bigmattb28 - Comments

Lokomotiva Zagreb 2023 - 2024 season

Well this was unexpected. I’ve gone from Plock in Poland to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. This is a great city in a great footballing country. Okay so Croatia is dominated by Dinamo Zagreb and Hadjuk Split but there’s definitely potential here. This club literally hasn’t won anything! Nothing at all! That’s 1 of the reasons I accepted this job. If I can get some success here I’d be very happy. I have got a lot of plans for this club and I genuinely think I can get this club somewhere, where that is I don’t know but the sky is the limit here.

First things first for me today, and that is making contact with Tiago Dias. I know there’s a few clubs interested in him but hopefully our working relationship and friendship will be the difference in getting him to come here. I know what he can do on the pitch and he changed games for me in Plock, not only that he’s got a lot of upside.



1 thing that I noticed when I took over, the club finished 5th last year but there are 33 players on the books here, and that’s not including players out on loan. But before trying to trim the squad down, I extend 2 players who are here on loan. First up young striker Bruno Borcic on loan from Dinamo. Definitely going to be key to our season I think. Second is versatile wide man Fernando Lewis on loan from VVV in Holland. Fans think he will be a rotation player, but I intend to use him as a first teamer. First permanent signing is in the form of center half Amir Rrahmni and someone who will go straight into the starting line up.







After these were confirmed we got confirmation that Tiago Dias would be singing for us! I am absolutely delighted with this and to complement him the previous manager made 2 deals before he went off to Dinamo. Striker Borna Miklic and full back Ante Ivic both look good and I’ll be expecting big things from both of them



The squad overhaul is now in full swing as we sign Iraqi play maker Humam Tariq on a free transfer and this is a player I am confident will produce some good performances for us this season.



With those deals sorted pre season odds say we’re looking at another 5th place finish. I think as this team finished 5th last year a higher placed finish has to be the aim.



Young full back and new signing Ante Ivic has agreed to go out on loan to Rijeka. A good move I think as I’d rather concentrate on the league and using established players then trying to get young players some game time. His pace will be a valuable asset but I don't think I'll be able to give him much game time this season.





In my first meeting with the team to introduce myself, I told the team I’m looking for a good finish towards the Europa league places. That went down like a lead balloon as everyone in the team disagreed with me, apart form Tiago Dias of course. I’ve been here 5 minutes and it looks like I may have lost the dressing room already, not the start I had in mind. After that center half Denis Kollinger hands in a transfer request after a private chat with me. I’m not too fussed as the squad is huge and although he’s a good player I’m happy I can get around this.



We’ve got pre season out of the way and I’m settling on a 442 at home with a 4-4-1-1 in away games going into the season. I’m confident of achieving success this year. Here’s the team I’m using from the start

Goalkeeper Niklas Lomb


Right back Leandro Marin


Center halves Toni Datkovic & Amir Rrahmani



Left back Fernando Lewis


Right midfield Tiago Dias


Central midfielders Kristijan Jakic & Bojan Knezevic




Left midfield Manfred Osei-Kwadwo


Strikers Borna Miklic & Bruno Borcic




Subs bench consists of GK Filip Vasilj, left back Dorjan Francekovic, center half Igor Bubnjic, attacking midfielder Humam Tariq, midfielder Diego Poyet, wide midfielder Almedin Ziljkic and forward Matej Vuk who is also on loan from Dinamo.


This won’t be my set in stone starting 11. I intend to get Tariq in most games as I tihnk he can be key for us. Same with Poyet, I intend to try and get him in the team as often as possible. This 11 is just how I’m setting up in our first game of the season at home to Slaven Belupo.

So here we are, my first game in Croatia. Lokomotiva Zagreb targeted me as their number one choice to take this club and hopefully go and win something, to show that there’s more than just Dinamo in Zagreb. It’s on my to show what I can do and I’ve been given free reign so far. It’s time to stamp my mark on this team and take Croatia by storm, hopefully.

