Fifty-seven years ago, on his 39th birthday, Trebor Mahtal left the streets of Mazabuka, in southern Zambia, for the first time to board a flight to Germany. After studying a few languages, watching as much football as possible and earning his National C licence, he went in search of his big break in football management.
Trebor Mahtal's Project X, his bid to tick off the final letter of his Alphabet Challenge, began pretty well as he led Neuchâtel Xamax to a 2nd-place finish in Raiffeisen Super League and caused a few upsets in the Europa League.
Cup success in Japan with Kawasaki Frontale saw Trebor Mahtal win a major trophy with clubs beginning with 25 different letters. That left just the troublesome X - which is actually impossible as there is no playable club beginning with the letter X - remaining to complete the Alphabet Challenge, which Mahtal had no dubbed as Project X.
Two tense cup finals went all the way to extra time in 2076, and late goals saw 92-year-old Trebor Mahtal Dynamo Dresden to their maiden major trophy in DFB-Pokal. The Zambian stood down a couple of days later, allowing him to go in search of clubs beginning with K and X to try and complete his Alphabet Challenge.
Dynamo Dresden defied all expectations to finish 6th in Bundesliga and qualify for European football in 2074/75. Manager Trebor Mahtal now had to strengthen key areas of the squad to compete on all fronts, try and close the gap to Germany's big boys and, ideally, give them a more offensive threat.
Dynamo Dresden lifted the 2. Bundesliga title for the second time in five years after Trebor Mahtal built a trademark exciting young squad in his second season in East Germany. The 90-year-old manager now had to strengthen key areas of the squad to try and battle Germany's best.
Unexpected cup success at Hannover 96 saw Trebor Mahtal tick off leg number 23 of 26 on his Alphabet Challenge. That left the veteran 89-year-old manager with just three letters remaining: D, K and X.
87-year-old Trebor Mahtal showed no signs of slowing up as he led Hannover 96 to their fifth 2. Bundesliga title and back into Germany's top tier. He was keen to build on a solid defence while adding a bit more of an attacking threat for the step up.
Trebor Mahtal led Hannover 96 clear of any relegation concerns as he returned to Germany for the first time in 24 years. But, going into the summer of 2070, the experienced Zambian manager knew he was under pressure to propel Hannover to the upper reaches of 2. Bundesliga. Indeed, he'd already signed several players who... Continue Reading →
An exciting Independiente side strolled to a Liga Profesional success in 2069, which saw Trebor Mahtal tick off 22 out of the 26 letters he needed to complete his Alphabet Challenge. He now only needed to win trophies with clubs beginning with D, H K and the particularly troublesome X.
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