5 Teams to Overthrow in Football Manager
We're well used to certain teams dominating their domestic kingdoms in modern-day football. The likes of Celtic (8 in a row), PSG (6 of last 7), Bayern Munich (7 in a row) and Juventus (8 in a row) have all been annihilating their enemies for many years now to the point where it has become almost guaranteed that they will win their domestic league each year, thus ensuring their dominance ever increases due to the repeat annual financial reward that comes with silverware and European qualification.
The only thing that can stand in their way? Football Manager. Here are 5 "Fight for the Throne" challenges where the objective is simple - overthrow the King, dethrone the supreme ruler from their ivory tower by knocking them off their perch and putting an end to their spell of dominance once and for all so that a new ruler can rise from the ashes and reign supreme over their footballing dynasty.
1. AUSTRIA - RED BULL SALZBURG (6 years flying)
Though not one of the most prolonged spells of dominance reigning supreme for 6 seasons straight in the Austrian Bundesliga, Red Bull Salzburg are arguably one of the most difficult teams to overthrow in a single nation primarily based on the fact that they are by far the richest and most exclusive club in the country. The sponsorship of Red Bull combined with the recent success of former players such as Erling Braut Håland, Sadio Mané and Takumi Minamino combined with current stars like Domenik Szoboszlai and Maximilian Wöber mean that Salzburg are now the Austrian club of choice for most players domestically and abroad. David Alaba's former club Austria Vienna were the last team to win the league in 2013 while teams such as Sturm Graz and Rapid Vienna have had a taste of Champions League football in the past before the Red Bull revolution. Do you have what it takes to clip the wings of Red Bull Salzburg?
Writer's suggestion: LASK Linz are a relatively unknown entity outside of Austria and haven't win the league since 1963, but after finishing second last season they were actually top of the Austrian Bundesliga prior to the Covid-19 pandemic in addition to playing Europa League football. With one of the best young goalkeepers in the league in Alexander Schlager there may just be a foundation on which to build a new empire in Austria (energy drinks optional).
2. Bulgaria - Ludogorets (8 years straight = LUDOcris)
Hristo Stoichkov, Dimitar Berbatov, Nina Dobrev - we love Bulgaria. Defying all odds at World Cup 1994 to finish 4th after defeating World Champions Germany in the Quarter Final only to lost 2-1 at the hands of Roberto Baggio in the Semi-Final, Bulgaria have a proud and proven football reputation on the International stage. Unfortunately the same cannot be said at club level - despite the fact that Ludogorets have won the league for the past 8 consecutive seasons and are clearly the dominant force in Bulgarian football, they have only reached the group stages of the Champions League twice in their history and became the first Bulgarian side to pick up points at this stage back in 2015 in a 1-1 draw with Basel. Perhaps it's time someone else had a turn?
Writer's suggestion: While the two Sofia teams (Levski and CSKA) offer attractive competitive options, Botev Plovdiv provide a really interesting challenge in that they have (1) excellent youth facilities and (2) one of the best players in the Parva Liga in Todor Nedelev. Having not won the Bulgarian league since England last won a World Cup and having never qualified for Europe in their history, what are you waiting for?
3. Wales - The New Saints (8 years saintly)
Who? You may remember The New Saints from such famed occasions as Liverpool vs Total Network Solutions in 2005 after the reigning Champions League winners played against the Welsh side for a place in the 2006 Champions League Group Stages due to the fact that Liverpool failed to qualify via the Premier League (needless to say TNS have changed their name since). While the top two superpowers of Welsh football play in the English league (yes I just called Cardiff and Swansea superpowers), let's not forget there is a ferociously competitive league in Wales that has been conquered 8 times in a row by TNS to date. Considering TNS have never reached the Champions League group stages, perhaps it's time to knock them off the Welsh mantle and come up with your own solutions to Welsh domestic football?
Writer's suggestion: the other more well known Welsh teams are Connah's Quay or Bala Town who also have flirted with European qualification at one point, however it's hard not to look past Barry Town if only for the Gavin & Stacey references alone (putting on a Welsh accent is also mandatory).
4. Belarus - BATE Borisov (lucky 13)
That's right - BATE Borisov have reigned supreme in the Belarusian league for 13 seasons straight. The last time another team were victorious in the Vyšejšaja Liha, the iPhone didn't even exist yet and Twitter was only known as the sound a bird makes. Notable events for the club in recent history have been Aleksandr Hleb and victories over Bayern and Roma in the Champions League - doth this club hath no equal?
Writer's suggestion: if you are a true CM/FM fan, one cannot look past Dinamo Minsk purely due to the fact that they are the club who produced none other than CM0102 legend Maxim Tsigalko (or Maksim Tsyhalka as he is known in the motherland). If that's not #narrative enough...
5. Cyprus - APOEL (7th heaven)
You may need to use a custom database to activate the Cypriot league in FM20 (see Steam Community or well known FM fan-sites), however in doing so you can take on the unique challenge of battling APOEL for control of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, who have been bulldozing the Cypriot First Division for seven years straight without interruption. As if being able to name your save "The Battle of Cyprus Hill" isn't inspiration enough! #InsaneInTheMembrane
Writer's suggestion: in taking over Anorthosi, you would be following in the footsteps of one of the maddest footballers to ever grace the Premier League. Former Newcastle and Wolves forward Temuri Ketsbaia sits in the Manager’s hot-seat in real life currently (younger viewers - just google it); dare you start the save by overthrowing Ketsbaia from the Anorthosi throne before proceeding to overthrow APOEL and conquer Cyprus?
There you have it! If you are looking for a new save or are in need of a serious challenge in which your mission is to perform a coup d'etat and dethrone the champions of that league, then hopefully this will give you some inspiration to continue your quest for power and glory in Football Manager. Be sure to tweet @WeStreamFM if you choose to follow this path and let us know your progress! Remember:
