AS Monaco - We Want More-ientes

A statement has been released on Fernando Morientes’ official website from the man himself. The statement announces that he will be taking up management and already has signed a contract with former club AS Monaco. The statement itself explains his decision to return to football, become a manager, why Monaco and what he expects to achieve.

The statement reads –
“I am delighted to announce that not only have I decided to return to football but I already have a managerial appointment with AS Monaco!

This decision has come 2 years after my retirement from playing and what I felt was the game. I had fallen out of love with football, I know, it’s hard to believe! Around 8 months ago I was invited as an guest to attend an AS Monaco match. Whilst I was there I could feel myself getting the feeling of joy and I was feeling like I was, home. During the game it was announced over the tannoy that I was at the game. Almost instantly the crowd began to chant my name and I loved it! I was back to my old self, in love with the beautiful game.

It was there and then I wanted back in. I looked at my options and I felt management was the best way back in for me. So I began to train for my badges. During this process I was approached by Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev and he offered me the chance of becoming Monaco manager upon completion of my badges, if the position was vacant. I was in!

The chance to manage a team I had once fired to the Champions League final, where I was a cult hero and where I re-fell in love with the game was one I could not turn down. I thought I would become a manager in the lower leagues of Spain and work my way up. Never did I think I would be in-charge of such a big club, a fallen giant, if you will.

Over the course of my time here, which I hope is a long, long time, I hope to achieve firstly promotion back to Ligue 1 at the first attempt. After that I hope to get Monaco back into Europe and competing for the Ligue 1 title. My main aim is to win the Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Thanks for all the support!”

Second attempt. Hopefully this time round I don't lose my job!

Don't worry mate! Show some results and your transfers before anything starts!

2013-04-15 00:37#92580 PaukerJ : Don't worry mate! Show some results and your transfers before anything starts!

I haven't started playing games (I let the assistant manager take pre-season) but I am done for signing players. I'll update with screenshots of the players in a while.

New manager Fernando Morientes has come straight into Monaco and shaped things up, bringing in four new players. England youth international Will Hughes from Derby, Brazilian keeper Renan from Corinthians, Ivorian defender Lamine Kone from Lorient and Mattia De Sciglio on loan from AC Milan.

Will Hughes despite being just 17 is seen as a player who can slip straight into Monaco's line-up and make the difference. A creative midfielder he is seen to be the next generation of England players. Next we have Renan is another young player brought in by Morientes. The 21 year old Brazilian is more than capable of a starting role for the French out-fit.

Now we have Lamine Kone, the former France youth international who has now switched allegiances to the Ivory Coast, is touted as a real coup for Monaco. Seen as a solid performer at Ligue 1 level one can only assume that his move to Monaco is seen as one for their future and not their current state.

De Sciglio is one for the future. One day he will be a starter for Italy and is already a very good defender. Monaco beat off competition from many clubs to pull this loan signing.

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Great signing Hughesy and De Sciglio, although I'm confused as to why you would give Hughes the no 9 shirt your choice though!

This story looks like it has the potential to be a brilliant one! Great start.

2013-04-15 18:34#92708 Glenn T : Great signing Hughesy and De Sciglio, although I'm confused as to why you would give Hughes the no 9 shirt your choice though!

Cheers. First available number, I guess.

2013-04-15 18:35#92712 Seni : This story looks like it has the potential to be a brilliant one! Great start.

Thanks for the kind words. I hope it is!

Kylian Hazard has joined the Morientes révolution at Moncao. The younger brother of Eden and Thorgan, both of Chelsea, has accepted the offer of Monaco leaving Lille. Kylian is said to be the most talented of the three brothers, which may be the reason that he commanded such a high fee for a 16 year old, £2.5m but it could turn out to be well spent if he fulfills his potential.

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A great start to the season with a 4-1 drubbing of Tours. Renan saved a penalty on his debut but conceded late on to Tours’ second penalty of the game. Toure scored hat-trick and Bajrami scored the other goal. In the second game of the season Monaco managed to pick up an unconvincing draw. For the majority of the game the teams were in deadlock and the final result was a deserved one. Unfortunately Monaco were knocked out of the cup in the first game, losing 6-5 on penalties to Le Harve, 8 penalties each were taken.

Monaco managed to win their 3rd game of the Ligue 2 season in a hard fought 4-3 win. In the game Istres took the early lead but that was cancelled out moments later by a wonderfully struck free-kick from Tzavellas. Monaco took the lead again before Istres levelled and this happened again before a late goal from the corner was tapped in by Wolf for the win.

The first Ligue 2 loss of the season came as a sore one to Monaco. A goal moments from the end, an own goal from Kone. The manager was needless to say, furious with the result. A game they should of won but they struggled with. Monaco bounced straight back, but in unconvincing fashion, narrowly beating out Arles-Avignon with Renan being the saviour for Monaco.

In the final tie of the month 1st placed Le Harve hosted 2nd place Monaco. The game was one Le Harve should be disappointed not to have won, having a goal chalked off and a penalty saved by Renan (his second in normal time of the month!). Overall this wasn’t bad result for Monaco and they have had a great month.

Monaco's player of the month award goes to... Lamine Kone!


A solid performance this month from Kone in his first here.

José María Gutiérrez Hernández, commonly known as Guti has joined up with former Real Madrid team mate Fernando Moritentes at Monaco. Guti will join the coaching set-up. This will be his first job since retiring from football in 2011 whilst playing for Turkish side Besitkas. At Real Marid he won a whopping 15 trophies including 5 league titles and 3 Champions League trophies whilst at Bestikas he won one, the Turkish cup.

Zden?k Grygera joins AS Monaco on a 1 year deal as cover in defense. The defender was out of contract after leaving Fulham at the end of the last season. He had previously turned out for, most notably, Sparta Prague, Ajax and Juventus. He has also turned out for his national team, the Czech Republic, 65 times.

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Great stuff mate! The signing are pretty good for a Ligue 2 side! Keep it up!

The first game of September was bore 1-0 win for Monaco. The only action of the game was when Toure met Kagelmacher’s cross to give Monaco the lead moments after half-time. The second game of September was against an underperforming Lens side. Just 7 minutes in and Monaco lead 2-0 with an early 3rd minute goal from Bajrami which was followed by a Tzavellas thunderbolt free-kick. The game from then on was a stale mate with Monaco finishing 2-0 winners. Against Gazelac Kone scored twice in the 2-1 win. The game had many chances but the finishing from both sides lacked.

November’s fixtures kicked-off against Chateauroux and Toure opened the scoring after 4 minutes for Monaco. Nabil Dirar, earning his first start of the season, scored a cracking goal minutes before half-time. Bajrami scored around the 70th minute mark when he cut in from the left and placed his shot into the bottom left hand corner. Next up was 20th placed Angers, Kagelmacher scored in the 31st minute with a tap in from the corner. Riviere scored the second of the night when he collected the ball on the half way line and took it past 3 players and calmly finished. In the final game of the month, against Nantes, Ocampos scored in just 5 minutes to get Monaco off to a great start. Tzavellas scored with 28 minutes gone to double Monaco’s lead with a well timed strike. A great break from Monaco and a fine delivery from the right hand side saw a Ocampos dive in and head home for his 2nd of the game.