Here we are, at the end of a tough and long season for me. Time and time again I was on the verge of getting sacked, can I be bothered with going through all that again? What choice do I have, I mean I'm still relatively a nobody in the footballing world, I've got 2 promotions to my name but that's it. I need to think long and hard about what to but first let me see how our end of season stuff











Machaj getting player of the year is no surprise to me as he was a stand out in midfield. Also the fans released our best 11 but I've never been sure how they work that out as Acron was only here 1 season, Varela, Furman and Ricardinho helped get the club relegated as did Urgya.

The phone rings and it's an unknown number calling, now usually I'm a bit sceptical about answer with held numbers but I answer anyway. An unfamiliar voice on the other ends speaks in Polish. ‘Manuel, have you got a minute? I’d like to arrange a meeting’

This is unexpected. Lech sacked the manager, their second this season just and I mean just avoiding relegation finishing 2 points above Slask. Their still a big club. They’re still going to attract big names and could probably challenge at the top end of the league. This season was just a blip and let’s be real, there’s more chance of me winning something there then at Wisla. The interview date is set.

3 days pass and nothing.



Can’t say I wasn’t expecting that outcome really. I’ve not got much about me right now, I think the best thing to do is dust myself off, get my team ready and do everything I can to not only do better than last season but give the cup a good go and show the world just what Manuel Vargas is really made of!

On my way out of the training ground a the clubs press officer Lena Gorska asks for a minute of my time, I oblige.
‘Manuel, what do you think of the mini manager merry -go-round going on?’
‘I’m sorry, what?’
‘Well as you know Sa Pinto has left Legia Warsaw and has gone….’
‘Wait, what?!? Really’
‘Yes really, he’s gone to Borussia Monchengladbach. Anyway, Ronald De Boer has taken over at Legia’
‘Okay that’s a good move for them, a really good move actually. But again, what has this got to do with me?’
‘Well as De Boer has left Dinamo Zagreb to go to Legia, the Lokomotiva Zagreb manager Borimir Perkovic has left to take over at Dinamo’
‘In Croatia?’
‘Yes, Croatia’.
‘Again, why does this concern me?’
‘Don’t you see? You’re the favourite for the Lokomotiva Zagreb job!’
‘Me, really? Why me, what have I done to get linked to a job in Croatia?!?
‘Just embrace it, this could be a good move for you. Plus I’ve already confirmed your interest to the media’





‘You’ve done what?!?’ Just as I said those words, my phone rang.



Okay. This is unexpected. Croatia. World cup runners up in 2018. A decent league dominated by Dinamo and Hadjuk. I attend the meeting with an open mind. I’ve been rejected by every team that has approached me, I have applied for 1 job and that was at Wisla, everyone seemed to just be playing with me. We’ll see how this plays out, I’d be happy to take over at Lokomotiva Zagreb and maybe win something but we’ll see.

A full 2 weeks passes by. During this time I made sure Wisla’s director of football got player and staff contracts tied up. I was given budget info for next season and for the most part it looks likely I’ll be here next season hopefully improving our fortunes. I decide that I am going to sit down with Tiago Dias who’s loan deal is up at the end of the month, as is his contract at AC Milan. Zaragoza, Maritimo and Alaves are all interested in him, so keeping him here is definitely a long shot. As well as that I offer a contract to loan signing Martin Erlic as keeping him here will definitely improve our chances of a good season. But just before I go down to the training ground the clubs secretary says there is someone on hold and I need to take the call.

Back to my office I pick the phone up, and hear 3 words ‘Manuel, it’s time’

Firstly good luck, love Italian football but I'm more Roma than Lazio, however am looking forward to this.

Also you're a Mavs fan from your avatar? I've f=supported Dallas since I got into basketball in 1999!

Did the board not inject any money when they took over? Unless you're in debt surely they would want to give you some funds to improve the playing side of the club. Some tough games coming up in August mate best of luck

Good luck on this quest, interesting place to Start Indonesia.

2 disappointing losses in an otherwise decent 2 months mate. Loads of time to turn things around in the league.

