Let's take a look on why you should start a save in the Netherlands in Football Manager 2021, and which teams to manage from Holland in FM21.
Here's why your next Football Manager 2021 save should be managing a team
in the Netherlands and teams to manage in FM21.
Domestic and European Competition
The Eredivisie is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, in the last 4 seasons there were 3 different champions. In the last season, there was no winner as the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. Ajax FC, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord FC are competing every season for the top spot in the Eredivisie. Starting a save in the Netherlands will definitely be a challenge as you will have to compete with three other clubs for the title.
After you have managed to overcome the domestic challenge, the European stage awaits as well. The last time a Dutch team has won a European trophy was back in 01/02 season when Feyenoord FC won the Europe League against Borussia Dortmund.
In the Champions League Ajax FC have managed to qualify to the Semi-Finals in
the 18/19 season but lost to Tottenham Hotspur, the last time a Dutch team has
won the Champions League was in 94/95 when Ajax FC won against AC Milan. The
European stages are certainly a big challenge for a Dutch team.
The talent that is based in the Netherlands is known to everyone, players like Virgil van Dijk, Dennis Bergkamp and Memphis Depay are just a couple names of the hundreds of the talented players that are based in The Netherlands. The Academies of Ajax FC and PSV Eindhoven are considered to be some of the leading academies in terms of producing players in the top leagues around the world.
Talent
The talent that is based in the Netherlands is known to everyone, players like Virgil van Dijk, Dennis Bergkamp and Memphis Depay are just a couple names of the hundreds of the talented players that are based in The Netherlands. The Academies of Ajax FC and PSV Eindhoven are considered to be some of the leading academies in terms of producing players in the top leagues around the world.
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Suarez, Robben and Van Dijk all played for FC Groningen |
Not only the top teams are known to have elite academies, but FC Groningen
have also produced some elite talent in the past years with players like
Virgil van Dijk and Arjen Robben coming through their youth system. Vitesse
are another team worth mentioning as they are an affiliate with Chelsea FC, so
a lot of exciting, talented players from Chelsea FC are going out on loan to
try and get minutes at Vitesse.
The number of teams that are worth trying to consider starting a save with in Football Manager 2021 is quite big. Teams like AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord FC are the big teams in the Netherlands, but if you are interested in an easier challenge, they can be a perfect choice.
Exciting Teams to Manage
The number of teams that are worth trying to consider starting a save with in Football Manager 2021 is quite big. Teams like AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord FC are the big teams in the Netherlands, but if you are interested in an easier challenge, they can be a perfect choice.
If you want a little bit more challenging options, SC Heerenveen, Vitesse
and Sparta Rotterdam have great youth systems and good squad to start with.
The second tier in the Netherlands is worth checking out too, Go Ahead
Eagles is a great option to start a save within the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
The first pick on this list is also the most obvious, Ajax. Ajax are the top dog in the Eredivisie and are easily the strongest team in the league and one of the most decorated clubs in the world. They have a whopping 34 domestic league titles, 17 domestic cups and 6 European tournament wins including 4 Champion’s League titles. Ajax also have one of the most successful football academies in the world and produce world-class footballers year after year.
AFC Ajax
The first pick on this list is also the most obvious, Ajax. Ajax are the top dog in the Eredivisie and are easily the strongest team in the league and one of the most decorated clubs in the world. They have a whopping 34 domestic league titles, 17 domestic cups and 6 European tournament wins including 4 Champion’s League titles. Ajax also have one of the most successful football academies in the world and produce world-class footballers year after year.
Challenge with Ajax
So what exactly is challenging in managing Ajax? Their last big tournament
win came in 1995 and the club have had a barren patch ever since. Although
they have gone close several times, the club has always fallen short and
are no more one of the dominant force they once were.
For FM21 managers taking over, they will be replacing Ten Haag who has been a fan favourite and has been achieving excellent results with the club. His style of football has also been a talking point and will not be very easy to replicate in Football Manager 2021.
For any FM Manager taking over PSV in Football Manager 2021, the first task would be to get out of Ajax’s shadow. The club also hasn’t won a league title for 2 years in a row and were well behind the queue ball in 2019 before the season became null and void.
