The time has come to wrap up my Football Manager 2012 story, this is the last episode of a 15-season journey that has taken Viitorul Constanta from the Romanian Second League to the top of the European charts. As you remember from the previous episode we were on course for another good season, at least domestically, as we were dominating the league once again. But I also wanted some more Champions League glory…
Well, that wasn’t the case, unfortunately. We went past Sevilla in the first round but then we got FC Bayern and they really outplayed us in both legs, something I haven’t seen in quite a while. It seems that Bayern had managed to assemble a pretty good team as they went all the way to the final where they got defeated by Inter. I guess it’s a disappointing exit but you can’t win them all, especially with a Romanian club…
The same can not be said about the Romanian Cup, we won that once again even though we had a pretty tough time in the second leg of the semi final.
As for the league, you remember that I wanted to win all 34 games after getting straight victories in the opening 18 matches… Well, that didn’t happen either as we were held to a draw in the very first match after the winter break. Then we went on to win the remaining 15 matches though.
We won the league one last time and by a landslide margin, with a goal scoring ratio just above 3.5 goals per match.
It was a sensational season for Manoel, the legendary striker bagged 30 goals in 34 appearances and also provided 24 assists. Jed Mitchel-King also did a great job with his 30 goals while veteran Rastislav Benko also contributed 21 goals.
However, all those numbers don’t matter when you don’t win the Champions League, so we moved back into second spot in the European club rankings.
There was just one challenge remaining in my career: getting Manoel to score at least 50 goals for the national team. He had 48 at the end of 2025 and I’m pleased to report that he managed to hit the target in each of the two friendly games that Romania had in 2026. :)
Manoel is by far the best player this club ever had. The overall best eleven shows that he has a massive record: 240 goals in 383 appearances for the club, by far the man with the most apps and goals for the club.
In my view five players were absolutely essential to the club’s progress:
Manoel – joined the club on a free transfer from Santos
Rastislav Benko – joined the club for a measly 350K
Dramane Sow – joined the club on a free transfer
Georgica Dicu – one of my most expensive early signings, 3.5 mil
Benko and Manoel are also listed in the club information panel as legend, along with myself :)
Strangely my manager profile shows that I prefer a 4-4-2 formation. I don’t know where they got that, since I have always used the 4-3-3 tactic in this game.
And now a bit of history, the past winners of all the competitions in which we have taken part:
Romanian First League – won 13 in a row
Romanian Cup – won 12 in a row
Romanian Super Cup – won 13 in a row
Europa League – won in 2018, runners-up in 2021
Champions League – won in 2023 and 2025, runners-up in 2024
UEFA Super Cup – won in 2023 and 2025, runners-up in 2018
Club World Championship – won in 2023 and 2025
There you have it, 15 seasons and 26 days, 11 hours and 13 minutes of actual game play. Thanks a lot for following this journey, I have enjoyed it very much and I hope you liked it at least as much as I did. If you have any screen shot requests, don’t be afraid to ask :)
Moreover, if you want to have a bit of fun with my save before FM 2013, you can download it from here and see the mighty Viitorul in action on your PC :)
Ivo Knežević
September 15, 2012 at 20:40
End of an era, amazing Johnny!
One of the best stories I’ve ever read.
I’m looking forward to your FM13 story, also with viitorul?
Johnny Karp
September 15, 2012 at 21:37
Thanks for the compliment mate. About FM 2013, I don’t know yet :)
dk2991
September 15, 2012 at 20:52
One of the best stories I’ve read this season. You have done a great job with your club, I remember your first post in which you gave us a lot of information about the club, the owner of it and it’s youth programme. After 15 season’s you managed to make the club a powerful force in Europe as well as in Romania.
Well Done!
Johnny Karp
September 15, 2012 at 21:38
Thanks mate. Actually I took the time to read that first post again today :)
Kevin
September 15, 2012 at 21:24
Hi Johnny
As always you’ve provided us the readers, with some classic entertainment and you’ve once again done a magnificent job in guiding a team from the lower depths to European glory though more importantly elevating Viitorul Constanta and Romania in the European coefficents.
Great job!
Johnny Karp
September 15, 2012 at 21:38
Thanks Kevin, I had a great time in the process :)
Gaurav Chaddah
September 15, 2012 at 21:50
I remember many months back reading your first post on Hagi and everything and what you have done is brilliant.
