Hello everyone I hope you are all well.
So a quicker than expected post after I managed to find some free time over the weekend to press through yet another season in my pentagon challenge. At the moment I have four and am now at a club in a league I really wanted to manage in.
Am sure you have all heard of Velez Sarsfield as they tend to produce some amazing Argentine players, so they offered me the job and I accepted, this is the team that will complete my final part with, fingers crossed!
But before I introduce my new team and my season I did play in the European Championships with my home nation of Spain, with something surprising that may shock you all! :)
So lets get on with it.
Managerial C.V
— Black Aces (June 2011 – June 2018)
African Premier League : 2016
Super 8′s Winner : 2015, 2016
First Division : 2012
South African Knockout Cup : 2016
The African Champions League : 2017
— New York Red Bulls (January 2019 –December 2021)
U.S. Cup : 2019
MLS : 2020, 2021
North American Champions League : 2020
— FC Seoul ( January 2022 – December 2025)
K-League : 2023, 2024
Korean FA Cup : 2022
Korean League Cup : 2024
The Asian Champions League : 2025
— Arsenal (July 2026 -June 2028)
The Premier League : 2027, 2028
The Europa League : 2027
The FA Cup : 2027
The League Cup : 2028
The European Champions League : 2028
— Velez Sarsfield (December 2028 — Present)
International Career
— U.S.A (May 2017 – July 2021)
Nothing.
— Spain (July 2024 – Present)
———————————-
European Group Stages — Spain
So as always I never do things the easy way!
The game against Belgium was just so weird its very hard for me to explain just what happened!
I mean we played very well against them, yet they scored with every attack they had and despite us dominating possession. Then Norway held on and we lay siege to their goal with chance after chance yet couldnt find away through as our campaign still had yet to get going.
Then we found our goal scoring touch as we put seven past Slovenia and a place in the next round against France.
Knockout Stages European Cup — Spain
I hate international management….
I mean we played very well against France without really creating that many chances and we payed the price by conceding from a set piece and we were knockout again. We joined the likes of England, Germany, Italy and Portugal to fall at the first hurdle if you will.
Very disappointing….
See if you can pick the winner of this years competition, it will be revealed further down. :)
Sacked again!
My second time in this game but I guess this was more obvious and am in that mood that I may never manage an international team again.
I cant understand why I do so poorly, am not good enough I guess.
European Championship — Final
Russia!
I wonder how many of you guessed that correctly! :)
Here are the past winners of this competition :-
New Job — Velez Sarsfield
So at least my new chairman likes me!
The club isnt it too bad shape we have a nice transfer budget of £12 million and a nice wage budget to work in.
Best Player — Juan Manuel Saccani
Results and League Table Before I Took Over
So Argentina works a little differently than most leagues, if you remember my time at Mexico last year then this works almost the same way except no playoff games!! :)
There is an opening stage played over 19 games then a closing stage played over 19 games with the winners qualifying for the Copa Liberatadores. I only played one game in the opening stage a three zero victory over Huracan but I didnt bother posting it as the league ended as you see now.
Transfers In and Out — Second Window
So some different rules as in this window you are only allowed to sign two players, in Argentina you are allowed four foreign players with anyone outside of Argentina being counted as foreign. However it seems it only takes over two and a half years to gain citizenship so no real restrictions here.
I made two new additions whilst selling off all my older/fringe players that I dont want or really need, here are my two new additions.
Babacar Traore
Luis Choquehuanca
Closing Stage Results and League Table
So close!!
We only ended a point behind River and even beat them quite comfortably at home by two goals to zero.
We ended up having the best defense which is surprising for me! But we do need more attacking players for next season as at times we did lack a clinical edge at times.
River are very strong and have some really amazing players but we did qualify for the Europa league equivalent in Argentina for next season so I will look forward to that.
End of Season Player Ratings
So am still getting to know my new squad but so far am not too disappointed.
Luis turned out to be a pretty good signing topping the ratings with both scoring and creating chances. Saccani who I highlighted earlier was brilliant in the heart of our defense despite being injured for a few weeks.
Landaburu is our current top scorer with 15 and isnt that great stat wise so I will be looking for some more strikers in the next transfer window.
Bogado is another worth a mention as he is another really good defender we have, infact we have far better defenders than attackers here at Velez.
Star Man — Luis Choquehuenca
End of Season Finances and Save Game Status
So financially things are still looking quite good, we did make a small profit which is always nice and we have enough to bring in some new players in the summer once I try and sell a few more players first.
End of Season Round-Up and Copa Lib Winners
Phew!
