[FM19] The Hart Chronicles - Volume IV: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be!

[PaulHartman71]

 

When I joined up with Liechtenstein there was no other staff on the books. I've stuck an advert for some staff to join, but no interest so far, meaning I have nobody to manage the U21 games.

I picked the team then went on holiday, no idea who the game interprets as managing the game, but they've done pretty bloody well  

3-1 win against Lithuania, and then a narrow loss to Montenegro, not bad going.

[PaulHartman71]

 

I don't really understand the actual words for the most part, but given there's no listed interested parties I think it's safe to assume we had no interest in the U21 manager job in the first 2 weeks of it being on offer    

[PaulHartman71]

 

Ja! Ja! 

Sven Klein wants to be a scout! 

"Du bist schlau, Sven".  - Which means "You are smart, Sven."

[PaulHartman71]

 

I might have to retract my smart comment. 5 judging current ability and 5 judging potential... 

At least he has some knowledge of Australia from his time as a player at Adelaide United, another Liechtenstein player who has gone there. At least he can keep an eye on Raul Badet at Perth Glory for us.

[PaulHartman71]

I had to have a look in English to make sure I knew what expectations I was agreeing to for the coming season at Vaduz  

 

 

The board seem very realistic domestically, just wanting to avoid relegation, but they want to reach the Group Stage in Europe!

Whilst they have managed that twice in the last 8 years, that still seems incredibly optimistic for a side who have managed it just twice in almost 80 years of the save ffs.

 

 

They've gone out to some half decent sides in recent times as well, so it will be very dependent on how kind our draw is I imagine.

Edited September 5, 2020 by PaulHartman71

[PaulHartman71]

 

FC Inter of Finland or Milsami of Moldova in the 2nd Qualifying Round, in which I'm hoping, should be a winnable tie against either of them.

[PaulHartman71]

 

The first leg was a real car crash for the Finns. 

They had a red card in the first half, which was a big help, but they also scored two own goals  

5-1 by full-time, and safe to say the tie was already over. 

 

 

We still won the return home leg 2-1 for good measure.

7-2 on aggregate, cannot complain. 

 

The 3rd Qualifying Round sees us face Shinnik of Russia. They're not a team I particularly remember as being even vaguely relevant when I was at Zenit, possibly weren't even in the PL, so I'm hoping we can win that tie as well really.

[PaulHartman71]

 

On international years, we now have an Assistant Manager, or Co-Trainer as they as in German. 

He's going to a be a busy boy, as he will also be managing all of the youth teams as I still have no takers for those jobs  

I hope he's done his first aid training because we don't have any physio yet either.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We got help from another red card in the first leg against Shinnik, but to be fair we were already 2-0 up at half-time. 

 

 

Relatively comfortable 2nd leg to get us through to the Playoff Round.

Bad news though, as we've been drawn up against Roma.

I don't see how we get past that to be honest.

I think it is harsh on Vaduz that they don't get to go through the Champions Route, I get they haven't won a league, but they are the Liechtenstein entrant, so it seems fairer that they'd go through that way instead of face much trickier ties in best placed sides of teams from other nations.

It is what it is though!

[PaulHartman71]

Summer Window

 

 

Levin Imhof was a decent rated young Swiss striker, but we were already kind of stacked up-front and the money was useful in terms of being able to bring other players in, so I let Thun pay what I thought was a bit too much money for him. Malo Duval was a similar story with Grasshoppers, just at right back instead. 

A few loan moves for some of the younger Liechtenstein players, including the relatively decent looking 18 year old CAM Sven-John Stricker, who already has 14 senior caps.

 

 

We were desperately short at central midfield so I brought in Sergio Pequeno, transfer listed at Luzern, and Bryan Rapisarda, listed by request at relegated Zurich.

 

 

Pequeno came through Luzern's youth system, but was also Portuguese and chose to represent them at international level.

 

 

Rapisarda looks like he could be a fairly tidy pick-up for what we paid. 

 

 

Buckhard won't play anything other than Reserve football unless we get very desperate. This free transfer was basically a favour for Rodney, as Rodney was worried Buckhard, one of the only options in midfield for Liechtenstein, was without a club and might sack it in and retire after getting released by Thun.

Gotta do what we can for the Liechtenstein cause!

 

As I mentioned earlier, Zurich were relegated and consequently had a lot of pretty good players up for grabs who all wanted out. 

 

 

Schnyder was our most expensive pick-up, and for good reason, as he's a bloody good centre back. Zurich born and bred he will be a big player for us in the coming years.

 

 

Another one who came through Zurich's Academy and thus is HG in Switzerland too is the 26 year old Kosovan star Flamur Murati. Another absolute bargain for what he was listed at and he's also very versatile, able to play up front or on either wing or at CAM. He will hopefully do well for us. 

