If you're tired of the busy city life and dream about a cosier and idyllic existence in the rural countryside, this FM22 Challenge is perfect for you.
If you're tired of the busy city life and dream about a cosier and idyllic existence in the rural countryside, this FM22 Challenge is perfect for you.
Below you will find a list of 15 clubs from different countries based in towns, and even villages for some of them, with a population of at most 5k. To emulate the peacefulness of these places, the only goal for each club is to keep your job as long as you can and enjoy life.
Founded in 1922, Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza is a Polish football club based in Nieciecza, Poland, a village with a population of just 750 souls. Nicknamed Szaleni wieśniacy (The Crazy Villagers), Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza is the football club from the smallest village in history to play in a top-level European football league. In 2020-2021, they had finished as second league runners-up and won the promotion to the Ekstraklasa, for the second time in their history, after a previous 3-year stint between 2015 and 2018.
Based in Hällevik, Blekinge County, Sweden, a locality with only 813 inhabitants, the club founded in 1939 plays its home game at the multi-use Strandvallen (capacity 6,750). Mjällby played a total of eight seasons in Sweden's top football league and finished 5th in the 2020 season. Former Swedish internationals Christian Wilhelmsson and Mattias Asper began their careers at the club also retired from Mjällby in 2015.
1. Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza, Polish Ekstraklasa
Founded in 1922, Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza is a Polish football club based in Nieciecza, Poland, a village with a population of just 750 souls. Nicknamed Szaleni wieśniacy (The Crazy Villagers), Termalica Bruk-Bet Nieciecza is the football club from the smallest village in history to play in a top-level European football league. In 2020-2021, they had finished as second league runners-up and won the promotion to the Ekstraklasa, for the second time in their history, after a previous 3-year stint between 2015 and 2018.
2. Mjällby AIF, Swedish Allsvenskan
Based in Hällevik, Blekinge County, Sweden, a locality with only 813 inhabitants, the club founded in 1939 plays its home game at the multi-use Strandvallen (capacity 6,750). Mjällby played a total of eight seasons in Sweden's top football league and finished 5th in the 2020 season. Former Swedish internationals Christian Wilhelmsson and Mattias Asper began their careers at the club also retired from Mjällby in 2015.
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The club, founded in 1946, plays its home games at the Aluminij Sports Park (capacity of 600) in Kidričevo, northeastern Slovenia, a town with a population of 1,257. Nicknamed Šumari (The Foresters), the team is currently in its 5th consecutive season in the PrvaLiga, the Slovenian top division, achieving its best performance in history last season, coming in 5th and barely missing out on European qualification by just 1 point.
Puskás Akadémia is a Hungarian football team based in the village of Felcsút (population of 1688) that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I ( Hungarian top division). PAFC hosts its home games at the 3,816 all seated Pancho Aréna in Felcsút and is currently at its 8 season in the Hungarian top flight. Achieving an impressive second-place finish in the 2020-2021 season, the club's best performance so far, taking over Puskás Akadémia, will mean that you will also get to play European football in your first year (Conference League).
3. NK Aluminij, Slovenian PrvaLiga
The club, founded in 1946, plays its home games at the Aluminij Sports Park (capacity of 600) in Kidričevo, northeastern Slovenia, a town with a population of 1,257. Nicknamed Šumari (The Foresters), the team is currently in its 5th consecutive season in the PrvaLiga, the Slovenian top division, achieving its best performance in history last season, coming in 5th and barely missing out on European qualification by just 1 point.
4. Puskás Akadémia, Hungarian NB II
Puskás Akadémia is a Hungarian football team based in the village of Felcsút (population of 1688) that plays in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I ( Hungarian top division). PAFC hosts its home games at the 3,816 all seated Pancho Aréna in Felcsút and is currently at its 8 season in the Hungarian top flight. Achieving an impressive second-place finish in the 2020-2021 season, the club's best performance so far, taking over Puskás Akadémia, will mean that you will also get to play European football in your first year (Conference League).
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A Croatian football club based in the village of Bijelo Brdo (1,961 inhabitants) in eastern Slavonia. Founded in 1935 and again in 2002, NK BSK Bijelo Brdo plays in the Croatian 2. HNL after gaining promotion to the newly expanded second division in 2018. Last season the club achieved its best performance ever, the third place in the league, just 4 points behind the league champions and only promoted team, Hrvatski Dragovoljac.
ΑΟ Episkopi Football Club, short for Athlitikos Omilos Episkopis, is a Greek football club based in Episkopi, Rethymno, (population of 2,216) on the island of Crete. It was founded in 1962 and currently plays in the Greek Super League 2, the second tier of the Greek football league system. Newly promoted from the Greek Football League (3rd tier), the 2021-2022 season marks Episkopi's debut in the Greek Super League 2.
