Managers on Top 100

S25 Manager Reappointments

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:34:34 +0100

Division One

Tottenham Hotspur (Pedro Vilar) - reappointed (Youth Cup Final, promoted last season)

Sporting (João Alves) - not reappointed due to inactivity (see below for a full explanation)

Glen Mullan (Espanyol) - reappointed (Top 100’s most active manager)

Division Two

Swansea (Zé Quim) - reappointed (rebuilding after taking over very old overachieving team last season)

Galatasaray (fert dert) - not reappointed (appointed mid-season, but totally inactive)

Schalke (Jamie Alldridge) - not reappointed (second successive relegation, transfer ban and multiple Youth Cup forfeits)

Division Three

Valencia (Golden Bear) - reappointed (appointed midway through season, but this must be a last chance after so many relegations with different clubs)

Shakhtar (Tharani) - reappointed (appointed mid-season)

Basel (John McHugh) - not reappointed (appointed midway, had a few humourous moments on the newsfeed, but finished with more games than points, bad mouthing everyone on the newsfeed - thanks, but no thanks)

Division Four

Celta Vigo (Murilo) - reappointed (second successive relegation albeit in first full season. Poor effort but another chance)

Stuttgart (Norman Little) - not reappointed (rebuilding, but not competitive, World Club Cup forfeits)

Monaco (Tozé Trapattoni) - not reappointed (second successive relegation, one of the worst points totals in Top 100 history, multiple forfeits in World Club Cup)

Division Five

Chievo Verona (Carlos Azevedo) - reappointed (some signs of improvement at the death. Last chance saloon…)

Napoli (Mattia Bertonati) - not reappointed (fourth full season, but it’s been a downward spiral, multiple World Club Cup forfeits)

AZ Alkmaar (Mohammed Ajmal) - reappointed (took over from Golden Bear midway)

Sporting Decision

The decision not to reappoint João Alves (Sporting CP) follows established Top 100 rules and represents the consistent application of activity standards that have been core to our game world since its inception. This post explains the decision-making criteria, process, and how these standards are and will be applied.

Background: A Remarkable Journey

João’s story in Top 100 is genuinely extraordinary. Starting at Rubin Kazan in 2017, he achieved his dream of managing Sporting CP and led them on an incredible journey from Division 3 obscurity to Division 1 prominence. His passion for Sporting and dedication to squad building was evident throughout his tenure, culminating in an elite £431M squad with perfect youth development potential.

However, football management requires more than just squad building excellence.

The Official Criteria: What the Rules State

Per Section 6.3.1 of the Top 100 Rules, managers may be dismissed under two circumstances:

Poor League Performance: Finishing bottom three in any division
Inactivity: Being consistently unresponsive on communication channels, failing to manage their team, or failing to arrange fixtures

Crucially, Section 6.3.2 states that managers demonstrating inactivity “may not be offered their job back or any new club if sacked for other reasons.”

The Decision Criteria Applied

Performance Assessment

João finished 19th in Division 1 with 25 points, triggering automatic relegation and sacking under the performance criterion. João played weakened teams in some league games after failing to change his team for cup matches, which compounded his poor results.

Activity Assessment

The activity evaluation revealed systematic failures across multiple areas:

World Club Cup Non-Participation:

Failed to arrange both required WCC games
WCC participation is mandatory for all managers
The same failure occured in S24, so this is a repeat failure over at least two seasons

Youth Cup Abandonment:

Previously attempted participation but failed to set teams for matches
Abandoned participation entirely rather than learning from mistakes
Squad perfectly suited for youth development (21 average age, 82 rating) left unused

Communication Breakdown:

Unresponsive to official WCC arrangement requests
Limited engagement on WhatsApp and newsfeed despite years of membership
Failed to seek assistance when struggling with tactics/team management/fixtures

The Decision Process

Admin Team Evaluation

The decision underwent thorough admin team review:

Unanimous decision (0/5 admin votes for reappointment)
Evaluated against established criteria, not personal relationships
Compared with other managers facing similar circumstances

Comparative Analysis

The decision gains context when compared to concurrent reappointments:

Pedro (Tottenham) - REAPPOINTED:

Squad value: £173M (vs João’s £431M)
Performance: Also relegated but with maximum community engagement
Youth Cup finalist despite inferior resources
Full WCC participation

Glen (Espanyol) - REAPPOINTED:

Historical “standard bearer for activity”
Strong track record of community contribution

The Broader Standards

Why Activity Standards Matter

Top 100’s identity has always centered on community engagement. The Top 100 About page explicitly states:

“Top 100 thrives on an active community”
“Getting a bigger club depends on activity on the newsfeed/blog”
“Managers deemed inactive may not be offered any job back”

These aren’t recent additions - they’re foundational principles documented since the game world’s creation.

The Non-Competitive Problem

Managers who avoid community participation while building elite squads can exploit the system by:

Staying in lower divisions to avoid relegation risk
Asset stripping and youth hoarding without community obligations
Only promoting when guaranteed success
Creating unfair advantages over competitive managers

Division-Based Expectations

While the same basic rules apply to all managers, Top 100 does maintain higher expectations for D1 and D2 managers. This creates a clear progression route for ambitious managers starting in lower divisions.

The Success Model - Doug (Leicester):

Took Leicester to D5 with a clear rebuilding plan
Built elite squad while maintaining maximum community engagement
Won Youth Cup twice and Youth Shield twice
Demonstrated that elite performance AND community participation are possible
Regular blog contributions detailing progress at his club

João’s Path:

Successfully executed the rebuilding strategy (D3→D5→D1)
Built an elite squad comparable to Doug’s achievement
Failed to maintain community engagement that defines D1 expectations
No blog contributions at all

This distinction ensures progression opportunities while maintaining standards at the highest levels.

Application to Other Sacked Managers

The same criteria apply to all relegated managers who demonstrated WCC non-participation:

Stuttgart (Norman): Failed WCC participation - same evaluation standards

Monaco (Tozé): Failed WCC participation - same evaluation standards

Napoli (Mattia): Failed WCC participation - same evaluation standards

Consistent Application: The criteria apply regardless of squad value, historical achievement, or personal relationships with the admin team.

