With five trips in the season just ended, plus a solo trip to the Europa League Cup Final in Stockholm, it can be interesting to review the fortunes of the teams we visited. Did the Wilkie Tours curse strike and see teams relegated, or did we bring them some luck?
In September we travelled to Northern Spain.
Athletic Bilbao finished in the top ten of La Liga as is their norm, but at the end of the season lost their manager Ernesto Valverde, an ex-Barca player, as he was appointed Barca's coach following Luis Enrique's departure. Alaves finished 9th in La liga and capped an impressive season by getting to the Spanish Cup Final, where they lost 3-1 to Barca. Alaves opponents Granada, who were coached by Tony Adams for the last few games of the season, were relegated. Barakaldo finished 13th in Segunda B, opponents Sestao River were relegated. Portugalete missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season, opponents Aurrero were relegated from Tercera.
November and it was off to Tuscany in Italy.
Pisa were relegated from Serie B, opponents Perugia lost out in the play-offs. In Lega Pro Lucca, Pistoia's opponents Arezzo & Viterbese Castrense all lost out in the play-off rounds. An old favourite of Wikie Tours, Benevento achieved promotion to Serie A for the first time in their history after beating Carpi in the play-offs.
The last trip of 2016 was to Portugal in December.
Porto finished 2nd, 6 points behind champions Benfica; Guimaraes ended up 4th and Moreinsense 15th. Little Moreinsense, however, won their first silverware by winning the Portuguese 'League Cup' in January beating Braga.
February to Murcia, Spain seeking winter sun
Real Murcia lost in the semi-finals of the playoffs, losing narrowly to Valencia II over two legs. They will have city derby next season as UCAM Murcia were relegated from Segunda Division. EDMF Churra had an 8 game unbeaten run at the end of the season, including a 10-1 away win on the final day, climbing away from a relegation place to finish 14th.
The last trip was to Prague in April.
Sparta finished 3rd to claim a Europa League place, opponents Brno finished 12th. Bohemians & Jihlva finished 13/14th respectively. In the second division Zizkov finished 9th, their opponents Frydek-Mystek were relegated.
So, all in all not too much to shout about for the teams that had the honour of a Wilkie Tours visit, but there is always next season!
In September we travelled to Northern Spain.
Athletic Bilbao finished in the top ten of La Liga as is their norm, but at the end of the season lost their manager Ernesto Valverde, an ex-Barca player, as he was appointed Barca's coach following Luis Enrique's departure. Alaves finished 9th in La liga and capped an impressive season by getting to the Spanish Cup Final, where they lost 3-1 to Barca. Alaves opponents Granada, who were coached by Tony Adams for the last few games of the season, were relegated. Barakaldo finished 13th in Segunda B, opponents Sestao River were relegated. Portugalete missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season, opponents Aurrero were relegated from Tercera.
November and it was off to Tuscany in Italy.
Pisa were relegated from Serie B, opponents Perugia lost out in the play-offs. In Lega Pro Lucca, Pistoia's opponents Arezzo & Viterbese Castrense all lost out in the play-off rounds. An old favourite of Wikie Tours, Benevento achieved promotion to Serie A for the first time in their history after beating Carpi in the play-offs.
The last trip of 2016 was to Portugal in December.
Porto finished 2nd, 6 points behind champions Benfica; Guimaraes ended up 4th and Moreinsense 15th. Little Moreinsense, however, won their first silverware by winning the Portuguese 'League Cup' in January beating Braga.
February to Murcia, Spain seeking winter sun
Real Murcia lost in the semi-finals of the playoffs, losing narrowly to Valencia II over two legs. They will have city derby next season as UCAM Murcia were relegated from Segunda Division. EDMF Churra had an 8 game unbeaten run at the end of the season, including a 10-1 away win on the final day, climbing away from a relegation place to finish 14th.
The last trip was to Prague in April.
Sparta finished 3rd to claim a Europa League place, opponents Brno finished 12th. Bohemians & Jihlva finished 13/14th respectively. In the second division Zizkov finished 9th, their opponents Frydek-Mystek were relegated.
So, all in all not too much to shout about for the teams that had the honour of a Wilkie Tours visit, but there is always next season!
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