The issue with amateur clubs and professional clubs taking your best players, all part of the challenge though! 3 wins from 3 is a good start, keep it up

Another journeyman save! Love stories going from nothing to the top! Looking forward to seeing where you go!

Well done on the title win! Hopefully you can carry this form into next season

Just getting caught up mate and Some South American leagues are pretty confusing at the best of times but well done on grabbing the title! With that you should get some better players in and be able to compete in the Copa Libertadores, Boca are going to your biggest threat in the group, get a result against them and you never know what could happen. Good luck!

Just catching up not been on here over the weekend. I love stats mate so good to see you post them! Also well done on the league win, whats next for you, are you going to stay or leave on a high?

Just getting caught up mate not been on here over the weekend. Firstly unlucky to get knocked out of the Final series on pens but was a good showing either way. If it was me I'd have maybe stayed to see if we could get the Champs league after you won in the second round but you've landed on your feet in India. I've never done save there, do Indian teams go into the Champs league or is it the Confederations cup they go to? Good luck though am sure you'll do fine.

I'm enjoying this mate, you look unstoppable at the minute! Hopefully this continues for you I've no doubt it will!

3 games 3 wins so far mate looking good, and 3 of your next 4 at home should bring with them some good results all being well.

As a Newcastle fan he;s done well in the handful of games he's played. That cross he made for Perez winner against Watford was sublime.

Back on topic, looking forward to seeing where you go from Dan

Hopefully confidence stays high and this continues for you. Looking good so far man

Congrats on the promotion. Next step surely to consolidate next season then try and push on

Great achievement manager of the year well done. The Libertadores is ace, I've never won it though always get so close yet so far.

Can we press the panic button yet? I asked myself this at least 100 times already. It doesn’t matter that this team has only just been promoted to this division, or that this whole club was on it’s way to becoming an afterthought before I came here, no that doesn’t matter as now I’m precarious in my job status and apparently 1 more bad result and I’m gone. Well if it wasn’t for me this club probably wouldn’t even be in this division! Sour grapes maybe but the players don’t perform the manager gets the abuse, but when the team the manager picks wins they get all the praise and the manager isn’t given credit. Oh well whatever, I’ve got enough about me to try and get this club out of this mess and I’ll be damned if we’re going down, we’re going down fighting!



First up in March are Gornik Zabrze at home. At this point I’m not bothered about the performance, I don’t care if we get 3 own goals scored against us, I don’t care if we get battered all over the pitch just as long as we win the game by any means!



Where oh where has this type of performance been! Let’s forget that new signing Veldwjik scored a brace for 1 minute, lets also forget that we abslolutely dominated this game all over the pitch, but how bad must they have been for left back Nwakali to get a hat trick, a bloody hat trick from a left back!!! Okay they all came from set pieces but whatever, we thumped this lot 6-1! We’ve got to carry this type of form on now and get as far away from the bottom of the league as possible. The news item says he's a playmaker as CM is his natural position, but he's green at most positions and played this game at left back.



Remember when I said Lech Poznan (still a big club despite this form!) are hanging around the bottom of the league with us? Well they’re up next and you know what happened?


It’s amazing what 2 wins can do. Now my board say I’m secure in my job. I’m not sure what to make of this, but we’ve still got a long way to go as the league will split in 2 now and whilst we’ve played well there is still the possibility of relegation. Also how am I supposed to make high profile signings if firstly I struggles to get the few players in I did, and the fact we’re still a promoted team and staying in this league is the only objective this year.





2 more games now before the league splits into the championship and relegation groups, and first up were Katowice away. A fair 0-0 draw however with the last 2 games in mind I can’t help but think this is 2 points dropped. But still not another defeat.



Widzew Lodz next and this was a poor game. A game we threw away in 1 respect as we took the lead and actually looked like adding more but after the break it seemed like they turned up and really took it to us. Poor second half and a poor result going into the split.



The league now splits in 2. The bottom 2 teams are relegated to league 1 and at the start of these 7 games Katowice and Slask are the 2 in the relegation places.