The VAR Standard

Following the Season 23 precedent where decisions took “nearly two days” and caused distress for all involved, we’ve implemented a “VAR standard”:

Reappoint unless there is a clear and obvious error

João’s case presented clear and obvious errors:

Elite squad resources with zero community participation
Mandatory competition non-participation despite capability
Multi-season pattern of declining engagement despite regular updates on newsfeed, blog and social channels

Moving Forward: Clear Expectations

Mandatory Requirements

All Top 100 managers must:

Arrange World Club Cup fixtures when applicable
Maintain basic communication responsiveness
Engage with community platforms and activities
Set teams for competitive matches consistently

Activity Monitoring

The admin team will:

Provide proactive reminders about mandatory competitions
Monitor participation patterns throughout seasons
Offer assistance to managers struggling with requirements
Apply consistent standards regardless of individual circumstances

Communication Improvements

Based on feedback, we will:

Implement clearer mid-season check-ins for struggling managers
Provide explicit guidance on community engagement expectations
Maintain documentation of warnings and support offered

Conclusion

The decision not to reappoint João Alves, while personally difficult given his remarkable journey and gracious response, upholds the community standards that make Top 100 special. These standards apply equally to all managers, with higher expectations naturally accompanying the prestige of managing elite D1 and D2 clubs.

João’s legacy - transforming Sporting from D3 obscurity to D1 prominence - will be remembered alongside Doug’s similar success with Leicester. The difference is that Doug combined elite squad building with exemplary community engagement, setting the standard for what Top 100 expects from its most successful managers.

The criteria are clear, documented, and will be applied consistently to all affected managers. Every manager knows what’s expected, and every manager will be held to the same standards.

João gracefully gave me permission to post his parting statement:

What a journey, guys!

It’s been many years since I joined the T100. It was 2017, and I was getting the job I could get, at Rubin Kazan.

From that day one, I never considered any other team. Sporting was my dream, a team that was broken and unknown to most of you.

One year later, that moment arrived, the dream job arrived, and I managed to take the club of my heart. I started by taking one step back to be able to take two forward, and from that day one, I aimed to become a champion in the first division, something many people laughed.

Step by step, I climbed, until I reached the highest point, but I failed. I failed miserably and was relegated.

After failing i talked with David this morning, he told me I wouldn’t be reapointed because my last season had been disastrous, and I hadn’t participated in the WCC and YC. It was a unanimous decision, and I have to accept it. We already know the rules here exist, but are used in different ways. I know my team is much more interesting today and that there are players who, for me, were untransferable and who will now be very useful on the market.

No problem, my contribution to SM and T100 is done. I’m sure that today all of you know a little more about Sporting Clube de Portugal. And will be easy to find someone to manage “his heart team”.

It’s time to “uninstall” the game and move on. A lot of hours looking for players, scouting and watching game. I missed the part to know how to change tactics in game, and after all, is what matter here.

I will continue to be a soccer fan and closely follow global scouting.

If you need anything from me, this is my contact.

Thank you very much for everything.

João Alves

Manager Reappointments: Key Decisions for Each Division

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 08:57:20 +0100

Division One

Schalke: promoted last season against the odds, this season was always going to be a struggle. Jay has begun a radical rebuild and he deserves a chance to see it through.

Benfica: it's been a steady decline resulting in relegation under Gregg, but he has been rebuilding. Not as active as I would like, but there are similarities with Atletico's situation last season. Gregg will stay this time and is expected to do better on and off the pitch.

Leverkusen: Marco has done well to keep Leverkusen in D1 in the previous couple of seasons, but couldn't quite repeat the feat this time around. He's got some good assets which I'm sure a number of managers are hoping to get their hands on with a change of manager. In the interests of the club, Marco stays to realise them.

Division Two

Anderlecht: According to the stats, Walter was expected to be relegated and he duly delivered, finishing bottom to boot. When he took over from Neil, Anderlecht were comfortably mid-table as predicted, so something happened in the week or so between Walter's appointment and when Malcolm produced his stats for the season. All that said, Walt is super-active, and still has some good assets some of whom could well still find their way to sunny Spain. Walter stays.

Liverpool: Chris has tried hard to improve his team, and was successful last season finishing in the playoffs. This season he was predicted to repeat that performance, but his transfer strategy has come at the cost of an ageing and rapidly declining team. Performance has dropped accordingly, and we feel it's time for a new manager to rebuild while trying to remain competitive in D3. Chris will not be reappointed.

Division Three

Monaco: Toze hasn't been very active, but it was always going to be a tough task in his first season in Top 100 after promotion last time. Toze reappointed.

Celta Vigo: Murilo took over midway through the season so he is reappointed.

Celtic: a double relegation for Hugo. Hard to justify his reappointment on that basis alone, although others have suffered double relegations in the past and survived, albeit under different circumstances. Hugo's active, tried to improve his team and arguably done so, but results have just not happened for him this season. He took Celtic up from D4 to D2 against the odds, so he deserves a chance to repeat that trick or decide his own fate when he chooses. Hugo reappointed.

Division Four

Atalanta: Chris has struggled in D4 after promotion and being nominated for Manager of the Season last time out. Reappointed.

Bordeaux: Another team promoted last season. Cameron is inactive and didn't respond to repeated requests on the newsfeed for managers to lt me know if they wanted to stay or not. Not reappointed.

Santos: Paulo looked like he might avoid the bottom three for much of the season, is active and tried to improve his team. Reappointed.

Division Five

Chievo: Carlos hasn't been able to improve results for Chievo and we did think a change of manager/club might be in order. Our Manager Assistant Decision-making system (MAD) decrees that not reappointing Carlos at this time would be a clear and obvious error, so he is reappointed.

PSV: a similar story at PSV, MAD decision: Chris reappointed.

Lazio: Nuno has been active and improved his team, and even looked like he was going to escape the bottom three, but got dragged back in. Nuno reappointed.

Transfer Bans

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:01:31 +0100

Current Managers under Transfer Ban

Attilio Bonnici (Standard Liege) one month ban for first offence from 27 October 2025 to 26 November 2025, and sell Floyd SAMBA to external club 24 November 2025.

Managers will receive transfer bans if they either cancel an accepted bid or go over the 50 man squad limit.

If the bid is accepted in error and cancelled that minute then this will not incur a ban.

If a Manager doesn't break transfer rules for 6 months after their ban finishes then they will move back up 1 level...

Managers are able to sell external while on transfer ban, but may not deal with any other managers (even by selling for cash) until they are off their transfer ban.

A player that is signed (transfer) or loaned (loan) that takes a club over the squad limit must be sold to external or returned to the parent club. The player cannot be re-signed post transfer ban of the player or club. The loaned player cannot be reloaned for a period of 70 days either as per the period that an internal player is transfer banned when completing an internal transfer between clubs.

Sanctions

1st level offence:
1 month transfer ban + sell player or players that took them over 50, not allowed to re-bid on them (purchase or loan)

2nd level offence:
3 month transfer ban + sell player or players that took them over 50, not allowed to re-bid on them (purchase or loan)

3rd level offence:
4 month transfer ban + sell player or players that took them over 50, not allowed to re-bid on them (purchase or loan)

4th level offence:
6 month transfer ban + sell player or players that took them over 50, not allowed to re-bid on them (purchase or loan)

Recently completed bans below.

