Hertha Berlin were on track to secure an immediate return to Bundesliga after manager Ruprecht Prusseit made a solid start to his biggest job so far on his OstDeutscher Sieg journey. But there was plenty of pressure on the Dresden-born boss to make that promotion happen.
Welcome to our new FM23 series ‘Legacy of the Hoops’ from our new site contributor FM Henke! In this game, I will be playing as the decision maker behind the scenes almost like a Director of Football style challenge.
The summer of 2031 saw a massive opportunity come Ruprecht Prusseit's away as, fresh from Bundesliga relegation, Union Berlin sacked Dan Putrescu and soon approached him for an interview.
Nottingham Forest bagged back-to-back Premier League titles as they lifted what was probably one of the worst seasons in terms of quality but certainly delivered final-day excitement. That said, I was worried about a lack of attacking threat, which I prioritised addressing in the summer of 2029.
Ruprecht Prusseit had cobbled together a squad of freebies and loanees in the summer of 2030 but somehow put together a team potentially capable of mounting a 3. Liga title challenge. Indeed, his Energie Cottbus sat top of 3. Liga heading into 2031.
Ruprecht Prusseit's decision to drop back down to Regionalliga Nordost paid off as he led Energie Cottbus to a league and cup double in 2030. He now faced a stiff challenge to rebuild a threadbare squad and keep Cottbus safe in 3. Liga.
The streets of Nottingham were painted red as Forest fans flocked to see their heroes parade the Premier League trophy for the first time in club history. That saw us tick off another objective of this Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge, winning the title one season earlier than the great man.
The unusual decision to join a club in the division below your current club was seemingly working out well for Ruprecht Prusseit, who'd led Energie Cottbus to 18 wins in his first 19 league games in charge. That immediate success saw the Cottbus board move quickly to lock down their prized asset, handing Prusseit a £500 weekly wage increase until the end of the next season.
Ruprecht Prusseit felt his career would be best off at a club that wasn't a B Team. He soon received an invitation to an interview from Energie Cottbus, who'd just been relegated from 3. Liga, after having to reject an interview offer from Bundesliga side Augsburg.
Hansa Rostock II made a strong start to their first-ever season as a professional club, sitting safely in 3. Liga mid-table heading into the winter break. But manager Ruprecht Prusseit was acutely aware that a slip in form could quickly drag them into danger.
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