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itchycoo
Dan
Cymro
I am sure lot of people can say they have done other things ... e.g. taken a Welsh club to Champions League glory and made the Welsh Premier League into a super force. But cheers.
Reza has been an astute signing. Been immense for us. We got lucky in the Olympics, we took teams by surprise.
Cheers itchy, I would say lucky more than anything.
Cheers, can't win everything every time. Olympics will be hard to top.
I will be posting an end of season update soon. Lots of interesting things are happening and a future to be decided upon.
Cymro
My third season in Iranian football and hopefully one that will prove full of fruition for myself and the club. I have been thinking (dangerous at times) but I think this could be my last season with the club. My time in Iranian football is almost up, I want to try and win the League this season before moving on. The killer blow is the fact that the Champions League doesn't run well with the league season in Iran so I won't be entering it until the later stages of the season. The club relies heavily on the generosity of the Chairman and this season like no other he has ploughed money into the club. Long may it continue.
You couldn't script this if you could. Only two losses when it didn't really matter. We had started over like a freight train and this meant we able to secure the league very easily. Victory over Esteghal when we pumped them 4-0 showed our dominance in the league. Gostaresh Foulad also saw the darker side of us. When it clicks we play some beautiful football. But when we don't oh boy we struggle and looks average.
This time we made sure that we were going to win the league. 9 points clear and the biggest margin of victory in the league's history. We really put sides to the sword and it was pleasing to seal another league title.
Unstoppable in the cup and managed to secure and defend the cup. Semi final victory over Pas Hamedan was fantastic, we were really clinical and gave us the momentum required to win the cup. Next season we do the same again.
We made major strides in the Champions League. We took many sides by surprise and have progressed into the latter half of the Champions League. You will think why have I stopped after the second round? Well, more to be revealed later on.
The squad is playing outstandingly well and I feel I have built a competitive squad. Lots of good players and lot of them around the age of 23. There are some quality experienced players and some real young prospects who have the potential to step up to major clubs in Europe.
Some decent prospects have come through in recent years but this is the weakest in my time at the club. I am hoping to use over the coming seasons more and more of these players in hope to cash in on them or produce them for the national team.
More transfers out but little cash received. I was conscious that I need to sell players for money but teams in this league and surrounding countries won't fork out cash for deals half of the time. It makes selling at times impossible. The deals in saw some interesting movements. Brought back former FM superstar Kaebi back to the club. 35 years young but would easily put a shift in for us. Goalkeeper Santangelo arrives from fierce competitors Persepolis and comes with some experience from Manchester United and Reading. Azmoun is arguably the best young Iranian striker at the start of FM, check him out if you can. We managed to prize him away but for quite a hefty fee.
Finances are good. As long as the chairman is here I can't see it ever becoming a real issue. But the aim is to now spend wisely and focus on the great youngsters entering the academy. There are some good prospects at the club and I hope these will provide a backbone to the club and much needed cash.
Key Player Profiles:
Ashkan Dejagah will be known to fans of Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg and Fulham. A long time target and one that I am happy to have signed during my time here. He maybe old but what he brings is a wealth of experience and class. He wasn't exactly fit for most of the season and I knew that would be the risk when I was signing him. When fit and available he was used and did the business for us. I see him having one more season at the club before retiring.
Rahmani is a class act. Been playing expectationally well for us in the hole and has provided few goals but plenty of assists which have allowed others to score. Easily been a welcome signing to the club and one that has had a positive influence on the style of play but also the youngsters who are coming through the club. Without him when I was away in the Olympics I have no doubt the club would have struggled.
The Nigerian master was lethal when fit. He really struggled with fitness and thus it meant his time was restricted in the squad. One of the first names on the team sheet when fit. On the continent he was outstanding and teams struggled to contain him. I am surprised he hasn't been called up for the full Nigerian side. He was outstanding in the Olympics.
Mehdi was once again the playmaker either filling in, in the hole or out wide right. He was a joy this season, again scoring and creating chances. I do question the Iranian manager and his national squad selections. I think I am to blame for his non-inclusion. I have fallen out with him after I said my players should be featuring more.
