corinthiano Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 (edited) Destination 3 - Bhutan Bhutan is a small, landlocked kingdom in the Eastern Himalayas, bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west. The country has a population of approximately 800,000 people. The official language is Dzongkha, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Bhutan's history is marked by its isolationist policies and the preservation of its unique cultural heritage. The kingdom was unified in the early 17th century by Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan lama who established the dual system of governance combining religious and secular rule. For much of its history, Bhutan maintained a cautious relationship with the outside world, focusing on internal stability and cultural preservation. In the early 20th century, Bhutan began to modernize under the guidance of its first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, and gradually opened up to international relations. The country transitioned to a constitutional monarchy in 2008, with the introduction of democratic reforms that balanced traditional values with modern governance. Bhutan's economy is characterized by its reliance on agriculture, hydropower, and tourism. Agriculture remains a cornerstone, with most Bhutanese engaged in subsistence farming. Hydropower is a significant driver of economic growth, with Bhutan harnessing its abundant river resources to generate electricity, which is primarily exported to neighboring India. Tourism in Bhutan is regulated under a policy of "high value, low impact" to preserve the country's environment and culture. Visitors are required to book their trips through licensed tour operators and pay a daily tariff, which helps manage the number of tourists and fund sustainable development initiatives. Major attractions include the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), the annual Tshechu festivals, and the stunning landscapes of the Himalayas. Football in Bhutan Football in Bhutan has a relatively recent history compared to many other countries. The sport was introduced to Bhutan in the 1950s, initially through informal matches and school competitions. It gained traction in the 1980s when Bhutanese students and expatriates began organizing more structured games and tournaments. The Bhutan Football Federation (BFF), founded in 1983, was instrumental in formalizing and promoting football within the country. The BFF became a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1998 and later joined FIFA in 2000, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Bhutan. In the early 2000s, the Bhutanese national team started participating in international competitions, including qualifiers for major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup, but has failed to qualify to any major tournament, something that has not changed in FM. It took a long time for domestic football to be formalized in Bhutan, attempts were made from 1986 but it was only in 2012 that the Bhutan Premier League was created and regular structured domestic football was played. In this short history the competition has been relatively even, with Paro the biggest winners with three titles. They have added one in-game but Terton seems to have emerged as the recent force winning the last two titles (2026 not displayed yet). The format of the league in FM is a bit weird, with 8 teams playing once against each other in the Super League and the top 4 making it to the Premier League where they play against the 6 best placed teams from the prior year home and away to determine the champion. I also think the last team in the Super League is relegated, but none of this is really clear from the league rules so I guess we will learn as we go. In terms of eligible clubs there are still quite a few ones out there and with an even playing field and all teams semi-professional we should be able to do well with any team (hopefully). Going down the rep list the highest eligible club would be Ugyen Academy, but Phuensum finished second in the season that just finished and don't have a manager, so could be a good option. Edited August 22 by corinthiano 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 Tensung Football Club Tensung Football Club are a semi-professional club from the small town of close to 9 thousand inhabitants called Wangdue Phodrang, according to FM. According to Wikipedia they are owned by the Royal Army of Bhutan and are based in the capital Thimphu, so we'll roll with the Army ownership but will follow the route of being based in the small city (potentially a military base?) for the purpose of this save. They were founded in 2016 and have no notable achievements but in-game they have finished as runners-up in the Premier League in three seasons, so seemed to be a strong fit. All clubs seemed to sack their managers at the end of the season so we had a free pick and they seemed like a solid choice. I could not find any pictures on the ground, but from Google Maps it just looks like a synthetic field with a very small stand. Again I am amazed you can drive there from Brunei in "just" 167 hours Strongest XI / Top Rated Players I don't have any staff yet and with the season not even scheduled and only due to start in 6-7 months I will leave the squad introduction when we get to the Season Preview. Finances Seems reasonable, although I don't understand what this outrageous wage budget is all about. Next Fixtures Not scheduled yet, we are back to the same schedule of Timor-Lest with very short seasons 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 I already like the new board. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toin Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 I always love your saves, making good progress already! Will definitely follow, e vai Timão! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 12 hours ago, Toin said: I always love your saves, making good progress already! Will definitely follow, e vai Timão! Thank you glad to hear you are enjoying this one too! Times are tough, but bora Timão 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 (edited) No games in almost 6 months but at least we are being productive with coaching courses Edited August 24 by corinthiano Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 2026/27 Asian Review AFC Champions League Elite Saudi Arabia wins another one with Al-Ahli earning their first trophy. Our countries have not done as well this year with only BG Pathum Utd making it into the Last 16. AFC Champions League Two Great performance from our countries with Muangthong Utd earning a title for Thailand. We also had an all Thai Semi-Final and 5 teams in total from our countries in the knockouts. AFC Challenge League Two titles for our countries as Mumbai City win their first title. Very special mention to our former club AS Académica who got all the way to the Semi-Final! South/Southeast Asia League Rankings Big movements at the bottom with both former countries Brunei and Timor-Leste rising due to strong AFC Challenge League campaigns. Niran is now back in the worst league of the save. League Champions Much better reading from a new champions perspective, especially as one of the two new champions was a Niran-lead side. Starting to see some very dominant sides, which will make the challenge interesting when we get to those countries. Former League Champions AS Académica: Had another great year with another league title and an excellent AFC Challenge League campaign, getting all the way to the Semi-Final. Only blemish was the cup where they fell at the first hurdle in the Last 16. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 2027 Season Preview The set-up is pretty simple when you get to this stage, 10 teams play each other twice in a simple league format. What doesnt get shown so well is that the bottom 4 will have to play in the Super League next year to try and qualify for this tournament again, but I don't think we will need to worry about that. We are second favorites to win behind Phuensum, which is interesting as we signed a lot of their players. Also interestingly, last years winners Terton are only predicted to finish 8th. Transfers In Out We practically signed a new team so I will show the first XI. Our only foreign player. He popped on my radar in the two previous clubs but only here it made sense to sign him. One of the few already at the club that will start for us. Decent young defender, will play at RB but can also play centrally. Supposedly the best left back in the league. One of our best signings is a Bhutan international. Our centre back pairing are ex-Phuensum. Another already at the club, very versatile but should play as DLP for us. Decent young midfielder. Another decent young midfielder we brought in for the central positions. Another one brought from Phuensum, is our best midfielder and will play as the AP. Yes you guessed it another Phuensum signing, Norbu is the best player at the club and can hopefully fire in plenty of goals for us. Was at the club already, very decent young striker. Initial Fixtures It will be an interesting starting month for us with a game against Phuensum and a trip to the reigning champions Terton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 August 2027 A great start to life at Tensung as we get 10 points from 4 games and sit in second place, 3 points behind leaders South Druk Utd, but with 3 games in hand. Beating last years champion Terton at their place was great inidication that we can challenge for the title already and it could have been a clean sweep this month but Ugyen Academy equalized in stoppage time of the second half and we missed a penalty a minute later that could have won back the 3 points. Still it was a decent away point and we are looking good right now. Next Fixtures A packed September will take us over the halfway stage and hopefully we are sitting top by then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelinho Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Read through this today and what a cool idea for a save! Results are good and the consistent switches to new countries are interesting to follow. Keep it up! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Just found this thread. It's right up my street, being in 'my' part of the world. I live in Cambodia and was previously living in Thailand and before that Nepal. I'm currently running a story here, managing Kiribati after I did a couple of seasons with Cambodia. As you can detect, I'm extremely partial to careers with journeys through minor Asia (and/or Oceanic) nations. I'm thoroughly enjoying your travels and have followed the thread to make sure I don't miss any updates. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 7 hours ago, Michaelinho said: Read through this today and what a cool idea for a save! Results are good and the consistent switches to new countries are interesting to follow. Keep it up! Thank you, glad you are enjoying it - hopping around different (and obscure) countries is what I most enjoy about this save! 7 hours ago, phnompenhandy said: Just found this thread. It's right up my street, being in 'my' part of the world. I live in Cambodia and was previously living in Thailand and before that Nepal. I'm currently running a story here, managing Kiribati after I did a couple of seasons with Cambodia. As you can detect, I'm extremely partial to careers with journeys through minor Asia (and/or Oceanic) nations. I'm thoroughly enjoying your travels and have followed the thread to make sure I don't miss any updates. That's great to hear and I look forward to your expertise when we get to Cambodia and Thailand Part of the inspiration for this save was a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia I made many years ago, beautiful countries! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 September 2027 I know I said I was not going to get optimistic again after our near collapse with Lun Bawang in Brunei but things are looking good in Bhutan and we are looking good to tick off the country at the first time of asking. Another great month with mostly wins, including the biggest ever in the history of the competition, and only an away draw that was aceeptable considering the team was tired. We are now 8 points ahead with 8 games to go, if we keep our composure we should be able to see this off. Milestones Next Fixtures October will be a short and concentrated month with 3 games in 8 days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 October 2027 Ugyen Academy have kept the title race alive by beating us at our own place in what was honestly a deserved victory for them. We were not really at the blocks and they capitalized on it with a late winner. We are still in a dominant position for the title and only need 6 points from the last 5 games to guarantee the title. Next Fixtures Five games to go, hopefully we can wrap up the title sooner rather later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 November/December 2027 Never in doubt! Two easy 4-0 wins guaranteed us the title with 3 games to spare and we finished the season in style by winning those too and getting to an impressive 16 point lead over second place South Druk Utd. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 2027 Season Review Utter domination from start to finish as we win the league by an impressive 16 points, setting a bunch of records along the way. including biggest ever league win, most pints, most wins and most goals. It was a shame that we could not do it unbeaten but ultimately I am very happy to have completed Bhutan at the first time of asking. Squad by Appearances A short league season and virtually no injuries meant we had very few players with game time this season. 7 players started all games and only at DLP we had a player take someone's spot halfway through the season as Sonam Dorji's performances earned him a place in the first team. Best XI Can't really argue with that one other than potentially Sonam Dorji in at DLP over Thinley Dorji. Top Performers As predicted very good up front, ending up as the top scorer in the league. Such an effective creative force for us, with a very decent 16 goals contributions in 18 games. Another one that contributed a lot creatively from midfield, Kelden was a menace down the right as our Mezzala. Finances Not great and something the club will need to watch out for as despite us running a very lean wage bill the club lost a bit of money throughout the season, finishing on almost $5k of debt. Progress A very short stay, less than a year and only 18 games, but with an impressive record. Probably good to be done quickly here instead of having to wait another 7-8 month for another game. We now head back to an island as we will travel to Sri Lanka! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 Destination 4 - Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is an island nation located in South Asia in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent. The country has a population of approximately 22 million people. The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, with English also widely used for official and commercial purposes. Sri Lanka’s history dates back over 2,500 years, with evidence of advanced civilizations. The ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were significant cultural and political centers. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established control over parts of the island, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The British took control in 1796 and made Sri Lanka a colony in 1802, known then as Ceylon. Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948, and the country was renamed Sri Lanka in 1972. The latter part of the 20th century was marked by a prolonged and brutal civil war between the government and the Tamil Tigers, a separatist militant organization. The conflict ended in 2009, leading to a period of reconstruction and recovery. Sri Lanka's economy is diverse, with agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors contributing significantly to its GDP. Key agricultural products include tea, rubber, and coconut. Tourism and remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad are also crucial economic drivers. The country has made strides in developing its infrastructure and diversifying its industrial base, but it faces challenges such as political instability, debt levels, and occasional economic volatility. Recent efforts have focused on enhancing trade relations and improving economic resilience. Tourism is a vital part of Sri Lanka’s economy, renowned for its natural beauty, historical sites, and cultural heritage. Visitors are drawn to its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and ancient temples. Notable attractions include the cultural city of Kandy, the ancient city of Sigiriya (pictured below), and the picturesque coastal towns of Galle and Mirissa. Sri Lanka is also famous for its biodiversity, with numerous national parks offering opportunities for wildlife viewing, including elephants and leopards. Despite facing setbacks due to political and economic challenges, tourism remains a major source of income and international engagement for the country. Football in Sri Lanka Football is popular in Sri Lanka, although the main sport in the country is cricket. The game was introduced to the island by British colonialists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It initially gained popularity among expatriates and British military personnel, but soon began to attract local interest. The national team does not have any major tournament wins or qualifications, with the 1995 South Asian Football Federation Championship being the only exception. Despite football being introduced to Sri Lanka in the 18th century it was only after independence that it evolved more, with increasing local participation and the formation of more regional clubs and leagues. The sport gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, with the establishment of the Sri Lanka Football Federation in 1954, which became the governing body of football in the country. In 1985 the first formal top flight was created, named as the Sri Lanka Football premier league. In 2021 the Super League was created and the Football Premier League effectively became a second tier (although relegation does not happen in FM). Saunders is historically by far the biggest champion with 12 titles, but they do not compete in the top flight anymore. Defenders have been the more dominant side within FM, although Renown claimed their 5th title and first since 2010 this season. In terms of eligible clubs, it is a slim pickings, as the it is a closed 10 team league out of which 6 have previously won a title. This means we currently have a pick of Red Star, New Young's, Up Country Lions and Blue Eagles SC. I'd rather not play with a club without a badge so potentially it is only 3 clubs we can pick from. All clubs are Semi-Professional here too and it is quite a level playing field, so I am not concerned with which club gives us our chance. The season has just finished and the managers of Red Star and New Young's have not renewed their expiring deals yet, so hopefully one of those spots gets vacated, otherwise it may be a long wait for an opportunity. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 27 Author Share Posted August 27 Up Country Lions Sports Club Up Country Lions Sport Club is a football club based in the small town of Nawalapitiya, which has 60 thousand inhabitants, is located in the centre of the country and was developed as a coffee production hub during the British colony. There is not a lot of information on the club, other than it was founded in 2011 and their best finish in the league is actually in-game as they finished as runners-up in the 2025 season. I had not noticed but their manager also had their contract expiring at the end of the season despite a very respectable 3rd place finish, so we take a club with good standing in the league again. They play their games at the Jayathilake Stadium, which is actually a sports complex with a swimming pool and a ground that hosts football and cricket games. It does not look like well kept ground, but 5,000 capacity is pretty decent. Strongest XI / Top Rated Players Again I don't have any staff when taking over so will go over the players during the Season Preview as we have a good 3-4 months before we start playing. Finances Looks very good, I will see how we trend financially after making signings, but we could well be improving the infrastructure here. Initial Fixtures Sri Lanka also has few games, with a 10 team league with only 18 games and no cup. The difference to Bhutan is that those games are more spread out, with the league running from April until the beginning of October, and no midweek games! We have some time until the first game, although with the transfer deadline at the end of February we'll need to rush a little to get our signings in (it is mid January and I am yet to hire staff). 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 27 Author Share Posted August 27 The club has money so let's get working on some courses 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 I don't think I can justify asking for improved training facilities, but Junior Coaching and Youth Recruitment made sense, they are now up to Fairly Basic and Basic respectively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 (edited) 2028 Season Preview Just like in Bhutan we have signed well and shot up the media prediction, which have us as second favorites behind Defenders. I still think we have gaps, mostly in midfield, but with board only expecting a mid-table finish I think we can certainly achieve at least that. Transfers In Out We raided our fellow Super League opponents not just for the first team, but also to add depth to a very thin squad. I released a few players that did not fit our tactical style or were clearly not good enough to ever make the 35 man squad we registered for the Super League. I'll show the provisional First XI below, including players already at the club. Was a back-up at Colombo, but becomes one of our best players and at only 19 has great potential. Best right back our scouts found, was a regular at Navy Sea Hawks and has played for the National team so guess he is not too bad. Good young signing from potential title rivals Defenders, his natural position is further forward but I will use him as a BPD. A good young defender already at the club. I signed Gihan Janaka from New Young's to provide competition to both Traveen and Rathnayake. A very promising left back already at the club. I really struggled to find a DLP, we have plenty of players that can play the position, but none of them too well. Nazeer gets the nod for now. Another position we struggled to find quality players for. Perera was already at the club and is probably the best BBM we have. When this guy popped up on my scouts radar I had to move for him. Was a creative force for me at Tensung and I am hoping he can replicate this form here. Probably the best player in the club and a huge steal from rivals Defenders, hopefully he can fire in plenty of goals. Experienced Nigerian who has been playing in Sri Lanka for the last decade. Interchangeable with another Nigerian we signed, David Osagie, who is the same age and has also been around the league for a while. Initial Fixtures Three games in April to get us started. Edited August 28 by corinthiano 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 28 Author Share Posted August 28 April 2028 Couldnt have wished for a better start, We had to really hold on against Blue Star but the other two wins were comfortable and we have set the early pace against last years champions Renown. Next Fixtures Big first test is coming up as we go to Renown to see what level we are at. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 29 Author Share Posted August 29 May 2028 Any hopes I had that Sri Lanka would be a walkthrough like Bhutan quickly evaporated as we only collected a point from the games against Colombo and Renown. Both games were close, but against Colombo we failed to get a winner despite being the better side and against Renown we fell to a screamer from outside the box with 15 minutes to go. I think we'll still be competitive and getting things back to normal with a win against Ratnam was a good way to get us back into things. Next Fixtures We should do ok against New Young's and Navy Sea Hawks, but the Defenders game will be another challenge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 You're continuing to inspire me. I'm planning my next save which will be a journeyman through Oceania, minor Asia, Caribbean - basically all the hopeless yet romantic nations! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 On 28/08/2024 at 19:17, phnompenhandy said: You're continuing to inspire me. I'm planning my next save which will be a journeyman through Oceania, minor Asia, Caribbean - basically all the hopeless yet romantic nations! I am very glad I could serve as inspiration - the small nations are a ton of fun! Will be sure to check out your thread! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 June 2028 This month has been a bit of a struggle, first we just about earned a draw against lowly New Young's by scoring an equalizer in stoppage. We followed that up with two wins, but they were not easy as we were 2-0 at half time against Navy Sea Hawks and had to hold on to our dear life to secure the win at Defenders. Renown meanwhile are comfortably winning their games and opened up a 5 point lead at the halfway stage. Not looking very favorable for the title right now. Next Fixtures In theory an easier month, hopefully we can get 3 wins here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 2027/28 Asian Review AFC Champions League Elite Al-Ittihad make history by winning a record 5th title, but big kudos to BG Pathum Utd who came close to being the first ever Thai winner of the competition, they were the only representative from our countries out there. AFC Champions League Two Al-Wahda win their first trophy but it is another Thai finalist and strong participation from our countries with RANS Nusantara reaching the Semi-Final, an all Thai Quarter-Final and Selangor and Yangon Utd also making appearances in the knockouts. AFC Challenge League It is another Indian champion as Bengaluru win their first title, with appearances from Angkor Tiger and our very own Lun Bawang. South/Southeast Asia League Rankings Most of the movement between the league is at the bottom again as Timor-Leste and Brunei overtake Laos and Nepal, but further up top Myanmar also overtakes Philippines and Bangladesh. League Champions Too many new champions for my liking, especially in the Maldives with its small league. We also seem to have a brand new champion every year in Indonesia. Other than that the biggest news are AS Academica becoming the most successful club in Timor-Leste, Abahani KC (D) regaining their crown in Bangladesh and Selangor breaking the Johor DT dominance in Malaysia. Former League Champions AS Académica: Won both league and cup domestically this season, but did not do as well continentally as they only got to the Group Stage of the Challenge League where they finished 3rd. Lun Bawang: Did really well in the AFC Challenge League by getting to the Quarter Final, but had a disaster domestically as they only finished 12th in the league and went out in the group stages of the FA Cup. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 July 2028 More points dropped as Red Star come back from behind twice to deny us a win. Despite that we have closed the gap to Renown by one point as they lost to Defenders. Next Fixtures This is make or break time as we have two tough games against Colombo and Renown and by our current form I would say it most likely break time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 August 2028 What an interesting turn of events. Renown lost an easy home game and with us beating Colombo convincingly away from home we reduced the gap to 1 point. We almost overtook them as we went 1-0 against them but they equalized with 10 minutes to go to keep their gap towards us. This was a couple of days before the mid-season transfer window opened and we signed 6 players that significantly improve the first team. 4 of them scored as we beat Ratnam at their place to keep up the pressure on Renown. Transfers In Out To beat Renown we signed two of their starting players - aside from that we made another excellent 4 signings and if the title does not come this season they leave me confident we could do it next year. His team were relegated to the third tier in Indonesia and so he was willing to come over to Sri Lanka to come play for us. A huge improvement at RB. Very solid young defender and was a starter at Renown. Center mid was a concern for us so I am really glad to bring in this experienced player. Another great signing for center mid, will be our BBM. Gyeltshen was doing well, but Yoezer is a huge improvement for us at AP. The other Renown signing, was playing attacking midfielder for them but will be playing as DLF for us. Next Fixtures We have to win all three and hope Renown slip up in order to win the title. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 September/October 2028 What a dramatic end to the season and with great help of Renown bottling it we are Sri Lankan champions! We were also not superb as we needed a stoppage time goal to bew New Young's, and in the same round Renown also only won because of a penalty in the 90th minute. We were then outclassed by Nay Sea Hawks and I thought the title was gone, but Renown managed to lose 3-1 at home to Blue Star in a massive shock which still gave us a chance in the last game. They played their last game the day before us and only managed to get a draw at Colombo which meant a win would secure the title. We scored two early goals but Defenders kept pegging us back to make the second half very nervy, but we managed to hold on to win the title! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 2028 Season Review It was super tight and for a long time it looked unlikely but Sri Lanka is one and done as we secure the title on the last day of the season! Squad by Appearances With 6 first team singings joining for the last 4 games we obviously used more players than in Bhutan, but this was still a very established first team. Top Performers Made left back his own as we shifted Fernando to midfield, was a very potent threat in attack and solid in defence. Was very decent as DLF with 11 goal contributions in 16 games. Our top scorer, could and probably should have scored more but ended as the league's top scorer so can't complain too much. Finances We were running at a loss but the $15k winnings from the title brought us close to break even for the season. Progress We managed to spend even less time in Sri Lanka than Bhutan and it is now three titles in the last three seasons, I could get used to that Next up is a backpackers favorite - Nepal! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Marvellous. I spent two years in Kathmandu back in the day. Best two years of my life. Good luck! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 Destination 5 - Nepal Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west. It covers an area of approximately 147,516 square kilometers (56,956 square miles) and has a population of around 30 million people. The country is renowned for its dramatic topography, featuring a diverse range of landscapes from the flat Terai plains to the towering peaks of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Nepal's capital and largest city is Kathmandu, which serves as the cultural and economic center of the country. Nepal is a multi-ethnic and multilingual society with over 120 distinct ethnic groups and more than 120 spoken languages. The official language is Nepali, which serves as a lingua franca among the diverse communities. While Nepali is used in government and education, many other languages are spoken across the regions, reflecting the country's rich cultural tapestry. Nepal has a rich and complex history characterized by its long-standing monarchy, diverse ethnic groups, and intricate social structures. The country was unified in the late 18th century by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who established the Shah Dynasty. For much of its history, Nepal remained a monarchy with relative isolation from the outside world. In the mid-20th century, Nepal underwent significant political changes, transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1990, and finally to a federal democratic republic in 2008. The transition followed a decade-long Maoist insurgency that led to the abolition of the monarchy. Nepal's economy is predominantly agrarian, with agriculture employing a significant portion of the population. The country faces challenges such as political instability, natural disasters, and infrastructure deficits. However, it has shown resilience and potential for growth in areas like remittances, which are a major source of foreign exchange, and tourism. The government has been working on improving infrastructure and encouraging investment in sectors like hydropower, which offers significant potential for economic