So another season has gone and despite only playing half of it I really enjoyed my time in Argentina. The league is very competitive and the youth players that we are producing are as you would expect are pretty amazing! :)
I am very unhappy to have been sacked again, especially from Spain and that might just be my final ever team I manage at international level as I just cant seem to find a winning formula.
Its hard to define what happened as we never really played badly and despite having great forwards we struggle to take any chances, but thats in the past and onto the future!
The set-up in Argentina is one I like as I try to buy some more Argentine youth players and for next season we need a few more forwards to help boost our goals a bit but all in all am very pleased.
Last post Agustin asked me for a list of the Copa Lib winners so here it is :-
River also won this years competition as Argentina continues to dominate, as you can see Velez won the title in 2025 so thats encouraging to know that we may be good enough to lift it.
And thats that!
Am pretty happy with how things have gone so far and am looking forward to completing this challenge with Velez it might take a few seasons but I always wanted to manage in Argentina so am happy! :)
Thanks so much for reading and staying with my story!
Next post will be up when I have time to play but until then bye bye!!
Sears
3 апреля, 2012 at 22:16
You’ve settled into Argentina extremely quickly Ana, although Vélez do normally tend to have an excellent team due to their youth facilities … Shame you lost on the title by just 1 point, but with a few additions in the off season I’m sure you’ll win the title next season and the Copa Libertadores the season after! Good luck! :)
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:22
Thank Sears! :)
The youth set-up as you would expect is quite amazing I have just had a look at my youth side and have a few 4 star potential players!
At the moment they are defenders though, just wish we can produce a few more attacking options!
TheZiggy
3 апреля, 2012 at 22:42
The game really doesn’t seem to want you to do well at international level, and you’re not the only one who struggles. I don’t know why there seems to be this astonishing ability to throw away chances that look impossible to miss. I most definitely didn’t pick Russia as the winner. My first thought was Belgium, but I then thought, no and picked Norway. International football in the game seems to go a bit crazy.
Looks like your new team has a decent squad, but were just not being managed properly. To be just a point behind River was great going, so I’m sure it won’t be too long before you’re sitting at the top, once you’ve sorted out some more firepower up front. Good luck.
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:26
Thanks Ziggy! :)
I agree even in South America and Africa they throw up very weird winners, I mean Burkina Faso have just won the African cup of nations!
True, they did have a decent run before I joined but just had a really bad start that cost the previous manager. Firepower is right we need four or five new forward players I think but am optimistic at least! :)
Ronan Donovan
3 апреля, 2012 at 22:48
yay!Another update!I have been following your story for a few weeks now since I started my pentagon challenge (incidentally with Black aces too.Haven’t made much progress so far so any advice is welcome).This is my first time commenting though so I would like to say I really enjoy reading this and admire your football manager abilities!
wd on all your achievements so far.I have been impressed and have been hoping to emulate it(with little success so far but this is my first time playing the pc version of FM)
Hope things go well with your new team.Things have started well with Velez so I’m sure you’ll win the 5th title soon!
Hard luck with Spain but you did have a good team and managed well so you can just blame the game lol And funnily enough I did guess Russia lol
Anyway, hope to hear from you again soon!Good luck :)
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:34
Thanks Ronan! :)
Thanks for your kind words, tips are to keep a settled formation and to keep it simple I played a standard 4-4-2 and that worked pretty well whilst I was there.
I couldn’t sign any non-south Africans so your best bet is to get the best scouts you can and have them always scouting South Africa for youth/free players you will be amazed at how many great players they can find if you refine you searches to a single nation.
Patience as well,m South Africa is very competitive where a team will rarely dominate but I would say that its my favourite league to manage in on this game.
I really wanted to manage in Argentina and have always liked Velez so am happy to try and complete my challenge here, thanks for the luck I know I will need it! :)
Ronan Donovan
11 мая, 2012 at 15:51
good tips there.Unfortunately I was sacked by balck aces soon before your response anyway.I have had a few teams since then but I’m back with a good team in South africa again now.I’m managing Santos FC who are really good.I’m going to try to put some of your advice into use.
I read some of your more recent blogs and I’m sorry to see you are being frustrated still by this leg of the challenge.I hope you can win that 5th champions league soon.But you have a good team there and you seem to be on the right track so I’m confident you will!
Talk to you soon and thanks again :)
Good luck with Velez! :)
Tegar Triemanudigdo
3 апреля, 2012 at 23:17
Well, I guess you really have bad omen there when it comes to managing national team. And sometimes it makes you wonder about it. Anyway, Velez, huh? Seeing that most of Argentina regen were monstrous, I would say this country might be challenging one.
In any case, I’ll look forward to your next story. (P.S: Damn, Argentina really dominating Copa Lib. there!)