 

 

Finally, I signed Roman Debrunner, who I actually remember coming through Young Boys Academy and looking kinda good, but never really lived up to expectations. Well Servette let him go and I was a bit short at AML options so I picked him up, he's another who I don't expect to see any serious minutes though.

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

Got our first two Nations League games coming up against Malta and Albania. I'm quite glad it's this competition first, as at least it should be relatively speaking competitive, whereas World Cup or Euros qualifiers I'd have been thrown in the deep end of getting spankings from big nations.

[PaulHartman71]

 

This is how we line up in Rodney's first competitive game for Liechtenstein. 

We were missing the suspended Ronny Kunz, but other than that we were full strength. 

 

 

A fantastic victory! A first competitive game and a first competitive win for Rodney - and it's that man, Diego Burkhard who comes up with the winner. Del Boy with the assist and the dodgy deal to get him on Vaduz's books has paid off already!

 

 

Our next game in a few days time will be at home to Albania, which I am expecting will be a much more difficult game. They beat Armenia 4-3 away in their first match. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Only two changes for home tie against Albania.

Ronny Kunz comes back into the side after serving his suspension, whilst Noah Tschutscher comes in to replace goal scorer Diego Burkhard who picked up a slight knock towards the end of the last game and wasn't fit enough to start. 

 

 

A fantastic result against Albania, as our defensive players put in a brilliant performance to get a draw out of it. 

 

 

Unbeaten in Rodney's first two competitive game and we haven't even had a Vaduz youth intake yet! 

In just over a month's time there's another double header of Nations games, with an away trip to Armenia and then Malta at home.

[PaulHartman71]

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

 

It will come as little surprise that we went out, 4-1 on aggregate in the end. 

I think we did our best and it is what is, we're an alright side but a long way off taking out a side like Roma, who of course were in a Champions League Semi Final just last season.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We are full strength as we play Armenia away from home in our 3rd UEFA Nations League match...

 

 

We put in a decent performance, just couldn't find a goal, as we lose for the first time in a competitive match. 

 

 

That puts Albania in a strong position, as they gear up to face Armenia, whilst we will face Malta at home in a few days time.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We were forced into a change in the Malta game, with talented young midfielder Sven-John Stricker missing out through suspension due to yellow cards picked up, which means another start for Noah Tschutscher. 

 

 

Another massive win, as we beat Malta thanks to a goal from Sakir Hassler. Diego Burkhard got the assist and a man of the match performance to boot, he even got a game in the Swiss Super League a few weeks before this, albeit due to a small injury crisis  What a few weeks for the lad!

 

 

Albania won 2-1 to Armenia, and as expected should walk the group now, but we have to be very encouraged by how well we've done so far. 

The final two games, at home to Armenia, and away to Albania, will be concluded next month in November. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Well this could be good news.

Kaua Schindler, who is my 2nd choice keeper at Vaduz, has now become a naturalised Liechtenstein, and seems to be suggesting he's up for swapping over from Switzerland - and he actually seems proper up for it as well  

Love to see it, lad! 

 

 

He has 12 U21 caps for Switzerland and whilst he's probably not good enough to play in the Swiss Super League, he is still reasonably decent. 

 

 

He's definitely better than our current best option Eddie Fogelstrom. 

Looks like Del Boy is about to give his old mate Rodney a call and a heads up...

[PaulHartman71]

 

What a guy! 

Schindler's going on the next call-up list!

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

 

A big blow for the final Nations League games against Armenia and Albania, as a training ground injury for Diego Burkhard means he will definitely miss both matches. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Kaua Schindler makes his debut at home to Armenia, with Noah Tschutscher back in the starting lineup in Diego Burkhard's absence in the squad due to injury. 

 

 

The creative presence of Buckhard was sorely missed, as lost another tight game with the Armenians 1-0, with a cruel deflection preventing Schindler from keeping a clean-sheet on his debut. 

 

 

This confirms Albania's win of the group, but we still have a final match with Albania to contend with ourselves.

 

 

Edited September 6, 2020 by PaulHartman71

[PaulHartman71]

 

You love to see it.

 

There's also some more good news on the naturalised players front: 

 

 

 

A Swiss squad player, who is effectively 2nd choice AMR for me at Vaduz, has also now spent the 5 years in the country required to take citizenship, and much like his colleague he's dead keen to play for the national side! 

This is even better news than Schindler, as Zurbuchen is actually fairly decent, having started 6 league games this season. 

 

 

He's also night and day better than Ronny Kunz, our best option at AMR for Liechtenstein, so it's a bigger upgrade than Schindler was at GK.