Need I say more about Reza? He was sublime once again and is seemingly getting better with age. He finally got international recognition and was un lucky to miss out with me for Olympic honours. See him having at least another season before retiring.
Azmoun was quality and played second fiddle to Eronna for most parts of the season. I expect him to feature more next season and really push Eronna. He is a great talent and someone I know I need to use more of.
Want to put a mention out there for my man Taye Taiwo. The Nigerian left back has been one of my shrewdest signings and he's been influential. Maybe 36 but his performances haven't dropped off yet. I hope he can continue because he still has it.
Career Overview
2014 -
2015 -
2016 -
2017 -
2018 -
2019 -
2020 -
2020 -
2021 -
Next Season
Been a real outstanding season but my time here is done. Some news coming up in the next series of posts is going to reveal why. I have enjoyed me time in Iran despite the challenging rules for the league. Maybe not winning a Champions League trophy with Sapia may well haunt me but really I have had enough here. Time to move on and experience a new league.
Cymro
The once mighty Al-Sadd have come calling or rather I called them. I asked them to delay my appointment until end of the season and to be fair they obliged. So I played the season out with Saipa and earned the league and cup double.
Cymro
Despite the board knowing I am off they agreed for me to do my coaching badge. This will be I think my last badge so from here on out I hope it will help me with whatever job I apply for.
Cymro
This was the major factor in me deciding to leave. The financial support was withdrawn and thus ending my interest in making Iranian football one of the best in Asia if not a major force in the world. He had supplied some fantastic money to the club but he only recently took over, well some 3 years ago but not to continue to supply the money is disappointing.
Cymro
And then we were back to this ... time to pack by bags. I'm off to Qatar ... finally.
Cymro
The move away from Iran was needed. I enjoyed my time with Saipa but really it was becoming stale. Al-Sadd are a club that once was home to Spanish legend Raul and I would love to find someone of that ilk to be my icon here. I haven't ever managed in Qatar and the rules here seem very relaxed, can sign and register quite a few foreign talent and qualification residency is just around 4 years. I will look to get some talent in to help aid the Qatar national team too. At the moment the reputation needs rebuilding and is a nice little project to complete.
History of the Club
Al-Sadd Sports Club is a Qatari multi-sports club based in the Al Sadd district of the city of Doha. It competes in the top level of Qatari football, the Qatar Stars League. Locally, it is known primarily by the nickname "Al Zaeem", which translates to "The Boss". The origin of Al Sadd's conception began with four Qatari students whom excelled in football, but did not wish to join any of the existing football clubs. After consulting with the minister of Youth and Sports, the group, led by Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Mubarak Al Ali and Ali bin Mohammad bin Ali bin Sultan Al Ali, founded the club on 21 October 1969 in Qatar's capital city. In the 1989 season, they became the first Arab club side to triumph in the Asian Club Championship by defeating Al Rasheed of Iraq on an aggregate of away goals. Twenty-three years later they were once again victorious in the top regional competition, now known as the Asian Champions League, earning a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. They finished third, becoming the first West Asian side to claim third place in the competition.
Club Profile - Just over a years time Qatar will host the World Cup and I am looking forward to see if that has any impact on the game in terms of youngsters coming through. As for Al-Sadd, well it was a massive club at one stage but has been on the steady decline since the start of the save. They have been bouncing up and down the league in term of position and hopefully under my guidance they will feature regularly in top 3 places on a regular basis. Finances are secure but when you look later on at the finances you will think we have a bit of money to play with.
General Info - Predicted to finish 5th this season but managed to go two better and end in third, I have a sneaky feeling that might well take us into the Champions League which would be a real bonus for me and the club. I had to forfite this seasons effort with Sapia due to moving club. No legends or hero's here, only dreams and opportunities for new players and staff to emerge.
Manager Profile - Things are once again improving slowly. The bars are moving up and I hope to continue this here. I am a little concerned about my media handling stat. I always answer the questions and I believe I make the right decisions. So disappointed to see the bar so low still. Any suggestions on how to improve it? I do like to answer passionately.
