A flying start to a second campaign in the Scottish Championship saw Raith Rovers sitting pretty 11 points clear at the top after 14 matches. But could young manager Robí di Lathamé maintain the spirit amongst his group of young players and chase down an unlikely promotion?
As a newly club-free manager, I had international honours to fall back on as we England began the qualification process for the 2034 World Cup. We had been drawn in a group alongside Switzerland, Slovakia, Israel and Azerbaijan, which gave us a pretty decent chance of qualifying.
After 10 games in Germany, things were looking relatively positive. Borussia Dortmund sat 2nd in Bundesliga, just one point behind Bayern Munich, against whom we'd sealed a 0-0 away draw in the last game of the previous post.
Not too many managers spend zero money and make a near £3 million profit yet manage to achieve success. But that was the case for young English manager Robí di Lathamé as he moved into his third season in Kirkcaldy with Raith Rovers.
After a few months focusing on managing England in the Nations League, we took advantage of a mini manager merry-go-round to take the reigns at Borussia Dortmund. And, pleasingly, it also takes me to my favourite club in Germany having previously done so in Portugal and Spain.
After a ridiculously unfair sacking by Cagliari, my club managerial stock was in danger of being tarnished after being given the heave-ho by my last two clubs.
Robí di Lathamé had just wrapped up a second season in charge of Raith Rovers by leading the club into the second round of the Scottish Championship playoffs.
After spells leading the United States of America and Denmark, my international management expertise has clearly done me wonders as my home country of England came calling after Euro 2032.
Cagliari headed into the Winter break in January 2033 on the back of five successive draws but 13 games unbeaten in Serie A. That had us occupying the Europa League positions, but well beyond the ambitious Champions League goal that the board had bizarrely set in the summer.
English manager Robí di Lathamé had led Raith Rovers to a surprisingly good start to life in the Scottish Championship. Expected to fight bravely against relegation, Rovers occupied the playoff places in 4th position after 15 matches.