To gain players of Schindler and Zarbuchen's quality before the first intake is most unexpected and very much welcome, as they're both 24-25 so will make a difference for good few years to come. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Our captain central midfielder Ralph Weirather missing the final Albanian game through accumulation of yellow cards, so Sven-John moves to CM, with experienced attacking midfielder Daniel Feuser coming in at CAM. 

 

 

A fantastic result in Albania, as we frustrate them to another 0-0 draw!

Raul Badet put in a MOTM performance at CB, with Kaua Schindler also playing well in goal to get his first clean-sheet in his 2nd cap. 

 

 

We end up 3rd in the group. Given the squad we had coming into it I have to say I'm overall fairly pleased with that, especially avoiding defeat and keeping a clean-sheet against a strong Albanian side both times. 

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Exciting times. 

We've obviously got no chance of qualifying for what will be the 2098 World Cup, hosted in South Korea some 96 years following their shared venture with the Japanese, who interestingly hosted it themselves back in 2086, but it would be nice to get a kind group which could hopefully see us draw or maybe win a game or two to boost our World Rankings enough that it helps us get a kinder group moving forward for the 2100 Euros, where we could possibly have a better side capable of getting into the Playoffs or something through the Nations League.

We are the 5th seeds and there's 10 groups. As there's five lots of 6 seeds, it means we will either be in a 6 team group with 1 of Gibraltar, Andorra, San Marino, Faroe Islands and Malta, therefore guaranteeing us some competitive games (and hopefully wins) or we'll be in a 5 team group and probably be the whipping boys.

 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Not that great really.

 

France:

 

They're ranked 4th in the World, which maybe seems a bit high, but they've made the 3rd Round, or Last 16 of the last 3 World Cups. They made the Last 16 of the Euros this summer, but before that did even better, reaching the final 4 years ago, and winning the thing 8 years ago.

 

Denmark:

 

Ranked 19th in the World, they failed to qualify for the last World Cup, but made the Round of 32 in 2090. In the last two Euros they have made the Quarter Finals, including this summer, although they failed to qualify in 2088. 

The team most likely to challenge France for top spot and/or get the Playoff spot, you would imagine.

 

Slovenia:

 

Slovenia, ranked 62nd in the World, haven't made a World Cup since 2010, an 86 year barren spell for them. They didn't qualify for the Euros this summer either, but did made the Round of 16 four years ago. 

Maybe we've not actually done too badly to get them as a 3rd seed, as their record for making tournaments is not as good as I would have expected.

 

Slovakia:

 

Slovakia's last World Cup appearance was way back in 2026, although they did make the Euros 4 years ago, finishing bottom of their group. They failed to qualify this summer though.

Again, I thought Slovakia as 4th seeds seemed quite a harsh draw, but looking at them they don't actually seem all that great now either.

 

I'm unsure how it will go, but I think we could sneak some points against Slovakia and Slovenia perhaps.

 

[PaulHartman71]

Mid-Season Update

 

Liechtenstein Cup

 

We seem to enter the Liechtenstein Cup at the Quarter Final stage. 

 

 

They gave us something of a late scare, but it was never in doubt really. 

Due to the quality of the opposition I gave some of the back-up and fringe players some game-time and I also wanted to give a game to some of the Liechtenstein talent in the squad, since it is the Liechtenstein Cup after all.

Kaua Schindler started in goal, albeit he hadn't been capped yet, with Sakir Hassler, who scored the opening goal, also getting a run up-front. I would have also started Diego Burkhard, but he of course suffered that injury so was out of contention. 

 

Super League

 

 

The season got off to a good start as we played a fairly poor Thun side at home and beat them 2-0. But we had a tricky run of games after that, with Servette away and then Young Boys and Basel double-header. We lost all 3 of those, which helped take us into the bottom of the table alongside Thun. We then drew away to Sion. 

 

 

We picked up a plucky point at home to champions Xamax, which I didn't expect, before getting a much needed win against St. Gallen. We were quickly humbled in Lugano, before beating Grasshoppers 3-0, with Kosovo international Flamur Murati in fine form. 

 

 

 

We got to play Thun again which helped us make it two wins on the bounce, before a good win against Servette at home. We even sneaked a point against Basel, courtesy of a last gasp late equaliser. 

 

 

A trip to Young Boys where we saw a few familiar faces resulted in a 2-1 loss, with the score ultimately making it look a lot closer than it actually was. We did help out Young Boys though by making Xamax drop points again, sneaking another draw against the champions. We got back to winning games with a 2-0 home victory against Sion.

 

 

We drew 0-0 away to Grasshoppers, before ending the calendar year on a high, with two consecutive home wins against St Gallen and Lugano, this actually made it 5 clean sheets in a row for us. 