Alessio Tonato (Napoli) one month ban for first offence from 14 September 2025 to 13 October 2025, and sell Montrell CULBREATH to external club 12 October 2025.

Golden Bear (Valencia) one month ban for first offence from 12 September 2025 to 11 October 2025, and sell Miguelito TERCEROS to external club 10 October 2025.

Paulo Lopes (Fiorentina) one month ban for first offence from 1 July 2025 to 31 July 2025, and sell Hayato INAMURA and Edoardo PIANA to external club 29 July 2025.

John McHugh (Basel) one month ban for first offence from 19 June 2025 to 18 July 2025, and sell Kialonda GASPAR to external club 17 June 2025.

Jamie Alldridge (Schalke) one month ban for first offence from 31 March 2025 to 30 April 2025, and sell Rodrigo GOMES to external club 28 April 2025.

Rob Ryan (Real Madrid) one month ban for first offence (more than 6 months since last Level One offence) from 12 March 2025 to 11 April 2025, and sell Luca ERLEIN to external club 10 April 2025.

Carlos Miranda (Saint-Etienne) one month ban for first offence from 26 February 2025 to 25 March 2025, and sell Cleiton SANTANA and Wesley ADEH to external clubs 26 March 2025.

Pedro Vilar (Tottenham Hotspur) one month ban for first offence (more than 12 months since last Level Three offence) from 25 February 2025 to 24 March 2025, and sell Andrés DÁVILA to external club 25 March 2025.

Anthony Guardiola (Hoffenheim) one month ban for first offence from 1 February 2025 to 28 February 2025, and sell Tom Ritzy HÜLSMANN external 1 March 2025.

Nick Wheels (Spartak Moscow) one month ban for first offence from 22 January 2025 to 21 February 2025, and sell Remy Cabella to external club 18 February 2025.

Golden Bear (AZ Alkmaar) one month ban for first offence from 2 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, and sell Tijn VAN INGELGOM to external club 31 December 2024.

Marc Ques (Partizan) for cancelling an accepted deal. Banned from 14 September 2024 until 13 October 2024.

Daniel Wythe (Werder Bremen) – one month ban for first offence from 22 July 2024 to 21 August 2024, and sell Seamus COLEMAN to external club 30 September 2024. (Manager quit.)

Rob Ryan (Real Madrid) – one month ban for first offence from 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2024, and sell Srdjan KUZMIĆ to external club 9 September 2024.

Sheene Ralspunsky (Feyenoord) – one month ban for first offence from 22 June 2024 to 21 July 2024, and sell Marko STAMENIC to external club 31 August 2024. (Manager quit.)

Ricardo Alexandre (Crystal Palace) - one month ban for first offence from 16 June 2024 to 15 July 2024, and sell Jonathan JESUS to external club 25 August 2024.

J Walker (Zenit) - one month ban for first offence from 18 January 2024 to 17 February 2024, and sell Ronald CARDOSO to external club 28 March 2024.

Stephen Beddows (Sampdoria) - one month ban for first offence from 17 January 2024 to 16 February 2024, and sell Riccardo FOGLIATA to external club 27 March 2024.

Dave Oz Osbourne (Dnipro/Malaga) - one month ban for first offence from 21 December 2023 to 20 January 2024, ~~and sell Juan Manuel SANABRIA to external club 29 February 2024~~ (no longer possible as Dave moved clubs).

Gursimran Brar (Koln) - one month ban for first offence from 25 December 2023 to 24 January 2024, and sell Igor IYONO to external club 5 March 2024.

Pedro (Tottenham Hotspur) - one month ban (extenuating circumstances) from 2 December 2023 to 1 January 2024, sell Jordy MAKENGO to external club 10 February 2024, and a final warning for third offence: any more transgressions and Pedro will quit Spurs.

Andy Martin (Fiorentina) - one month ban for first offence from 25 October 2023 to 24 November 2023, and sell Mattes HANSEN to external club 2 January 2024.

Ignazio Barracco (Marseille) - one month ban for first offence from 7 October 2023 to 6 November 2023, and sell Pau CUBARSÍ to external club 16 December 2023.

r cast (Villarreal) - one month ban for first level offence from 27 September 2023 to 26 October 2023, and sell Michael OLAKIGBE to external club 6 December 2023.

Feargal Hickey (Atalanta) - one month ban for first level offence from 14 September 2023 to 13 October 2023, and sell Jack HENRY-FRANCIS and Mika BIERETH to external clubs 22 November 2023.

Attilio Bonicci (Lokomotiv Moskva) - one month ban for first level offence from 11 September 2023 to 10 October 2023, and sell Nikola ĆETKOVIĆ to external club 20 November 2023.

Pedro (Feyenoord/Tottenham Hotspur) - three month ban for second level offence from 7 July 2023 to 5 October 2023, and ~~and sell Tiziano FULVI to external club 15 September 2023~~ (no longer possible as Pedro moved clubs),

Completed Transfer Bans

Walter Gogh (FK Partizan) - one month ban for first level offence from 24 August 2021 to 23 September 2021, and return the loan of Mohamad Simakan to parent club 24 August 2021.

Jamie Alldridge (Roma) - one month ban for first level offence from 3 June 2021 to 2 July 2021, and sell Gaël KAKUTA external 12 August 2021.

Marco G (Twente) - one month ban for first level offence from 21 April 2021 to 20 May 2021, and sell Lorenzo LUCCA external 1 July 2021.

Andrew Achilleos (Shakhtar Donetsk) - one month ban for first level offence from 13 April 2021 to 12 May 2021, and sell Issouf SISSOKHO external 22 June 2021.

Gary Naylor (Dynamo Kyiv) - one month ban for first level offence from 12 April 2021 to 11 May 2021, and sell Alan CARVALHO external 21 June 2021.

Scott Mckenzie (Sao Paulo) - one month ban for first level offence from 2 April 2021 to 1 May 2021, and sell Marc CUCURELLA external 11 June 2021.

Hugo Costa (Celtic) - one month ban for first level offence from 27 January 2021 to 26 February 2021, and sell one of Ellis SIMMS or Yonas MALEDE 7 April 2021.

Mariano Ratero (Boca Juniors) - three month ban for second level offence from 26 November 2020 to 25 February 2021.

DouDou (Torino) - one month ban for first offence from 15 January 2021 to 14 February 2021, and sell Sekou YANSANÉ external 26 March 2021.

Ken Keeley (Besiktas) - one month ban for first offence from 15 January 2021 to 14 February 2021, and sell Liam KITCHING external 26 March 2021.