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Jammerbugt Fodbold Club is a Danish football club currently playing in the NordicBet Liga (second division). They play at Jetsmark Stadion (capacity of 6000) in Pandrup, North Jutland, a town with a population of just 2,898. The club was founded in 1973 and spent its whole history in the lower leagues of Denmark, until last season when they won the 2nd Division Group 1 (3rd tier), winning promotion to the Danish NordicBet Liga.
Associazione Calcio Renate is an Italian football club based in Renate, Lombardy, a comune with a population of 3,731. It currently plays in Serie C. To comply with Lega Pro stadium criteria, Renate is unable to host matches in its home town, instead playing at the Stadio Città di Meda in Meda (capacity of 3000). Founded in 1947, the club was admitted for the first time to the professional leagues in 2010 (third tier), maintaining this status until today. Renate managed a strong 3rd place finish last season in the Serie C Group A (North & Central West Italy), qualifying in the promotion playoffs for Serie B, but losing in the Second national round to Padova.
5. NK BSK Bijelo Brdo, Croatian 2. HNL
A Croatian football club based in the village of Bijelo Brdo (1,961 inhabitants) in eastern Slavonia. Founded in 1935 and again in 2002, NK BSK Bijelo Brdo plays in the Croatian 2. HNL after gaining promotion to the newly expanded second division in 2018. Last season the club achieved its best performance ever, the third place in the league, just 4 points behind the league champions and only promoted team, Hrvatski Dragovoljac.
6. Episkopi F.C., Greek Super League 2
ΑΟ Episkopi Football Club, short for Athlitikos Omilos Episkopis, is a Greek football club based in Episkopi, Rethymno, (population of 2,216) on the island of Crete. It was founded in 1962 and currently plays in the Greek Super League 2, the second tier of the Greek football league system. Newly promoted from the Greek Football League (3rd tier), the 2021-2022 season marks Episkopi's debut in the Greek Super League 2.
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7. Jammerbugt FC, Danish NordicBet Liga
Jammerbugt Fodbold Club is a Danish football club currently playing in the NordicBet Liga (second division). They play at Jetsmark Stadion (capacity of 6000) in Pandrup, North Jutland, a town with a population of just 2,898. The club was founded in 1973 and spent its whole history in the lower leagues of Denmark, until last season when they won the 2nd Division Group 1 (3rd tier), winning promotion to the Danish NordicBet Liga.
8. A.C. Renate, Italian Serie C
Associazione Calcio Renate is an Italian football club based in Renate, Lombardy, a comune with a population of 3,731. It currently plays in Serie C. To comply with Lega Pro stadium criteria, Renate is unable to host matches in its home town, instead playing at the Stadio Città di Meda in Meda (capacity of 3000). Founded in 1947, the club was admitted for the first time to the professional leagues in 2010 (third tier), maintaining this status until today. Renate managed a strong 3rd place finish last season in the Serie C Group A (North & Central West Italy), qualifying in the promotion playoffs for Serie B, but losing in the Second national round to Padova.
READ ALSO: FM22 Challenge - Bring First Ever Continental Success to These 4 European Countries
Moreirense Futebol Clube is a Portuguese football club based in Moreira de Cónegos, Guimarães Municipality (population of 4,853). Founded in 1938, it plays in the Primeira Liga, holding home games at Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, with a capacity for 9,000 spectators. The club has been a Primeira side for 8 consecutive seasons, achieving a best-ever sixth place in 2018-2019, which was followed by two back-to-back 8th place finish in 2020 and 2021.
Ross County is a professional football club based in Dingwall, Scotland. They play their home matches at Victoria Park in Dingwall, a town with a population of 5,491. The club currently play in the Scottish Premiership, being promoted after winning the Scottish Championship in the 2018–19 season. Nicknamed The Staggies, the club has spent most of its history in the Highland League, but becoming a top division club in 2012–13, a status which they relinquished for only one year, in 2018–19, when they were relegated to the Championship but won back promotion after one season. Ross County stayed clear of relegation in the past two seasons, finishing 10th on both occasions.
9. Moreirense F.C., Portuguese Primeira Liga
Moreirense Futebol Clube is a Portuguese football club based in Moreira de Cónegos, Guimarães Municipality (population of 4,853). Founded in 1938, it plays in the Primeira Liga, holding home games at Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, with a capacity for 9,000 spectators. The club has been a Primeira side for 8 consecutive seasons, achieving a best-ever sixth place in 2018-2019, which was followed by two back-to-back 8th place finish in 2020 and 2021.
10. Ross County F.C., Scottish Premiership
Ross County is a professional football club based in Dingwall, Scotland. They play their home matches at Victoria Park in Dingwall, a town with a population of 5,491. The club currently play in the Scottish Premiership, being promoted after winning the Scottish Championship in the 2018–19 season. Nicknamed The Staggies, the club has spent most of its history in the Highland League, but becoming a top division club in 2012–13, a status which they relinquished for only one year, in 2018–19, when they were relegated to the Championship but won back promotion after one season. Ross County stayed clear of relegation in the past two seasons, finishing 10th on both occasions.
