Taking a look at which challenges to play and which clubs to manage in Football Manager 2019. Serie A in FM19 is about to be one of the most played leagues in a long time.
Now that we know that the newest instalment of our favourite football management simulation awaits us at the start of the November, it's time we start preparing ourselves for its arrival. As most of you know that I'm an absolute fanatic when it comes to Juventus and Italian football in general, so I feel I have an obligation to inform you a bit about Italian football and maybe get you to start a save or two in Serie A in Football Manager 2019.
I'll suggest some exciting challenges and clubs you should consider doing/managing in FM 2019.
Brief intro to Serie A in FM19
Many moons have passed since Italian football fans felt such excitement as we are feeling it this season. Reason to lack of the same comes from absolute domination of Juventus for the past seven years and ofcourse because of the calciopoli that shook the foundations of Italian football back in 2006.
With Juventus exodus to Serie B and point deduction to some of the major clubs, the Italian football started an irreversible decline.
They shoot themselves in the foot, and there was no solution out of this situation in sight.
Football scene stagnated in Italy in the next decade, and once the most prestigious league was only a shadow of what it was.
But then something incredible happened.
Unreal transfer of today's best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, from Real Madrid to Juventus for a reported fee of £105 million happened, according to this official European site.
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 16, 2018
This transfer re-ignited the long-flared flame, the lights of the reflectors again turned towards the Apennines peninsula.
Even thou this transfer is vital for Juve's ambition of finally grabbing the Champions League trophy, it is also relevant to Italian football in whole.
But there have been plenty of other significant transfers happening in Italy this summer, like the return of Carlo Ancelotti to Italy as a manager of Napoli.
Serie A was the biggest spender in the summer transfer window, something that no one expected.
So without a doubt, we can finally say that Serie A is back again!
So let's take a look at some of the interesting challenges and clubs to play/manage in Football Manager 2019.
Juventus and Roma - Director of Football Challenge
There are no better clubs than Juventus and Roma for the director of football challenge in Football Manager 2019.
The reason for this are currently the two best directors of football in today's game, Fabio Paratici (Juventus) and ex Seville miracle maker, Monchi.
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| Manchester United's ‘extensive’ sporting director search counts Monchi and Fabio Paratici among most-desired targets |
So the thing about this FM19 challenge is that you leave all of your duties to your Director of Football, which will leave you with only running team training and the tactics.
Your Director of Football will be in charge of all other areas of the game, such as scouting for new players, contract renewals and incoming and outgoing transfers, and you will have to accept every decision he makes.
Also, Juventus is a great starting point if you're new to the game. With one of the best squads in FM19 and relatively easy schedule of the Serie A, it is an ideal club to get a grip of the essentials of the game.
And if you decide to go with Roma, you will be welcomed by one of the most exciting youth players in the game. Wonderkids like Ante Coric, Justin Kluivert and Cengiz Under are just some of the prospects you will manage.
The Fallen Giants
Always exciting challenge is to try and restore the old glory of the once great and famous clubs who have fallen. You can try it out with two fallen greats, AC Milan and Inter.
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| Both Javier Zanetti and Paolo Maldini have been appointed as sporting directors in the clubs they are absolute legends. |
Currently, Inter is in a somewhat better position than Milan when comparing current squads. Also with Inter, you will try out your managerial abilities in the Champions League, while AC Milan competes in the lower rank of the European club football.
With Inter and players like Mauro Icardi, Sime Vrsaljko, Samir Handanovic, etc., you could also challenge Juventus title bid in the league. But this will most certainly mean a fairly early exit from the Champions League.
On the other hand, AC Milan had done some incredible transfers this summer, especially when they grabbed Gonzalo Higuain and Caldara from Juventus for Bonucci. And if you add some young prospects like one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in the world, Gigi Donnarumma, you could easily build the Milan great in no more than few seasons.
The Parma Challenge
Parma has a special place in hearts of all Italian football fans.
Parma has long ago ravaged Italian football, and with players such as Buffon, Thuram, Crespo and Cannavaro they won some European titles along the way.
Unfortunately, four years ago the club experienced financial collapse and was sacked to Serie D.
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| Parma captain Alessandro Lucarelli stayed at Parma when they went down to Serie D and guided them back to Serie A. Leader. |
Since then, Parma has become one of the most favoured clubs among FM players, where the primary goal was to return the famous club to the top tier of Italian football.
Now that they have come back to Serie A, your task will be to try and keep this relatively modest team in the top tier, where you will be leading the main battle with the likes of Frosinone, Chievo, SPAL and Empoli.
Atalanta B.C. challenge, utilising youth academy
Another adventure awaits anyone who takes the helm of Atalanta in FM19, and I'm guessing more than a few are going to retake this challenge.
You'll get the opportunity to take control of a club that is producing the most young talents in Italy, but the problem is you will have to fight off the big dogs of the Italian football when they come in with offers for your players.
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| The Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia has one of the most intimidating atmospheres in Italy and has been a wrecking place for many a big name club. |
Franck Kessi, Andrea Conti, Mattia Caldara (AC Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Roberto Gagliardini, Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), are just some of the names that the club from Bergamo produced in the last few seasons.
They finished 4th two seasons ago, and 7th last season in Serie A, but last season they put up a great fight in Europe, only narrowly missing last 16 of the Europa League to Borussia Dortmund.
The objective with them is to keep the dream alive and again push both in Serie A (top half finish, at least) and Europa League, while trying to keep all of your youth prospects at the club.
Your star man will be Papu Gomez, while the young gun you should try and hold at the club is Musa Barrow.
Summary
Serie A is finally back, and all the parameters point that we are about to see one of the most exciting title races in decades.
Napoli, Roma, Inter and Lazio will be the leading contenders to take Juventus of the throne, while clubs like AC Milan, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Torino and Sampdoria can mess everyone's score.
There will also be a tight race among the pack that will try to hold on to the Serie A status.
So all in all, I recommend you consider Serie A as one of the saves in Football Manager 2019.