development due to Nepal's abundant water resources. Tourism is a crucial component of Nepal's economy, attracting visitors with its unique cultural heritage, historical sites, and natural beauty. The Himalayas draw trekkers, mountaineers, and adventure enthusiasts from around the globe. Popular destinations include the Everest Base Camp trek, the Annapurna Circuit, and the Lumbini site, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Nepal also offers rich cultural experiences in cities like Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, where visitors can explore ancient temples, traditional crafts, and vibrant festivals. Football in Nepal Football was first played in Nepal during the 1920s, with local teams and matches organized mostly by expatriates and Nepalese that had learned the sport whilst abroad. The national team started participating in competitions in the 1980s and has not qualified for any major tournaments, with their only success being the 2021 South Asian Football Federation Championship. The formalization of football in Nepal began in the 1950s and 1960s with the formation of national organizations. In 1951, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) was established, which became the governing body for the sport. The 1950s is also when the national top flight was established, the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, which has been held consistently since then apart from a few breaks to major events such as conflicts between ANFA and the clubs, the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic. A Nepal Super League was created in 2021 and held twice, with a similar format than some of the cricket super leagues, with franchises and drafting of players. It is only held over a couple of months and doesn't grant qualification to continental competitions. It is present in FM but I will not be focusing on it. There has not been a dominant force in Nepalese football with the Manang Marshyangdi Club the most successful national winner with 8 titles. In-game however the tournament has won by Chyasal Youth in the last 5 editions and they are becoming a dominant force. All clubs are semi-professional and there are quite a few previous winners, but with a second tier there are a few eligible clubs we can take a look at, biggest ones being Jawalakhel, Satdobato, Brigade Boys and Armed Police. The top flight has 14 teams who play each other twice but only runs from the end of February to the beginning of June, so I believe we will have to wait a bit until jobs come up as there are currently no vacancies and we are in the long off-season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 7 hours ago, phnompenhandy said: Marvellous. I spent two years in Kathmandu back in the day. Best two years of my life. Good luck! Nice, my brother has been and absolutely loved it, have always wanted to go there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 Nepal Armed Police Force Nepal Armed Police Force are a semi-professional side based in Nepal's capital Kathmandu. They were founded in 2001 in the same tradition as the Army and Police teams that were formed in the country. Initially the club was named Gyanendra APF Club in tribute to the King at the time, but when the government decided to remove all royal references from government clubs they were renamed as APF Club. Pre-game they finished 5th a few times, but in-game they have managed a 3rd place finish a few seasons ago. Wikipedia says they play their games at the Halchowk Stadium, but in FM they use the Dasharath Rangasal Stadium, which is the national stadium of Nepal. Strongest XI / Top Players This will be left for the Season Preview in about a months time. Finances Seems like they are comfortable financially, which is always great. Initial Fixtures Our first game is just over a month and a half away so we have some time to prepare. Despite the league having teams play each other twice all games are played at a aneutral venue and the schedule is insane in the month of April with games on consecutive days. This looks like it will be very different. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 The Military police I remember them well. Admittedly, I was there in the midst of the civil war, so they weren't on their best behaviour. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 24 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: The Military police I remember them well. Admittedly, I was there in the midst of the civil war, so they weren't on their best behaviour. Yes I was a bit reluctant to take the job as I don't typically like these Army or Police clubs, but they were the best option around. Must have been quite an experience to be there during the civil war! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 New club, new Coaching Course - think this is the last one now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 4 minutes ago, corinthiano said: Yes I was a bit reluctant to take the job as I don't typically like these Army or Police clubs, but they were the best option around. Must have been quite an experience to be there during the civil war! Bombs, riots, MP's waking me up at 2am with AK47 pointing in my face - it was great! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 2029 Season Preview We have signed well again as the media expects us to win the title, but the board still only want a top half finish. we also have 4 players in the Media XI which is not shabby. Transfers In Out We signed a frenzy of players again to help with the first team and add depth. Here is the provisional first XI, but I expect that to change as the transfer window is still open. Experienced keeper brought in from Himalayan Sherpa. Another one brought in from Himalayan Sherpa, we desperately needed some sort of right back. Already at the club, we'll play him either as BPD or DLP. The Senegalese was also already at the club and is one of the best players at the club and the league. Also already at the club, very good left back for the standard of the league. Another we already had here, and he can also be used interchangeably in defence and midfield. Getting the starting midfielder of the team that has won the last 5 championships has to be a good signing, right? Came into the side as well and is a Nepali international. Came through the youth academy last season and looks a pretty decent option for AP. Probably our biggest signing so far, comes in from Himalayan Sherpa and is one of the best strikers in the league. Brought in from last season's surprise package Satdobato, very promising striker. Initial Fixtures Alright lets see how we fare at the start of the season, squad is looking decent so hopefully