Welcome back to chapter four of English manager Nichloas Urwin’s unemployment challenge. He continues his fantastic second season in Malaysia and we pick up at June 2019 in which Urwin is managing second tier side Negeri Sembilan who are currently in 1st. After a 5-2 win in his last game in charge, Urwin is looking to maintain a long winning streak and wrap up the league with promotion and a trophy.
Team Goals & Perfect Partnerships (June):
June got off to a great start with another goal thrilling match finishing 5-3 against Sime Darby, with the attacking four of Kumaahran, Souleymane Konate, Muhd Izuan Mohd Salahuddin and Mohd Fakhrul Aiman Sidid all scoring. A Konate double and goal from Sidid saw Negeri win their next fixture against UiTM 3-1 before finishing the month with a goalless 0-0 against Penang.
Brace Yourselves (July):
Braces from super in-form Konate and Sidid, with another goal for Kumaahran saw Negeri defeat MIFA 5-2 in the league before a 3-1 win against the same opponents at their ground in the Malaysian Cup Group A. The same scoreline saw Negeri defeat Terengganu II as Sidid netted a double and had to come to the rescue in the next game. With three minutes to go, Sidid found the back of the net to get a 1-1 draw with PKNS.
Finally, a run of league games (August):
Surprisingly, August was a very busy domestic and competitive month in the Malaysian Premier League season as eight fixtures were set to be played including four Malaysia Cup games. Back-to-back wins in the cup against Selangor and MIFA came either side of a 2-1 league win over PKNP, with Kumaahran and Mohd Fakhrul Aiman Sidid netting for Negeri.
Unfortunately Urwin’s side plummeted back down to Earth with three poor results and defeats on the bounce against Selangor, Felcra and PKNS in the league and Malaysian cup competition, most embarrassing being the 4-1 defeat to Selangor. The month ended brilliantly however with a winning goal from 17 year-old debutant Muhd Hadi Abdullah in the 86th minute against UKM securing promotion to the Super League.
Leaving Ruthless Foot On Pedal (September/October):
Young striker Mohd Haziq Fikri Haszaime netted his first goal nine minutes from time in a close fought 2-1 win over Sabah to secure Negeri the Malaysian Premier League title. After Urwin sealed his first trophy in his young managerial career, his side scored five past Sarawak to win 5-3 including a sweet brace from Mohd Khairul Izuan Rosli. However an opposition brace in the following game by Muhd Shambri Haizam Sulaiman saw Johor DT II overturn Negeri 3-2.
The season’s celebrations were merely halted for that game as the final two games of the season resulted in back-to-back wins over Sime Darby and UiTM by 1-0 and 2-1 scorelines. Midfield Wonderkid Mohd Faizul Omar, who has already been given five senior caps for Malaysia aged 17, scored the only goal against Sime Darby whilst fan favourite and winger Muhd Izuan Mohd Salahuddin netted Negeri’s winning and final goal of the season.
‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go?’ (November):
Nicholas Urwin success has created a growth in reputation and a potential dilemma, with the option and temptation to maybe conquer elsewhere. The Clash’s hit record seemed to be on loop in his head, and with no significant bumper in his contract extension offered by Negeri, he opted to apply elsewhere. Hungary and Iceland second division sides came calling for interviews, but Urwin was made unsuccessful on filling either vacancy. In the end he agreed to a £1.3k p/w contract for another season this time in the Malaysian Super League where, despite just being promoted, Negeri are expected to finish in the top half.
If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It! (Pre-Season):
After the pre-season success of last season, Urwin has opted for a similar and extremely intense preparation with Negeri once again playing friendlies two times a week for the two month period before the start of the domestic season. New personnel has not changed the system with the 4-2-2-2 remaining to be Urwin’s favourite and most successful system he has implemented so far and has found similar success.
Objective Updates:
Such to recap from the introduction to this challenge, here are Nicholas Urwin’s personal objectives which he wishes to achieve come the end of his football managerial career.
- Become multi-lingual (At least four new languages learnt to a basic level)
- Become an iconic figure at a football club
- Retire from football management aged 40 with ambitions to go into punditry
- Earn over £1,000,000 in career earnings
- Be offered an international managerial role from any nation during career
In terms of becoming multi-lingual, Urwin has taken great steps in picking up the basics of French and will be working towards a good knowledge of the Malay language due to spending over 18 months in the Asian country.
Becoming an iconic figure is the subjective goal as to what legacy he will leave behind at clubs and could be working towards becoming an icon at current club Negeri Sembilan should he win the divisions top title and join Mali one season wonder Souleymane Konate in the clubs iconic figure list.
Aged 31 means Urwin on track to have nine more years in the world of football management, giving him a short and limited time to build a reputation meaning success in every season is pivotal. Going into punditry with the multi-lingual skillset and overseas experience could land Urwin some fantastic opportunities to become a worldwide football pundit.
The total career earning so far total £130k, and Urwin knows he is going to need to be earning a decent four, if not five figure sum per week if he is to aspire to surpass the million pound total career earning goal.
Neither an offer or any rumours have been spread about Urwin being linked to take charge of a nation loaded into the save, and will be something more realistic to found later into his short but action-packed managerial adventure.
Next Chapter:
Urwin will be competing in his third season and first season in the top flight of Malaysian football at Negeri Sembilan. Can he really pull off the remarkable feat of winning the title with an exciting, young and home-grown squad that’s just been promoted from the second division? Find out in the next chapter.
Missed the previous chapter? Follow the link to find out what Urwin got up to in Chapter 3 of Nicholas Urwin’s Unemployment Challenge.