 

 

An unbelievable start, especially after the bad run of form early on that saw us down there with Thun. To be 3rd and above Basel at this stage is absolutely incredible. Unfortunately aside from 250K of extra league prize money it has very little impact on us, as Vaduz don't qualify for Europe through the Swiss League, so wouldn't get the auto group spot that 3rd would usually oblige the other teams. 

But I'm still really happy with that, given our only aim was to not go down this season.

That certainly looks to have been averted, so we can go into the rest of the season without the fear of the drop looming over us, which is nice.

[PaulHartman71]

Liechtenstein 2096 Year in Review

 

 

 

Overall a good start to Rodney's time in charge.

Going forward is a bit of a worry, with only 2 goals scored, but we're also quite hard to play against, conceding only 2 goals in the 6 games we played in the Nations League. 

With Schindler and Zarbuchen now on board, we have a better keeper and more of a threat down the right wing, which can only be a good thing moving forward. 

 

Players of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

Raul Badet I think just edges Diego Buckhard in the end, for his brilliant defensive displays. 

 

Young Players of the Year (21 or under) 

 

 

Sven-John, now 19, was the Young Player of the Year, operating at CM or CAM. He's at Vaduz, this season out on loan getting valuable minutes at 3rd tier side Breittenrain. 

Dario Laternser is playing in the Zurich Reserve side this season, but he's been a solid partner alongside the more experienced Badet at CB. I hope he can some more competitive action as he gets older as he could improve a bit I think with the assistant giving him higher potential. Noah Tschutscher is not a starter, but he's started a fair few games in midfield when suspension or injury has given him an opening, where he has looked decent. 

 

 

We had 5/6 players who had all featured 7 times, but Raul Badet had played the most minutes, so he gets Most Appearances. Sven-John had the only registered assist, whilst Diego Buckhard gets most goals as he featured in less minutes than Sakir Hassler. 

Badet of course had POTY, with Sven-John getting YPOTY. 

We end 2096 as 163rd in the World:

 

In good company...

 

Patrick Drager who has the Most Caps of all time with 165 played for them between 2032-2051, starting at 16 and ending at 36. 

It will take some doing for anyone to get near him. 

 

 

We actually have a 38 year old centre back on 152 caps who is closest to him. He's somehow actually the 3rd/4th best CB we have still, so he has been getting some caps, I've been given him 4 additional caps as a substitute. He doesn't seem to be hinting at retirement yet, playing at a 3rd tier Swiss side, but I personally doubt he will get the 13 caps required to tie Drager's record. 

 

 

The record goal scorer only retired years ago. He seems to have only really played in the Swiss 3rd tier, but 48 goals in 117 caps seems a bloody good record for a player for such a small nation. A goal every 2.4 games is pretty good going I would say. 

 

 

Martin Rinner (who plays left wing) and Sakir Hassler (who plays up-front) are both 22, so have plenty of time to catch up Laternser's record, but personally I don't think either of them have it in them and we're in trouble if they're both starting regularly for the next 5 years, let alone the next 10.

[PaulHartman71]

Winter Window

 

Out

 

 

Norbert Wenzel was 5th choice CB and wanted out, so he went back to Germany for about £1M.

Kaua Schindler, just after acquiring Liechtenstein citizenship, wanted to leave for first team football and will be joining Austria in LASK. Let's hope he does get first team football there, can only be good for the National Team. 

 

 

On the subject of national team keepers, former #1 before Schindler joining, Fogelstrom, got released by a Swedish club at the end of their season. I was a bit concerned he wouldn't find a new club, and as the NT #2 I decided to sign him up to keep him on our books so he wouldn't think about retiring. Hopefully can loan him out, but either way he's only on £1K per week.

[PaulHartman71]

The all important exciting day for Rodney, as several weeks before the big match against France we get Vaduz's first proper Youth Intake, increasing his national pool by 16 players!

 

 

 

Nobody really stands out as a massive game-changer right away, but given they are all 15/16 they're not too far off the sort of level we have in most positions in the squad, so if they can crack on and develop with the potential they've supposedly got, then we could well get some good squad players for the national side out of this bunch. 

I will evaluate them a bit more and compare some of them with the lads in the squad already before deciding, but Rodney could well call up a few of these very young lads for his next squad!

[PaulHartman71]

I had a plan to call most of the good ones up and give them some minutes as subs to nail them down as Liechtenstein, but... 

 

 

Where they're all duo national Swiss looks like it will be a fight with every half-decent prospect to convince them to even play for us   

[PaulHartman71]

 

Thankfully two of them have committed to the cause. 

