Eintracht Braunschweig - Alles Oder Nichts

Hi guys, and welcome to my FM14 story! As you might be able to tell by the lack of a banner and ambiguous title, I am not yet revealing my team, but the save has been started and it's going OK. I apologise if this introduction is well, short, but there's only so much I can tell you without showing who my team is. All I can say is that it's a team I've wanted to do for a while, so I am happy to get it started.

The title may need a little explaining to you, as it doesn't seem to describe in any way what the team will be or what the save will be like. I suppose it adds to the mystery of the team, really, but there is a few things I can say.

'All or Nothing' represents the club's next season. If they can reach their objectives, that is a fantastic season and will live long in the supporter's memories. If they fail, it's just another team who have tried, failed, and well, got nothing. The club don't have high expectations, and no one is placing high expectations on them. It remains to be seen whether in 15 years time the supporters will remember their team's 2013/14 season as the one that started their success, or that year where they tried, and failed. Of course, I hope it to be the former.

Another note. If I can reach around 10 years into the save, I may need to retire my manager. He is one of the older bosses around, and I don't want him to go any further than Fergie did. If this happens, I will retire the manager but add a new one and continue the save with the same team, just a younger manager, perhaps related to the club a little more.

I apologise if this was a little short, but to make sure you guys don't miss out I hope to have the first update out very soon. I hope you enjoy 'All or Nothing'.

Thank you to BayernAmerica, who has created the German league structure and Austrian league structure, both of which I have loaded. You can download them too here.

Good start Louis, I will be looking forward to this story, will be intriguing to find out who you are managing.

I DEMAND YOU TELL ME THE MANAGER, TEAM, KEY PLAYERS, OR I SHALL NOT COMMENT ANYMORE :P..

Ostrich >.< (TV's reference)

I know who the team is... as you told me

Good start. Next update, please!

kicker.de can confirm that VfB Stuttgart have sacked head coach Bruno Labbadia after 3 years in charge of the Bundesliga club. Labbadia has reportedly been sacked for a poor start to the 2013/14 season, having gone out of the UEFA Europa League with a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Croatian side HNK Rijeka.

Labbadia had been at the helm for 3 successful years: he saved the club from the relegation that was looking certain at the end of Christian Gross and Jens Keller's disastrous reigns even after winning the Bundesliga in 2007. In the 2011/12 season Labbadia managed to work wonders yet again, leading the side to a fantastic 6th place despite managing just 12th the year before. Stuttgart therefore qualified for the UEFA Europa League of 2012/13 where they were knocked out be SS Lazio in the Round of 16.

Labbadia's final season wasn't quite as successful. The coach signed a new deal at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadion that would keep him at Stuttgart but the club got off to a poor start, and suffered embarrassing defeats to Werder Bremen, and a 6-1 defeat to Bayern München despite having one of the league's top scorers in Bosnian forward Vedad Ibišević who managed an astonishing 15, just 10 behind top scorer Stefan Kiessling. Labbadia's side qualified for the UEFA Europa League once again by reaching the final of the DFB-Pokal, where they lost to Bayern München 3-2 in a tight game. As FC Bayern had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League the UEFA Europa League spot for winning the cup went to Stuttgart.

Labbadia has been sacked after losing 4-3 on aggregate to the Croatian team HNK Rijeka in the Europa League. The Stuttgart chairman Gerd Mäuser resigned in June, with Labbadia still in charge, and was replaced by Bernd Wahler who was elected nearly unanimously. Wahler had previously worked with Adidas and Nike and also played for Stuttgart's youth teams. Despite being a popular appointment among the fans Wahler stirred controversy after sacking Labbadia, with most fans believing it was his decision.

