Football Manager 2021 isn’t the easiest of sports games. Fans of the more action-focused titles mockingly call it a “spreadsheet simulator.” In fact, it can be a fun, addictive experience, provided that you don’t get discouraged on your first (likely failed) playthrough.
Most Football Manager fans will agree that the best way to enjoy this title is by taking over a struggling team from one of the lower divisions of their national league and transforming them into a formidable side that’s ready to challenge for the top honors, such as the UEFA Champions League and their respective national championships.
10 Hamburger SV
This Hamburg-based football club used to be a solid Bundesliga team, with the likes of Rafael Van Der Vaart and Son Heung-Min having graced their roster in the past.
Nowadays, things aren’t looking so rosy for Hamburger SV. Having been relegated to the 2. Bundesliga three seasons ago, they can’t seem to find their way back to the elite of German football. With a solid budget and a few wonderkids in their squad, though, Hamburger is a great team to take over in Football Manager 2021.
9 Pisa
AC Pisa 1909 is a club with a tumultuous history. After being taken apart and reestablished in the ’90s, they have spent most of their time in Series C since then. However, their recent promotion to Series B means that there is still hope for the club from a city known most for its leaning tower.
Italian football legends such as Leonardo Bonucci and Christian Vieri have played for Pisa in the early stages of their careers, which is a testament to their excellent approach to youth development. Players taking that club over in FM2021 face the challenge of bringing much-needed stability to the club and slowly easing them into Serie A to challenge for the top honors.
8 Paris FC
Currently, there is only one Parisian club in the French Ligue 1 — Paris Saint-Germain. The incredibly rich club needs no introduction. However, their long-forgotten rival, Paris FC, have been steadily plying their trade in Ligue 2 since 1979, when they were relegated from the top division.
Taking over Paris FC is quite the challenge. Without the financial backing of their closest rivals, players need to rely on their tactical acumen and scouting prowess to bring them back to Ligue 1 after a 40-year-long hiatus.
7 Watford
Known amongst fans as “The Hornets,” Watford was relegated from the Premier League in the 2019/20 season. As a team that has spent the better part of the last decade in the Premier League, they are one of the richest teams in the Championship.
This makes Watford FC one of the most accessible second-division teams to take over by new FM2021 players. With a roster full of reliable players such as Troy Deeney and wonderkids the likes of Ismaila Sarr, players might be able to bring them back to the English Premier League without spending too much money in the transfer window.
6 Bolton Wanderers
The downfall of Bolton Wanderers is truly saddening. They were once considered to be one of the most promising teams in the English top division, with a sixth-place finish and a Euro Cup qualification in 2005.
Having hung on to the Premier League for a few more seasons until 2012, things went downhill from there. Fast-forward to 2021, and the Wanderers are poised for a mid-table finish in League 2, the fourth-division of English football. Players who dare to take them over face a long, difficult challenge. Loanees from Premier League clubs like West Ham and Burnely will surely help, but a sound recruitment strategy, especially in the defensive department will prove paramount to achieving success with Bolton Wanderers.
5 Deportivo De La Coruna
At the start of the 21st century, Deportivo was a formidable force, both in Spain and across Europe. They won La Liga in the 1999-00 season, and regularly competed in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious competition twice.
However, following their relegation to the Segunda Division in 2018, they were relegated once more in the next season. Nowadays, they struggle to reach the promotion spots in Segunda Division B, the third tier of Spanish football. Players who want to make Deportivo De La Coruna matter in Spain and Europe once again will have to rely on loans and purchases of quality, affordable attacking talent in order to bring them back to La Liga.
4 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday can pride themselves on a very long and beautiful history. They are one of the oldest football clubs in the whole world. Formed in 1867, they were a force to be reckoned with all the way until the 1990s.
The 21st century was a series of ups and downs for the third-oldest club in England. With a series of relegations to League 1 and scrappy promotions back to the Championship, they are currently trying to stay afloat in the second English division. New managers of Sheffield Wednesday should try their best to patch things up at the back and achieve stability before thinking about a Premier League return.
3 Wigan Athletic
Wigan is currently staring down the face of relegation in League 1, after landing there following an abysmal 2019-20 season in the Championship. This is not a new situation for fans of this Greater Manchester area club.
Ever since their sensational 2013 FA Cup win, but a terrible Premier League campaign that saw them relegated to the Championship, Wigan have been bouncing around the second and third divisions of English football ever since. This tumultuous history makes choosing Wigan Athletic in Football Manager 2021 the perfect “rescue mission” challenge.
2 Almeria
Currently plying their trade in Segunda Division, Almeria is a great second-division club to take over for newcomers to the Football Manager franchise. They have recently been bought by Turki Al-Sheikh, a prominent Saudi Minister, which resulted in a serious influx of cash to spend by new managers.
With a La Liga promotion all but secured, players can get around to building a team that can challenge for the spots that will qualify them for European competitions almost right away. Buying creative midfielders should be a priority, in order to be able to swiftly break down the rock-solid La Liga defenses, the likes of Athletico Madrid.
1 Salford City
This is one of the most interesting projects that FM2021 fans could get involved with in the game. A couple of years ago, Salford was a struggling non-league club. It all changed when they were taken over by Project 92 Limited, a group consisting of Manchester United’s famous “Class of 92” — David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes, just to name a few. After the takeover, Salford quickly managed to achieve promotion to League 2 and enter the world of professional football.
With these legends as owners, players who choose to be Salford City managers can count on some serious financial backing. With a sound transfer strategy and some creative tactics, guiding this club to the elite of British Football should be achievable within less than ten seasons.
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