On a quest to be the best. [FM15]

Hard luck there fella. Amazing to see Anji fall to relegation. Interesting to see Torpedo Moscow there too. Any jobs available?

Anji were in and out the top tier on mine but as far as I was aware they didn't then fall out the second tier too!

They've been struggling for a while on my save iirc Cymro but it's still surprising to see them suffer relegation, there's currently one job available in Russia, a big job that I'd be pretty stupid NOT to apply for.


After resigning from my position as manager of Amkar I needed to start looking for a new job and when a certain big job in Russia became available I felt the need to apply for it or it's one I'd end up probably 'regretting' as I wouldn't know when it would become available again, the previous manager decided to retire from football after over 24 years at the helm.




It's a dream job as I've been appointed the new manager of Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg, agreeing a one year deal at Zenit-Arena and if it all goes to plan then I'll be done at the club within one season and potentially three trophies secured as well. They've given me a transfer budget of £60 million and I don't think I'll spend it as I'm happy with the squad I've inherited.


And this confirms the pressure that will be on me from the very beginning, Zenit have won the Russian Premier League title the past EIGHTEEN seasons and if I don't make it nineteen-in-a-row then I'd fear the chop, but I've to be confident as I won't be signing any players for the first team and that's mainly due to not finding anyone who'd be an improvement.

Very much like my save, Zenit have dominated the Russian tier year after year and its a job I was/am waiting to become available

It would've been surprising if someone else had dominated Russian football Dan.


Didn't think I would have 'landed on my feet' so quickly here in Russia but when the Zenit St. Petersburg job became available after the previous manager retired from football, it's a job I needed to apply for as it means I've a real possibility to chalking three trophies off here in Russia all being well.


Ended up bringing in four players this summer, well three as the signing of Cesar was confirmed before I arrived at the club but I did sign Mikhall Lobanov for £14.5m while I 'raided' former employers Grasshoppers to sign central midfielder Lopes and centre back Nurbiy Andreev for a conbined £30 million and I expect them both to be in the first team.

The one major departure this transfer window would see defensive midfielder Giannis Charisis join English Premier League club Manchester City for £15.75 million as he wanted to leave and I didn't want him to disrupt the harmony at the club while Maxim Mamedov left on loan and Giovani went to Kuban for a million pound - David Rodriguez left the club and retired from football before I came through the door.


Pre season went quite well, remaining unbeaten from our seven friendlies - winning five of them and keeping three clean sheets, our first game of the competitive season will be the Russian Super Cup against Russian Cup winners CSKA Moscow.

Good luck at Zenit!

Cheers Benniewijs


"Welcome to St. Petersburg", that's the first thing the clubs owners said to me to make me feel wanted at the football club and I've completed the first part of the twenty sixty three/twenty sixty four season at Zenit and it's been a good season to date, except on the European front as I failed again at another club to make an impression in the Champions League.

Russian Super Cup:


And that's trophy #1 in Russia signed, sealed and delivered as we beat CSKA Moscow 3-0 to lift the Russian Super Cup and truth be told, it should have been so much more as we dominated. Star Ukrainian striker Oleg Nechay scored a second half double after Sergey Usanin had given us the lead.



Russian Cup:


This competition isn't deemed important by the Zenit board but no disrespect is intended but I want to win every trophy possible - important or not - and we remain in the Russian Cup after seeing off Alania and Ural in the fifth and sixth rounds, we'll face Dinamo Moscow in the quarters and I expect progression, especially with home advantage.

Champions League:


Yes, once again I have struggled in the Champions League and failed to get through the group stages after finishing third which means we'll go into the Europa League and I'm very disappointed as I expected progression and the board are disappointed because they expected a minimum of a quarter final place.

League - Premier Division:


It's been pretty much plain sailing in the league though even with three frustrating defeats against Terek, Baltika and Kryija Sovetov but we've entered the winter break with a five game unbeaten streak and that's something I'd love to maintain as the league needs to be won for the nineteenth time in succession. Keeping ten clean sheets from the opening seventeen games can't be sniffed at either.


