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.
The clock ticked over to 2040 as 55-year-old English title specialist Robí di Lathamé was showing no signs of letting up with his Juventus side sitting pretty seven points clear at the top of Serie A
The people of small Scottish town Kirkcaldy had been buzzing for weeks. The town's pubs had done record sales of whiskey and Tennent's on a daily basis and the concept of a hangover had been forgotten, with people drinking through the mornings and the bars never closing.
Robí di Lathamé's 20th season as a football manager saw him lead Feyenoord Rotterdam into 2039 in second place in Eredivisie. However, the club's title defence was looking promising as they'd played rivals and Ajax twice and were well clear of both, only trailing AZ Alkmaar by a point with two games in hand.
Robí di Lathamé was enjoying a delicious, undoubtedly extremely expensive glass of Rioja deep in the bowels of the majestic Santiago Bernabeú. And he couldn't help but reflect on how quickly things had changed.
In 2035, Raith Rovers had reached a European final and qualified for Europe for the first time in 30 years. Could they build on that? You bet they could, as Robí di Lathamé's team of heroes won the club's first European trophy, won the League Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history.
It was safe to say that Robí di Lathamé was enjoying life in Kirkcaldy, despite the relative lack of finances available to him. And it was in such a happy state of mind soaking in the rare rays on Kirkcaldy beach that he received a phone call from chairman Robbie McGinn.
The regular sight of runners and dog walkers and the distinct smell of frying haggis were noticeably absent as the early morning sun lit up the picturesque Kirkcaldy Bay. It was safe to say that the good folk of Kirkcaldy were feeling somewhat worse for wear.
Raith Rovers boss Robí di Lathamé came into the summer of 2023 on the back of a string of successful few seasons as a football manager. Having navigated Scottish League One at the first attempt, he'd then won the Championship after two seasons then led the side to a mid-table finish in the Premiership.
Raith Rovers had just secured their position in the Scottish Premiership for a second season by "defying expectations" led by their increasingly reputable young English manager Robí di Lathamé.
Football Manager Addict 