**disclaimer, for the eagle eyed amongst you see if you can spot the glaringly obvious mistake / bug in the next couple of posts. I have logged it as a bug over on the SI forums**

We’re up against Slask first and we got what could prove to be a vital win. Stefan Vico, you know right back Stefan Vico grabbing a brace. It was an end to end type of game as both teams really went for it and both keepers kept the score at 2-1. On another day we could’ve lost this.



We followed up that good win with a 2-2 away draw with Zabrze. Not too upset with this as we’re still doing okay, sort of.



Another draw followed, this time 1 all at home to Katowice. I’d like to close games out and get another win on the board to ease our relegation fears but we move on



Now we’re talking as we managed a win over Widzew Lodz. Despite the red card we managed to hold on and get some vital points on board toward the end of the season.



Good job we did manage to get that win over Widzew as we went down to Lodzi after going ahead. Another game we threw away a lead to lose. It could’ve been worse had they converted that penalty but a loss is still a loss.



Lech Poznan up next and a win here would guarantee our safety in the league, and a win is what we got. A pretty nervy game but both teams went at it for the win and we managed to take our chances whereas Lech didn’t.



Last up in a meaningless game were Zaglebie and with our survival mathematically confirmed we set up just to enjoy the game and we managed a 1 all draw despite being second best in this game. I’m not concerned, we survived and that’s the main thing.





Also confirmation that Lechia Gdansk won the league. Well done to them I guess.



So that’s that, we made it, well I made it to the end of the season. Despite it looking very likely I’ll be given the boot I managed to keep this team in the league. We finished in 4th place in the relegation group, 6 points above Slask who were unfortunately relegated. I literally haven’t thought about next season at all, I’m not sure if I’m going to stay here, all the will they won’t they sack me carry on really made me think I’m not as highly thought of here as I thought I was. I took this team and got them back here, not only that I made sure they’re going to be here next season as well. What more do they want, this club could’ve so easily gone on a downward spiral and stuffed it last year but because of me it didn’t it. Call me a narcissist but there’s 1 man and 1 man alone responsible for steadying the ship, getting the team together last year and promoted, and for keeping this team in the league and that’s me, Manuel Vargas!




Next post will be what happens after this season, if I stay or go and end of season stuff. Thanks for reading, I appreciate it!

I know right! I'm favoured personnel as well, so if they do decide enough is enough then so be it. We'll see what the future brings, I'm not confident of staying however.

Wow that's a lot of friendlies! On the transfer thing, I;m sure it was 17 (I gave up on 18) that Australian clubs couldn't buy or sell between them. Not sure if that's changed seeing as Ricciuto joined the Mariners, still Ki is a good signing (I'm a Newcastle fan for my sins) he's been good for us so I'm sure he'll tear the A League up. Just the FFA final to set you up for a no doubt successful threepeat of the Grand Final

I'm in the same boat as @r96Skinner I never knew they were in the third, half thought they were in Bundesliga 2. If you search the term fallen giant I;m sure Kaiserslauterns wiki pages comes up. Joking aside am sure you'll do fine. Good luck!

That's a very good point man, however Maritimo are currently 6th in the league I'm not holding my breath. I'll be lucky to still be at Wisla by next week

Yeah it sure feels that way. I'm hoping we can just get to where the league splits in 2 with me still there, I honestly think anything can happen when the league splits so fingers crossed.

It’s an eerily familiar feeling, we’re not playing well, we’re not getting decent results and the fans are on my back. It takes me back to my time at Oleiros where this kind of thing happened there, we went on a poor run and lost 6 in a row before I changed things up and we went on a pretty decent run towards the end of that season so maybe I change it up here? Maybe I go and completely rejig the team. No, not yet. I’ve had an idea on how we’re setting up each game and don’t want to deviate away from that, just yet. I’m going to give it 1 more game before changing things.