Labbadia departed the club on the 26th of August having gone out of European competition. His 3 years at the helm of Die Roten were over but they were not the first 3 years of his footballing career either. Labbadia was a successful player in the late 1980's and the 1990's. Labbadia came through the youth academy of FSV Schneppenhausen but soon found himself at SV Darmstadt where he played over 100 times before joining Hamburger SV. He stayed there just one year before leaving for 1.FC Kaiserslautern, and it was here where he proved himself to be a top class player, winning the DFB Pokal in 1990 and the Bundesliga in 1991, before leaving for FC Bayern München where he won the league title yet again in 1994. He then spent one season at FC Köln, who he left for SV Werder Bremen. Here he managed a mere 18 goals in 3 seasons, and was promptly sold to Arminia Bielefeld. In 1999 though he proved he still had it by scoring 28 goals for Bielefeld and becoming the top scorer of the Bundesliga 2. He managed a total of 50 at Bielefeld before winding up his career at Karlsruher SC. During his time at Kaiserslautern, Labbadia was even called up for Germany twice.

Management was not new to Labbadia either when he took up the reins in 2010. His managerial career was underway as soon as his playing career wound up. The journey started back where his playing career started, at SV Darmstadt. He took the club up to the Regionalliga Süd in the 2003/04 season, where they stayed until Labbadia's departure in March 2007 to SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Labbadia managed to keep the club in the Bundesliga 2. He sufficiently impressed Bayer 04 Leverkusen who had endured a bad 2007/08 season under Michael Skibbe and subsequently was handed the prestigious job. Labbadia led his side to a fantastic start in the Bundesliga yet by the end of the campaign the team was sorely disappointed as they failed to pick up wins against the top sides and finished in 9th. To add insult to injury, Labbadia's side lost the DFB Pokal final to Werder Bremen, and the boss promptly left for Hamburger SV. He managed his side to a 5th place spot but wasn't able to complete the season after being fired days before the club lost a crucial UEFA Europa League semi final to Fulham. After 5 months of unemployment, Labbadia agreed a deal with Stuttgart.

Following Bruno Labbadia's recent departure, Stuttgart's chairman Bernd Wahler tried to play it down and tell the media that he had made the right decision. He said to Kicker that he would find a better and younger manager who would become the best Germany has ever known. "Bruno Labbadia has done good work at VfB over the past three years but we want to provide fresh impetus with this change. We want to find a top manager and Labbadia is not that, he did not match the club's expectations last year and he had to go. We can find a younger, better manager, and we can become bigger and better than everyone, even FC Bayern." Wahler's bold statement shows intent but Stuttgart have yet to find their new manager and the season is drawing dangerously near. The media have drawn up lists of which managers could be poised to replace Labbadia. The current youth team manager Thomas Schneider is rumoured to be interested, as is Eintracht Braunschweig's Torsten Lieberknecht, and previous Kaiserslautern manager Franco Foda. The favourite however, is the recently sacked HSV manager Thorsten Fink, who is reportedly looking to get back into the game as quickly as possible.

The fans of Stuttgart are disappointed with the drastic reaction to one loss which resulted in Labbadia's sacking and have been seen protesting to the board. However the players have not been so upset and more understanding with Wahler's decision. Keeper Sven Ulreich said to Stuttgart's fanzine that he wants the players to fully back the new manager. "Of course Bruno was a good coach, he stayed at VfB for 3 years. But he didn't have it in him to take us forward, he took us forward in the cups but backwards in the league eventually. Some of the players will miss him, some will be glad to see the back of him. I think everyone should get supporting the new manager, when he arrives. Striker Vedad Ibišević echoes this sentiment. "Yes, Labbadia was a good manager and a good friend. But life goes on, we have a whole new season ahead of us. The new manager will be as the chairman says. Younger, better, and with potential to take us ahead of everyone. But he can't do a thing without our support, so we must get behind him no matter who he is or where he came from. That mentality can take us forward even without a new coach."

Good start, cant wait to find out the team Is the manager going to be Kammy?

TV: Knew you're waiting to find out

Pauker: Wut?

Alex: Gizoogle that nao.

Akash: Right there

LFC: Course not, you silly

Great update, it answered so many of my questions.
Who was Labbadia?
Why was he sacked?
What do the players think about the situation?
Is there a word limit in FMScout?
How much free time does Louis have?

Eintracht Braunschweig manager Torsten Lieberknecht has admitted in an interview with Bild.de that a move to Stuttgart would be too good to turn down. The 40 year old boss from Bad Dürkheim took Braunschweig up last year and has been linked with the VfB Stuttgart job folowing the sacking of Bruno Labbadia.