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:38
Thanks Tegar! :)
You wont believe some of the players in Argentina! I will take a few pictures of my rivals players including a player bought for £24 million!!
River also have some incredible players and an amazing forward and midfielder that could play at the highest level, so it will be quite tricky I think.
I know! Am surprised also, this game has thrown up all kind of weird things usually Brazil dominate but most of their sides are quite poor in truth and Argentina have some amazing players!
Malhar Bhadbhade
3 апреля, 2012 at 23:44
hey ana,
so delighted to see that you’re managing Velez! i have a soft spot for them since that is where the best player i’ve ever had on any Football Manager came from (a regen named Victor Aguilar)..fantastic job in your first season and you were seriously unlucky to miss out by just a point on top spot. its going to be a challenge winning the copa lib, but i’m sure you’re up for it. keep up the good work! cheers!
Malhar Bhadbhade
3 апреля, 2012 at 23:50
oh yeah, about the international management, trust me, i’ve been through that. and nations throw away managers pretty easily. i never seem to do well in major tournaments with ANY international team. i was lucky enough to be offered the arengentina job once, and i won the copa america but thats it. the board didnt care about that, i lost the confederations cup final to brazil and they sacked me :( so dont worry too much about that, international management is slightly retarded :D
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:42
Hi Malhar! :)
I too have a soft spot for Velez as I always poached their players when managing in Spain, now I have to protect my players from the same thing happening!
International management is weird indeed every game people expect you to win with ease and if you don’t then the board are not happy it drives me mad! I guess its just better to avoid it at least for now! :)
Mohammad Sadek
4 апреля, 2012 at 01:05
Very nice half season , Next season ‘ll be surely better .
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:43
Thanks Mohammad! :)
CsAtlantis
4 апреля, 2012 at 02:52
Shame you got knocked out so quickly at the Euros, maybe it’s the playoff curse returning in some other form :P
Anyway Ana you made a great signing in Choquehuanca and made some great strides in the Closing Stage, so good luck for next season (you’ll be playing in the Copa Sudamerican too right?)
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:46
Thanks!
LoL! I hope not! :)
Yeah I was only allowed to sign two players in that window so I really should have bought two forwards, rather than that young defender but I do have a some new faces arriving soon so we should be a little better going forward next season!
You are correct, I think its like the Europa league equivalent but I couldn’t remember the name when I was writing!!! :)
Luke N
4 апреля, 2012 at 02:57
A good first half season, unlucky with Spain but international management is hard, especially when a tournament comes around.
I’m pleased you’re managing with Velez as I have a strange affinity for them after guiding them to South American dominance in Championship Manager 2005 or maybe it was ’06. Anyway good luck and use those great youth facilities to your advantage!
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:48
Thanks Luke!
I will try! We do have some really good players in our youth side but most are defenders!
Am just hoping we can produce some more attacking players in the future.
Johnny Karp
4 апреля, 2012 at 04:46
Oh no, I really hoped for a much better European Championship result… But managing a national team does require a lot of luck because there’s little time to turn things around, opposed to club management where you can recover from a slow start and win the title. Which you almost did, that was a fantastic performance with Velez in the league. So well done for that and best of luck for the future!
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:52
Thanks Johnny!
Very true, plus its quite hard to find your best players I find maybe that’s why I do so badly. I guess international management is a lot harder than it looks! :)
Yeah, the closing stage was like a new season beginning so we had lots of time to recover and I was so delighted to not have any playoff games to go through!
Darren Smith
4 апреля, 2012 at 12:17
That is very frustrating to be knocked out of the Euros like that but the new job looks good and that second half to the season was superb so hopefully next season will see you put more of an Ana like stamp on the team and that doesn’t mean been unlucky in finals or play-offs ;)
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 10:57
Thanks Darren! :)
LoL! True, was so elated to see no playoff games even though we finished second and with the playoffs might have won the closing stage.
We do need a bit of an overhaul but with the wealth of Argentine younger players available am confident we can be better for next season.
John
4 апреля, 2012 at 12:40
Hi Ana!
Thought those first half of the season results were you for a moment! Should have known better really :-) great first (half) season though, looking good for next campaign. Quick question, how do you get so much for selling your players?! I normally end up with about a third of what theyre worth
Thanks in advance
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 11:03
Hi John! :)
The squad wasnt too bad they just suffered from a poor start, but on the whole the squad is pretty good.
The transfers out can be deceptive as most were over x amount of months, I find that you can get more money by doing that but it has it cons as you never really see you bank balance rise by too much.