This was a brilliant read mate, really well done glad you done what you set out to do and good luck for FM13!
Can’t wait for your stories to return!
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:56
Thanks Gaurav, it was a nice ride and I appreciate your support.
Karl Deighton
September 15, 2012 at 21:53
Well Johnny, it’s been an amazing ride.
I remember back when you began the story, how far you have come since then!
I’m gonna downlaod the save, I probably won’t play any matches but I’m extremely interested to see the best players on you game.
Well done
Karl Deighton
September 15, 2012 at 22:18
On the save now, man your team is awesome.
Reckon my San Marino team could give them a run for their money though :D
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:58
Yeah, too bad we can’t play against each other in FM 12… :)
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:57
Thanks Karl. There are lots of things to see in the save, I guess I would have posted hundreds of screen shots :)
NUFCdan
September 15, 2012 at 22:30
I think it would be fair to say you have been sucsessful! A really good story and cant wait for your FM 13 Story!
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:58
Thanks Dan.
Darren Smith
September 15, 2012 at 22:54
Truly is the end of an era in more ways than one, but a good end all the same. Winning so many trophies and stamping your mark in Europe certainly left a joyful legacy. But for me it was the legacy of the players that committed to the club and you to them that made the real difference. Well done Johnny.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:59
Thanks Darren. You are right, the players that remained at the club through thick and thin represent the core of the squad and probably the backbone of the story as well.
Bill Okpalor
September 15, 2012 at 23:52
Nice Achievement well done
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 09:59
Thanks Bill.
saltwater
September 16, 2012 at 00:07
I can’t really add much except for the fact that pretty much everyone has been sucked into this story like some sort of addict and I must say: best drug ever! It’s been an incredible adventure and a joy to read, only problem is that you may have set the standard too high for your next story :)
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:00
Thanks mate. I’ve always set high standards I guess but a good story is not necessarily about winning stuff.
saltwater
September 16, 2012 at 19:46
Completely agree. A good story is about the entertainment and passion during the adventure but your silverware does have a nice ring to it :)
Malhar Bhadbhade
September 16, 2012 at 06:28
It was a really great story Johnny, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Still can’t believe you got a team from the second division of Romania to world domination. That is unheard of. I haven’t seen anyone, anywhere come anywhere close to that achievement. So congrats! Any thoughts formulating in your mind as to what the FM13 story is going to be? Anyway, farewell until FM13 comes out I guess! Cheers! :D
Niels Theis Bendtsen
September 16, 2012 at 06:58
Not to dilute Johnnys achievements at all butik there som sinus achievements on there SI forums as well and on tur forums.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:01
You are right, there are plenty of people out there that have achieved amazing things in the game.
Malhar Bhadbhade
September 18, 2012 at 02:55
Yeah, true that..haha did get a bit carried away, I must admit. But great story this was nonetheless. Looking forward to future ones.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:01
Thanks Malhar. About FM 2013, I have no idea :)
Calin
September 16, 2012 at 07:14
A great story, Johhny and clearly one of the most successful spells you’ve had, since bringing the Champions League trophy to a Romanian team is one of the toughest things to do in FM. A game of legend and I am really happy to see that you had such an amazing career!
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:02
Thanks Calin, I’m sure that, as a Romanian, you understand very well all the difficulties that I had to go through in this career.
vaibhavc
September 16, 2012 at 08:22
End of an era there Johnny! Your time at Vittorul was really successful, and this is one of the toughest challenges in FM. You managed to get them to win the Champions League twice with them. Great job Johnny.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:03
Thanks Vaibhav, it was a nice ride indeed.
Tegar Triemanudigdo
September 16, 2012 at 09:20
End of the era! I can;t wait for your next chapter in FM 2013!
P.S: I might try your save game there.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:03
Thanks Tegar.
Victor Baluta
September 16, 2012 at 09:51
A very good story which had a lot of epic moments. :) I liked the way you presented it, especially when you won your first Champions League and made that very exciting live post.
I really like what you do with the website and the forum and I am sure that this is one of the most helpful FM-related sites that exists.
I have two questions for you: Are you going to make a story for FM 2013?
Have you ever thought to re-sign from them and go on holiday for a few seasons and then make a small post of what they achieved in these years?
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 10:05
Thanks for the compliments Victor. Now let me answer your questions:
1. I don’t know.
2. I did, but in the end I decided to put the save up for download and let the curious people have their way with the game.
