Note: As the league expands to 18 teams next season, only the bottom two teams (placed 15th and 16th), will be relegated from the Top League this season. In turn, the top four teams in the Second Division will be promoted rather than just the top three teams. Finally, the teams that place 1st and 2nd in the Top League this season will represent Mytannion in the UICA Champions' Cup and teams from 3rd-5th will compete in the UICA Globe Cup, in line with Mytannion's improving international coefficient.
Last season was possibly one of the best we have had in thirty years of Mytanar league football, Liria Prizren broke the record for league points with 73 but teams like Atletik and FC Ararat pushed them the whole way. It's likely to be like that again this season, them three battling it out up at the top. Then there is also the intriguing four-way battle for fourth and fifth place in the league, with two of 1896 Ebor, Dinamo Esca, Turbine Decraa and SK Port Jarko expected to fight for them two final Globe Cup spots. Then we have interesting middle of the road, with Olympic Thessia, Dtykiga, CDSA Decraa and Energia-Yaderny Miago looking to both try and move up the table whilst always looking behind them two. Then there's Nyva Zvornik and 1923 Esca, two teams who will look to stabilise their position in the league once again, the latter will look to reclaim a stronger mid-table position, with last year being a bit of a blip for them. The three new boys, Lok. Cassia, Arka Snezhnaya and Fk Arsika all have one simple goal: to survive. They would all take 13th place if it would mean another year of Top League football. For Arka Snezhnaya it is quite the occasion, as it is their first ever season in the Mytanar Top League. Congratulations especially go to them. Let's meet the teams who will hopefully make this 31st season of Mytanar football just as incredible as some of the others:
Key: Team Captains are underlined. Key Players are bolded. Foreign players are italicised.
Stadium: Kolodvorska (10,000), Oonderslaan, Decraa.
Manager: Cyril Stanek
Season Preview: Last season was an exceptional year for Turbine Decraa, as they finished 6th, when they were expected to be at the most a mid-table side and in some quarters they were even predicted as one of the teams to go down. It was a truly magical season brought about by some top class buys by Cyril Stanek and this has set them up in a good position to try and repeat last year - and with the Globe Cup spots now going down to 5th place, Turbine Decraa will hold out some hopes of challenging for that final Globe Cup squad. Wanderis and Spaddacini will be key in their hopes for that, with the partnership between Kristensen and Merec also being key to how they will do. They'll want to tighten up at the back and one addition in particular may help their hopes in that department. We reckon they may finish 7th though, with city rivals CDSA coming back into form and finishing higher this season.
Transfer Market: Not as much movement in the squad compared to last year, but they secured one big name for the future in the form of Othebian starlet Kostas Aklis, they spent an unprecedented £2.5 million to bring the youngster to them from Parathalassio Larnaka. Also coming in is promising full back Tomas Svensen for £2 million from Energia-Yaderny Miago. Outgoing is Gjon Dibra to Lok. Cassia for £1 million and also Vladimir Ullrich, who retired.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: They're filling Kolodvorska each week, which is good, especially as their local rivals (from neighbouring district Inderslaan), CDSA Decraa seem to take most of the fans from the local area. Their hardcore support are decent, but are quite violent, as if they have something to prove because they don't have as many fans as their rivals. They do hate CDSA Decraa, but don't share their rival's hatred of Energia-Yaderny Miago.
1896 Ebor: Pagnotto - Linna, Fisichella, Hodge, Mikolajczak - Einmark, Mackay, Endrizzi - Uijtdewilligen, Ertobashia, Nielsen.
Stadium: Oluja Stadion (30,000), Iskark, Ebor.
