1. Manchester United
Manchester United are the most successful club in England with a record 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, 3 UEFA Champion’s League 1 UEFA Europa League. Manchester United are also the most supported club in the world. Popularly called the “red devils” the fans are used to success and silverware. However, Man Utd have had it rough since the departure of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and have only been in the periphery in the league with no league titles over the last 7 years.
Things, however, are looking up for the club especially after the Jan transfer window with youngsters like Rashford and Martial stepping up and with the signing of talismanic midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Although Paul Pogba is unsettled at the club, a good manager can improve the cohesion within the squad and can take Man Utd to their great heights once again.
This should definitely be an exciting challenge for most FM managers, especially who are fans of the Red Devils to reinstate them to their former glory.
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2. Borussia Dortmund
The 2nd club on the list is Borussia Dortmund. The club has a rich history in German football combined with arguably one the best fan bases in the world. Dortmund is home to some of the best talents in current football. The players are a blend of youngsters and experienced campaigners making it a very balanced squad.
The club is relatively successful with 2 Bundesliga titles in the last decade alone. With a huge stadium of nearly 82,000 capacity, very loyal fans and a stable chairman the club is one of the most stable teams on this list. Beating an ageing Bayern Munich side might be an incentive in itself for managers to choose Dortmund as an exciting Challenge.
During the Jan transfer window, Dortmund acquired the services of Erling Haaland and Emre Can. Both are very exciting players in the game and considering Haaland is one of the best wonderkids in the game, it is certainly an enticing prospect to manage him.
3. RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig is a professional football club that plays their trade in the Bundesliga. The club was founded very recently in 2009 when Red Bull GmbH purchased a 5th tier German side (SSV Markranstadt). They were promoted from the 5th tier to the Bundesliga in just 8 years in a remarkable ascension for the club.
They also enjoyed a couple of unbeaten seasons along the way and came into the Bundesliga in totally dominant fashion. They also secured an immediate UEFA Champion’s league qualification after playing just 1 season in the Bundesliga. The club is also notorious for having broken the 50+1 rule that exists in German Football.
Since the Jan update, several of the Leipzig players are the subject of transfer interest from various clubs across Europe. Leipzig also have acquired the services of star attacking midfielder Dani Olmo and have taken Angelino from Man City on loan. This is certainly an entertaining challenge for any manager who is taking over who wishes to break the dominance of Bayern and Dortmund.
4. Inter Milan
Internazionale or Inter Milan are a professional football club that plays in the Serie A. They have the record of being the only Italian club to never have been relegated from the top flight. Inter has won 30 domestic trophies, including 18 league titles, 7 Coppa Italia and 5 Supercoppa Italiana. From 2006 to 2010, the club won five successive league titles, equalling the all-time record at that time. They have won the Champions League three times: two back-to-back in 1964 and 1965 and then another in 2010. Their latest win completed an unprecedented Italian seasonal treble, with Inter winning the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto the same year. The club has also won three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter’s home games are played at the San Siro stadium, which they share with local rivals A.C. Milan. The stadium is the largest in Italian football with a capacity of 80,018. Matches between A.C. Milan and Inter, known as the Derby della Madonnina, are one of the most followed derbies in football. As of 2019, Inter is the most supported team in Italy and the sixth most-supported in Europe. The club is one of the most valuable in Italian and world football.
What makes Inter exciting after the Jan update is the fact that some of their youngsters have blossomed into the most exciting football talents in the world. They have also acquired the services of Christian Eriksen from Spurs. Can you take up this exciting challenge and overcome Inter’s League drought of 4 years?
5. Sheffield United
Sheffield United are newly promoted into the Premier League. The “blades” as they are commonly referred to are a tenacious club that was established in 1888. They did have early success years, but in the PL era, they’ve had it very rough. However, a takeover in 2013 by a Saudi prince has seen the fortunes turn around at Sheffield. They got promoted from the 3 rd tier of English football in the 2016-2017 season. After another season they have made it to the top flight of English football.
Sheffield are the biggest surprise package across the leagues this season finding themselves in the 5th place of the points table before the suspension of football leagues. Having transferred the exciting Sander Berge to the club and with the new owners ready to invest to fuel the club's ambitions can you take on this challenge and take Sheffield United to great heights?