When the league resumes in March, thirteen league games will be remaining but I can't get carried away as we've only got a six point lead at the summit over Terek who are obviously in second place and we've scored forty eight goals in the opening seventeen games and conceded only fifteen so far. I'd love to maintain the good form and wrap up an expected (in the fans' eyes probably) treble.

Surprising to see how you struggle in the CL year after year however always dominate domestically

Cracking start to life with Zenit.

Great domestic start with Zenit. CL was though with competition from Italy and England. Title is very much within reach!

To say it's frustrating is an understatement Dan and something I can't quite explain.

Cheers Cymro.

Cheers Benniewijs, I didn't realise how tough opposition bloody Newcastle were going to be as they beat me twice, beat Dinamo twice and beat Juventus once - I suppose I should be 'satisfied' with Europa League football? I'm not though.


The second part of the campaign is upon us and it's been an enjoyable stint at Zenit to date and when the season is done and dusted, well I'd love, an expect a domestic treble and with the Russian Super Cup done and dusted, that leaves just the Russian Cup and Russian Premier League to triumph in.

Europa League:


First things first and the club entered the Europa League after Christmas and crashed out in the quarter finals, losing to Russian league rivals CSKA Moscow 4-1 on aggregate (lost 2-1 at home and 2-0 away, both deserved in my opinion) but in the previous rounds we beat Swiss side St. Gallen 9-5 on aggregate and then German side Jena 6-5 on aggregate, having to turn around a first leg defeat before our exit to CSKA.

Russian Cup:


I'm absolutely delighted to have wrapped up the Russian Cup as we beat Rubin Kazan in style in the final, winning 5-1 but it wasn't an easy road to the final as we beat to beat fellow top flight Moscow sides Dinamo and Lokomotiv in the quarters and semis before lifting the trophy.



League - Premier Division:


Just one league defeat came in the second half of the league campaign and annoyinly it came to fellow title challengers Lokomotiv Moscow as they 'demolished' us 4-1 away from home while the side also dropped points against Khimki, Kuban and Kryija Sovetov but was the six game unbeaten run enough to see us crowned Premier Division champions and wrap up a domestic treble?


Yes, yes it was but holy moly did we try and make it difficult for ourselves as we only finished three points clear of runners-up Lokomotiv who will also participate in next seasons Champions League. We couldn't have asked for a more annoying final game as our 4-1 win away to Arsenal Tulu saw us play without our first choice 'keeper and entire first choice back four but it didn't stop us celebrating.




Just one season it took but after wrapping up all three domestic trophies at Zenit, I have tendered my resignation after not even a year in the vacancy but after being crowned Super Cup, Russian Cup and Premier Division champions, well it made no sense to remain at the club. Good luck to whoever takes charge but the board will expect a TWENTIETH league succession.

Just one season was spent at Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg but a domestic treble was secured and that meant my stint at the biggest club in Russia ended under one year and now I've decided to leave Russia and head to Ukraine for the first time in this career and I've enjoyed managing in this country before, I'm sure I'll be a success once again.


Despite winning the league last season, predicted to finish second, the clubs previous manager decided to head to pastures new and that meant the Shakhtar Donetsk job became available and I couldn't say no. They've offered me a one year deal (perhaps down to my elderly age and un-loyalty) and a transfer budget of almost nine million but that may need to be reduced to help the wage budget.

Good Luck in Ukraine.... Shaktar will be a good club to clinch the title and cup!

As much as I'd love to have as much success as I did at Zenit here Benniewijs, it's going to be difficult.


After taking over the league champions Shakhtar, I was confident in having a success stint here in the Ukraine for the first time in this career as I utilized the same tactic I've used for this entire career, I believed in my abilities to wrap up all three domestic trophies available at the football club but unfortunately sometimes things don't go to plan . . .




It was a horrible stint in the Ukraine as the club stuttered throughout my spell which resulted in me being sacked after only 116 days or something like that. We failed to win the Ukrainian Super Cup, losing to Metalist but the only thing that frustrated me the most was the clubs inability to qualify for the Champions League group stages, losing in the play-off to Finnish side HJK which angered me. I leave the club lying down in eleventh place in the Premier League.

A 6-3 away defeat to league favourites Metalist signalled the end for me in Donetsk . . .

