My big fat greek career

[George_©]

Update....

Was just offered the job of replacing "current US" coach as the coach of the US Mens National Team....I took the job.

Expectations?  Uphold the country's honour in every match....wtf?

[Deus]

watch the player naming...

[Adz EFC]

KUTGW in Greece    Hopefully that meddling chairman won't do anything as annoying next season.

Congrats on getting the US job.  Bit surprised by the expectations.  The US strike me as being more competitive these days.

[George_©]

Ilysiakos Greek Superleague 2015/2016

Transfers

IN:  10 for 3.6M

OUT:  7 for 6.1M

Summary

I will keep this brief as I was extremely frustrated this season.  Brought in a couple of really good youngsters, but my chairman decided that he hates me and halfway through the season he proceeded to sell off most of my good youngsters.  At the halfway mark he sold my best three ST, my best two young DC, and my GK.  I resigned.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I had asked the board to increase stadium capacity every season and nothing has happened so they decide to sell off our players to make some money.

I had had enough and I walked out.


US National Team 2016-2017

Well, even though I my reputation was now national, and I was coaching the US, I couldn't seem to land a good job.  I was offered plenty, but they were in the German third division or something else that I felt I was more qualified for.  So, I spent a good solid year without a domestic job and focusing on the US team.

Confederations Cup

An amazing campaign.  We breezed through our weak group and drew spain in the Semi's.  A great match saw it tied up 1-1 at full time and we went into extra time with one of our younger MC scoring a screamer in the 110th minute for us to make the final.

The final however, was not a great match.  We were up against Argentina and at the half were down 0-3.  We did get a couple back, but in the end lost 2-4 and we were runners up and I was happy with that.

Gold Cup

Again, breezed through a group that included some utter s**te teams.  Played Honduras in the semi's and blew them away 6=1.  Mexico awaited us in the final and it was a great match with both teams creating chance after chance but just not scoring.  In the end it was our keepers mistake that let mexico edge us out 0-1.



After a full season off from domestic coaching I ttok a job at recently relegated Atromitos in the Greek NAtional B.  Atromitos is (was) an established Superleague club and had a great stadium and excellent finances.  They were favorites to go right back up so I figured I might be able to take them farther than I did Illysiakos....we shall see.

[George_©]

Atrimitos Athens 1923 National B 2017

Transfers

IN:  4 for 0K

OUT:  0 For 0K

Summary

I took a job with Atrimitos after over a season off of domestic football.  It still wasn't were I wanted to be, but we were touted as the favorites to win the National B and move up to the Superleague.

I was only with Atrimitos for about 2 months when I was offered a much better job with HNK Rijeka in the Croatian First Division.  I took the job and left with Atrimitos in 1st place.



Croatian First Division 2017/2018

Summary

I came to Rijeka with them flailing in the relegation zone in 11th.  They were pegged for 4th and had actually won the First Division two seasons ago.  The club was rich, had a good stadium and I felt this was a side I could take far.  I wasn't able to bring in any players in my time here, but I did what I could and pulled Rijeka back to a respectable position...barely.

I feel that I can definitely challenge in this league with some good signings....we shall see.

Final Tally

8th 33P 10-7-16 45F 57A -12 37pts

Next Season Objectives

Get some defenders.  I have a decent set of ST, but our defense is outstandingly bad and that needs to be sorted out.  I firmly believe this team can challenge for the title and have set a goal of 3 season to get there...and also get farther in the Champions League than Rijeka did in their last visit, which was to not win a game.




US National Team 2017

Qualified for the World Cup in 2018.  Will update that as it is about to start.

[Sesquipedalianist]

Wait - how do you explain the jump to the US National job?  Sorry but I just don't see how someone who is managing a club in Greece that's only finished around the middle of the pack of the top league would even be considered for a national team job let one from another continent.

[George_©]

Wait - how do you explain the jump to the US National job?  Sorry but I just don't see how someone who is managing a club in Greece that's only finished around the middle of the pack of the top league would even be considered for a national team job let one from another continent.

