Explore FM 2023's hidden academies! From Sochaux-Montbéliard to Banik Ostrava, nurture future football legends away from the mainstream spotlight.
Diving Deep into Football's Future Stars: From Sochaux-Montbéliard to Banik Ostrava.
While some managers thrive in the wheeling and dealing of the transfer market, others prefer the quiet, slow work of developing youngsters into superstars. For them, a solid academy below their feet is an absolute must, as there’s few things that can drive you to madness as quickly as trying to teach a bad student.
However, that comes with a caveat of its own, for top academies aren’t usually found in isolation but are usually part of big clubs, often the best in their countries; think the likes of FC Barcelona, Ajax or AC Milan. This dulls the challenge off a bit, as you already have top talent at your disposal.
Still, it needs not to be. Here are some of the picks for top academies that aren’t top clubs.
Sochaux-Montbéliard (France)
With a strong emphasis on player development, you'll have the chance to mould raw talents into footballing gems, but don’t expect to be competing for silverware in the challenging French football landscape, with PSG picking up titles consistently and the likes of Marseille, Lyon and Lille ready to grab the rest of it.
Danubio FC (Uruguay)
Still, competing isn’t easy for outside clubs in the Uruguayan league. Giants Peñarol and Nacional are by far the two most popular and successful clubs, and the economics of South American football mean you’ll have to be shrewd to win silverware.
FC Groningen (The Netherlands)
Until their recent relegation, FC Groningen were a staple of the Eredivisie, the Netherlands top tier. In that time, the club has solidified its reputation as a club that not only competes regularly but also excels in nurturing young footballing talents.
The club's youth system consistently produces skilful players who go on to excel in top European leagues. Virgil van Dijk, the Bacuna brothers and Hans Hateboer are among those to come out of the club, but undoubtedly, their most famous graduate is Arjen Robben, who won the treble with Bayern Munich.
Still, the club has a long way to go to match the likes of the big three of Dutch football: Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV.
Servette (Switzerland)
Servette FC has a storied history of youth development in Switzerland, making it an intriguing choice for Football Manager 2023. With a focus on cultivating local talents, Denis Zakaria, Philippe Senderos and Reto Ziegler are among Servette’s most famous graduates.
The club offers an ideal platform to mould players from the Swiss football scene into international stars, and they’re a storied side. However, with their last league title coming before the turn of the century, they’re now a long way off the likes of FC Basel, Young Boys and Zurich.
READ ALSO: Clubs With Best Youth Academies
Among the giants of the Czech game, Banik Ostrava stands out as a club with a strong commitment to nurturing young talents. The club's youth academy has consistently produced players who make a mark on both domestic and international stages, with their most notable alumni being former Liverpool striker Milan Baros.
Football Manager 2023 provides you with the opportunity to harness the potential of Czech youth, but you’ll have your work cut out for you in the league with Banik Ostrava, who’ve only won one title and struggle behind the likes of Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha and Viktoria Plzen.
Banik Ostrava (Czech Republic)
Football Manager 2023 provides you with the opportunity to harness the potential of Czech youth, but you’ll have your work cut out for you in the league with Banik Ostrava, who’ve only won one title and struggle behind the likes of Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha and Viktoria Plzen.