The final team on the list is AZ Alkmaar. AZ who do not make one of the big 3 in Eredivisie have taken big strides in the recent years in terms of their league performance. In the 2019-2020 season which was declared null and void, AZ were level on points with Ajax and stood a real chance at giving the league title a go. AZ have won a couple of league titles with the most recent one coming in 2008-2009. They have also come as runner up in the UEFA Cup (Europa League) but are a relatively unknown name among Europe’s elite.
For any manager planning to take over AZ in Football Manager 2021, the task would be to make use of the excellent youth recruitment at AZ. Despite not being a part of the big 3 in the Eredivisie, the game rates AZ’s youth recruitment among the best in the league. AZ also have a good young squad with some players having the potential to reach the very top. With this as a starting point managers taking over need to establish AZ as a consistent performer in the Eredivisie who can compete for titles every season and slowly look to push on among the stronger teams in Europe. This will certainly be an enticing challenge for many FM veterans who enjoy winning with a team of home-grown wonderkids.
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The main challenge with Ajax in FM21 is to win major
tournaments again. |
For FM21 managers taking over, they will be replacing Ten Haag who has been a fan favourite and has been achieving excellent results with the club. His style of football has also been a talking point and will not be very easy to replicate in Football Manager 2021.
There is also the problem of Ajax becoming more of a feeder club with
plenty of stars using the club as a stepping stone to bigger clubs
across Europe. This has no doubt hampered their performances in Europe
and is one of the reasons for their title drought in the Champion’s
League. It may look straightforward, but this is certainly an exciting
challenge where veteran FM’ers can push themselves to put Ajax right at
the very top of the European pedestal.
The 2nd team on the list is PSV Eindhoven, along with Ajax and Feyenoord makes the big 3 of Dutch football. Although majorly in the shadow of Ajax, PSV are considered the 2nd most successful team from The Netherlands having won 24 Eredivisie titles. The club has played in the top tier of Dutch football ever since the league’s inception and has a famous academy that rivals Ajax in terms of quality players produced.
PSV Eindhoven
The 2nd team on the list is PSV Eindhoven, along with Ajax and Feyenoord makes the big 3 of Dutch football. Although majorly in the shadow of Ajax, PSV are considered the 2nd most successful team from The Netherlands having won 24 Eredivisie titles. The club has played in the top tier of Dutch football ever since the league’s inception and has a famous academy that rivals Ajax in terms of quality players produced.
Challenge with PSV Eindhoven
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Your challenge with PSV is to knock Ajax off their perch. |
For any FM Manager taking over PSV in Football Manager 2021, the first task would be to get out of Ajax’s shadow. The club also hasn’t won a league title for 2 years in a row and were well behind the queue ball in 2019 before the season became null and void.
The squad is also not as strong as it was a few seasons ago and the
transfers though decent are not sufficient to push Ajax just yet. The
manager can, however, depend on the academy and will need to work hard
to get PSV to overthrow Ajax and become one of the better teams in
European football.
AZ Alkmaar
The final team on the list is AZ Alkmaar. AZ who do not make one of the big 3 in Eredivisie have taken big strides in the recent years in terms of their league performance. In the 2019-2020 season which was declared null and void, AZ were level on points with Ajax and stood a real chance at giving the league title a go. AZ have won a couple of league titles with the most recent one coming in 2008-2009. They have also come as runner up in the UEFA Cup (Europa League) but are a relatively unknown name among Europe’s elite.
Challenge with AZ Alkmaar
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Use the superb youth facilities at AZ and compete for the
title. |
For any manager planning to take over AZ in Football Manager 2021, the task would be to make use of the excellent youth recruitment at AZ. Despite not being a part of the big 3 in the Eredivisie, the game rates AZ’s youth recruitment among the best in the league. AZ also have a good young squad with some players having the potential to reach the very top. With this as a starting point managers taking over need to establish AZ as a consistent performer in the Eredivisie who can compete for titles every season and slowly look to push on among the stronger teams in Europe. This will certainly be an enticing challenge for many FM veterans who enjoy winning with a team of home-grown wonderkids.
