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.
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.
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.
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 →
Independiente finished second in both of Argentina's league competitions in 2068, in a season that was very much a case of "so close, yet so far." But manager Trebor Mahtal, now 84, chose to remain positive, especially given the high amount of potential at the club.
After 18 months in Chile, Trebor Mahtal led Colo Colo to a dominant title success in 2067, which left him with 5 more letters to tick off his Alphabet Challenge: D, H, I, K and X. The biggest headaches were K and X, albeit the unlocking of Japan opened up more options for K.
Three years in Japan ended on a high as Trebor Mahtal led Gamba Osaka to a maiden Asian Champions League Final success. That left the 82-year-old needing to tick off six more letters in his bid to complete his Alphabet Challenge: C, D, H, I, K and X.
Trebor Mahtal came within one penalty kick of ticking G off his Alphabet Challenge, only to see his Gamba Osaka painfully lose the J.League Cup in a penalty shootout. He took a bit of time away from football and spent the winter break refocusing on how to continue improving his exciting young squad ahead of his third full season in Japan.
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