Facilities - Our stadium is a good size, and in a good condition. The facilities are excellent and hopefully we shall see some great youngsters emerge from the academy. I might well request for an upgrade there.
Squad 1 The squad possesses some good talent but will need to be improved upon. Going to look to blood some youngsters through as well as sign some decent foreign talent.
Staff - Backroom needs addressing urgently. Simple and as plain as that. I hope we can get the necessary quality of staff that I am seeking.
Finances - Looks more like the Himalayas if you ask me. Lots of peaks and troughs there. That projected balance is a worry. Need to see why we are predicted to lose so much. I really hope that Chairman has deep pockets.
Dan
Johno
Cymro
Johno Cheers, ye quite sexy is it not?
Back in Iran I claimed my second successive Manager of the Year Award. Rack em up.
Cymro
Few of the Saipa boys made the cut, good on them. Massively surprised the right back made it. He went under the radar with me.
Cymro
Pre-season tour / party to Tyneside for the boys then!
Johno
KEZ_7
If you could sort NUFC out with some worldies on the cheap that would be great, ta!
Fola
itchycoo
Will be interesting to see what you can do in Qatar. Good luck!
Cymro
The board has set some realistic challenges here. The league could easily see us challenge the top two sides but it all depends on how the team gel with the new signings.
Cymro
Reza was released after I left Saipa. I was really shocked. He was outstanding. I took him on trial but he wasn't going to displace my wingers or strikers so I decided against offering him a contract. I thought he would pick a deal up. He was crowned Iranian player of the year last season. However the news item popped up to say he had become manager at an Iranian football club. I was disappointed. Easily one of my favourite players on this save.
Cymro
So moving to Qatar at this stage of my journey was going to be an interesting one. Earlier on I had decided to turn down a job here with another promising club in Al-Arabi. But I wanted to see what I could do with Saipa and gave them another chance. Qatar as I mentioned earlier are just about a year or so out from hosting the World Cup, the national side has made some strides forward but are likely to struggle to make an impact on the world scence. Lot of clubs are trying to poach foreign uncapped talent in the hope of them becoming a Qatar national. I am hoping to follow suit to a certain extent. I think I am dealing with an ambitious chairman, he is willing to put some money in but has told me so far that he isn't going to plough much in at this stage. It is down to me with what is going to be a limited budget to bring the squad up to scratch and compete on all domestic and continental fronts.
You couldn't script this if you could. Only two losses but when we needed not to have a loss, it did happen and ultimately cost us the league. We didn't really take a side apart this season and that for me was slightly worrying, not only because in my reign of other clubs on this journey I have been able to do that. Here I haven't been able to do that. I do believe the standard of Qatar players are not as good as that of Thailand, Qatar, Iran and China. So that is something I am looking to address. Our strikers scored plenty. For some odd reason I couldn't get the goalscorers into the screenshot. Will look to address in the near future.
Heartbreak on the final day ensured we failed to clinch the league. We needed a point and we ended up chocking. Our goal difference was not as good as it should have been and as a result Lekhwyia was able to continue their fine form this season and clinch the league. Hard as it is to admit, they were the best side in Qatar this season.
A relatively straight forward cup run and win. One of many cup's I had to contend with. Unreal.
Squeaky bum time came in the Semi Finals but really we never should have put ourselves in such a dangerous position. We are a good side and that was proven as we dispatched Lekhwyia in the Final. Bang on another fine cup victory.
Arguably one of the most pointless cups I have seen. Semi and then a Final. How many more cups man?
So same old story in the Champions League. We are now having to wait until August to find out the next step in the path to Champions League glory. I am very confident we can go all the way. It just depends on injuries to key players and the kindness of the draw.
The squad has gelled well and have begun to understand the style of football I want. I still have some tweaks to make with certain players in regard to their training regimes. I made a few mistakes this season and that cost some players. So I have to go back to the drawing board there and improve. Hopefully next season we shall see a stronger core of Qatar nationals leading the average ratings.