Lieberknecht's managerial career has begun in a similar fashion to most German managers. He was Braunschweig's youth team coach for one year, between 2007 and 2008, but after the sacking of Benno Möhlmann, Liebeerknecht took the managers job as a caretaker, and was then appointed permanently.

Lieberknecht has become one of Braunschweig’s most successful managers in their recent history. He took charge with the side not in the 2nd division but in fact the Regionalliga Nord, as this was then the 3rd tier. His side finished tenth but next year entered the new 3. Liga. The club could only manage 13th place, and a runner up spot in the Lower Saxony cup, but the next season they improved massively to jump up to 4th. The side won the Lower Saxony Cup the next year but also won the 3. Liga as Doni Kumbela managed a whopping 19 goals. Braunschweig were now in the 2. Bundesliga yet they did not want to stop there. The side beat Dynamo Dresden on goal difference to get into 8th place. The next year the club managed an astonishing promotion against all the odds, and Braunschweig were back in the league which they had won nearly 50 years ago.

Lieberknecht also had a successful playing career that he finished in Saxony with Braunschweig. The midfielder Lieberknecht was born in Bad Durkheim and he began his career at local Hassloch, before leaving for VfL Neustadt and later 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He broke in to their first team but only managed 13 starts in 2 years, so promptly left the Reds to join SV Waldhof Mannheim. He again struggled for first team football as he made just 22 appearances in his first and last season with SV Waldhof. He then joined current Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 where he spent 7 years. However, it was not 3rd time lucky as he failed to hold down a starting spot yet again despite his lengthy spell at the club. He managed 89 appearances at Mainz and scored a meagre 3 goals before leaving for 1. FC Saarbrucken for the 2002/03 season. He wasn’t good enough for regular first team football again though, leaving after one year with only 7 games behind him. His final club was Braunschweig who he joined in the summer of2003, where he made 82 appearances until his retirement at the end of the 2006/07 season. He again managed just two goals but his performances and footballing knowledge were enough to convince manager Benno Möhlmann to give him a contract as youth team coach. After this he moved on to replace Möhlmann as the head coach of the club.

Lieberknecht has been interviewed by Bild and Bundesliga.com already and he has admitted his interest in joining the historic side Stuttgart. He is also, however, cautious as he has said that his current employers Braunschweig may be disappointed by a lack of loyalty if he is overlooked for the prestigious job of manager of Die Schwabens.

”I want to go to Stuttgart, definitely, they are a huge club. Braunschweig has been a challenge but I don’t think there is much I can do there. I’ve taken the club all the way. We were in the Regionalliga, the 3rd division, now look, we are amongst Bayern, we are amongst Dortmund, Schalke, our rivals VfL Wolfsburg, and Stuttgart , of course. I want the fans to realise that I really need to leave.”

Stuttgart’s General Manager Bernd Wahler has been less out going with his statements. Despite damning criticism towards ex manager Labbadia earlier in the week, he has coyly told the media that Lieberknecht is just ‘in consideration’ at this stage. Other targets are thought to be recently sacked HSV manager Thorsten Fink and Kaiserslautern’s Franco Foda. Leaks from inside the club also claim that youth coach Thomas Schneider is also close to being promoted to full team manager, but Wahler so far has only spoken about Lieberknecht.

”Torsten Lieberknecht? He is a good manager, and he is younger than Labbadia. But they may both be stumbling blocks, he’s done well for Braunschweig and may not want to leave that work behind. Equally, it’s his first job, it might be the only place that he’s really at home. But we have to try, and we have to take risks. There is more than one candidate and not all of them have been decided as of yet, Lieberknecht is merely in consideration at this stage.”

Bild will bring you all the news on who will replace Labbadia at Die Roten.

Well, you write a lot;P Nice updates so far pal, keep it up

Good luck mate and thanks for using my DB.

Great start Louis, I know the team, though, so it doesn't seem so mysterious to me *evil laugh*

Sacked Kaiserslautern manager Franco Foda has told Bild that he deserves the vacant VfB Stuttgart job. Foda, 47, had been with the Red Devils for one season as manager and had played for the club 90 times in his playing career.