Victor Baluta
September 17, 2012 at 15:19
Thanks for answers. I hope you will make one for next game because they are very good. :)
Lye
September 16, 2012 at 11:53
As usual, highest standard in terms of relating your stories and playing achievements. Wonderful wonderful career. I guess Darren was right. Never remember you stick with same batch of players for such a long time. I am waiting to see what surprise you have for us in FM13.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 12:30
Thanks a lot Lye.
Jack
September 16, 2012 at 13:23
Epic story Johnny! Thoroughly enjoyed every update :)
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 13:25
Thanks mate, I really enjoyed writing it.
TheZiggy
September 16, 2012 at 13:34
You can be massively proud of what you’ve achieved, complete domestic domination for the last 12 seasons, and eventually became a force in Europe. The Europa League and two Champions League trophies tell the story of just how far you managed to take the club. To do it from a league with as low a reputation as you did, was also quite something.
I don’t know how the preferred tactic is worked out, but it rarely seems to be right. I’ve been using a wide diamond for the last few seasons, but the game says I use a narrow diamond 4-4-2, which I’ve never used. There’s a programmer at SI who surely needs to wake up and smell the coffee. ;)
It will be interesting to see who the club does in real life, whether they can work their way to being a force in Romanian football.
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 13:38
Thanks Ziggy, it was one of my most enjoyable yet challenging careers in FM so far. About the real Viitorul, I’ve started a topic on the forum and I’ll keep you updated with their progress: http://www.footballmanagerstory.com/forum/index.php?/topic/636-viitorul-constanta-the-real-life-story/
CsAtlantis
September 16, 2012 at 18:17
15 seasons of pure brilliance here, Manoel’s story is the most touching one, I thought he was a goner for a while with all his injuries but you stuck with him through thick and thin and have been rewarded with some great performances from him (and he even turned out for Romania in the end :P)
Hope to see more great stories from you Johnny in FM2013!
Johnny Karp
September 16, 2012 at 18:33
Thanks mate. You are right about Manoel, he wasn’t very convincing during the first couple of season due to multiple injuries but then he turned into a huge player for the club and for Romania as well.
denson
September 16, 2012 at 23:33
Good story this year again Johnny
Looking forward to your story next year :)
Johnny Karp
September 17, 2012 at 05:02
Thanks buddy.
Bhargav
September 17, 2012 at 16:11
Sad to see it finally end :(
The end to the Vauxhall story was sadder, but this was still an amazing journey.
Johnny Karp
September 17, 2012 at 16:30
All good things must come to an end, that’s life :)
Ana Garcia
September 18, 2012 at 00:48
I must say I enjoyed this story more than most for numerous reason the first being it is outside of the big European nations most play in which I find more enjoyable to read but more so as its your league if you will the football you have grown up watching and supporting.
That for me made this story that extra bit special knowing how much Romanian football means to you then bringing that enthusiasm and passion to us which showed and we also have learned about another league which is always nice I think.
Success for me isn’t that important even if you had won nothing the story still would have been fantastic but of course success helps you carry on I guess! :)
Am sad to see it it end, but like you said that’s life and we don’t have too long to wait for your next one! As a writer I can appreciate how much time and effort goes into a story like this so thanks for sharing Johnny and hopefully you can think of new idea for the arrival of the new game.
Johnny Karp
September 18, 2012 at 06:40
Thanks a lot for the kind words Ana. It was a special story indeed and I am very happy that you and quite a few other people have enjoyed reading it.
gazr
September 18, 2012 at 17:02
First of johnny congratulations on a fantastic career on .fm12. Really looking forward to next year’s story already. Secondly after enjoying yours and all the other great stories on the site I have found myself inspired. So much so that I would love .ro write a story for your site next year well once .fm13 is released anyway. So I was wondering if a this would b possible and b if so how I would go about it.
Thanks for your time.
Gaz
Johnny Karp
September 18, 2012 at 18:46
Thanks for the kind words. You can register at the forum and start posting your story, or anything else football related, in the forum. http://www.footballmanagerstory.com/forum/
gazr
September 18, 2012 at 20:59
thanks very much for that I will do that johnny cheers
Kacper Kowalczyk
September 27, 2012 at 11:26
Enjoyed reading this :) Good job :)
Johnny Karp
September 27, 2012 at 11:44
Thanks mate.