Manager: Max Haberhorm
Season Preview: They secured 4th again last season, this season they'll be looking above them though - as they have the security of knowing that even 5th place will allow them to go to the Globe Cup - so instead they'll turn their sights to FC Ararat and Atletik Thessia and look to overtake them. The club's board will be looking for a trophy this season, whether it be the Cup or the League, they want success. Haberhorm will be expected to secure at least Globe Cup football and will also be expected to win something, so look for them to put out a strong team in the Cup. They are with out talismanic Adama Diarra this season though as FC Ararat met his release clause and he's left for them, Moses Uijtdewilligen will have a lot of weight on his shoulders in replacing Diarra who is a bit of a club icon now. We expect them to finish 5th this season as they look for success in the Cup and the Globe Cup and they'll be challenged by a very strong looking Dinamo Esca squad too.
Transfer Market: Well, as mentioned, they sold their best player. Adama Diarra left for FC Ararat for £12.5 million and that left a huge hole, but there was some good foresight by the club as they secured a replacement (Uijtdewilligen), last season. Other than that, Petr Cervinka left for Fligsive FC in the Inevitable Syndicate for £2 million, Uros Mikolajczak was brought in from Litala' 93 for £5 million to replace him, one for the future indeed.
Trophies Won: 3 Mytanar Top Leagues, 6 National Cups
Fans: Die Nordmanner have some of the best fans in the country, probably the third biggest fanbase and easily one of the noisiest. They create an incredible atmosphere inside the Oluja Stadion because of this; the expansion of the stadium will just add to the already incredible atmosphere. Don't be surprised to see them get on the manager's back, their board have spent plenty of money on assembling this squad so they can have no complaints there.
Stadium: Radnika (56,000), Centralni, Esca.
Manager: Lukas Boronin
Season Preview: When former Litala '93 manager Lukas Boronin was announced as the new manager for 1923 Esca there was uproar amongst the club's fans, after all Litala '93 are Die Schwarzen's biggest rivals. The fans aren't happy with this announcement, so Boronin will really need to get results on the field in order to endear himself to the fans. They narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 13th and the quality of the squad is much better than that really. They have a creative midfield and a couple of striker's that are superb at this level, defensively they were a shambles last season but they'll hope that a return to form for Ran Modderkolk and the addition of Jack Stevenson will improve that. We think they'll finish 9th and stabilise following a poor season.
Transfer Market: Jack Stevenson came in from Fligsive FC (Inevitable Syndicate) for £2 million. They lost their best youngster Vidoslav Kovacic to Liria Prizren for £5 million and sold young midfielder Arsen Barsamian to Arka Snezhnaya for £2.5 million. A good financial year for them which the fans will hope means a bit more money available to purchase players next season - dependent on league performance.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: Their fans are seen as patronising and pretty up themselves. Maybe it's because they're from the capital (and the central district of it, too), maybe it's because they're basically the government backed club, maybe it's because they have the 'poshest' fanbase in the nation, who knows? They have certain sections that are incredible, including 'Abschnitt 1-11', their ultras group - who have had a growing number in recent seasons.
Stadium: Arka Park (30,104), Hafengebiet, Snezhnaya.
Manager: Daniel Schiffer
Season Preview: It's going to be a difficult season for Arka Snezhnaya, they're expected to finish bottom and with good reason, half the squad has never played in the Top League! A lot of emergency signings had to be made just to make this team look respectable and if they manage to stay up there will be huge congratulations in order for Daniel Schiffer who is known as one of the best young managers around and has been highly touted as the next Atletik Thessia manager. He's the sort of manager who would suit a club run in that way. Tim Dalgaard will be key at the back, Daniz's experience will be too. Arsen Barsamian will be the creative ticker and will have to create for Lefiran striker Leandre Suarez Sierra, who was prolific back home - but is less likely to be prolific here. They just don't have the quality for this league, sadly though. 16th.