My thinking is that I am american in the game and managing overseas would've given me the opportunity to see the better US players?  I didn't think much of it really............


edit...

and to be fair....the former US coaches have only had MLS experience...and having been to MLS matches before, it's kind of like going to see League 2 teams play...I would say the Greek Superleague might actually be better experience?...maybe.

[Ben OBagels]

If he's got his nationality set as American then I don't see it being all that out to be honest. After all, it's only the USA.

[George_©]

When naming my squad, I angered some of the fans apparently.  I decided not to call up aging current goldenballs Galaxy team mate and went with a young ST playing for Olympiakos.  The fans were not convinced and the press statement read that I was focusing on players playing outside the US...and who wouldn't?  The MLS is s**te!!  lol...

Anywho...here is a rundown of my adventures with the US in the world Cup 2018 hosted by Spain.

Came into the competition ranked 18th in the world.  this was a climb from 30th when I took over.  

Drawn into group F with Nigeria, Bosnia and Heblahblah (hehe), and turkey.

US v Nigeria - 1-1
US v B&H  2-1 win
US v Turkey 2-2

Qualified for the 2nd stage.

Drawn against England

Now....being an American, but living in England...in real life I honestly would be pulling for England.  Afterall, I will have my english citizenship in a couple of years and have no intentions of ever moving back....so, that out of the way...

US v England......  1-0 win.

Drawn against Germany in the Quarter Finals.

US v Germany.... 4-1 win.  This was a surprise, but new callup scored a hat trick and is leading the competition now in goals scored.

Semi Final

US v Holland  3-4 loss.  A cracking match really...can't complain about the loss at all as this was farther than I thought we would get.  To be fair, injuries were starting to take their toll on the team.  Current US young over rated superstar was hurt for this match, and he was a massive loss.

Third place play-off

US v Denmark 1-2 loss in extra time.  We had three players get hurt in this match, including young ST, current new Fulham signing ST, and a DC....

Finished 4th place.


*edit*

btw...Brazil won the world cup, with Holland finishing runners up and Denmark in 3rd...oh and current ARSEnal Danish MF, played amazing during the world cup.

[Sesquipedalianist]

Yes but MLS is the top tier competition of the US thus it makes sense.  Its just my opinion (it is your game after all), I know I took a national job whilst in Sweden which in hindsight I shouldn't have taken.

[George_©]

Yes but MLS is the top tier competition of the US thus it makes sense.  Its just my opinion (it is your game after all), I know I took a national job whilst in Sweden which in hindsight I shouldn't have taken.

Hmm....I think it's ok really.  imo, I think if an american were managing in the top tier of any other league they would be chased.  Just my opinion...you are making me doubt my decision, but it still seems pretty realistic to me.

Damnit Sesq!!!  

[Deus]

Hmm....I think it's ok really.  imo, I think if an american were managing in the top tier of any other league they would be chased.  Just my opinion...you are making me doubt my decision, but it still seems pretty realistic to me.

Damnit Sesq!!!  

An american managing in Wales or Iceland would be considered for the national job?

[JP]

TBF I'm hard pushed to think of many high profile US born managers.  The MLS currently has just 5 of its 15 managers/head coaches being US nationals and the 3 future franchises don't have a US manager among them.

Managing in a top flight European league as a US national may be enough to get you the job.  I'd say that if your reputation is equal to, or better than the other viable US managers at the time then it's a fair move.

[Ben OBagels]

Looking back at the managers the US national team has had since the beginning of the 90's, I wouldn't say seem to have managed clubs all that big before being national team manager. Between 91-95 they had a Mexican (as in someone from the nation who's their massive rivals and from what I gather, in football at least, they really don't like, although admittedly his is Serbian by birth) who'd had a few seasons in Mexico, managed the Mexican national team, then went to Udinese for a year then Costa Rica for a year between 95-98 they had someone who's managerial experience was all high school and university teams, between 89-91 they had a Hungarian who'd managed a university team and the U20's national team, and their manager from 1998-2006 was someone who'd spent 76-95 managing university teams, managed the Olympic team in 96 then spent a couple of years in the MLS before becoming national senior team manager.