Andy Evans (Athletic Club) - three month ban for second level offence from 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021, and sell Thijs OOSTING and Iago DOMÍNGUEZ external 21 December and 2 January 2021 respectively.

King Kev the Daddy (Galatasaray) - one month ban for first offence from 19 December 2020 to 18 January 2021, and sell Leonardo GODOY external 27 February 2021.

Mike Scallotti (Standard Liege) - one month ban for first offence from 7 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, and sell Leonid GERCHIKOV external 16 February 2021.

Alessandro Ioli (Dynamo Kyiv) - one month ban for first level offence from 27 November 2020 to 26 December 2020, and sell ISENKO, Pavlo, LAMMENS, Senne, YARMOLYUK, Yehor, STRANNEGARD, Tom, and ALI, Hussein external 5 February 2021.

Alex McLean (Olympiacos) - one month ban for first level offence from 17 November 2020 to 16 December 2020, and sell Gabriel LEMOINE external 26 January 2021.

Mariano Ratero (Boca Juniors) - one month for first level offence from 26 October to 25 November 2020, and sell Julio BUFFARINI, Julián ÁLVAREZ, Elias PEREYRA and Guido HERRERA external 4 January 2021.

Ignazio Barraco (Liverpool) three month ban for second level offence from 25 August 2020 to 25 November 2020, and sell Sotiris ALEXANDROPOULOS external 3 November 2020.

Gordon 'Gino' Kinnear (Tottenham Hotspur), one month ban for first level offence from 3 October 2020 to 2 November 2020, and sell Passos OTÁVIO external 12 December 2020.

Andy Evans (Athletic Club), one month ban for first level offence from 1 October 2020 to 31 October 2020, and sell Alex BLANCO, Callum ROBINSON, and one of Tom HEATON or Ivan SANTINI external 10 December 2020.

Feargal Hickey (Basel) one month for first level offence (cancelling an accepted deal) from 14 August 2020 to 13 September 2020.

Ricardo Ferreira (Malaga) one month for first level offence from 4 August 2020 to 3 September 2020, and sell Lucas NECUL external 11 October 2020.

Alex*** Borel (~~Chievo Verona~~Milan) one month for first level offence from 24 July to 23 August 2020, ~~and sell Kévin THÉOPHILE-CATHERINE and Florian LEJEUNE external 3 October 2020~~.

Ignazio Barraco (Liverpool) one month for 1st level offence from 12 July 2020 to 11 August 2020, and sell Pedro PELÁGIO external 22 September 2020.

Gianluca Ghio (Independiente) - one month for 1st level offence, from 7 June 2020 to 6 July 2020, and sell Setigui KARAMOKO external 16 August 2020.

Steven Logan (Bordeaux) - one month for 1st level offence, from 5 June 2020 to 4 July 2020, and sell Emanuel MAMMANA external 14 August 2020.

Roberto Downinho (Cruzeiro) - one month for 1st level offence, from 4 June 2020 to 3 July 2020, and sell Rodrigues HEITOR external 13 August 2020.

Nick Wheels (~~Leicester~~Fenerbahce) - one month ban for 1st level offence, from 28 April 2020 to 27 May 2020, ~~and sell Shapi SULEYMANOV and Rodrigo CAIO external 8 July 2020.~~

Walter Gogh (Atalanta) - one month ban for 1st level offence, from 25 April 2020 to 24 May 2020, and sell Andrea Petagna and Keito Nakamura external 5 July 2020.

Jamie Alldridge (Napoli) - one month ban for 1st level offence, from 21 April 2020 to 20 May 2020, and sell Nikola Iliev and Adrien Bongiovanni external 1 July 2020.

Mark Deadman (Celtic) - one month for 1st level offence, from 21 April to 20 May 2020, and sell Emmanuel GYABUAA external 1 July 2020.

Stephen Beddows (~~Real Madrid~~Sampdoria) - 3 months for 2nd level offence, from 13 December to 12 March 2020~~, and sell Nicholas PIERINI external 22 February 2020~~.

Dan Wallace (Hertha Berlin) - 3 months for 2nd offence, from 1 December 2019 to 28 February 2020, and sell Noah OKAFOR external 9 February 2020.

Feargal Hickey (Olympiacos) - one month for 1st level offence, from 14 January to 13 February 2020, and sell Davor LOVREN external 25 March 2020.

Anthony Roach (Olympique Lyonnais) - one month for 1st level offence, from 9 January to 8 February 2020, ~~and sell Aritz ADÚRIZ external 19 March 2020~~ [resigned].

Salvatore Zerbo (Spartak Moskva) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 29 November to 28 December 2019, and sell Eros Maddy external 7 February 2020.

Bogdan Danciu (Lazio) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 18 October to 17 November 2019, and sell Mirko MARIĆ external 27 December 2019.

Jamie Alldridge (Napoli) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 21 September to 20 October 2019, and sell Felix AGU external 30 November 2019.

Josh McMillan (Cruzeiro) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 19 September to 18 October 2019, and sell Felipe MELO external 9 November 2019.

Mark Stewart (Benfica) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 21 August to 20 September 2019, and sell Danilo BARBOSA and Gedson FERNANDES external 30 October 2019.

⚡⚡David The Fox Piero⚡⚡ (Espanyol) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 18 August to 17 September 2019, and sell Neil Etheridge and Aster VRANCKX external 27 October 2019.

Geoffrey R (Saint-Etienne) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 12 August to 11 September 2019, and sell Kévin MONNET-PAQUET external 22 October 2019.

Mariano Ratero (Boca Juniors) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 27 July to 26 August 2019, and sell Juan CAVALLARO external 5 October 2019.

Gursimran Brar (Anderlecht) - 3 months for 2nd offence, from 24 May to 23 August 2019, and sell Kingsley MICHAEL external 2 August 2019.

Roy Keane (Torino) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 12 July to 11 August 2019, ~~and sell Tanguy COULIBALY external 18 September 2019.~~ [sacked]

MaggioGod ( EL COMANDANTE ) (River Plate) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 2 July to 1 August 2019, and return one loanee asap.

Niall Taylor (Southampton) - 1 month for 1st offence, from 14 July to 13 August 2019, ~~and sell Éric EBIMBE external 22 September 2019~~ [resigned].

Dari Saviano (Levante) - 1 month for first offence, from 28 May to 27 June 2019, and sell Karamoko DEMBÉLÉ external 6 August 2019.

Lana Del Rey (Sao Paulo) - 1 month for first offence, from 25 May to 24 June 2019, and sell Gonçalo RAMOS external 3 August 2019.

Dan Wallace (Montpellier) - 1 month for first offence, from 11 May to 10 June 2019, and sell Boubacar FOFANA external 20 July 2019.

