Sampdoria had massively exceeded all expectations by finishing in third in Serie A in 2022/23. However, season three was likely to be much more of a struggle as the club looked to balance competing in the Champions League with the league on a shoestring budget.
Sampdoria were performing well above expectations despite a massive overhaul of the playing squad in the summer of 2022. Moving into 2023, Blucerchiati sat second in Serie A as the league resumed following the silly Winter World Cup in Qatar.
Fledgling manager Roberto di Lazaró had guided Sampdoria to a 10th place finish in Serie A in 2021/22. However, that had largely been inspired by the goals of a 19-year-old striker so much work was needed in the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad.
Sampdoria had made a solid yet wholly unspectacular start to life with Roberto di Lazaró, sitting firmly in mid-table and struggling to score goals heading into 2022.
The Sampdoria reign of fledgling Italian manager Roberto di Lazaró had begun fairly quietly, with a relatively pleasing opening day defeat at Atalanta backed up with a win over Salernitana and the sole addition of hot prospect defender Anel Ahmedhozdic.
The wonderful world of Football Manager Beta brings us back to Italy for the second season in a row. This time around, FM22 sees us take the reins at Sampdoria, for no particular reason other than I fancied the challenge.
After 30 years of managing Bolton Wanderers, we'd absolutely turned this club on its head. Having signed up as boss with the club in League 2 and financial turmoil in 2020, we'd taken it through the leagues, to 15-time Champions of England, seven-times European Champions, and World Champions by 2050.
Bolton Wanderers had bagged yet another Premier League title and a 6th Champions League in 10 years in the 2048/49 campaign. With 2050 (and FM22) approaching, I'd decided this would be my last season, which also happened to be the 175th in the club's history. And we went into it targeting a first Club World Cup and 15 titles in a row.
The summer of 2048 was a period of massive change as legendary (in my head anyway) club captain Lasse Hermansen and long-time Trotter Talent Jack Barlow departed the club after 13 and 14 years of service respectively.
Bolton Wanderers had another season to remember in 2046/47, winning a second treble as they became 12-times champions of England and five-time European champions.
