uncle ron Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) Quote After starting unemployed, several months later this Englishman goes abroad as head coach of U.S. Triestina Calcio 1918 in Serie C(B) - in the city of Trieste. In 1947, Trieste was declared an independent city state under the protection of the United Nations as the Free Territory of Trieste. The territory was divided into two zones, A and B, with Trieste in A Zone governed by the Allied Military Government until 1954 when the city joined Italy. The club was founded in 1918 as merger of local teams "Ponziana" and "Foot-Ball Club Trieste". The club reached Serie B in 1924. The club successively featured in the first-ever Serie A season in 1929, and played consecutively to the Italian top flight until 1956. During those successful times, the team also featured the likes of local Trieste native Nereo Rocco, who played as winger for Triestina from 1930 to 1937, becoming also the first player from the team to become part of the Azzurri squad (in 1934). Successively, Rocco returned to Triestina as a head coach in 1947, and completed the 1947–48 as Serie A runners-up, only behind Torino; this is still, as of today, the best result in history for the Trieste-based club. Rocco then left in 1950 to be replaced by Hungarian Béla Guttman, who managed to save the club from relegation only in the final matchday. Another struggling season followed in 1951–52, with Triestina escaping relegation only after winning playoffs. During the 1952–53 season, Cesare Maldini made his Serie A debut as a Triestina jersey. In 1953 Rocco returned to Triestina, but was sacked after 21 matchdays due to poor results. Three more mid-table seasons followed before Triestina suffered its first relegation in 1957. Successively, Triestina returned to Serie A in 1958, but were relegated in their first comeback season, which is also their last top flight campaign to date. The club were successively relegated to Serie C in 1961 once, in 1965 twice, and even Serie D in 1971, forcing the alabardati to a local derby with "Ponziana" in 1975 The club returned to Serie C in 1976, and was admitted to Serie C1 in 1978, and finally returned to Serie B in 1983, missing promotion to the top flight for a few seasons before being relegated in 1988. Triestina also played in second level between 1962–1965 and 1989–1991. In 1994, the team was forced to fold, because of financial insolvency, and was re-founded. The team restarted as U.S. Triestina Calcio from Serie D and was readmitted to Serie C2 by the federation one year later. In 2001, after six seasons in Serie C2, the club won promotion to Serie C1 after playoffs; this was followed by a second consecutive promotion, this time to Serie B. On January 25, 2012 the club in strong financial difficulty, has been declared bankrupt by the court of Trieste. In the season 2011–12 Triestina was relegated from Lega Pro Prima Divisione group B to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. On 19 June 2012 the club was finally declared bankrupt and the team was disbanded. On 31 July 2012 was founded the new company that restarted from Eccellenza and in 2018/19 is back in the third tier. I start with Triestina in January 2019 with the club in 13th outside the play-off places with 24 points. Expectations are clear for a play-off place (within the top 10). There's no budget and in-keeping with the club history we started the season with a 1 point deduction for financial mismanagement and we're already heading towards bankruptcy... Edited September 3, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) January to March 2019 After 3 months in charge, 12 games played (W5, D5, L2), we've failed to move ahead of 13th and only 4 points off the play-out places. The board are unhappy, very unhappy. The job is already very insecure... Edited September 4, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 April 2019 Things go from bad to worse in early April as we move to 1 point ahead of safety with 5 games remaining. The board invite me in for talks and we negotiate I can keep the job as manager providing that I secure 12 points from 15. The first match of those 5 versus FeralpiSalo is a 0-2 defeat, but then we win the next 3 in succession. 1 game to go... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 5, 2019 Author Share Posted September 5, 2019 May 2019 We don't just secure the 12 points from 15, this bizarre run at the end of the season secures a 5th placed finish and play-offs. We continue the run going with convincing 1st and 2nd round victories. Extra time was needed in the 3rd round with a goal in the 106th minute to secure a 4-3 aggregate win. The quarters sees us play Casertana FC, who finished 2nd in C(C). A first leg 0-1 defeat as hosts, despite 34 shots, 2 disallowed goals and 60% possession. Time for the run to come to an end, but we've still got the second leg in early June to come. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 5, 2019 Author Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) June 2019 The season ends with a 0-1 defeat in the second leg, meaning we remain in Serie C for 2019/20 - which is probably justified given we scraped into the play-offs. The chairman is leaving and a takeover is imminent. The club are serious in debt and won't fund coaching. Given my position was precarious only in mid-April I'm considering my options despite the contract through to 2020 and have requested an extension, yet this has been refused and I've leaked it to the press... Edited September 5, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Good luck with season 2 Ron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 On 09/09/2019 at 22:13, Nobby_McDonald said: Good luck with season 2 Ron. Ta mate, heading in the right direction... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 June / July 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Pre-season starts with a takeover. Only a former director taking control as chairman, but nonetheless, the old guard have gone - which is positive for me seeing that we didn't see eye to eye... Only four friendlies in July and August before the Coppa Italia Serie C starts. All victories, including from two of our near neighbours in Slovenia. After the winning run towards the end of last season we're fourth favourites for the title. A top 10 finish is what the board are expecting to secure a play-off place, but I'm aiming for top 3. To help us, six loans have joined from Serie A sides in DC, MC, AMRL and SC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I have a good feeling for you this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 (edited) August 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Well @Nobby_McDonald we do start incredibly well in both the Coppa Italia Serie C and two opening victories against Fermana and Sambenedettese. Not posting table as it's meaningless after two games. Happy though with eight games unbeaten and so are the players. Edited September 29, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 (edited) September 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Not sure what's going on. We remain unbeaten, having won every game so far this season. Top of the league and glad I stayed at Triestina after the previous chairman left. Edited September 29, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 October 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B After 11 wins in a row, the run continues until a 2-2 draw with Speiza and we hang with 10-men. Then followed two heavy victories scoring 7 goals in each game, with 48 scored in 12 games, before a much weakened team for the Serie C cup is our first defeat of the season and in 15 games. Both Sudtirol-Alto Adige and Speiza are keeping up with our early pace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) November 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Another unbeaten month for Triestina with 47 points, however we can't shake off Spezia and Sudtirol. The Split between the top half and bottom half of the division is too stark and a goalfest when we come to play giving a +53 goal difference. As the month ends I'm offered a new contract with a one year extension until June 2021 which I gladly accept seeing that we're moving in the right direction and almost amassed the same points (56) as we finished last season with and ended up 5th. Edited September 30, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) December 2019 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Why on earth did I sign a new contract..? The form was terrible as we lost our first games of the season in succession leading to both Spezia and Sudtirol closing the gap to three points at the top and momentarily losing first place. If Spezia themselves hadn't lost twice in December then we'd be starting 2020 in second. This three horse race is becoming intriguing. I'm staggered that the three sides are heads and shoulders above the rest of the division. Although it seems they have the upper hand against Triestina as we've not been able to beat either as hosts in recent months. Also, if this form continues, I've now noticed that our final game of the season is a trip to Sudtirol! Edited September 30, 2019 by uncle ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 My good feeling is still intact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 January 2020 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B The new year starts with more victories and goals taking us 3 points clear of Sudtirol. The club are now over £500k in debt and the chairman decides to accept a £61k (rising to £170k) offer from Parma for our best 16yo player (who has yet to feature for the first team). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 February 2020 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Another unbeaten month now with 7 League wins in succession. Three points remains the gap to 2nd placed Sudtirol and I'm starting to dread that final game of the season away to them, albeit our goal difference is now +77 and never to be beaten by them. The month has seen us pass the 100 goal mark in the League and secure an end of season play-off spot. We're now guaranteed at least 3rd. Interesting that last seasons champions finished with 72 points and we've already hit that tally by the end of February. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 March 2020 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B The month starts with a defeat to 3rd placed Spezia, meaning we've not secured a victory against of our title chasing challengers this season. Dropped points versus Renate also don't help, however Sudtirol and Spezia don't go through an unbeaten month. so I manage to secure a 5 point advantage however they both have a game in hand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 April 2020 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B Another strong month and plenty of goals take our tally to 124 and a GD of +88. I really doubt we'll be able to secure a GD of +100 as we keep conceding. Sudtirol have gone out of title contention with two games remaining as they lost vs Renate, meaning it's between us and Spezia for the title and automatic promotion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle ron Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 May 2020 - Triestina - Serie C Girone B With 1 game remaining we were two points ahead of Spezia. We secured a 2-2 draw at Sudtirol despite going down to 10 men after 50 minutes as we held onto win on goal difference. Games continue with the Serie C Supercoppa with a round robin vs Girone A and C winners. We're crowned Serie C winners with two convincing victories. With another 12-months left on my contract I'm not sure whether I'll continue the journey into Serie B as my reputation has increased to 'decent'. I'm hopeful I'll be in the frame for some jobs over the summer to give me options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 Very well done Ron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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