Greg Bilboa (Valencia) - 1 month for first offence, from 4 May to 3 June 2019, and sell Sigurd GRONLI external 13 July 2019.

Stephen Beddows (Real Madrid) - 3 months for second offence, from 10 Mar to 9 June 2019.

Gursimran Brar (Anderlecht) - 1 month for first offence, from 26 Mar to 25 Apr 2019, and sell Erkan EYIBIL external 4 Jun 2019.

RJ Alston (Everton) - 3 months for second offence, from 17 Feb to 16 May 2019.

Prince Michael William (ex-Santos) - 1 month for first offence, from 3 Apr to 2 May 2019, ~~and sell Grejohn KYEI external 12 Jun 2019.~~ [resigned]

Jay Jones (Internazionale) - 1 month for first offence, from 19 Feb to 18 Mar 2019.

S21 Manager Sackings and New Jobs

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:10:39 +0100

Thursday (tomorrow) night sees the final round of matches in another exciting season in Top 100. Shortly after 8:00pm UK time, we will know for sure (barring any River Plate/Dinamo Zagreb level on points, goal difference and goals scored shenanigans) who has won and lost, and who will be automatically sacked within the next few hours or days.

When Frank founded Top 100, and as far as I know, he made decisions about who got reappointed, who got offered a new club, and who stayed sacked. Later, if there was lots of interest in a club, he asked a secret panel of trusted managers to decide who got the job. When I took over ownership of Top 100 from Frank in S9, I inherited his secret panel, and we've used it more and more ever since, including in recent seasons under Beddows' stewardship, to decide who should be reappointed or not.

There are some known problems with using a secret panel of managers.

It's a LOT of extra work - something that Beddows was particularly good at, I have to say.
It takes a lot longer to do.
While we always tried to select managers based on their perceived trustworthiness, impartiality and wisdom, it's arguable that it just comes down to being a popularity contest.
Less popular, but arguably more deserving managers often get repeatedly overlooked.
People always complain about the panel decisions, particularly when it comes to taking into account managers' achievements and activity.

I'm always interested in doing less work, quicker, and in making decisions that are provably fair and justified, and based on our Top 100 Rules that have been (mostly) unchanged and on the blog since S1.

Screenshot of the Top 100 Rules section on Sackings

This season, we're going to decide who stays sacked, who gets reappointed, and who gets offered a new club using the following criteria (from the Top 100 Rules on Manager Sackings, and Malcolm's Stats - which show where a club was expected to finish at the start of the season):

Has the manager indicated that they wish to stay?
Were they appointed mid-season?
Was the club promoted last season?
Was the team expected to finish in the relegation places?
Is the manager a real life fan of the club?
Are they active in the game world (newsfeed, transfers, responding to messages, socials, blog)?

We'll also check the manager's individual record of achievement in the game world, whether there is interest in their job from other managers, and any other mitigating factors (e.g., personal issues, managers on waiting list, etc.).

Hopefully, this will make a simpler, quicker and fairer decision making process, although at the end of the day it will still come down to the decision of the Admin Team.

Two things I would say about this seasons sackings - we've had quite a few managerial changes during the season already, and not many managers waiting or ready to join now from Top 120 or elsewhere, so don't expect a bloodbath. And as this is a new way of doing it (even if it's based on the rules that have been there since the beginning), I think it's only fair to go a little easier on managers this time around. Next season could be different!

For any big new jobs, and/or jobs where there is a lot of interest, I do intend to consult the Managers' Panel (so sign up, if you haven't already, if you want to be part of that), but the final decision will still be made by the Admin Team.

Top Journalist Toni Pinto Signs for Top 100!

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:14:25 +0100

UPDATE: As we approach the mid-season point, Toni is now ready with questions about your season so far.

World famous fictional Portuguese sports journalist Antonio Silva "Toni" Pinto has signed for the Top 100 blog, and will be conducting a series of interviews with Top 100 managers, writing them up and then publishing them here on the Top 100 blog at a later date.

The interview is in five parts: Introduction, Club Management, Tactics and Strategy, Success and Failure, and SM Worlds.

[googleapps domain=“docs” dir=“forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfq6DzNftL5D7scUCA2R8zqSiue5d_hAV2eqEVKisZbUdAZaA/viewform” query=“embedded=true” width=“640” height=“1521” /]

Top 100 Managers' Panel

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:00:31 +0100

[googleapps domain=“docs” dir=“forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVq8z47WNYPVNfrVKBH7dH-o5Nn6TnAsS1qI0uwPPoE8BKQw/viewform” query=“embedded=true” width=“640” height=“1521” /]

Gino's Postbag

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:53:22 +0100

It's a packed postbag this week!

Cesar Loveboat writes:

Dear Gino, I can feel it getting harder and harder to find the young boys I love so much. Help me!

Dear "Cesar",
I understand your frustration. It can be difficult to sign young talents when other managers are unwilling to sell them. There are a few reasons why this might be the case.

Other managers are building for the future. They may be willing to let go of older players who are no longer in their plans, but they are not willing to part with young players who they believe have the potential to be stars.
Other managers are playing the long game. They may be willing to take a short-term hit in order to build a team that can compete for trophies in the long run.
Other managers are simply not interested in selling. They may be happy with their current team and they may not see the need to make any changes.

If you are having trouble signing young talents, you may need to change your approach. You may need to offer a higher transfer fee. You may also need to be more patient. It may take some time to convince other managers to sell their young players.

Good luck,

Gino

Roberto Zervatola penned this missive:

Dear Gino, is it really nice to see people who constantly want to change team? There are people who have already had 6/7/8/9 teams in 20 seasons, what have they had time to do each time? Nothing, just twisting the predecessor's work!

Dear "Roberto",

I can understand why you might be frustrated. It can be annoying to see someone else take credit for the work of others. However, it is important to remember that this is a game. People are free to play the game however they want. If someone wants to change teams every few seasons, that is their prerogative.

Best wishes,

Gino

Bezerro de Valor wrote this in crayons, by the sound of it:

Do we perhaps give the work of others into our hands and then end up with situations like Udinese and Internacional? If one creates the team with hard and own work, it will never have these behaviors, everyone wants Hellas, everyone would like Mbappe and haaland, but André started from 0, it's easy to go and try to take his job. but I could give many examples, myself included.

Dear "Bezerro",

I believe that there is a fine line between taking advantage of the work of others and building upon it. On one hand, it is important to give credit where credit is due. If someone has put in a lot of hard work to build a successful team, it is not fair to simply take over and take credit for their work. On the other hand, it is also important to be able to build upon the work of others. If someone has already done a lot of the hard work, it can be a great opportunity to take their team to the next level.

I think that the best way to approach this is to be respectful of the work of others. If you are taking over a team that has already been successful, it is important to acknowledge the work that has already been done. You should also be careful not to make too many changes too quickly. It is important to give the team time to adjust to your new style of management.

