When he arrived in Varna, the club had been looking anxiously over its shoulder, fearful of what relegation might bring. Now, thanks to months of relentless work, late nights, and an unwavering belief in his methods, the danger had passed. Of course, survival was never the dream. It was merely the first box to tick on a much longer list. Bigger ambitions remained firmly on the horizon, but for once, Tongey wasn't interested in transfer targets, tactical tweaks, or analysing opposition footage. Those thoughts could wait. The summer had arrived, and for the first time in a long while, he intended to enjoy it.

While his assistant, Niko Kranjčar, packed his bags for sunnier shores, Tongey made a different choice. Instead of chasing another destination, he decided to embrace the one he already had. Varna was no longer just the place where he worked; it was becoming home. Mornings were spent wandering through neighbourhoods he'd never explored before, stopping at independent cafés and practicing his Bulgarian with patient locals. His evenings often began with a lesson on Duolingo and ended somewhere along the seafront, searching for the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail as the sun dipped beneath the Black Sea horizon. Nikos accompanied him through it all, observing the world from café terraces and apartment balconies with the quiet confidence only a cat can possess. There would be time soon enough to think about next season, about challenging Bulgaria's elite and pushing Cherno More toward the heights they once occupied. For now, though, football had loosened its grip on his mind. Tongey had earned this summer. Earned the slower mornings, the longer evenings, and the chance to fall in love with a city that was gradually falling in love with him right back.