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.
Alphabet Challenge | Part 22, Club 10 | Two Dreadful Cup Finals
A few months back in England with West Ham United had seen Trebor Mahtal lift the club's first silverware in 19 years and take them back into European football. But the Zambian manager had significant challenges ahead if he was to help the Hammers compete with England's best.
Alphabet Challenge | Part 21, Club 10 | Return To England Yields Immediate Rewards
Interest came from Europe as Braga and West Ham United offered Trebor Mahtal interviews, and the wages on offer left him with an easy decision to move back to England.
FM Experiment | What If… Lionel Messi Moved To The Premier League | Part 2: Mid-Table Contenders
Last time out in this FM Experiment, we explored how Lionel Messi would fare in 3 seasons with each of the Premier League’s main contenders. But what if he took a gamble and joined some of the league’s less-fancied sides?
FM Experiment | FM Retro 98/99 | Part 4: Real-Life Newgens Join Hammers Revolution
Trebor Mahtal led his exciting West Ham wonderkids to back-to-back titles led by the exceptional Ronaldinho and Hidetoshi Nakata in 2025. And more exciting times were in store for Irons fans.
FM Experiment | FM Retro 98/99 | Part 1: West Ham Wonderkids
Having just completed a Football Manager Experiment using a custom database in the European Super League, we were keen to take on another fantasy challenge in FM23. So the release of The Mad Scientist's annual retro database was very timely.
Bottom At Christmas | Season 4: West Ham United
Big Sam Allardyce got his first taste of failure and relegation as his beleaguered Blackburn Rovers dropped into the Championship with barely a whimper in the 2023/24 campaign. However, there was no time to hang around as we simmed ahead to Christmas Day 2024 to discover the fourth task on this Football Manager Experiment.
Marching On Together: Part 8 – European Football
We moved into the latter stages of the 2021/22 campaign, our third in the Premier League with Leeds United, embroiled in a very tight mid-table battle. We began the year by selling centre-back stalwart Pontus Jansson, who'd been overtaken by youngster Benoit Badiashile in the pecking order, to Bournemouth for £4 million. In his place... Continue Reading →
Marching On Together: Part 6 – Brilliant Bamford
We moved into 2021 with Leeds United building on a good first campaign in the Premier League and looking to go even better second time around. We added a few youngsters to the mix in Janaury, including the very exciting 18-year-old Colombian striker Leonel Larrahondo. While young defender Ben Godfrey, who hadn't progressed as I'd... Continue Reading →
Marching On Together: Part 5 – Goals Galore
We went into the 2020/21 campaign having sealed Leeds United's place in the Premier League and enjoying a rise in financial clout as a result. That allowed us to spend a bit more money to strengthen in the summer. Our main signing was Argentinian winger Rodrigo De Paul, who came in for £9.75 million from... Continue Reading →