First game up after the winter break we’re at home to Korona, and we need a win or at the very least a draw and a good performance. We set up as we have most of the season in a flat 442 and the intention is to take to them. We make a break through early in the first half and never looked back. The game was sealed when Fidalgo grab a late second and my word did we need this victory!





Confirmed just after our game was that Nuno Espirito has been chosen as the man to lead my club Sporting Lisbon after Jorge Jesus left for England. Not a bad replacement and I will be keeping a keen eye on how he gets on



This popped up before our next game against Slask



This is a bit worrying, the club haven’t made any moves to secure my services at the minute, and with a few more bad performances their hand may be forced sooner.

Slask have been poor in the league and are near us in the bottom half. Praying we carry the form from the last game into this one. Not even close. I’m very concerned with this performance hopefully it’s just a blip.



Rounding off January was another piss poor showing as we got dismantled 3-0 away to Zaglebie. I’ve got to sort this out somehow, the transfer window is coming up, but with how much I struggled in the window before the season I’m not hopeful of improving my team with new signings.







Not only that but unsurprisingly my job is currently insecure.










Next game sees us at home to Pogon looking for a win to try and ease the pressure, and you know what happened? We got thumped despite it being a pretty end to end game but it’s the result that matters. Hopefully we can pick ourselves up and try and move on from this.



Captain Stefan Vico gives a public show of support but my job is now very insecure. It looks like only a matter of time before I’m given the boot





So it is looking more and more likely I am to be given my P45, how would my team respond in our next game against Cracovia? We lose, again, obviously. The red card didn’t help as it was still only 1 nil then and at 1 nil there’s always a chance but not on this day.





Somewhat surprisingly I’m still here after that game, however the media are quick to point out that a bad result against Piast in our next game could be my final game as Wisla Plock manager



Can you believe it, another poor result. At home I thought we might just take it to them but they were the better team all around and the team never looked like giving me any hope of staying in this job.







The bad news keeps coming as Tim Krul is more or less ruled out for the rest of the season, however the cynic in me says hopefully our back up keeper Dahne steps in and maybe, just maybe improves our results. We’ll see.



There’s 1 game left in January and it’s against Lechia Gdansk who more or less didn’t even break a sweat and absolutely destroyed us, destroyed morale and probably destroyed my chances of staying here.







After that abysmal performance we managed 2 signings on deadline day, not for want of trying but I just couldn’t get any players to come in, none that I felt would improve our team however. First in is center half Martin Erlic on loan from Verona.





Next in was striker Lars Veldwijk on loan from Sparta. Hopefully he can get us some goals to try and keep us in with a shout of staying up.





Closing out this update, I am greeted with an interview request from Maritimo in Portugal's top division. I’m actually surprised at this, surely they’re not considering me on current form? I attend the interview and wait and see what happens. Highly doubt anything will come of it.



This run of form has to end somewhere right. We struggled to score goals as well as stopping goals going in, maybe just maybe our 2 new loan signings will have a fire in them to do well and hopefully give us, and me the best chance of survival.

The league splits in 2 after the next 3 games with us in the relegation group where the bottom 2 go down. Lech Poznan are playing badly and we’ve got them coming up so we might just get a result there who knows. 1 thing for sure is I am bewildered how I’m still here, job status is insecure and with every game there is the media saying this is the 1 where I get sacked. I want to stay and try and keep this team up this season however if I fail and do end up getting the sack what will that do for my future chances? I won’t give up, however I think some of my may have already given up themselves.

Thanks for reading!

Hopefully you can repeat last seasons title win and get back to back victories. Maybe with the new signings you can really push on and win the champions league this time around.

I love bringing back favoured personnel to the club I'm managing so good to see you've done the same, hopefully Lemos can contribute to some success for you and only 2 losses in that round of games is good going mate. Keep it up.

Absolute awesome result there mate back to back grand champions! I can see a dynasty emerging here!

Whilst there is a big gap between you and third upwards, not that bad a season so far mate considering this is where you're expected to be. Maybe the difference in quality between you and those above is a touch too far at the minute,