If you are able to do this, I believe that you can build a successful team even if you are not the one who started it from scratch. You can take advantage of the work of others and build upon it to create your own success. We've seen this with Arsenal, Benfica, West Brom, Aston Villa, Sao Paulo, Manchester United and more, who have all built on the work of previous managers to get their teams promoted to higher divisions or challenge for the title.

Allan Tyler weighed in with this:

I think you have to find the right balance as I totally get the point in building a side and having a bad season then getting sacked, but there is also the issue of some managers just buying 50 youths and sitting for years waiting on risers. Have the guys that can come in build a side and win 2/3 promotions back to back that's not easy either, and maybe these guys deserve a crack at the top clubs too? Its all about balance.

Dear "Allan",

I agree with you that there needs to be a balance between building a team and being active in the GW. I think that the current system is not perfect. I think that the Admin group should continue to monitor the system and make changes as needed.

I think that the most important thing is to reward managers who are both good builders and active in the GW. I think that the Admin group should consider giving bonuses to managers who win promotions, or who make significant improvements to their team. I think that this would encourage managers to be both good builders and active in the GW.

I also think that the Admin group should consider making it more difficult for managers to simply buy 50 youths and sit for years waiting on risers.

All the best,

Gino

Rangi Ocam offers some of his own advice:

Let me tell the 'builders' of this setup a little secret: you can build a team with a bright future AND put together a decent XI to field weekly to have a competitive team in the short term. One thing does not exclude the other, so there is no need to have 50 youths or 50 oldies in your team. Maybe it's a very elaborate concept for some, but you can split it into 25 and 25, or something.

Dear "Rangi",

I agree with you. You can build a team with a bright future and still have a competitive team in the short term. You don't need to have 50 youths or 50 oldies on your team. You can have a mix of both.

Here are some tips for building a team that is both competitive in the short term and has a bright future:

Sign a few young players who have potential. These players may not be ready to start every week right away, but they can be brought on as substitutes or used in cup games. As they get older and more experienced, they will become more valuable to your team.
Sign a few experienced players who can help your team win now. These players may not have the same potential as the young players, but they can help your team win games right away. They can also help to mentor the young players and help them to develop their skills.
Build a team that is balanced. You need to have a mix of players who can score goals, create chances, and defend. You also need to have a mix of players who are good at passing, dribbling, and shooting.
Be patient. It takes time to build a successful team. Don't expect to win the league in your first season. Focus on building a team that can compete for trophies in the long run.
If you follow these tips, you can build a team that is both competitive in the short term and has a bright future.

May the force be with you,

Gino

Disclaimer: Gino is a made up Agony Aunt character, and I didn't even make him up myself. Gino's advice is mostly AI generated, and intended solely for the purpose of entertainment. Do not try any of this on your team. All names of letter writers are fictional (for the avoidance of doubt).

Suggestion Box

Sun, 21 May 2023 14:36:46 +0100

Anonymous suggestions to improve Top 100

If you want to suggest something to improve Top 100 for everyone, or just for yourself, or have an anonymous moan at the admin, here you go.

[googleapps domain="docs" dir="forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyX6VIjxs6016LKxvnqbAVfNZcyFXu6qPtV55hg6t3jnbzBQ/viewform" query="embedded=true" width="640" height="1521" /]

Link to Social Media Groups...

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:47:24 +0100

Discord

Facebook

No obligation to join either but good places to catch up on content. Share players to sell etc.

Sack Race Results

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 22:08:15 +0100

Following on from this explainer, here are the results of the twelve Top 100 panel members' votes on who gets re-appointed, and who stays sacked (although they can still apply for their old job, along with anyone else).

Division One

Apply here if you want the Ajax job.

Division Two

Division Three

Division Four

No decisions to make.

Division Five

As the vote is evenly split, we felt it is fair to open the job up for applications, as we did with Anderlecht last season when the same thing happened.

Apply here if you want the Sao Paulo job.

The Sack Race

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:55:56 +0100

Should he stay, or should he go?

The top secret mystery Top 100 Selection Panel has been carefully considering and voting on which of this season's sacked managers will be re-appointed, and which ones will stay sacked (although they may re-apply when the job is opened up for applications in the usual way).

It's a couple of years since we increased the number of managers who get sacked in each division from two to three (the maximum allowed in the game world admin settings).

New managers re-appointed

This season, as is usual, we come to the end of the season with several clubs who appointed new managers during the course of the season looking certain or likely to finish in the bottom three. These managers will all be re-appointed, as is the custom.

So that's Spurs, Wolfsburg, Shakhtar, Malaga, Montpellier and Bordeaux whose managers will be re-appointed (should they finish in the bottom three and be sacked - Spurs and Shakhtar could still avoid that scenario).

In addition, Leicester will re-appoint Doug Earle should he fail to avoid the bottom three. I agreed with Doug when he left Arsenal that he could rebuild and keep his job if relegated.

That's as many as seven of the fifteen who will end up in the bottom three who will be re-appointed.

Clubs definitely available

Manchester United, Basel and Lazio currently have caretaker managers, and Besiktas and Olympiacos will soon be available when Ken and Alex go to the two Manchester clubs (Mark is leaving City at the end of the season).

There may be other clubs that become available - there usually are, but the clubs currently definitely available at the end of the season for applications from managers already in Top 100 are:

D2 Lazio
Newly relegated to D3 Basel
D4 playoff hopefuls Besiktas
Youth Shield Finalists, D5 Olympiacos

So we will have at least twelve clubs whose managers quit at some point this season - D1 Man City and Spurs, D2 Lazio and Basel, D3 Man Utd, Wolfsburg and Shakhtar, D4 Besiktas, Malaga and Montpellier, and D5 Olympiacos and Bordeaux.

We have up to seven out of fifteen sacked managers who will be re-appointed as explained above.

Sackings to be decided...

That leaves us with twelve managers still sweating on the panel's decision and/or hoping to avoid the sack all together on the final match day on Thursday night:

D1 Ajax, Benfica, and possibly Hellas Verona
D2 CSKA Moskva and Napoli
D3 one or both of Lille and Celta Vigo
D4 possibly one of Internazionale or Lokomotiv Moskva
D5 Independiente, Saint-Etienne, and possibly Sao Paulo

By my reckoning that's a minimum of seven, and a maximum of eleven clubs, who could end up sacking their managers.

I posted on the newsfeed a couple of weeks ago (and bumped the post back to the top several times) asking managers to let me know what they wanted to happen if they got sacked, and I passed their messages on to the selection panel to help them decide. I added some of my own comments where I felt that was relevant.