George has been managing in the top tiers of decent European leagues for a while now, he's an American in game and whilst he's not exactly set the world alight have any of the above examples?

[Sesquipedalianist]

The way I see it you're trying to make a square hole circle to fit a circle block.

I don't really want to make a big deal about it, it was my opinion on the matter, so I'll say so no more on the matter.


Oh and George this was in no way me questioning your 'spirit' or LLM ethos.

[George_©]

An american managing in Wales or Iceland would be considered for the national job?

hehe...I did say top tier european leagues.    lol

Oh and George this was in no way me questioning your 'spirit' or LLM ethos.

Oh, I know that....you were just making a fair point.  I really didn't even think much about it at all when it was offered.  I had been offered national team spots in previous saves before that I turned down just cause they seemed out of whack...but this one really seemed ok with me.

George has been managing in the top tiers of decent European leagues for a while now, he's an American in game and whilst he's not exactly set the world alight have any of the above examples?

This is exactly why I didn't think anything of getting offered the job.  Given the past US managers experience, I felt that mine in game was up to par for the job...and when I was offered the job, 6 players that were called into the squad were playing in the Greek Superleague.

[George_©]

HNK Rijeka Croatian First Division 2018/2019

Transfers

IN:  10 for 8.25M.  I had a 10M budget to play with and set out bringing in an entirely new back 4 and GK.  I also signed two very good looking young MC, and 1 new ST as my best one from last season refused to re-sign.

OUT:  10 for 375K.  Mostly all expired contracts.  Did get a couple of offers for some aging veterans that were never going to play for me.

Summary

A very up and down season.  We started out the campaign not conceding a goal in our first 5 matches.  Problem was that we weren't scoring anymore either.  This led to many draws and we were both the best defensive team and the worst scoring team come the mid point of the season.  A slight tweak in my tactics to take advantage of a playmaker I had turned things around a bit.   We finished the season on a strong note going unbeaten in our last 7 matches to finish within the european spots...europa league qualifying, here we come!!

Final Tally

5th 33P 15-10-8 37F 30A +7 51pts

In the croatian cup, we made it to the Semi-Final, losting out 6-1 on aggregate.

Next Season Objectives

I would like to say make it out of the qualifying stages of the Europa league, but I have no idea what to expect there.  In terms of the league, I think we can push a little higher next season.  I would like to challenge for the title, but that might be a bit far off still as Zagreb ran away with it on 83 pts....oh, and check out this final tally for the rock bottom team in the league....

Sesvete 12th 33P 1-3-29 18F 80A -62 6pts.....

How miserable would that have been to be a fan of that team?!?!?!

[TomTwice]

Well done on European qualification. Pity your team didn't play like that earlier.

I've only seen one season worse than that from Sesvete in all my time on FM. Pure crapness.

[Daedalus]

Sounds like a pretty decent season. What was your predicted finish?

[George_©]

Sounds like a pretty decent season. What was your predicted finish?

We were predicted 6th, so not to much of an improvement over that.  The board expected European qualification through a league finish, which we just managed to do.

[aaron70]

Good season in Croatia mate.

Ses...IRL Greece has a higher rep than the MLS and since he is an American in a Euro league that is rated higher than the MLS taking the job seems fair Round peg into a round hole

[George_©]

Thanks Aaron!!

HEre is a quick update as something dramatic has just happened...well, dramatic as it was rather unexpected.

I was linked with the job at Wisla Krakow is Poland and I said that I was interested in the job.  I was promptly sacked!!  

I don't understand why...this was the first time I had said anything, but apparently the board didn't like it...so, with the season about to start, I was unemployed...for 3 days.

Modena came calling my way from the Italian Serie B.  This may seem like a step down, but I am getting paid more money, have a higher trasnfer budget, and a higher wage budget.  We are the odds on favorite for promotion to Serie A.