Wow! Both on horrible runs it seems with 'top clubs'

FACT: Shakthar have now sacked both of us!

Lol Always hard to start at a top club it seems. I a way most of us want to shape the team to our own system and with our own players........ With a top club you don't have time to do this. You need results directly.

Just couldn't get started at Shakhtar unfortunately and I can almost guarantee I'll return in the future Dan.

Sometimes I don't find it that hard to begin with a top club, especially when they've quality players already on board Benniewijs but sadly the players couldn't get used to my tactics and I deservedly got the chop.


Unfortunately my last managerial job at Shakhtar turned out to be a complete and utter disaster which led to me getting the chop after one hundred and sixteen days but I have returned with one objection, I want to conquer Germany once and for all and I hope this is the job that'll see that happen but as usual, it won't be easy.


With the club struggling in the second tier, Frankfurt parted company with their previous manager as they're predicted to win the league and I had no issues with applying for the vacancy and when I was offered the post, I wasted no time in accepting it.

I've agreed a two year deal at Commerzbank-Arena and the board expect me to finish above mid-table now in the expectations but I still feel the club can challenge for the Second Division title and I've been given a £10.25 million pound transfer budget that won't be used this transfer window.


They're lying down in eighth place and that was enough for them to sack their previous manager but they're eight points behind leaders Wolfsburg but I'm targeting at least a third place finish, we're also twelve points above third bottom Braunschweig so it's important we do not slip into a relegation battle.

When I arrived at Frankfurt to become the new manager, I was unveiled to the spectators and media immediately as I had to prepare the team for a trip to Bochum the very next day - I had no time to settle or get a chance to know who the players are but I just wanted to get started as I looked to try and achieve a minimum of a play-off spot.

League - Second Division:


With just three league defeats during my first sixteen games, it was quite an enjoyable stint but we also drew five games which could ultimately cost us a play-off spot but I hope it won't. The most annoying defeat in my stint was a 3-1 reversal against relegation threatened Halle at home, they battered us for crying out loud.


It was always going to be a tough ask but indeed we have missed out on the one and only play-off place as Hamburg St. Pauli 'pinched' it on the final day as we drew at relegated Rostock and they beat Kaiserslautern at home. One more season in the second tier may not do us much harm as I can try and 'stamp' my authority on the team and sign my own players.

Missing out by a point is always hard luck especially on the final day of the season chap! that draw to Rostock really cost you¬

It turns out one of those defeats cost me in the end Dan, it's heartbreaking but I hope we'll go one better this upcoming season.


After finishing fourth last season, I'm entering my first full season at second tier side Frankfurt and once again I'm expecting pressure on the lads as I expect the board to expect the league title or at the very least, a title challenge but whatever they choose, it won't be easy to achieve and that's a fact.


It's just what I expected, the minimum expectation from the board is that the club win the Second Division title this season but I can guarantee that it won't be a given as their is many good sides in this division, including the ones who have been relegated from the top tier. Because I needed to modify the wage budget, I've been given a transfer budget of just under three million pounds.


As I wanted to stamp my authroity on the team, I have brought in no more than ten players this summer but obviously I'm not sure how many will actually be first choice for the club. Four of the players have joined the club on a season loan - Sam Leitch (Rangers), Nnaemeka Abduilahi (Barcelona), Stephen Forsyth (Celtic) and Jake Weight (Norwich) while I spent money on one player, left winger Pau Castillo who cost £125k from Barcelona "B". David Bergmann, Theo Masson, Jorg Mooy, Dejan Vranicar and Mustafa Tugrul also joined the club but on free transfers.

Just one major departure this transfer window saw experienced striker Hideki Yasuri join Lekhwiya for a million pound while Oliver Rinke, Jorge Pavez and Taulant Danaj left the club when their contracts expired.


It turned out to be a mixed pre season on the field was the club won just two of the five scheduled friendlies.

It's time for a mid-season update in what is my first full season in charge of Frankfurt and it hasn't been a bad campaign to date as we only need to wrap up the Second Division league title and then that's a ninth European country chalked off the list. Due to all the signings I have made (see previous update), it'll be interesting to see how quickly they gel when the competitive action begins.