we can do well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 1 Author Share Posted September 1 March 2029 Results wise a very decent start, although the football is not flowing yet and we had to score some very late winners at times to get the wins we needed. On the plus side we look really solid defensively and have only conceded one goal in 5 games. Transfers In Out On the incoming front Naresh and Roshan come to play in the first eleven, the former to play in defence and latter in midfield, whilst Santosh is a back-up for a number of central positions. On the outgoing front Bikash was probably one of the better player at the clubs but he is a winger and they don't really have a home with me. I was trying to re-train him to be a left back but he was not patient enough so I released him before the squad started getting upset. Next Fixtures This is the month that probably breaks us, with 12 games in 30 days, including a stretch of 4 consecutive days with games. Other teams don't seem to have as bad of a schedule so I guess we got the bad luck of the draw. If we can come out of this month somewhat near the top I would be very happy. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 April 2029 Well this went a lot better than I thought it would. Other than a rough spell when we had 5 games in 6 days we actually maintained a winning run somehow and are now leading the league. Chyasal Youth are still close if they win their game in hand so we'll have to continue playing well but I am very glad to come out on top after such a mammoth month. Transfers In Just two more transfers before the window closed and our business for the season ends. Kumar Gurung came in to provide us with more options at left back and Sunil Rana has come into be our starting striker, he is a youngster with good potential. Next Fixtures The schedule is a lot less crazy in May, but it will be a tough month as we play the 2nd to 4th placed teams this month, with the game against Chyasal Youth potentially title deciding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 3 Author Share Posted September 3 Couple of improvements seeing as we are in good form and don't seem to be losing a lot of money. We now have adequate coaching and basic youth recruitment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 4 Author Share Posted September 4 May 2029 It has not been pretty and we have had to dig deep at times, but we manage another unbeaten month to maintain our strong position for the title. It could also have easily derailed when we drew against Tribhuvan Army. At that point both us and Chyasal Youth were level on points but they were ahead of us based on the head to head record, which meant that beating them a couple of days later was crucial and we did so by the finest of margins. Now because they beat us 3-1 earlier in the season they still have the better head to head record so we need to finish ahead of them on points. So it was crucial we got the last minute winner against Jawalakhel, coming back from behind. That result combined with Chyasal Youth dropping two more points means we need 5 points from our final 3 games to seal the title. Next Fixtures In theory not the hardest last 3 games, but we did need a last minute winner to beat the last placed team just now so I will not take anything for granted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 4 Author Share Posted September 4 June 2029 Chyasal Youth drew their next game so we only needed to beat Friends in the next game to secure the title and 5 first half goals helped us do that. We could have set a record for points and wins in a season but the defeat against Saraswoti denied us of that, but at least we have the record for most goals in a season. Infrastructure With the title and winnings secured I decided to ask for training facility improvements and the board duly obliged. Nice to leave a more lasting impact at the club with a few facility improvements. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 4 Author Share Posted September 4 2029 Season Review It shouldn't be a surprise that we have won the title at the first time of asking as we have been able to do that in other countries, if we have enough time to build a squad it is easy to become competitive as the playing field is very level in countries where the league is semi-pro. That being said, with Chyasal Youth being so dominant and the schedule being borderline insane with 5 games in 6 days at times I thought it may take more than a season to get Nepal done. And Chyasal Youth were competitive for most of the season and ahead of us with 5-6 games to go, but they dropped some points in the final stretch making it very comfortable for us and we were able to win the title with two games to spare. Squad by Appearances With the crazy schedule we rotated a LOT, investing in squad depth really paid off. Best XI Interestingly some of the first teamers did not make the Best XI, such as top scorer Kamal Gurung who got pipped by his sub Amit Singh, although the latter did step up when Kamal was injured at the end of the season. Top Performers Not the most prolific of strikers, but helped out a lot in our attacking play and was key to our success going forward. The youngster weas prolific as our AP and contributed with a lot of goals. Was key towards the end of the season when Kamal Gurung was injured. Finances We lost $25k, but when you consider we spent $70k on training facility improvements we have actually done very well financially. Progress Another year, another league win, I think this trend may continue until we get to leagues with Professional sides (might have jinxed myself though). That is not the case yet for our next destination as all teams there are Semi-Professional, we are heading to Laos! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 5 Author Share Posted September 5 2028/29 Asian Review AFC Champions League Elite Al-Ittihad keep up their domination by winning a record extending 6th title. There was no deep run for our countries but we did have two Thai sides in the knockout stages. Champions League Two Melbourne Victory win for the first time by beating Iranian side Tractor in extra time. Again not as deep of a campaign from our nations with the highlight being Johor DT in the Quarter Final, but we had plenty of different countries and clubs making Last 16 appearances, such as Mumbai City, Yangon Utd, Chonburi, Ha Noi FC and Selangor. AFC Challenge League Muharra from Bahrain win their first title, but we had a Cambodia vs Singapore semi-final, with Tampines as runners-up in the end. South/Southeast Asia League Rankings More action close to the top this time with Indonesia overtaking India and Myanmar overtaking Singapore. Towards the bottom Brunei and Timor Leste keep rising whilst the county we are moving to slide down to second worst league in the regions. League Champions Interestingly because of the timing of the leagues both Armed Police and Up Country Lions show up here as champions with Niran. The only other new winner comes from Laos, which lessens the options in the country even further. Former League Champions AS Académica: Won the league again but fell at the first hurdle in the cup. In the AFC Challenge Cup they did well in the Group Stage but were just pipped by Tampines and Kota Ranger. Lun Bawang: Another mediocre campaign as they finish 9th in the league and are knocked out in Last 16 of the FA Cup. Tensung: Did not follow up from the dominance and success from last season, only finishing 4th in the league. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 5 Author Share Posted September 5 (edited) Destination 6 - Laos Laos, officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. The capital and largest city is Vientiane. The population of Laos is approximately 7 million people. The country is ethnically diverse, with over 100 distinct ethnic groups. The majority ethnic group is the Lao, who make up about 55% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups include the Hmong, Khmu, and various Mon-Khmer peoples. The official language is Lao, which is a member of the Tai-Kadai language family. Lao is closely related to Thai and is written in the Lao script, an alphabet derived from the Khmer script. In addition to Lao, many ethnic groups speak their own languages, and some people, especially in urban areas and tourist spots, also speak French or English. Laos has a long and complex history shaped by various influences. The region was historically divided into several kingdoms, the most notable being the Kingdom of Lan Xang (Land of a Million Elephants), which flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries. This kingdom was a major power in Southeast Asia, but it eventually fragmented into three separate principalities: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In the late 19th century, Laos came under French colonial rule as part of French Indochina. The country gained independence from France in 1953, but its post-independence period was marked by civil strife, including the Laotian Civil War, which was part of the broader Indochina conflict. The communist Pathet Lao, supported by North Vietnam, eventually seized control in 1975, establishing a one-party socialist state. Since then, Laos has undergone gradual reforms and has sought to open up its economy while maintaining its political system. Laos is one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia, with a largely agrarian economy. The agricultural sector, particularly rice cultivation, employs the majority of the population and remains central to the economy. In recent years, Laos has been diversifying its economic activities, with significant investments in hydropower, mining, and infrastructure development. Hydropower is a major economic driver for Laos, with numerous dams constructed on the Mekong River and its tributaries. These projects have the potential to generate significant revenue through electricity exports, particularly to neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Additionally, the mining sector, especially for minerals like copper and gold, plays a crucial role in the economy. Tourism in Laos is growing, driven by its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and serene environment. The country is known for its well-preserved traditional architecture, ancient temples, and vibrant festivals. Luang Prabang (pictured below), a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famed for its blend of French colonial and traditional Lao architecture, as well as its stunning Buddhist temples. Vientiane offers attractions such as the Patuxai Victory Monument and the golden Pha That Luang stupa. Natural attractions include the dramatic karst landscapes in Vang Vieng, the Four Thousand Islands (Si Phan Don) in the south, and the pristine rainforests and waterfalls in the Bolaven Plateau. Football in Laos Football was introduced to Laos during the French colonial period, and it gained traction in the decades following the country’s independence. The sport has grown significantly over the years, with organized leagues and competitions becoming more structured. The Laos Football Federation (LFF) oversees the sport's development and national competitions. The Laos national football team, often referred to as the "Lao Stars," competes in international competitions but has never been able to qualify for major tournaments like the AFC Asian Cup or the FIFA World Cup. This trend has continued in-game, with a recent defeat to Northern Mariana Islands in the AFC qualifiers probably a lowlight. The Laotian League 1 was founded in 1990 and was initially dominated by Lao Army, who won 5 titles in the first 7 years. They have however only won it again in 2008 and in-game in 2028 to make them the most successful club in Laos. A lot of the previous champions don't play in the league currently, which is now a closed 8 team league. In-game there have been various champions and no side has been able to win the title two years in a row. Various champions in a closed 8 team league means we don't have a lot of choices in terms of teams to manage. Luang Prabang Utd are the current champions and won their first trophy, which only leaves us with two options of clubs, Ezra FC and Champasak Utd who finished 6th and 8th respectively last season. Both their managers have their contracts up for expiry at the end of the season so hopefully one of the spots becomes vacant. The league is semi-professional and seems to be pretty even so hopefully we can do well even if we take over the worst sides. Edited September 5 by corinthiano 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 I love Lao. Luang Prabang has the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen, anywhere. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corinthiano Posted September 5 Author Share Posted September 5 2 hours ago, phnompenhandy said: I love Lao. Luang Prabang has the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen, anywhere. When I travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia we considered adding Laos to the trip but just couldnt fit it in the time we had. Always felt it was a shame and looking at the pictures of Luang Prabang whilst doing the write-up regret has set in again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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