Any sacked manager who isn't re-appointed by the panel can still re-apply via the usual application process when the job is advertised. We will try to ensure that any sacked manager who wants to stay in Top 100 gets another club, if they don't get re-appointed, but they may have to spend some time on our Waiting List, depending on which clubs are available and what they are willing to take.

Top 100 Managers Job Application

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 11:18:48 +0100

Please use this form to apply for any vacant jobs, or jobs that are open for applications to managers already managing in Top 100.

Note that managers who have not managed in Top 100, or at their current club, for at least a full season are not usually considered for new jobs (although it can happen very occasionally), likewise if you have had successive relegations, as in real life, you are unlikely to be selected for a job at a better club).

We now have Top120 as well from where new Top100 managers will be recruited from as and when there will be opportunities in Top100.

If you do not currently manage in Top 100, click on this link and use the form at the bottom of the About page.

Anything you type in this form will not be visible publicly on the blog, but will be sent to the Top 100 game world owner and admin, and then on to the Top 100 manager selection panel, if more than one candidate for a job. By clicking submit you consent to using your information in this way, and in this way only.

[googleapps domain=“docs” dir=“forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeUsXLi_3pTOxiK0ZTqdhbGM2jCDG1f2fdDqqvcHLsXDvlhg/viewform” query=“embedded=true” width=“640” height=“1521” /]

Manager of the Season Winners S13

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 23:01:33 +0100

D5 Manager of the Season

I want to say thank you to all previous Dinamo managers. Also thanks to all who decide to give me a vote and decide me to be D5 manager of the season. Will continue hard next season to make best possible result. Really happy with this team and opportunity to be their manager. Wish all the best to all managers in new season.

The Godfather, D5 Manager of the Season S13

D4 Manager of the Season

I would like to thank all the managers who voted for me huge success at Bremen big transformation with the squad see us reach Division 3 hoping for the success to continue next season.
Paddy D, D4 Manager of the Season S13

D3 Manager of the Season

I'd just like to say thanks to everyone, this season has been fantastic and hopefully we can continue to progress in div 2 and have another great season . Thanks again.
Dale Bowers, D3 Manager of the Season S13

D2 Manager of the Season

After some success with Roma and a stable side it was a little risky to drop a Division but I really felt with a few tweaks I could get them back in the Top Level.

Key signings in the keeper and centre back also adding Werner in the latter stages. I like to try have cover for all positions, I am lacking in CM and CB but I concentrated on the league rather than cups and at one point I thought I may make the 100 points.

We twice broke most win on the run and record and most unbeaten games, it’s a really tough league and you could get stuck in there and after two season Arsenal looked like they were lacking consistency.

I tried to get a settled squad early doors and stuck to the game plan. Really pleased to go up as champions against some really top managers in the Division and looking forward to being back in the top flight.
Heath Brown, D2 Manager of the Season S13

D1 Manager of the Season

Since I’ve joined this league I’ve strived to be the best manager in here and from the start it was a struggle to be champions even though at some points over the years we have on paper had a very strong squad but for some reason it just never clicked.......

But this season we have managed to turn draws into wins, a few in the last 10 mins ....and it has helped having a little bit of Back up To Fill in for those Unexpected injuries ......
James Mckenzie, D1 Manager of the Season S13

Top 100 Manager of the Season

But overall I want to thank all the guys in here for the competition, it’s a hard group of guys who are trying to break the cycle up top in div 1 but it takes a lot of sacrifice of top talents to get that winning formula.....

I also want to thank the guys for their effort in running cups and managing everything about the world which is the fairest I’ve ever come across and rules are always adhered to and there’s no qualms if mistakes are made people accept their punishment....

I know Scott Will be desperate to get his crown back and I will learn from his mistake this term of the super cup as he lost his first two league games through playing a full team.....

Let’s see if we can do it again I’ve every confidence we won’t be far away .......I’m glad overall we won the league by a margin now it’s up to the guys in div 1 to hunt me down coz I won’t be relinquishing the title easy .......

So guys let’s see what everyone’s made of this term and good luck to all.
James McKenzie, Top 100 Manager of the Season S13

Vote for Overall Manager of the Season S13

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 23:14:15 +0100

[poll.fm/10643237](https://poll.fm/10643237)

Vote for D1 Manager of the Season S13

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:07:41 +0100

[poll.fm/10641528](https://poll.fm/10641528)

Poll closes 2 November

Vote for D2 Manager of the Season S13

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:33:09 +0100

[poll.fm/10641455](https://poll.fm/10641455)

Poll closes 2 November

Vote for D3 Manager of the Season S13

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:52:20 +0100

[poll.fm/10641404](https://poll.fm/10641404)

Poll closes 2 November

Vote for D4 Manager of the Season

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 23:39:09 +0100

[poll.fm/10640585](https://poll.fm/10640585)

Poll will close 2 November

Vote for D5 Manager of the Season S13

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:19:01 +0100

[poll.fm/10640112](https://poll.fm/10640112)

Poll will close 2 November, one vote per manager, please

Job Applications End of S13

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:23:41 +0100

If you want to apply for any of the available jobs following the end of season sackings of the bottom three in each division, or if you want to apply to be reinstated to your job after getting sacked, please do so below by filling in the form and clicking submit.

Only managers currently managing in Top 100 will be considered at this stage.

[googleapps domain=“docs” dir=“forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrIjZyaEyE68vcQnKKsahvGCgskBEnyPWscd9N6uqVdFKUoA/viewform” query=“embedded=true” width=“640” height=“1521” /]

Note that clubs marked with an asterisk (*) may not be available depending on tonight's results.

Applying for a job does not mean that you will be offered it. All jobs are decided by the Top 100 Top Secret Selection Panel made up of some of your favourite and least favourite managers.

We'll try to accommodate everyone's wishes and preferences as much as possible, but it's inevitable that not everyone is going to be happy that they got exactly what they wanted when it's all done and dusted.

We'll also try to get all the selections and appointments done as quickly as possible, and hope to have it all sorted by the end of the weekend at the very latest. Feel free to PM me in-game or on WhatsApp or FB in the meantime, if you need to.

Top 100 TV - S12, Friday 24 April 2020: '44 Minutes in Levante'

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 21:54:36 +0100

Update on the recent managerial changes, and the chaos and confusion that ensued. With your host Sampdoria boss Stephen Beddows, and special guests Gregg Robinson (Spurs), and David Marsden (Hamburger).

Main questions answered - what is the manager selection process and how does it work? And how did Salvatore get Levante?!

