Manager index continued...

After my last post I did a bit more experimenting with the manager statistics. This time I've added a second Bulgarian manager -- Yassen Petrov, the current manager of Levski Sofia. Since both Stoilov and Petrov started their careers roughly the same time, it's interesting to see how they stack against each other. Feedback is always welcome. Enjoy! :)

Edit: I've now added Ilian Iliev, the manager of Beroe to the mix.

Measuring a football manager's performance?

Bulgaria lost last night to Montenegro. We lost with the same manager that led Levski Sofia to the 1/4 finals in the UEFA Cup and the groups in the Champions League in 2006. So I decided to run some quick stats on his performance as a manager with the team he managed. So far the stats are quite simple and nothing fancy like the Capello Index. Here they are

name: Stanimir Stoilov

2004/05: Levski Sofia
games: 38
wins: 30 (78.9473684211%)
losses: 3 (7.89473684211%)
ties: 5 (13.1578947368%)
goals for: 97 (2.55263157895 per game)
goals against: 23 (0.605263157895 per game)
goal diff: 74

2005/06: Levski Sofia
games: 43
wins: 28 (65.1162790698%)
losses: 8 (18.6046511628%)
ties: 7 (16.2790697674%)
goals for: 86 (2.0 per game)
goals against: 38 (0.883720930233 per game)
goal diff: 48

2006/07: Levski Sofia, Bulgaria
games: 47
wins: 33 (70.2127659574%)
losses: 8 (17.0212765957%)
ties: 6 (12.7659574468%)
goals for: 118 (2.51063829787 per game)
goals against: 40 (0.851063829787 per game)
goal diff: 78

2007/08: Levski Sofia
games: 34
wins: 21 (61.7647058824%)
losses: 9 (26.4705882353%)
ties: 4 (11.7647058824%)
goals for: 62 (1.82352941176 per game)
goals against: 25 (0.735294117647 per game)
goal diff: 37

2008/09: Litex, Bulgaria
games: 44
wins: 24 (54.5454545455%)
losses: 8 (18.1818181818%)
ties: 12 (27.2727272727%)
goals for: 78 (1.77272727273 per game)
goals against: 37 (0.840909090909 per game)
goal diff: 41

2009/10: Litex, Bulgaria
games: 14
wins: 7 (50.0%)
losses: 6 (42.8571428571%)
ties: 1 (7.14285714286%)
goals for: 25 (1.78571428571 per game)
goals against: 20 (1.42857142857 per game)
goal diff: 5

2010/11: Bulgaria
games: 3
wins: 0 (0.0%)
losses: 3 (100.0%)
ties: 0 (0.0%)
goals for: 0 (0.0 per game)
goals against: 6 (2.0 per game)
goal diff: -6


Aside from the trophies that Stoilov has lifted as a manager, there are few interesting observations to make:
- Since 2006/07 Stoilov's teams have been struggling to score 2 goals per game on average
- Starting in 2007/08 Stoilov's teams have an increasing trend in the goals they concede per game on average
- Starting in 2006/07 Stoilov's teams have a downward trend in the percentage games they've won in a season


So then comes the question: what would be the best metrics to evaluate and measure a manager's performance?

Martin Palermo... no comment

This is the guy who missed 3(!!!) penalty kicks in the same match for Inter Milano a few years ago. Now he scores a header from 40 meters. :)

Football (Top Gear style)

Roussi just sent me this video of the Top Gear guys re-creating a game of football... in their own style. I'm still wondering how did they manage to pull off the free kick! :)

Bulgarian youngster signs for Liverpool

Great news for the Levski supporters: Nikolay Mihaylov signed for Liverpool today (article from Reuters). The contract is for 3+2 years, which is great. I hope improves his game while being at Anfield. The only question that still confuses me is why did Rafa Benitez was so eager to recruit him after his major screw up in the Champions League earlier in the season:

Milan - Levski

Danny just posted a short video from the Milan - Levski (born 1994) friendlies. After watching it a few times it's impressive to see these kids' potential on the pitch. Personally, I'm really glad that our youth academy has talents such as these kids. If the coaches do their job right, which I am sure they will, these kids (along with the guys born in 1991) will make great additions to Levski's first team.

Man Utd - Roma

What a game! 7-1 in the 1/4 finals of the Champions League. I'm speechless. I need to find a copy of the game ASAP. :)