Transfer Market: Their big buy was Leandre Suarez Sierra from Union Oviedo in Lefira for £4 million. Volodymyr Daniz came in from Dinamo Esca for £500k, Josef Novak from CDSA Decraa for £750k, with Tim Dalgaard signed from Chayka-VMZ Pozrozhdeny for the same amount. Finally, two more big signings, Arsen Barsamian for £2.5 million from 1923 Esca and Salambek Masaev for £1 million from Rudar Uchenik. A massive £9.5 million spent on trying to keep them in the league, a big gamble for a team that usually focuses on bringing its own youth players through. It's how they afforded their big, modern stadium after all.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: The fans up north are crazy, all the fans in that area are, just look at 1896 Ebor's fans. Arka's fans are incredible, their ultras group, Die Nordkurve create some of the biggest displays to be seen and are the ones that engineered their team's move to the massive Arka Park. The 10,000 capacity Nordkurve is one of the bigger ends in Mytanar football (doesn't live up to Liria's Yellow Wall but even so). Expect huge friction between Arka's fans and Die Nordmanner this season.
Stadium: Maine Road (37,000), Zenit Toranj, Thessia.
Manager: Marius Sadowsky
Season Preview: Last season was fairly successful for Atletik in terms of getting their 20th ever domestic trophy (22nd overall), confirming their absolute dominance as the most successful team in Mytannion. They're having a bit of a drought in terms of Top League titles, their last win three seasons ago, they'll want to turn that around this season. Their defense is strong, top class in fact and going forward they're pretty much second to none. This team is probably the best on paper this season, but it's Patrelyak's first season leading the line alone for Atletik - he's scored 30 in 55 games in the past two seasons while on loan at Zenit Esca and Turbine Decraa. If he carries that form into his first season with Atletik I can see them challenging at the top level. FC Ararat and Liria Prizren look too strong for them though and their youthful exuberance may see them be beat down into 3rd.
Transfer Market: Isac Tronstad was signed from FC Framro '08 for £7.5 million, he's said to be 'the best defensive talent ever produced' from Oppland, so he's a good buy. Going the other way are Ondrej Knizek, another talent sold on for good money from the club's youth system as they continue to use this tactic to remain a financially secure club, he was signed by Earent side Stirvik TU for £7.5 million. Farf defender Joseý Daokō was sold to Dinamo Esca for £5 million after Tronstad was bought, the Farf hoping to get playing time and so moving away from Maine Road.
Trophies Won: 14 Mytanar Top Leagues, 6 National Cups, 2 Rushmori Copa de Campeones
Fans: Atletik are a huge club and hail from the largest city in Mytannion (although not the capital), Die Stadtbewohner have one of the biggest followings throughout Mytannion and their fans represent this hugely. They follow their team throughout the nation, and are some of the loudest, most intimidating and violent fans in the nation - often being the ones focused on by documentaries following football hooliganism. Their home atmosphere is incredible and they are often as loud as opposition fans when they play away from home, as they have some of the most passionate fans in the nation.
Stadium: Psenicova Road (28,000), Inderslaan, Decraa.
Manager: Ruben Almerique (Aquillian).
Season Preview: Why is it that both clubs involved in the East Midlands Derby are the teams with the most financial trouble in Mytannion? Well, we can't answer this but spending beyond their means probably has something to do with it. That's why we're increasingly seeing the two teams making limited signings and often cheap ones, frugal management from Ruben Almerique meant that they could afford the wages of Jon Grise Fjordun, whose contract with Liria Prizren ran out this season, a coup for CDSA certainly. Him and Tatarchuk will be vitally important in this side performing this season and if they can hit it off, don't be surprised to see them challenging near the upper echelons of the league table (Globe Cup spots), however, a points deduction could bite and that could knock the team's confidence too. Expect inconsistency from them. On paper they could finish 6th, but if anything goes against them they could end up a lot lower down.
Transfer Market: Jon Grise Fjordun came in as aforementioned, a free transfer from Liria Prizren is very canny work, why Grise Fjordun would move from a big club like Liria is anybody's guess but it is rumoured a rift with Danek Badjkev meant the Oppic forward moved away. Going out the Psenicova Road door are wingers Josef Novak (to Arka Snezhnaya for £750,000), and Filip Sotola (to Lok. Cassia for £1.5 million).
