Why beginning in the lower leagues is the purest FM challenge - with a plan to build from nothing
Almost every Football Manager player has tried two classic types of save. The first is managing a favourite club even if they are not in an elite league, as the thrill of taking charge of the team you support, know and love is unmatched. The second way is choosing one of the giants from top leagues like the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga – usually the wealthiest sides.
Take Manchester City, for instance. Even before their recent real-world success, they always had a generous transfer budget available in the game with which a dominant, trophy-winning squad could be built immediately. But what about starting at the bottom in the lower divisions, down in the second, third or even fourth tier? There’s no denying that there’s a special kind of magic in beginning your FM journey there.
Starting From the Bottom: A Truly Heroic Journey
When you dive into any video game, it’s often best to learn the basics before venturing further. The same applies to the world of iGaming. If you plan to explore online casino games, there’s little sense in spinning slots blindly without doing some research first. A good starting point is to choose a trustworthy platform, whether that’s a well-known independent site or one linked to major brands, such as Betway sister sites. The first task is to thoroughly understand each platform’s features and decide which one suits you best.
In Football Manager, once you’re familiar with the game’s basic mechanics, the next step is to immerse yourself in the club you intend to manage. Of course, you might pick a team simply because you like them, but if you want real success, assessing the structure and resources of the club is the essential first step. In real life, a manager also has the choice to accept or decline a club, and it’s a decision that often comes down to how much they will be backed financially in the transfer market.
Yet if you aim to experience FM in its most realistic form, to really push the game to its limits, why not start from the very bottom? Perhaps even unemployed? That way, you step into the shoes of someone at the very start of their career, an unknown, without a reputation. From there, you can gradually build a heroic journey and put your abilities to the ultimate test. Going down this road, you need to be smart long before the save even begins.
How to Start from the Bottom with Strategy
The first thing to consider when starting in the lower divisions is the club’s structure. Some players choose wealthy clubs, while others prefer those that reflect the average standard of the league. A more extreme option is to take charge of clubs that are heavily in debt and try to turn their fortunes around on and off the pitch.
This is challenging as you might spend countless hours (which in the game represent years) building up the club and its infrastructure, only to earn promotion and find yourself unable to sustain even a moderately competitive squad. Clubs with small turnovers and budgets are difficult to manage, so choosing a club drowning in debt from the off will present a tough, yet potentially rewarding move.
A Great Project Takes Years to Build
When you embrace the magic of managing smaller clubs, the mindset must always be long-term. While the board will still set lofty expectations, there’s little point in aiming unrealistically high.
Each season, the goal is to push for promotion, though at times this won’t be possible. To succeed in the long run, consider the following:
- Invest in a Crucial Trio: Youth players, loans and free transfers. Strengthening your U19 or U18 squad, as well as any lower levels if available, is essential.
- Make Scouting a Priority: If you can, target youngsters from traditional footballing hotbeds such as Brazil, Argentina and beyond. Maximise your scouting network, arranging trials or free loans wherever possible to get a closer look at promising players.
- Fixate on Finances: Resources will be tight, so be ready to review contracts, keep a constant check on expenses and know where to cut intelligently. Salaries and transfer fees are usually the biggest drains, so learn to manage them wisely.
- Have a Clear Plan: Long-term sustainability depends on knowing your strengths and weaknesses. In smaller clubs, maintaining strong relationships with star players is vital – lose them, and replacing them will be a real challenge.
- Develop Your Own Tactics: Just as smaller real-life clubs do, find creative ways to overcome difficulties. For instance, you could build a physically dominant side or place heavy emphasis on set-piece training.
Ready to Make History in Football Manager?
Starting out in the lower divisions is a unique kind of challenge for any Football Manager player. If you’ve tried it before and succeeded, you’ll already know the feeling. But if you haven’t yet, give it a go and experience the fans and everyone around you celebrating in your arms once you’ve written your name into history.