Stuttgart have recently sacked manager Bruno Labbdia who took them to the Europa League twice in his 3 year spell but was dumped out of this years competition after an aggregate defeat to Croatian side HNK Rijeka. Eintracht Braunschweig manager Torsten Lieberknecht has also admitted his interest in joining Die Roten. However, Stuttgart chairman Bernd Wahler was not outgoing with his response to Lieberknecht.

”There is more than one candidate and not all of them have been decided as of yet, Lieberknecht is merely in consideration at this stage.”

Foda began his playing career at his home town club FSV Mainz 05. He then turned professional at FC Kaiserslautern where he played a mere 3 games before departing to Arminia Bielefeld for the 1984/85 season. This was his only season at Bielefeld. He starred in 43 games before leaving for 1. FC Saarbrucken. He was here between 1985 and 1987 and he played 52 games for the club, and was then signed back to Kaiserslautern. This time he made 87 appearances for the Red Devils across 3 years and then joined TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He played 113 times at the BayArena across 4 seasons and won the DFB Pokal against Hertha BSC. He was later sold to VfB Stuttgart, where he made nearly 70 appearances in the red and white shirt. Foda left for a short spell at FC Basel in 1997 and later joined SK Sturm Graz.

In 2002, Foda took a spell in charge of Sturm Graz. He failed to turn around the club’s fortunes and was soon unceremoniously demoted to become the manager of Sturm Graz amateurs. He was replaced by former club captain Mihailo Petrovic, who successfully secured the team’s top flight status. Due to financial problems, Petrovic left Graz and was replaced by Foda, ready for his second spell in charge of the club. This time he was more successful. He qualified for a Europa League spot in 2009 after a 4th place finish, and then defeated SC Wiener Neustadt to win the OFB Cup in 2010. In the 2010/11 season, Sturm Graz miraculously topped the Austrian Bundesliga table and Foda had won his second piece of silverware. The next season was less successful. They exited the Champions League at the play offs and lost in the Europa League group stage before a 5th place league finish that saw Foda relieved of his duties.

Foda then took charge of his former club FC Kaiserslautern who had been relegated after two years in the Bundesliga. He took charge on the 22nd of May 2012. After a good first season that ended with Kaiserslautern losing the promotion play-off to Hoffenheim, but in his next season he was sacked with the Red Devils in 4th place.

Despite his lack of a reputation and his lack of success, being fired from every post, Foda has told Bild.de that he is definitely a good enough manager for a team as big as VfB Stuttgart, having taken Sturm Graz from nowhere to the UEFA Champions League.

”If you look at what I did at Sturm Graz you can see that I haven’t just joined any big old team and met the expectations. I took a team in financial trouble with aging players on high wages that didn’t give a damn about anything but themselves. I was unfairly sacked when the team was financially stable, had higher expectations, a good reputation, hungry young players, European qualification and two titles won. It was a baffling and completely stupid decision to even think about sacking me.”

Fans have already taken to popular social networking site twitter to complain about Foda, one going as far to say that he would burn his Stuttgart jersey if Bernd Wahler was to offer Foda the managerial job. Others have been more subtle but equally damning.


So far it does not seem that the players are leaning towards either side. Star striker Martin Harnik told goal.com that he would be happy with whoever the manager was.

”The manager is an important role so we need to give it to someone good, but I’m happy if we appoint Foda, I’m happy if we appoint Lieberknecht, or Schneider. They’ll all do well.”

Other players such as Sven Ulreich and captain Christian Genter have echoed similar sentiments, yet having both come through VfB’s youth academy they lean slightly towards the team’s youth coach Thomas Schneider, Ulreich telling Bild that the 40 year old former player wants the job and Genter singing his praises in an interview on the club’s official website.

”Thomas [Schneider] wants the job and all credit to him, he may not be the biggest name but he deserves it. He is responsible for all the truly fantastic youth side at the moment and all of the youngsters that have broken into the first team over the last few years.”

Bernd Wahler is yet to speak to the media about Foda’s comments.

Nice update, although I know everything about what comes next