Trophies Won: 4 National Cups
Fans: They have loud home support, but often fail to take many when they travel away. They once had one of the largest hooligans firms in Mytannion, but that had ended in recent years after police stamped down on any hooliganism in the local area but it is beginning to return again and their firm is growing once again, mainly on political grounds with their anti-fascist firm fighting against their rivals' Energia-Yaderny Miago's big right-wing firm, Grolija.
Dinamo Esca: Horak - Takala, Berozhserkovsky, Daokō, Euler - Dielissen, Sharov, Linna, Alejandro - Saari, Selnæs.
Stadium: Kotrba Park (32,500), Votavova District, Esca.
Manager: Petr Kolarov
Season Preview: Quite a few ins and outs at Kotrba Park made this summer particularly busy for Dinamo. A couple of new additions at the back, a new man in the middle of the park and a striker coming into the starting role up top. A few players who would have been considered key men in previous seasons have been sold off and now the squad has more of a youthful, enthusiastic look about it. They'll bring their unique brand of attacking football back this season and the quality of players to execute it is increasing. They may well manage to secure 4th this season, but even if they do finish 5th that'll be enough for Globe Cup football this season because of the Mytanar coefficient increasing. Young Artem Sharov will need to be in his top box-to-box form if they want to fulfill all the potential they promise. 4th.
Transfer Market: Anders Euler came in from Audioslavian amateurs AC Izotz Zubia for free, the World Cup winning full back will add a bit more quality. Joseý Daokō came from Atletik Thessia for £5 million and Sulo Linna was signed from relegated Enerhetyk Parr for £7.5 million. Leaving Kotrba Park is Sergey Kochergin, to Framro Kickers for £6 million. Pasi Järvilehto to FC Framro '08 for the same sum of money. Volodymyr Daniz is leaving to Arka Snezhnaya for £500k.
Trophies Won: 1 Mytanar Top League, 1 National Cup
Fans: They have extremely patient fans. They love their club and never expect them to do too well and are quite happy just to watch their team play some decent football and beat their local rivals. The fans travel to watch their club, they aren't the loudest and are generally very friendly and well-informed. They are some of the most loyal fans in the league, following their team through thick and thin. They have a growing ultras group in Einheit Roten and they're beginning to show some impressive choreographies, more away from home than at Kotrba Park.
Dtykiga: Markovic - Junek, Pilar, Kos, Canó - Mizera, Lind, Dubois, Kalinin - Polacky, Guttman.
Stadium: Stupka Lane (18,000), Centralni, Ontario.
Manager: Eldar Karaskova
Season Preview: Financial issues are dogging them and they have had to sell their best player this summer in order to compensate for that. They didn't play as well as they have in previous seasons in the last campaign and with out Nils Ingebregtsen, they probably won't do much better. They've almost gone from international competitions contenders to relegation scrappers in a couple of seasons and that could definitely be the reality if they incur a points deduction due to their financial problems. I honestly can't see where goals will come from in this side and that will be their issue, defensively they're pretty solid but going forward they don't have much - which is definitely a change from in the past when Dtykiga were well known for being an attacking team. This team won't have that though and that could be their downfall, 10th.
Transfer Market: Nils Ingebregtsen returned to his homeland of Oppland, with a £12.5 million move to FC Framro '08. Rodrico Vistruano, their veteran goalkeeper retired and so, Sandro Markovic will be starting this season for them.
Trophies Won: 1 National Cup
Fans: Dtykiga are located on the shores of the River Istar in Nasto, their fans seem to be a little bit different to most other team's. They are incredible, they're loud and their tifosi displays are exceptional to see. Especially in an environment as compact as Stupka Lane. The flares and smoke bombs create an intimidating atmosphere for away fans and players alike. Dtykiga's fans are something else, some of the most passionate in the nation - and the ones who usually travel the best to the mainland from the southern isle.
Stadium: Miagostadion (40,000), Capka-Hola, Miago.
Manager: Kìxå Jāp (Carmadin).