Shaban Ritter actually benefits from Christian Matt rejecting the call, as I wouldn't have called him up had Matt accepted. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

And we have another on board 

[PaulHartman71]

 

The squad has been named, with 4 of the new young lads possibly in line to make debuts, but only as substitutes unless we have some unfortunate injuries.

Martin Zurbuchen is a man who certainly will be making his debut, and instantly becomes the only 5* rated player in the team and the best player in the process, with Schindler in goal also of course a good player, as too as Raul Badet the Perth Glory man at CB who won POTY last year for the nation. 

A funny story is Basil Kranz, now 39 years old, makes the squad as 4th choice CB option, due to an injury to 3rd choice Phillipe Schadler, and a youngster not wanting to get called up.

Put some respect on Basil Kranz's name, their loss is his gain, as the the 152 times capped defender seeks to achieve his seemingly impossible task of getting 13 more caps to  tie the all-time record before retirement.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We're only 12-1!

Or 5-1 for a draw?

Any takers?  

[PaulHartman71]

 

Martin Zurbuchen makes his debut at home to France, with a full strength side around him. 

 

 

A 3-0 loss to the French, but overall a good match. 

We were ever so close to going in 0-0 at half-time, but they got scored a wonderful goal to prevent that. 

But for the most part we frustrated them in the manner that I hoped we could.

I didn't bring on any of the young lads as I thought it was too big a game to bring them on for their competitive debut at any level, let alone internationally, but the 39 year old Basil Kranz did come on to win his 153rd cap late on.

 

 

Denmark beat Slovenia 3-1 in their opening game, putting the two favorites out in front. 

We travel to Slovakia for their opening game next, with France and Denmark in the big head to head.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We name an unchanged team as we travel to Slovakia. 

 

 

A disappointing result, as it was a game we were in.

 

 

We actually had more possession than them, albeit they had a lot more shots, but we did have a couple of chances that we just couldn't take.

No debuts for any of the young lads, but Basil Kranz did come on late to get his 154th cap. 

 

 

France beat Denmark 3-0 (which makes our result look better I feel) and so have a good lead at the top of the table, with Slovakia now up to 2nd on goal difference.

Slovenia like us have 0 points, but are above us at the moment on goal difference.  

 

A bit of a break until the next round of games, which come in 3 months time in June, as we gear up for a difficult double header against Denmark.

[PaulHartman71]

 

Potentially a big blow for the Denmark double-header, as 2096 Player of the Year winner Raul Badet is now a big doubt for them due to a torn thigh muscle. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Bad news for Basil Kranz  

The 39 year old has fractured his lower leg and will very likely miss the next international call ups.

Not a nice injury at any time of your career, but at 39?  

[PaulHartman71]

In the Semi Final of the Liechtenstein Cup we faced Triesenberg II, a lower league B team side of Triesenberg, who were actually knocked out earlier in the competition than their own B team.

 

 

I went a bit ballsy and decided to give as many Liechtenstein players a start as possible,with 6 first-team debuts, as well as Sakir Hassler and Diego Burkhard who are regulars in the national team but only really churn our for Vaduz II domestically. 

I didn't really have anyone to fill in at GK, CM, or AMR, so first choice players were selected there. 

The bench was entirely youth players as well, so considering this competition is our route to Europe I thought this was slightly ballsy, but, well...

 

 

 

Gabriel Rinner, a 15 year old striker, came off the bench on the 75th minute to make his debut, and got a hat-trick  

[PaulHartman71]

 

Not sure that record ever gets beaten  

[PaulHartman71]

 

Puts into perspective how far into the save we are when you see the 2100 date 

[PaulHartman71]

 

We faced Balzers in the final of the Liechtenstein Cup and I didn't want to risk losing it so went more or less full strength, however I did start 3 Liechtenstein players, with Martin Zurbuchen, Diego Burkhard and Sakir Hassler all in the 11.

 

 

A win, which is what we needed, and nice to see Burkhard and Hassler on the score-sheet.

 

 

85 in a row haha.

 

 

Also seems a bit odd that the board do not regard the cup as important when it's our only route into Europe...  

 

I had a look at the HOF out of interest to see just how many points were up for grabs for winning the Liechtenstein Cup, since I imagine we might win a few.

Well...

 

 

6 points 

[PaulHartman71]

End of Season Update

 

 

A pretty rough start to the new year saw us play Basel, Young Boys and Xamax in a difficult triple header, but we at least got a point in Basel and beat Thun earlier in the month. 

 

 

A barren win-less run saw us only lose 1 game in March, but not win one either.

 

 

We found some form in April, beating Thun again, before pulling off a brilliant away win against top of the table Young Boys, even beating Basel 3-0 later in the month too. 

 

 

3 draws and 1 win to end the season. 