At the time of writing this, I haven't even looked at the squad yet, but wanted to post the update.  I am a little sad to leave HNK Rijeka as I felt I was building a good squad, but I will probably keep an eye on how they are doing.

What frustrated me the most is that Wisla Krakow ended up not sacking their manager...b*****ds!!  

[HUNT3R]

That sounds a bit harsh George. I'm guessing the Croatians do not like wandering eyes much. Good luck at the new club though. You're earning more money and you're in a better footballing country, so it's not really a step down imo.

[George_©]

That sounds a bit harsh George. I'm guessing the Croatians do not like wandering eyes much. Good luck at the new club though. You're earning more money and you're in a better footballing country, so it's not really a step down imo.

Yeah...I was more than shocked when I clicked continue and my name at the top was different...then I looked and saw I was sacked!!  I couldn't believe it...the only thing is that we were performing well at the time, but I really would have taken the Wisla job...oh well...having a blast so far in Modena....

[George_©]

US National Team 2019

Gold Cup

It was Gold Cup time for the US team in the summer of 2019.  I kept with my trend of trying to incorporate some of the youngsters coming through the U20's and U23's and slowly retiring some of the older veteran players.  With this in mind, I went into the Gold Cup with a new call up 20yo MC and a 19yo DL that just looked to good to not give a cap to.  Both were amazingly good in the Gold Cup...albeit, the competition wasn't anything to write home about, except perhaps Mexico....

Anywho...

GROUP Stage:

US V Canada 4-0
US v El Salvador 2-0
US v Trinidad and Tobago 3-0

Quarter Final we drew Canada (not sure how this works as we drew a team in our group and we did the same in the Semi's..

US v Canada 4-0

Semi's saw us against T&T again.

US v trinidad and Tobago 3-0

On to the Final and a big rivalry match

US v Mexico 2-0

We won the Gold Cup pretty handidly and didn't concede a goal in the entire competition...yay!!!  

US is now ranked 9th in the world!  woop!!!  (we will see how long that lasts though.)

Modena CF - Serie B 2019/2020

Well I was sacked from Rijeka for expressing interest in the Wisla Krakow job.  this was a bit annoying in the end because Wisla never even sacked their manager...oh well.  I was approached by Modena shortly after and greatfully took the job.  Modena were one of the favorites to go up, I was getting a pretty good sized pay rise and had a massive wage budget and a £10Million transfer budget.

Transfers

IN:  5 for 9M.  I definitely took full advantage of the transfer budget and my scouts did a tremendous job for me in finding me quality players to bring in.  I did bring over an MC I had signed at Rijeka.  Scout said he would make a great Serie A star and I quickly swooped in and shelled out 3M for him.  I also got a new GK, new ST, and another young MC.

OUT.  There were tons, but to be fair none of these were my doing.  All the contracts had expired prior to me taking over.

Summary:  We had an absolutely great season...no two ways about it.  We started out ok, but then went on a 22 match unbeaten run, in the middle of this was an 11 match winning streak as well.  Everything was just good, but somehow Parma were hanging right there with us, constantly just 1 or 2 points behind us in the table.  We did have to play them with 3 matches remaining and shelled them 4-0!!  This gave us the promotion spot and a win the following week crowned us as Champions with one match remaining.  I couldn't believe just how close this was with Parma given our point total, but it was.

All around the team had just excellent numbers.  Both of my wingers are up for player of the year as both led the league in assists, with my non leading scorer coming third in assists!!  We were by far the most offensive team and we finished with the 3rd best defensive record.

Hopefully this performance isn't misleading and I don't get let down in Serie A.

Final Tally

1st 42P 28-9-5 79F 31A +48 93pts.

Parma finished second with 89 points.

Highlights  Everything really.  New ST was fantastic banging in 22 goals.  My second leading goal scorer was the MC brought over from Rijeka with 15.  

Lowlights:  none.  Nothing at all

Next Season Objectives:  stay up.  I just hope that the jump from Serie B to Serie A isn't too hard...but we shall see and I am sure it will be a much harder season.