Season Preview: Haugen continues to lead his team onwards and the young captain has already made 64 appearances for his club side, scoring 36 goals. He's an incredible talent and it's surprising he hasn't left for bigger and better things, but it shows the commitment he has to the club and shows that supporting a team still means a lot. Money was freed up enough to allow a signing this summer, even if it was a free. This team has done remarkable things with their youth academy after coming back from various financial issues. They may be the first team in Mytannion to implement the 50+1 rule in their club, where the fans have to own 51% of the club and always hold a majority. They're hoping to get this rule in so they can avoid overstretching themselves financially again. It would work well with this club. This season, we predict them to finish 11th, and maybe push on depending on their situation at the halfway stage.
Transfer Market: Tomas Svensen was sold to Turbine Decraa for £2 million. Pejo Mandic was brought in on a free following the end of his contract at Liria Prizren.
Trophies Won: 3 Mytanar Top Leagues, 1 National Cup
Fans: They pack into the Miagostadion every week, especially in the Sudtribune. The massive south stand is all standing and is packed with red and black clad Energia-Yaderny fans, with flares and unspeakably huge flags. They are some of the most violent fans in Mytannion and often have clashes with CDSA Decraa fans when they travel there, both because of regional proximity and their main firm's political views (E-Y Miago's being right-wing). They also share a slightly strange rivalry with 1896 Ebor, we can't even think of a reason for it, really. They have rallied around their team as they go through these financial problems.
Stadium: Korecky Road (32,500), Rokos, Severyan.
Manager: Patrik Hladik
Season Preview: They'll want to reclaim the title they lost last season, they have a very strong team across the field once again. The addition of Adama Diarra up front will completely change the face of the title race - with a player of his quality adding even more talent to an already formidable side. Jasar Takak hasn't developed exactly as people thought he would and while he's still a quality player he's not the exceptional talent he was once touted as. If he can come into his own for this season then this team will be set pretty much right across the field and will be expected to fight all the way for the title, we expect them to top the table. 1st.
Transfer Market: Zivko Marinovic was sold to Meerstad TWSB in Pontinur for £10 million. Adama Diarra came in from 1896 Ebor for £12.5 million. Juha Pentanen was also sold to Nyva Zvornik for £2 million.
Trophies Won: 1 Mytanar Top League, 1 National Cup
Fans: Severyan is known as one of the foremost carnival cities in Mytannion, along with Thessia and Ebor. After every FC Ararat goal, the Narrhallamarsch, a famous Mytanar carnival tune is played at Korecky Road. Their fans are happy and copious amounts of alcohol and barbecued meat are served at every home match. They are loud and they have some of the most strange traditions in the Top League, making them a fun set of fans to watch before and after games. They have some of the best choreographies in the league and take this home and away with their ultras, the 'Karnevalgruppe'.
Stadium: Nerchau Park (14,000), Zvornik, Larne.
Manager: Thomas Russell (Valladares).
Season Preview: This team will once again be looking to hold their position in the Top League and retain Top League status ahead of the league restructuring, where the League will move to 16 teams. Only the bottom two will be relegated, so they have an easier job of it, but they will still find it difficult at times. They have improved their defence this season with the addition of the experienced centre-half Sebastien Hamilton. They have largely the same team other than this though, with a creative midfield and what they hope will be a slightly more prolific attacking partnership too. They should retain their league status barring any big collapses though and fairly comfortably by finishing 13th, given the reduced relegation zone.
Transfer Market: Kwesi Ferrer moved on a free to Arsenal Vershina and Darijo Leko also ended his contract and moved on to Zenit Esca. Sameban central defender Sebastien Hamilton joined the club from Dinamo Esca for £3.5 million and Juha Pentanen moved from FC Ararat to Zvornik for £2 million.
Fans: Nerchau Park is a cauldron, and with plans to fill the corners with standing areas coming to fruition it brings another 4,000 to the stadium capacity which will make sure there's even more passion inside this stadium. The fans are well known to be passionate about the club and get behind it. They follow them around the country and are exceptionally loyal. They are well known to other groups as being lightweight though and opposing firms often target Zvornik's 'firm'. They also don't bring much in the way of ultras either, with little to no choreographies.