 

 

Overall we have to be very happy with that considering the only target was to avoid going down. 

Basel having an absolute nightmare as they plummet to 6th, but in a strange year all 8 teams who avoided the drop made it into Europe  

 

 

 

Ribarovski, the former winger I had at Young Boys had a good season, albeit hampered by injuries. He got 10 assists and 5 goals in the 29 games he did play. 

 

 

Flamur Murati had a good season, an absolute bargain for the £1M or so we signed him for, offering creative spark and versatility. 

 

 

Ponce had a very strong year in goal, with 22 clean sheets in 44 appearances in all competitions, including 19 in 36 in the league. Not bad going!

 

 

[PaulHartman71]

Paul Hart's Career History

This covers the first 40 seasons of the save, from 2018-2058

Spoiler

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season      Club                  League             Position            Achievements/Other
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018/19     Arsenal               Premier League       4th               Europa League winners
2019/20     Arsenal               Premier League       2nd               Champions League winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020/21     Paris SG              Ligue 1              1st               Ligue 1 & Coupe de la Ligue winners
2021/22     Paris SG              Ligue 1              1st               Ligue 1, Champions League & Trophee Des Champions winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022/23     AS Roma               Serie A              3rd               Italian Cup runners-up
2023/24     AS Roma               Serie A              2nd               Italian Cup winners
2024/25     AS Roma               Serie A              1st               Serie A winners
2025/26     AS Roma               Serie A              2nd               Italian Super Cup winners & Champions League runners-up
2026/27     AS Roma               Serie A              1st               Serie A, Italian Cup & Champions League winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2027/28     Atletico Madrid       La Liga              3rd               N/A
2028/29     Atletico Madrid       La Liga              2nd               N/A
2029/30     Altetico Madrid       La Liga              2nd               Champions League winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2030/31     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           6th               N/A
2031/32     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           5th               Europa League winners
2032/33     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           3rd               European Super Cup winners
2033/34     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           2nd               N/A
2034/35     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           1st               Bundesliga winners
2035/36     VFL Wolfsburg         Bundesliga           2nd               German Super Cup & Champions League winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2036/37     Zenit St Petersburg   Russian PL           1st               Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners
2037/38     Zenit St Petersburg   Russian PL           1st               Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners
2038/39     Zenit St Petersburg   Russian PL           1st               Russian Premier League & Super Cup winners
2039/40     Zenit St Petersburg   Russian PL           1st               Russian Premier League, Russian Cup & Super Cup winners
2040/41     Zenit St Petersburg   Russian PL           1st               Champions League & Domestic Treble winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2041/42     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        3rd               N/A
2042/43     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        4th               Taca de Portugal runners-up
2043/44     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        6th               N/A
2044/45     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        6th               Europa League winners
2045/46     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        3rd               European Super Cup winners
2046/47     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        4th               N/A
2047/48     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        4th               Portuguese League Cup winners
2048/49     Portimonense SC       Primeira Liga        1st               Primiera Liga & Champions League winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2049/50     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               N/A
2050/51     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               N/A
2051/52     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               Dutch Cup winners
2052/53     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               Dutch Cup & Super Cup winners
2053/54     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               Dutch Cup winners
2054/55     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           2nd               Dutch Cup winners
2055/56     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           1st               Eredivisie, Dutch Cup & Super Cup winners
2056/57     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           1st               Eredivisie, Champions League & Super Cup winners
2057/58     Vitesse Arnhem        Eredivisie           1st               Eredivisie, Club World Cup, Euro Super Cup & Super Cup winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Paul Hart's Trophy Cabinet

Spoiler

Champions League        x8 - 2019/20 (Arsenal), 2021/22 (Paris SG), 2026/27 (AS Roma), 2029/30 (Atletico Madrid), 
                             2035/36 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg), 2048/49 (Portimonense SC), 
                             2056/57 (Vitesse Arnhem) 
                             
Europa League           x3 - 2018/19 (Arsenal), 2031/32 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2044/45 (Portimonense SC) 

Club World Cup          x1 - 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) 

European Super Cup      x3 - 2032/33 (VFL Wolfsburg), 2045/46 (Portimonense SC), 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem) 

Bundesliga              x1 - 2034/35 (VFL Wolfsburg)
German Super Cup        x1 - 2035/36 (VFL Wolfsburg)

Serie A                 x2 - 2024/25, 2026/27 (AS Roma)
Italian Cup             x2 - 2023/24, 2026/27 (AS Roma)
Italian Super Cup       x1 - 2025/26 (AS Roma)

Ligue 1                 x2 - 2020/21, 2021/22 (Paris SG) 
Coupe de la Ligue       x1 - 2020/21 (Paris SG)
Trophee Des Champions   x1 - 2021/22 (Paris SG)

