Dedicated to the ’Galloping Major’ Ferenc Puskas 1927-2007 RIP
This was played on FM2005 with both divisions in Hungarian League.
Season 2004/05
I took over the mighty Bodajk in the Hungarian division 1b. This division had fourteen teams, with two going up, and two going down. One interesting point however is that the match squad must have at least nine (9!) under 21 players, thus making it a youth team of sorts.
My new squad had a total of 11 players, and I had debt of 120k. I sent my scout to work, but he was unable to find any new players before the transfer window closed on 20th July. I was also unable to find a physio or a coach, and my assistant manager doubled as my right winger, captain, orange cutter, field marker and ball boy.
The season started with 2 wins and a draw and I was beginning to think the small squad was working well together, then things went downhill, however with 5 games to go, I was in 5th, only 3 points off promotion, but 2 draws and 2 losses meant my dead rubber win int he last round left me in 8th. I also lost in the 3rd round of the cup to 1st division ZTE, who beat ManUtd in a 1-0 in a champions league qualifier a few years ago.
My scout managed to find 5 players by the January transfer window, and with my small squad, decided I couldn’t be choosy and signed them all.
Luckily I made it through the season with no major injuries. Haladas were the runaway leaders by 12 points.
Highlights: Signing the clubs first player with international experience, a 4yr old with 58caps, and the clubs first foreign player, a Croation who had been playing in Hungaray for several years.
Top Performer: 20yr old striker who banged 9 goals in 26 games.
Pos 8th Played 26 Won 8 Drawn 11 Lost 7 F 26 A 22 G.D. 4 Points 35
Season 2005/06
Wary of the under 21 rule, I signed three promising (relatively) 20yr olds and a 37yr old utility player, and now have something resembling a full squad. Also managed to get former international to sign on as a player/coach.
Gk gets injured for three weeks and we lose first three games, then go on a reasonable streak, up to 3rd. Another 3 loss streak sends us back to 8th at the mid season break.
Young striker makes gets callup to Hungarian under 21 team. I then get an offer for 12k from a Saudi club, turn it down but eventually have to accept a 100k offer from Debrecen to ease the debt which has grown to 471k. No signings at the break and team is struggling.
A run of six games without a win leaves me in a relegation battle, although with a couple of points to spare. A last round win against Dunaújváros meant they got beaten to the title by Kaposvár on goal difference, but both teams go up. The surprise result was non league Dabas beating ZTE in the cup final. I guess no one will notice another obscure team int he Euro cup qualifying rounds. Knocked out of cup in third round to Debrecen.
Highlights: Striker and Centre back gaining first U21 caps. 1-0 win over premier side Diósgyőr in the 2nd round of cup.
Top performer: 26yr old AM, wins div 1b player of the season award. Injury prone GK kept 11 clean sheets in 23 games, also notable.
Pos 11th Played 26 Won 8 Drawn 6 Lost 12 F 20 A 24 G.D. -4 Points 30
Season 2006/07
Despite being 442k in debt, I get my first transfer budget of 5k. Time to get that lazy scout working again. Six players leave on a free and player/ass man becomes full time ass man, although early indications are that his management skills are as good as his playing skills. Squad needs new talent fast. Newly capped (U21) centreback goes for 140k, giving me 11k in a transfer budget. Turned down job offers from Szeged and Vác. Unable to use transfer budget, but get a couple of youngsters, a couple of squad fillers, and a 26yr old Macedonian St, released by Ferencváros all on a free.
Have some ups and downs and end up in 5th position at the half season break, just 3 points away from a promotion place, in a tight contest. Macedonian Striker is on fire, knocking 10 in by xmas. Have to deal with him being missing for internationals though, as well as two new debutants in the U21 team. Got knocked out int he 4th round of the cup, but the 1st three rounds were against non league opponents.
My new U21 star gets sold for a club record when Honvéd meet his release clause of 170k. Macedonian star adjusts to life in second division and stops scoring and we drift back down to where we belong, mid table mediocrity.
Highlights: Having a player on form and playing in a full international.
Top performer: 27yr AM, who hasn’t been bought yet.
Pos 9th Played 26 Won 9 Drawn 8 Lost 9 F 26 A 28 G.D. -2 Points 35
Feel sorry for Felcsút. 4 draws and 22 losses!
Hard work in Hungary 
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