Fk Arsika: Bisliev - Prochazka, Adler, Bader, van der Raad - Vasatko, Bazhaev, Valisz, Kadyrov - Baranov, Dresdner.
Stadium: Závěj Park (22,500), Ledovy, Arsika.
Manager: Frank Duerr
Season Preview: Mike Duerr's little brother has got a management gig of his own and he's managed to get Die Schwarzpferde back into the top-flight whilst assembling quite a strong team at Závěj Park. Frank Duerr has a team here that plays a fairly classic 4-4-2 formation, Pontinurii full back Sverre van der Raad will be key for them with his strong, dogged defensive work and marauding runs forming an important part of their playing style. He's also not too shabby from dead ball situations either. A lot of weight will be on Zdenek Valisz to be the creative heartbeat and Ralf Dresdner will need to be at his goal poaching best too, if they want to stay up. They'll be an interesting outfit and it'll be an ongoing storyline to see if the younger Duerr brother can keep them up, we think not, 15th.
Transfer Market: Ralf Dresdner moved from Enerhetyk Parr to Fk Arsika, an interesting divide to move across, for £1.25 million. Nibelungan defender Kristian Adler moved from Liria Prizren to Fk Arsika for £750,000. Vratislav Vasatko moved from Enerhetyk Parr to, £1 million there. That was it for Die Schwarzpferde and it'll be interesting to see if that's enough to keep them up.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: The club have began to start filling their 22,500 all-seater arena. They lobbied against the move to the new stadium extensively but eventually they gave in and have started to fill it and bring a bit of atmosphere to a stadium that was once considered as one of few in Mytannion that was soulless. They haven't got an ultras group and that could be an issue in itself for them, they may fix that though given their position in the footballing pyramid now.
Stadium: Westfalenstadion (80,708), Liria, Prizren.
Manager: Danek Badjkev
Season Preview: Young Danek Badjkev is already a club legend with Liria Prizren, following a few years playing for them in which he scored a fair few goals before moving abroad. Last season, he completed a domestic/international double, winning the Mytanar Top League and the UICA Globe Cup. The second prize is very, very impressive for this club and something which should be celebrated for a long time. In effect, this team has tried to move to an even more homegrown look, bringing two players into the starting line-up that have come through the youth ranks in Torsten Gerber and Bernd Schulz. The latter already looks like a natural goalscorer that will team up with Miki Sipilainen well. They look like a fantastic team across the field once again and coming off the back of such a great season they have the motivation to try and do it all again, we do think they'll finish 2nd though. FC Ararat may just have a little too much.
Transfer Market: Kristian Adler moved on, to Fk Arsika for £750k. Pejo Mandic's contract expired and he moved on a free to Energia-Yaderny Miago. Jon Grise Fjordun reportedly had a rift with Danek Badjkev and that led to him simply not renewing his contract, he moved on a free to CDSA Decraa. Only one signing for them, Vidoslav Kovacic the promising right back coming in from 1923 Esca for £5 million.
Trophies Won: 1 Mytanar Top League, 5 National Cups, 1 UICA Globe Cup
Fans: The supporters' enthusiasm increasingly produces over 55,000 sold season tickets. Regularly 24,454 fans fill the largest stand in Mytanar football - famous for the intense atmosphere it breeds, the south terrace has been nicknamed "Yellow Wall". Their stadium is the biggest in Mytanar football and they regularly fill it out, it is one of the most intimidating environments there is. Not bad for a team from the district of Liria. It has hosted the UICA Champions' Cup final once and it plans to bid for the next Globe Cup as part of a celebration of Liria's success in the competition.
Stadium: Metrostad (7,500), Tsentralni, Cassia.