Primeira Liga           x1 - 2048/49 (Portimonense SC)
Portuguese League Cup   x1 - 2047/48 (Portimonense SC)

Russian Premier League  x5 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2038/39, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg) 
Russian Cup             x4 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg)
Russian Super Cup       x5 - 2036/37, 2037/38, 2038/39, 2039/40, 2040/41 (Zenit St Petersburg)

Eredivisie              x3 - 2055/56, 2056/57, 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem)
Dutch Cup               x5 - 2051/52, 2052/53, 2053/54, 2054/55, 2055/56 (Vitesse Arnhem)
Dutch Super Cup         x4 - 2052/53, 2055/56, 2056/57, 2057/58 (Vitesse Arnhem)

 

 

Thierry's Career History

This covers the next 38 years of the save, from 2058-2096

Spoiler

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season      Club                  League                Position           Achievements/Other
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2058/59     Genclerbirligi SK     Turkish Super Lig       5th              Turkish Super Cup runners-up. Sacked. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2059/60     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    5th              N/A
2060/61     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    3rd              N/A
2061/62     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    3rd              Scottish Cup winners
2062/63     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    2nd              N/A
2063/64     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    3rd              Scottish Cup runners-up
2064/65     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    3rd              Scottish League Cup runners-up
2065/66     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    2nd              Scottish League Cup runners-up
2066/67     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    2nd              N/A
2067/68     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    1st              Scottish Premiership, Cup & League Cup winners
2068/69     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    2nd              N/A
2069/70     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    3rd              Champions League runners-up & League Cup winners
2070/71     St. Mirren            Scottish Premiership    2nd              Champions League & Scottish Cup winners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2071/72     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League winners
2072/73     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners
2073/74     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners
2074/75     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League & Belgian Cup & Super Cup winners
2075/76     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League & Super Cup winners
2076/77     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Champions League runners-up & League & Super Cup winners
2077/78     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Belgian Pro League, Belgian Cup & Super Cup winners
2078/79     Anderlecht            Belgian Pro League      1st              Champions League, Pro League, Cup & Super Cup winners
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2079/80     Antalyaspor           Turkish Super Lig       7th              N/A. Resigned. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2080/81     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners. EL runners-up.   
2081/82     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Turkish Super Lig, Cup & Super Cup winners
2082/83     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners
2083/84     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners
2084/85     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Turkish Super Lig & Super Cup winners. CL runners-up.
2085/86     Besiktas              Turkish Super Lig       1st              Champions League, Super Lig and Super Cup winners
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2086/87     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      4th              Swiss Cup runners-up
2087/88     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      2nd              Swiss Cup winners
2088/89     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      3rd              Swiss Cup winners
2089/90     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      2nd              N/A
2090/91     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      1st              Swiss Super League winners
2091/92     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      1st              Swiss Super League winners
2092/93     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      1st              Swiss Super League winners
2093/94     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      2nd              Europa League & Swiss Cup winners
2094/95     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      2nd              European Super Cup & Swiss Cup winners
2095/96     Young Boys            Swiss Super League      2nd              Champions League & Swiss Cup winners
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Thierry's Trophy Cabinet

Spoiler

Champions League      x4 - 2070/71 (St. Mirren), 2078/79 (Anderlecht), 2085/86 (Besiktas), 2095/96 (Young Boys)

Europa League         x1 - 2093/94 (Young Boys)

European Super Cup    x1 - 2094/95 (Young Boys)

Scottish Premiership  x1 - 2067/68 (St. Mirren) 
Scottish Cup          x3 - 2061/62, 2067/68, 2070/71 (St. Mirren) 
Scottish League Cup   x2 - 2067/67, 2069/70 (St. Mirren) 

Turkish Super Lig     x6 - 2080/81, 2081/82, 2082/83, 2083/84, 2084/85, 2085/86 (Besiktas)
Turkish Cup           x1 - 2081/82 (Besiktas)
Turkish Super Cup     x6 - 2080/81, 2081/82, 2082/83, 2083/84, 2084/85, 2085/86 (Besiktas) 

Belgian Pro League    x8 - 2071/72, 2072/73, 2073/74, 2074/75, 2075/76, 2076/77, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht)
Belgian Cup           x3 - 2074/75, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht) 
Belgian Super Cup     x7 - 2072/73, 2073/74, 2074/75, 2075/76, 2076/77, 2077/78, 2078/79 (Anderlecht)

Swiss Super League    x3 - 2090/91, 2091/92, 2092/93 (Young Boys)
Swiss Cup             x5 - 2087/88, 2088/89, 2093/94, 2094/95, 2095/96 (Young Boys)