Very pleasing to see the academy has produced some quality in my first year. I will be looking to integrate Al-Sada and Al-Shammari as soon as possible into the first team squad. One thing I would like to achieve in my time here is to bring at least two or three academy prospects through. I did it to a certain extent at Saipa and at BEC I poached some young talent from other clubs, developed them and used them into our first team.
Lots and lots of deals. I tried to bring in youngsters with the view to become Qatari nationals. Backfired with my boys from Costa Rica. They instantly become sensations in Qatar. So they were capped. Imhol Ezekiel is the best Qatar player available so was pleased to have gotten him. Did not play much due to injury but looking for a greater impact in his second season.
Finances are still peaking and troughing. I am really hoping that the chairman delivers some cash for us. Just so I can improve the club's much ageing facilitates. Hopefully the trough's will disappear and we will see a steady peak in the coming year.
Key Player Profiles:
Kramaric was a player I wasn't initially sold on. At first I was all for shipping him out and brining Eronna in from Saipa. I'm sort of glad I didn't. He proved to be an inspirational player for us. His goals and assists were crucial for us. However it wasn't upfront where he found his feet but in the hole. So I was shocked by that. I am looking to sign a decent striker to ensure we have some cover to allow him to play in the hole. Hopefully he will continue and have another strong season for us.
Old Ritzmaler qualified during the season as a Qatari national. I was impressed by this player. Our creative midfielder and inspiration. Tore sides apart with his passing and vision. Hopefully he will have another strong season to ensure we can continue our push for dominance in Asia.
The man brought in on a free from Napoli has proven a success. Offered via his agent and boy oh boy am I happy I took the gamble. He literally has been outstanding. Played outstandingly well up top on his own or wide on the right. Created and finished plenty. Expect him to leave the club in the future to head back to a major European club. Boy is to good for us.
M'Bengue was another player who got capped by Qatar during the season. However his future is uncertain. He has been quite disruptive and I am keen to ship the winger on.
Career Overview
2014 -
2015 -
2016 -
2017 -
2018 -
2019 -
2020 -
2020 -
2021 -
2022 -
Next Season
Plan for the forthcoming season is to continue to progress in the Champions League and also go back and try to knock the top dogs off their perch in the league. It certainly won't be easy but it is a challenge I am looking forward to progress with. I sadly have thought about my next destination too. I am finding I am getting quite bored with clubs fairly easily and sometimes jobs in countries come up which I would love to take on. I am however fully committed to Qatar football and Al-Sadd for that matter. However you just never know what the future holds.
Cymro
Quite surprised I was awarded this but hey. I will take them as they come.
Cymro
Similar to last season and so need to focus heavily on the league and Champions League.
Cymro
New contract so decided to take it. Promised me some upgrades.
Cymro
400 games in this journey is quite extraordinary. I did think I had played more but there we are. Here is to the next 400.
Cymro
Going to play back against former Iranian rivals Persepolis. We managed to walk away from Iran with a draw, which was very pleasing. Persepolis have a very strong squad and as I have said previously we need luck when we go away in this. In the home leg it was all about us a complete different story from the first leg. The same story can be said of the semi final. At home we unplayable, away from home we struggled and relied heavily on soaking up the pressure. Newcastle have some of the best Australian talent so we did really well to progress past them. So a final awaited us against the mighty Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Can we do it?
Cymro
So advantage us. We held on despite the constant pressure from the South Korean top dogs. Literally had to change tactics and soak up the pressure, how we didn't concede is a miracle.
Needed penalties. Had we both scored another goal we would have lost on away goal rules. I knew when it went to penalties it was going to all for us to lose. Certainly the case. I had the boys practising penalties and it paid off. My 4th Champions League trophy. A huge achievement. Now the real work begins. I got to make sure this is not just a flash in the pan and a one off victory. I need go back and defend this crown to show that I am the real deal. I certainly would like to dominate with Al-Sadd again before moving on. Certainly the league too.
Johno
Cymro
Cheers Johno. Really happy I have regained the trophy with another club. We had a whale of a time in the final ... haha ye right.
Johno