But it works for smaller clubs with less TV revenue etc as you make a profit each month at least thats what I try and do! :)
Martin - F.M.J.S
4 апреля, 2012 at 14:06
Unlucky Ana with the international job but a great first season with your new club especially the second half. Next season I can see you at the top :D
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 11:05
Thanks Martin! :)
Bence Répási
4 апреля, 2012 at 20:58
Hello Anna!
It’s good to read about your nice first season in South America, Vélez looks like a really good choice to win the last CL in the story. Despite River’s dominance in both domestic and intercontinental stage, i think your team (with some more firepower) can overcome them. I hope your next year will be even better, good luck!
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 11:08
Hello Bence! :)
I hope your right! Next post (if I remember!) I will post up some pics of the River players and you will see just what we are up against!!
Even if we improve next season I fear River will still be a little too strong in may take a few seasons to overhaul them.
But am prepared to do that as I really like Argentina! :)
Rod
5 апреля, 2012 at 02:20
Hi Ana!! Hacía mucho que no te comentaba! But i always read everything, and this time i’m very excited cause i’m argentinian. Vélez is a good team, but the fans are a bit dissapointing for an argentinian squad, so i hope you can change their minds with your football! You will be playing the Copa Sudamericana, but you can also play the Copa Libertadores the second half of the season. The results in the second half of the season qualify the teams to the Copa Sudamericana, and the results from January to December qualify the teams to the Copa Libertadores, a bit tricky. Also, the relegation is a bit different, as you could see. If you have any doubts you can tell me, so good luck managing Vélez! Cheers :D
Ana Garcia
6 апреля, 2012 at 11:13
Hi Rod!
Ningún problema! I will defiantly try! one thing I know about South American football is they love their football so lets hope I change their minds!
Thanks for the information! I did manage in Mexico on last years game so I am fairly familiar with how the league set-up works but its always nice to know someone who is an expect and a fan! :)
Thanks for the luck I feel I will need it!!
Brian Badonde
6 апреля, 2012 at 12:19
Baa! Bhat an bexciting bupdate Ana! I’m sure you’ll bin the beauge next beason!
Ana Garcia
7 апреля, 2012 at 19:28
Thanks!
A fan of the letter B I see! :)
vaibhavc
7 апреля, 2012 at 16:24
So close Ana, but it was a fantastic turnaround from before you started managing at Velez. I am sure with your new signings for next season, you can win the league.
Ana Garcia
7 апреля, 2012 at 19:29
Thanks!
I hope so too the team isn’t too bad in all honesty, just need a few new players and we should be even more competitive next season.
Acss
9 апреля, 2012 at 10:07
First of all, 2028-2029…wow! :)
As for the story, the International aspect is a little weird…not only Spain were knocked out of the competition, but I see also Italy, Germany, England…I’ve seen this in many stories, the big International teams are being easily replaced by smaller ones…
Anyway too bad the international career hasn’t worked out for you as wanted, but I wouldn’t give up if I were you, keep trying and maybe you’ll get that trophy in the end! :)
You were so close winning the title with Velez, but you surely improved the club’s standings, something to build on for next season! Good luck with this! ;)
Ana Garcia
10 апреля, 2012 at 19:01
Thanks! :)
Yeah long into the future but am really enjoying it so far, it is weird how quickly the bigger nations are replaced makes international management extremely frustrating.
True! I wont give up just yet but wont take an international job for a few years at least my next goal is actually win a world cup hopefully! :)
Agustin
9 апреля, 2012 at 17:05
Thanks for posting the winners.
River really dominated.I hope we have a future like that…7 Libertadores in 17 years! Especially considering we are now fighting to return to the First Division :(
Ana Garcia
10 апреля, 2012 at 19:03
No problem.
Yeah I read about that am sure its just a blip sometimes you have take a step backwards to take two forwards! :)
FarmerJ
10 апреля, 2012 at 23:56
Hi ana,
Are you going to manage an Australian team next to do the hexagon challenge???
Ana Garcia
14 апреля, 2012 at 18:39
Hello! :)
Afraid not as Australian sides compete in the Asian champions league, a hexagon is impossible unless I download some extra things but I dont like doing that as I play the game the way it is.
Hopefully in the upcoming FM games they will add more leagues and teams!
Wim D
13 апреля, 2012 at 10:34
Hi Ana
What a great story!! I’ve always thought the Pentagon challenge to be rather impossible (at least for me) but you’ve definitely proven the contrary. We’re all pretty much confident that in your case finishing this challenge is just a matter of two maybe three seasons extra! Keep it going and good look to achieve the last trophy you need for completion!!!
Ana Garcia
14 апреля, 2012 at 18:44
Thanks Wim! :)
Its been so enjoyable and its great so many people have enjoyed this story. I never do anything the easy way but am hoping I can conclude this challenge as soon as I can! :)