 

 

Del Boy Winder's Career History

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season      Club                  League                Position           Achievements/Other
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2096/97     Vaduz                 Swiss Super League      4th              Liechtenstein Cup winners 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Del Boy Winder's Trophy Cabinet

 

Liechtenstein Cup x1 - 2096/97 (Vaduz)

 

Nations Completed

 

Nations completed as Paul Hart: 

1. England  - Arsenal 
2. France   - Paris SG
3. Italy    - AS Roma 
4. Spain    - Atletico Madrid
5. Germany  - VFL Wolfsburg
6. Russia   - Zenit St Petersburg
7. Portugal - Portimonense SC 
8. Holland  - Vitesse Arnhem

Nations completed as Thierry: 

9.  Scotland    - St. Mirren
10. Belgium     - Anderlecht
11. Turkey      - Besiktas
12. Switzerland - Young Boys

Nations completed by the AI: 

1. England  - Manchester City
2. Germany  - RB Leipzig 
3. Spain    - Valencia CF 
4. Portugal - Sporting Lisbon
5. Austria  - RB Salzburg
6. Turkey   - Galatasaray

 

Edited September 8, 2020 by PaulHartman71

[PaulHartman71]

 

Celtic reached their 3rd final in 5 years and this time they managed to win the big one. The Semi Finals looked poised for an all-Manchester final, but Porto smashed United before losing in extra time to The Bhoys. 

FC Koln pulled off a surprise to reach the Quarter Final, including a 4-0 aggregate win over Real Madrid. 

 

 

A huge result for SKN St Polten, who won their first European trophy in their first ever European final. A big moment for Austrian football, as they've now had 3 seperate maiden Europa League winners in the last 12 years, with Salzburg winning it in 2086 and Rapid Vienna in 2090. Salzburg also won it in 2093, which means 4 in 12 of the last winners have been Austrian!

Czech Republic also flying high, with two Prague sides in the Last 8 this year!

Edited September 8, 2020 by PaulHartman71

[PaulHartman71]

Champions League Hall of Fame

 

 

Celtic join the 3 times winner club, with Scotland joining Turkey on having 4 winners as a nation. 

[PaulHartman71]

 

Unbelievable scenes in Austria!

SKN St Polten, in the same year their club made history with a Europa League win, shocked the nation by also breaking Red Bull's 30 year strong hold on Austrian football.

What a bloody season that is for them! 

To make things bad to worse for Salzburg they didn't even get 2nd, with Rapid Vienna pipping them to it!

I checked who their manager was as that's quite a feat and it is none other than Onder Arslan, the Turkish ex-Genclerbirligi man who Thierry beat in the final of the Champions League with Anderlecht.

Small world!

 

 

Normality resumes in Ukraine, with Shakhtar getting the win, with Karpaty in 2nd after their title win last time out.

 

 

Zagreb make it 2 in a row, with Hajduk still unable to finish higher than 4th after their historic title win 2 seasons ago. A shame just as it seemed like Croatian football was getting competitive.

[PaulHartman71]

 

Back on the International Front, Rodney has named his side to face Denmark.

Raul Badet carrying an injury, but too important to not include even if he's only 100 percent for the second match. Mario Frick YP1 also carrying a knock, but we're short on quality at CB, especially with 39 year old veteran Basil Kranz out with a broken leg for another 6 weeks. 

He had in his info a "determined to overcome injury" which I thought was amazing, but he has now unfortunately announced he will be retiring from football full stop on the 20th November 2097. We actually have a match against Slovakia the day before, so I'm not sure if he factored that in or not, but it would be amazing to give him a good send off. 

We don't have enough games left to get him to the 165 record, but a final farewell to the nation would be lovely. 

Marco Schadler, essentially 3rd choice goalkeeper, misses out after breaking his back (ouch), with Fabian Eggenberger preferred to Ronny Kunz on the right wing as back-up to Zurbuchen. 

 

Our assistant has also taken it upon himself to arrange some rather eclectic friendly matches straight after the games with Denmark, as the following week sees home matches with the Philippines and then Ethiopia  

It should be interesting and will at least give Rodney a chance to try out some of the youth players that came through in the most recent intake.

[PaulHartman71]

 

We are unchanged from the losses against France and Slovakia. 

 

 

Not the result we wanted by any means. 

 

 

We were more in the game than the result suggests though, with 5 shots on target we were unlucky the Danish keeper had a very good game. It should have been more like 3-1 or 4-2. 

 

 

One positive to take was Gabriel Rinner, who scored that 15 minute hat-trick for Vaduz as a substitute comes on as a sub to become the youngest ever player in the nation's history and indeed the World Cup qualifiers history too.