German Cup:


I'm glad this trophy was chalked off when I was Dortmund iirc because our chances to win the German Cup this season evaporated after a second round exit to fellow second tier side and my former employers, Wolfsburg who won 3-0 at their place - we had beaten another Second Division side Braunschweig 3-1 in the first round.

League - Second Division:


It's been an enjoyable first part of the campaign, even if we did lose four times to Gladbach, Bochum (for some reason the scoreline has messed up on the screenshot, they won 4-3), Greuther Furth and 1860 Munich but I can't complain. We should have headed into the winter break with a home success over Wolfsburg but despite dominating we were held to a one all draw, the visitors only had the one shot on target the entire ninety minutes.

I've been delighted with how the loanees have done so far this campaign - Nnaemeka Abdullahi, Stephen Forsyth, Sam Leitch and Jake Weight have all been vital.


And we'll be heading into the final fifteen league games in pole position but with only a two point lead over second placed Hertha Berlin and a three point lead over 1860 Munich who are third but it's been a good campaign so far and it's important that's maintained until the very end if we want to be crowned champions.

Not the cleanest first half of seasons but enough to be sitting top, keep that going

Good to be in pole position. Yours to lose.

Aye it was a mixed first part of the season Dan but like you said, at least we're currently sitting top of the table. Now it's important that's maintained if we want to try and secure the Second Division title and finally chalk Germany off once and for all.

It's still going to be tough Cymro, no doubt about it.


With a mixed first part of the season behind us, I was just pleased to be sitting top of the table and now it was important that we found some consistency in the second part of the league campaign as I'd love to secure the league title and conclude Germany once and for all but it's still going to be very, very difficult.

League - Second Division:


Wow, now that's some excellent form in the second part of the Second Division season as we only lost twice in the remaining fifteen league games, drawing the other win and winning the remaining twelve league fixtures and we also kept four clean sheets in the remaining fifteen games. Was it enough though to finally secure the Second Division title and complete Germany once and for all?


Yes it was, an excellent campaign has seen Frankfurt crowned as German Second Division winners, finishing nine points clear of second placed Bochum who have also been promoted while Borussia Mönchengladbach have had to deal with the relegation/promotion play-off spot against the team who finished third bottom in the Bundesliga. Former employers Wolfsburg could be returning to the third tier if they lose their relegation/promotion play-off.




And with the league being secured and Germany being concluded, I have tendered my resignation as Frankfurt manager with immediate effect. It was an enjoyable season and a half at Commerzbank-Arena but when the Second Division title was secured this season, remaining at the club made no sense. Good luck to whoever takes charge, next season is going to be tough.

Good job winning the league!

Well done on ticking Germany off, a place I've loaded but yet to venture into! Good luck on your next appointment!

Good luck for the next job!

Cheers Benniewijs.

It took a quite a while Dan but I'm pleased it's finally been done and dusted, I've enjoyed managing in Germany.

Cheers KEZ, not sure what country I'm heading too next.


Following my resignation at German side Frankfurt after winning the Second Division title, I decided to wait for my next managerial appointment and thus I ended up managing in the Netherlands for the first time in this long term career - but who have I chosen to manage?


I have agreed to become the new manager of Utrecht who decided to sack their manager following relegation from the Eredivisie and I'm sure the pressure will be on me next season as I'm sure the Jupiler League title will need to be won. I've been given a one point six million transfer budget but I'll need to adjust it to help the wage budget. I've been given a one year deal.

Once again I've agreed no philosophies and board requests as that means they'll be no extra pressure on me.


This is just conformation that Utrecht have been relegated from the Eredivisie after they lost to Vitesse in the relegation/promotion play-off. Just the nine wins for Utrecht last season saw them finish second bottom in the top flight and they've been relegated alongside Volendam and RKC Waalwijk - my job is to bounce the club back to the Eredivisie.

Utrecht relegated and Vitesse Promoted ! Wow what happened in Holland. Good luck with getting them back to top level. Maybe you can even win the Eredivisie in 2 years!

Good luck in Holland mate, can't believe its a country I've already ticked off!