[FM23] Play up Pompey: Dejan Stefanović at the helm

[GrayMatter]

Who is the boss?

Dejan Stefanović had a fruitful playing career at Portsmouth between 2003 and 2007, captaining the side during their 7-year-spell in the Premier League. Arguably this stretch of time was the pinnacle of Pompey's history, Harry Redknapp led the South-Coast outfit to an 8th placed finish, a year after Stefanović's final year at the club. Stefanović was looked upon as somewhat of a cult hero during his spell at Portsmouth, proving to be dependable under Redknapp's as well as controversially speaking out against manager Alain Perrin inbetween Redknapp's tenures in charge. The Serb was a favourite of then owner Milan Mandarić and was part of what was something of an Eastern European revolution at the club at the time. The 48-year-old has since spoke of his desire to one day manage Portsmouth and even ended his career at non-league outfit Havant and Waterlooville, close to his home in Portsmouth at the time.

Key Principles

• Propel Portsmouth back to the Premier League.
• Recruit Eastern European talent.
• Replicate Stefanović's on-field leadership with another Serbian defender.
• Produce Eastern European/Balkan players through the youth system via staff members of Eastern European/Balkan nationalities as well as creating affiliations with Eastern European clubs.
• Surpass the league high finish of 8th in the Premier League.
• Look to become Serbia manager as well as Portsmouth boss.

Edited April 22, 2023 by ShaunG95

[TelcontarTargaryen]

Ah a fellow Serbian manager in Stefanović. Always great to see it, I actually always rated him as a quite good player.

[GrayMatter]

Season 1 - 2022/23

I have a lot of experience in winning promotions from League One and I find it is simply just a case of navigating the loan market well and rotating frequently. All other cup competitions were low priority and we bowed out of them early, so unfortunately no other silverware for us.

Promising Players

Ntazana Mayembe

Brought in as a youngster to play sparingly across the season, due to Dane Scarlett's fitness issues, Mayembe actually ending up playing 25 games and scored 13 goals which is a respectable tally for a free transfer.

Zak Swanson

Swanson is really versatile and did a good job slotting in at either left-back or right-back all season.

Star Loanees

Nikola Iliev

When I save that Iliev was available (and for a pittance per week), I couldn't help but bring him in. I'm aiming for players to replicate roles within Portsmouth's history and Iliev very much replicated the success of his countryman Svetoslav Todorov who was mercurial in Portsmouth's promotion campaign into the Premier League. Iliev scored 17 in 34 in the league with a 7.22 average rating, the Bulgarian was deployed as a shadow striker for most of the season but had some spells as a striker too. I will be looking to acquire Iliev permanently at some point but now we remain patient to see if Inter Milan will allow us to keep him for the Championship.

Patryck Lanza

Lanza was simply far too good for League One. Playing as an attacking wing-back, he finished the season with 8 assists.

Notable Mentions

Stan Mills from Everton played well when called upon, as did Akinkunmi Amoo when we loaned him in from FC Copenhagen in January. Gabrijel Rukavina, Omari Hutchinson and Christian Mosquera were other loanees who came in and made an impact. Mosquera is out of contract in the summer but has chosen to join Manchester United. We were never in the running to feasibly sign him but we will be asking ten Hag about his availability upon his arrival in Manchester.

Backroom Staff Overhaul

Commitment to Eastern Europe/Balkan Countries

• Gabrijel Rukavina (loan) - 2022/23
• Nikola Iliev (loan) - 2022/23

The main issue has been attaining work permits for certain players so far and a lack of interest given that we've only just become a Championship side. As soon as cement ourselves as a Championship team or when we are a Premier League outfit, that is when I'll really start to overhaul the team and opt for Eastern European/Balkan signings.

[GrayMatter]

10 hours ago, TelcontarTargaryen said:

Ah a fellow Serbian manager in Stefanović. Always great to see it, I actually always rated him as a quite good player.

Growing up I really enjoyed watching him, he didn't seem to get many opportunities playing for Serbia at international level but he was always a solid mid-table Premier League defender.

[GrayMatter]

Season 2 - 2023/24

We recruited shrewdly after promotion from League 1 as ourselves and Ipswich secured back-to-back promotions.

New Recruits

We brought in lots of new faces, essentially reshaping the whole squad, ready to push for promotion. Tom Bayliss was particularly impressive as a mezzala, while Timo Bornemann scored 28 goals in the Championship and Nikola Iliev once again showed his quality by scooping the Championship Young Player of the Year award.

Promising Players

Uros Kabic

Played on the right or the left wing fuss-free and had a hand in 17 goal contributions.

Diego Moreira

Similarly versatile to Kabic, Moreira was my biggest purchase after offloading £2.7m worth of deadwood. Although not as consistent as Kabic, Moreira's transfer value is an interesting prospect should teams look to pinch him from us.

Star Loanees

Nikola Iliev

Improving tenfold throughout the season, Iliev's 15 goals and 11 assists as a shadow striker dragged us into contention for the automatic promotion spots.

Jan-Carlo Simic

Of Serbian descent, unfortunately, Simic is now a Borussia Dortmund player and decided against playing for us in the Premier League. However, his 7.04 average rating in the Championship was massively in ensuring Pompey were back in the big time.

Commitment to Eastern Europe/Balkan Countries

• Gabrijel Rukavina (loan) - 2022/23 & 2023/24
• Nikola Iliev (loan) - 2022/23 & 2023/24
• Milan Majstorovic (loan) - 2023/24
• Uros Kabic - 2023/24
• Semih Kılıçsoy (loan) - 2023/24
• Jan-Carlo Simic (loan) - 2023/24
• Marko Milovanovic (loan) - 2023/24
• Benjamin Tahirovic (loan) - 2023/24