Way back in August 2019, fledgling English football manager Robí di Lathamé took the reigns of Sporting Lisbon. Now, 21 years later at the age of 56, I was preparing for my final match as a football manager.
With a fifth successive Primeira Liga title looking pretty in the trophy cabinet at Estadio José Alvalade Século XXI (catchy stadium name) it's time to look back on the campaign that marked half a decade with Sporting Lisbon.
Sporting Lisbon had ended 2023 in wonderful fashion, going 34 matches unbeaten in all competitions and winning their opening 14 league games in their bid for a fifth successive Primeira Liga title.
After wrapping up a fourth consecutive Primeira Liga with Sporting Lisbon a massive summer of change was coming, including selling our oldest player for the third transfer window in a row.
Our fourth campaign as Sporting Lisbon manager had plenty of drama, including a board intervention that had me questioning my position at the club. However, it soon became our best season so far in the save.
Sporting Lisbon moved into March 2023 still unbeaten in Primeira Liga and, for the first time in this save, having progressed past the first knockout round of the Champions League.
Last time out I was fuming with the Sporting Lisbon President's decision to sign two players behind my back for huge money on huge wages. I was keen to put it behind me and move on, and would deal with it when the two signings arrived in January.
I've built some exciting young teams during my time playing Football Manager but this new-look Sporting Lisbon side has to be one of the most inexperienced but exciting. However, all of my good work could come to a dramatic ending after a ridiculous move by the club's incumbent President.
I normally like to summarise the season just gone within the last post of the season, but this time around the finale to Primeira Liga was too frantic for that!
Sporting Lisbon's chances of a third straight Primeira Liga title looked unlikely going into the last few months of the season. Despite being only three points behind off the top of the league we faced a tough task toppling the unbeaten FC Porto.
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