[youtu.be/Ff_q6z010...](https://youtu.be/Ff_q6z010m0)

S11 Managers of the Season Announced

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:48:58 +0100

Following voting for the Manager of the Season nominations, here are the winners:

[youtu.be/MyJpHqBzS...](https://youtu.be/MyJpHqBzSQ0)

Sevilla Appoint Harman

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 15:11:03 +0100

It's been a season to forget for fan's of Sevilla but following the appointment of manager Tony Harman many are tipping the Spanish giants to bounce straight back. Harman has penned a 3 year deal with the Spanish side and expectations for the new season appear to be high amongst supporters. Without a win in their last 14 league outings relegation was a formality with many players being accused by supporters of 'simply not caring'. Following Harman's arrival, Sevilla have been busy in the market as they look to rebuild and bring some fresh impetus for the upcoming campaign. Some big characters have been shown the door by the new gaffer, most notably Kramaric, Lindelof and Amavi who were all ever presents in a season to forget. Speaking to the media following Sevilla's 1-1 draw vs Fenerbahce, Harman admitted that expectations for the new season are high but insisted fans must be patient as the club look to rebuild,' Success isn't built overnight. There's been a lot of change this summer and we've brought in some quality and experience that we believe will put us in a strong position to compete. Witsel and Moutinho are top quality for this level as are Rose and Lovren at the back so were pleased but there's a lot of hard work ahead, Rome wasn't built in a day!'. Harman also refused to be drawn on speculation that the club are still in the market for a goalscorer and insisted he's happy with the squad.

Manager of the Season Awards

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:28:13 +0100

[googleapps domain="docs" dir="forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYHvNJnigcx0Ys63QS5W_oIs9BWXLyZnMCl4REckFkwhVs9w/viewform" query="embedded=true" width="640" height="3969" /]

Despite Play-Off Misery, Justice Remains confident of his long term goal!

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 02:00:01 +0100

Aston Villa have their current longest serving manager in charge Nick Justice, the 24-year-old manager from a place called Chelmsford, yes in Essex (Don't worry we believe he does have a few brain cells but he is blonde…so…) But back on track, and back to the Villa.

When Justice took the rein at Villa Park in May of 2017, the squad was in a big need of a revamp, and well we all know that is not the easiest to do in a game-world like T100, but he set about his business and began the rebuild of a team, that had some solid foundations from previous managers Rahul, and Ben Hall.

Under Justice we've seen a plethora of changes, and even in this current season, we saw plenty, with some big outgoings in the forms of star man Heung Min-Son, young English prospect Demari Gray and leading centre-back Jamal Lascelles, who all went to pastures new. But we saw plenty of top talent arrive at the club, and not just in those deal, be through transfers in, some the biggest names are, Thorgan Hazard, Morgan Sanson, Rolando Mandragora, Wilmar Barrios, as well as many top long term youngsters in the likes of Hamed Traore, Moussa Diaby and more.

Thorgan Hazard, one of many to sign for Villa this season under Justice

So in this season alone their has been mass changes, which could have well cost the Midlands club, that despite only losing six games during the regular season, they slipped from the automatic promotion spots to the dreaded play-offs and tonight fell victim to the cruel means of promotion, as they lost to the team that also cost them the top three, Montpellier.

The game ended with the French side winning the game by three goals to two, with two goals from Belgian international Thorgan Hazard not being enough to see them through- back to the aforementioned six defeats in the season...until the last five games of the regular season, Villa were sitting third, with only three defeats, but they lost a horrific three in row leading them to fall to 6th in the league and their fourth defeat in a row came in the play-off semi-final.

A torrid run of form at the end of the season truly cost the side, but Justice is hopeful the changes made this season and hopefully during the post-season/pre-season, can help his side to push on that next step, next season and go on to glory. The young manager, has missed out on promotion twice int he past two season during the play-offs, and so will be praying and hoping his side can finish above the dotted line of the play-offs next season, and try to get the promotion they've been craving since Justice took over.

The club were actually in a spot of bother when he first took the reins in Division 3 and his appointment saw them rise to 8th from a very damning position, and many sung his name as their saviour from their torrid season, but the following season, reality hit and Villa finished 17th and found themselves relegated to Division 4, and since then Justice began his big re-build to get his side back up, and the club, board and fans have full faith that he experiences and abilities can see them back up the leagues, and with the youngsters he's brought in that, they can have a long term sustainable success.

However, right now they'll be feeling a bit upset, bitter, and frustrated to once again miss out via the play-offs and that a bad run late on in the season has truly cost them. However on the whole it was actually quite a successful season, despite the poor end, and Justice believes that they can for sure push on from this campaign and comeback fighting harder and stronger next season with the changes made this season, they can use that to their advantage next term, here is why Justice believes that ...

" I believe that despite our bitter end tonight, with defeat to Montpellier in the Play-offs, that with a full season with the squad we have, and perhaps a few tweaks to the squad that we can move on once again, and more over, go one step better and get into the automatic spots in the league.

It's no secret we made some big changes mid season, including allowing Son to leave, and we moved on a few others, and brought in a couple new faces, but the change was with one eye on next season, and if that'd of been in Division 3 then great, but we're in Division 4, and the plans remain. The plans are to continue to grow and build on what we have and progress that one step further.

We will have a few of the lads that we didn't have last season from the off, now from the very beginning, the likes of Thorgan (Hazard) and Morgan (Sanson), that can make a big difference to have in and around this squad.

We've got a young bunch, but they're gaining more and more experience, season on season and that'll also help. I can't just click my fingers and have the magic answer on how to win the league, but that's what I'd like to do, and believe with my resources that we can certainly push at the very top, but we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves, but we will do our upmost to be successful, and bring this club and the fans the football they deserve and they want to see!

We must try our best to score more goals too, we will be in the market for a forward player, but we do already have some great striker options at the club, and Lukasz Teodorczyk had another solid season with goals, getting fifteen in the league, after nineteen last season, we know he wants to get to the twenty plus mark, and we will do our best to push him and get that from him.

We have some great plans, and will implement them in pre-season, and we will go for warm weather intensive training in the states, and see how that goes, but we won't spend too much time apart in the post-season, I want the team to bond and gel ahead of a BIG season, next term!

Up the Villa, let's give the fans something to be proud of!!!"

Lukasz Teodorczyk was the highest scoring Villa Forward once agin this season with fifteen

It appears the play-off defeat hasn't dampened the mood of Justice, but only pushed him to want to better himself next season! We'll keep a watchful eye on them and see how they do, and we're positive they'll improve from this season.

New Manager Shortlist

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 21:17:33 +0100

Do you have what it takes to be in the Top 100?

Would you like to be on the Top 100 New Manager Shortlist?

Message David Marsden for more information... :)

The Shortlist

Mark Deadman

You can also apply to join one another of our favourite game worlds - The Level Playing Field (GW ID: 361435) - set up by one of the original Top 100 founders DP 91.