Hello people!
Just registered, although I 've been reading the forum since last year.
I'm playing FM several years, since I was 10 years old, back to FM '01 which was then named Championship manager if I'm not mistaken. I took a huge break then since I had school to cope with, playing again at '04 edition, and started taking "seriously" the game since fm '09.
From fm '09 to fm '11 I was always starting unemployed. At last years edition, York (BSP team) picked me up, and after almost one decade and a half we won 2 consecutive Champions' Leagues.
This year I 've decided to start with my favourite greek team, Olympiakos SFP. (Although I'm planning to start an unemployed run later). I was expecting this to be fairly easy compared to my York run. Unexpectadly, I was wrong. Managing a greek team and attempting to establish it as one of Europe's best teams is really hard so far. Compared to the english teams I used to manage, you are having big troubles both economic side and signings side. Winning greek league (aka Superleague) or greek cup is really easy. You can literally hit continue and just win most of the matches, with no tactics, no signings etc. However, winning rewards and TV revenue are really low, usually ending up with negative or slightly positive season revenue, especially if you 've made expensive signings. Talking about signings... Good players will consider it a lot (even worse, not at all) to join a league with such low reputation.
Therefore, if you really want a challenge I advice you to pick up a lower league team next time!
Back to my story now... Unfortunatelly, by the time I'm writing these lines I am already at at the second half of my second season with OSFP. I will try to sum up my last season at this post.
When I took charge, I realised that the team was based a lot on old players. I decided (due to my limited budget) not to make any important first team transfers but to sign young, exceptional players.
Therefore, I signed Ivan a 17 year old DR from levante, hoping he will be valuable in future for a fee of 190k euros.
My last signing was Vitinho an exceptional brazilian striker, being only 17 years old too, with amazing talent, (I believe he is listed in wonderkids at this site) at a fee of 900k. If I can recall correctly, I snatched the deal out of Barca's hands, because they offered less money to Botafago (his team at the time). Currently, at my second season Vitinho is playing for my Senior squad and he is my ST sub, so he can blend in and gain experience. He is performing well, and develops really fast.
Regarding competitions I got the double in greek competitions(board, media and fans expected me to win both) and finished 3rd at ECC group stage. So, I continued in UEFA Cup and got thrown out at the second qualifying round. Not what I wanted, since I 'd prefer to reach the 16 of ECC, but my board was really happy.
I also persuaded my board during January to buy our stadium (It was loaned for 15% of tickets) and it was done by summer. Unfortunatelly, that added a 55mil outstanding loan.
At next post, I 'll describe my exciting, with many ins and outs transfers, summer!
Just registered, although I 've been reading the forum since last year.
I'm playing FM several years, since I was 10 years old, back to FM '01 which was then named Championship manager if I'm not mistaken. I took a huge break then since I had school to cope with, playing again at '04 edition, and started taking "seriously" the game since fm '09.
From fm '09 to fm '11 I was always starting unemployed. At last years edition, York (BSP team) picked me up, and after almost one decade and a half we won 2 consecutive Champions' Leagues.
This year I 've decided to start with my favourite greek team, Olympiakos SFP. (Although I'm planning to start an unemployed run later). I was expecting this to be fairly easy compared to my York run. Unexpectadly, I was wrong. Managing a greek team and attempting to establish it as one of Europe's best teams is really hard so far. Compared to the english teams I used to manage, you are having big troubles both economic side and signings side. Winning greek league (aka Superleague) or greek cup is really easy. You can literally hit continue and just win most of the matches, with no tactics, no signings etc. However, winning rewards and TV revenue are really low, usually ending up with negative or slightly positive season revenue, especially if you 've made expensive signings. Talking about signings... Good players will consider it a lot (even worse, not at all) to join a league with such low reputation.
Therefore, if you really want a challenge I advice you to pick up a lower league team next time!
Back to my story now... Unfortunatelly, by the time I'm writing these lines I am already at at the second half of my second season with OSFP. I will try to sum up my last season at this post.
When I took charge, I realised that the team was based a lot on old players. I decided (due to my limited budget) not to make any important first team transfers but to sign young, exceptional players.
Therefore, I signed Ivan a 17 year old DR from levante, hoping he will be valuable in future for a fee of 190k euros.
My last signing was Vitinho an exceptional brazilian striker, being only 17 years old too, with amazing talent, (I believe he is listed in wonderkids at this site) at a fee of 900k. If I can recall correctly, I snatched the deal out of Barca's hands, because they offered less money to Botafago (his team at the time). Currently, at my second season Vitinho is playing for my Senior squad and he is my ST sub, so he can blend in and gain experience. He is performing well, and develops really fast.
Regarding competitions I got the double in greek competitions(board, media and fans expected me to win both) and finished 3rd at ECC group stage. So, I continued in UEFA Cup and got thrown out at the second qualifying round. Not what I wanted, since I 'd prefer to reach the 16 of ECC, but my board was really happy.

I also persuaded my board during January to buy our stadium (It was loaned for 15% of tickets) and it was done by summer. Unfortunatelly, that added a 55mil outstanding loan.
At next post, I 'll describe my exciting, with many ins and outs transfers, summer!