Manager: Viktor Janczek
Season Preview: Well normally this team would be the third to go down and return to the Second Division, but given the special conditions with only two teams going down then they may well just about survive. They have a little bit of quality in the midfield and up top, even if their defensive side of things does leave a bit to be desired - they should just about score enough to keep them up. Rémy Pichaud-Moulin will add a bit of quality in the centre of the park, with Piursz being similar, a silky player. Novichkov and Ayala could well form a lethal partnership and the business end, especially if they get service from young Faerber and slightly older Sotola. We think they'll just manage to stay up 14th.
Transfer Market: A few moves for them, Filip Sotola coming from CDSA Decraa for £1.5 million. Gjon Dibra from Turbine Decraa for £1 million. Rémy Pichaud-Moulin arrived from Litala '93 for £3 million.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: They make them a little bit different up north. Lok. Cassia's fans aren't similar to their rival's, FC Ararat's in their good, happy nature. They are equally as loud though, but they are instead very aggressive and violent towards fans that travel to Cassia. They don't like away fans and they don't like foreigners either, so much so that they have almost forced their board to not sign foreign players in the past. They are right wing and aggressive and teams with big anti-fascist firms hate them (e.g. CDSA Decraa, Atletik Thessia, Preußen Kitzbuhel etc), for this. Political rivalries are commonplace in Mytannion and Lok. Cassia have lots of them.
Stadium: Kaunostadion (5,000), Zenit Toranj, Thessia.
Manager: Mike Duerr
Season Preview: They may have reached the maximum expansion capacity at the Kaunostadion, bringing the capacity up to 5,000 and this could herald a new stadium in the next few years - leaving the smallest stadium in the Top League would surely be a crime though, wouldn't it? It has so much history and atmosphere even though it is small. Mike Duerr has been fairly successful and will hope to continue doing what he's doing with the same squad, securing the middle of the table and playing decent football. They just need the next big star to come through their youth academy and start performing for them or a signing to come in and change things a bit, otherwise they'll just be stuck in the same cycle. This season we think they'll finish 8th, exactly mid-table, with nothing much changing once again.
Transfer Market: Nobody came in and nobody went out, reliance on their youth system is what they do.
Trophies Won: None
Fans: They have a small stadium, but that doesn't stop them from having a massive amount of fans. They have a large local following and fill the Kaunostadion out every week. They are very loud too, making a whole lot more noise than 4,000 people should do (1,000 reserved for away fans, of course). Their song 'O Kaunos' deals with a young fans life and how it should be lived and they got their nickname because of this song - the song is belted out every game and rouses the fans and players into the zone for every game. They have some of the most violent fans in Mytannion too.
Stadium: BayArena (30,120), Zalivokrug, Port Jarko.
Manager: Dario Kovac
Season Preview: They had a fairly solid season last time out, finishing 7th, well above expectations. They were only six points off 5th and if they can repeat that this season then they'd only be six points off Globe Cup football, it's a fairly realistic ambition for them. They just haven't changed much in their team and that could be problematic as other teams certainly have improved their onfield staff. It's not like they couldn't have afforded to buy someone in either, they certainly could have brought in a new starter, they just chose not to and instead looked ahead to the future. If they want success right now they'll need to make a bit more investment. As it is, I can see them regressing quite a bit given the teams that have improved around them. 12th.
Transfer Market: Ebbe Baardsson came back from his loan deal and so Dragan Stipanov was surplus to requirements and sold on to Litala '93 for £250,000. Eren Kokx, the Crelaander prodigy was signed for £2.5 million from Zulte-Waregem and he's certainly a talent for the future. He can play off the right and up top and so he offers a little versatility there.
Trophies Won: 1 Mytanar Top League, 1 National Cup
Fans: They have passionate fans, ones which have supported this team through thick and thin. They're loud and follow their team around the country well. They're historically also very violent and cause trouble a lot. They hate Atletik fans still, even though Atletik fans don't really care about them anymore as they've gone on to bigger things since the early seasons of Mytanar football - whereas SK Port Jarko have gone the other way. They're beginning to recover and beginning to have a little bit to shout about when they do meet their old rivals Atletik.
