Unlocking European Glory: Choosing the Right Team in Football Manager for Continental Success
Unlocking European Glory: Choosing the Right Team in Football Manager for Continental Success
There is no right or wrong way to play Football Manager. Whether you like to lead a club from the doldrums of English football right up to the Premier League or like to travel around Europe building a managerial legacy that Graham Potter would be jealous of, no one can tell you how to play the best management simulation game out there. However, if you're looking to lead a team to its first-ever European Cup and you don't want to spend an eternity trying to do so, then these four teams are the perfect place to start.
Unfortunately for fans of Madrid's 'second' team, Atletico Madrid are the least successful club in the history of the European Cup. They've already been to three finals and lost them all. They were first downed by Bayern Munich back in 1974, before losing to fierce cross-city rivals Real Madrid four decades later, despite being crowned champions of Spain just weeks prior. To make matters worse, they would once again lose to Los Blancos in the San Siro just two years later, via the dreaded penalty shootout no less.
But, hear us out. Los Rojiblancos have some of the fiercest supporters in world football, fans that maverick manager Diego Simeone has managed to successfully orchestrate into a 12th man at the Wanda Metropolitano. For years they have been built on the defensive stubbornness of the likes of Uruguayan duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, but in recent years, they have moved away from their classic rigid 4-4-2 and now play some expansive stuff.
French attacker Antoine Griezmann has arguably been the best player in La Liga across the last two years and at the age of 32, he doesn't have much time left in him if he is to bring a first-ever European Cup back to the Metropolitano. He has support from Spanish hitman Álvaro Morata while midfielders in the form of Rodrigo De Paul, Koke and Marcos Llorente serve as the perfect engine room to feed the lethal Grizou.
This year, Atleti powered into the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners, but a tricky draw against Inter Milan has seen Bovada sportsbook list them as +2500 outsiders. Can you knock off the Nerazzuri and bring the famed 'Big-Eared- trophy back to the Metropolitano?
Arsenal fans had been shouting "Wenger Out" for years, and they eventually got their wish. But The Gunners couldn't even qualify for the European Cup in their first six years without the iconic Frenchman in charge. Now, Mikel Arteta had finally got the North Londoners back on track, leading them to within a whisker of a first Premier League title in two decades as well as back to upper echelons of continental football. But now it's your chance to make things right.
With talented young players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Martin Ødegaard, there's no doubt that they have the talent to win it all. And you no longer have to be prepared to deal with some shaky defending thanks to the consistency of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Play a possession game and utilise the attacking prowess of Saka and Martinelli and a first Champions League final since Thierry Henry led the Gunners on his own to the Paris showpiece back in 2006 could be just around the corner.
If Atletico and Arsenal sound like too much work, one team that won't is Paris Saint-Germain. The mega-rich Parisians have been dominating their domestic league for years, but they haven't been able to replicate their success in Europe. They reached the UEFA Champions League final back in 2020 however, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were unable to find a way through Bayern Munich and eventually succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
Lionel Messi has since come and gone, while the aforementioned Neymar has traded the French capital for Saudi Arabia. All that remains is captain Mbappe, who has matured into the best player on the planet. At 25 years of age, he is primed and ready for his breakout moment at club level, and that means leading PSG to that elusive first-ever Champions League success. He has support from teenager Warren Zaïre-Emery, but you may very well need to access some of that all-important never-ending Qatari sports fund if you are to find the strength to get the record Ligue 1 champions over the line.
Napoli have been knocking on the door of success for years, but they were finally taken to the promised land by Walter Mazzarri last season. He led the club to their first Serie A crown since the days of Diego Maradona 30 years ago however, the club have parted ways with both him and two other managers since. Now, can you lead the Ciucciarelli to success on the continental stage?
Victor Osimhen is the star of the show. The powerful Nigerian striker scored 26 goals in 32 league games last term as he led his side to glory. Can you find a way to bring the best out of him just as Mazzari did and bring the Champions League to the streets of Naples for the first time ever?
Atletico Madrid
But, hear us out. Los Rojiblancos have some of the fiercest supporters in world football, fans that maverick manager Diego Simeone has managed to successfully orchestrate into a 12th man at the Wanda Metropolitano. For years they have been built on the defensive stubbornness of the likes of Uruguayan duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, but in recent years, they have moved away from their classic rigid 4-4-2 and now play some expansive stuff.
French attacker Antoine Griezmann has arguably been the best player in La Liga across the last two years and at the age of 32, he doesn't have much time left in him if he is to bring a first-ever European Cup back to the Metropolitano. He has support from Spanish hitman Álvaro Morata while midfielders in the form of Rodrigo De Paul, Koke and Marcos Llorente serve as the perfect engine room to feed the lethal Grizou.
This year, Atleti powered into the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners, but a tricky draw against Inter Milan has seen Bovada sportsbook list them as +2500 outsiders. Can you knock off the Nerazzuri and bring the famed 'Big-Eared- trophy back to the Metropolitano?
Arsenal
With talented young players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Martin Ødegaard, there's no doubt that they have the talent to win it all. And you no longer have to be prepared to deal with some shaky defending thanks to the consistency of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Play a possession game and utilise the attacking prowess of Saka and Martinelli and a first Champions League final since Thierry Henry led the Gunners on his own to the Paris showpiece back in 2006 could be just around the corner.
Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi has since come and gone, while the aforementioned Neymar has traded the French capital for Saudi Arabia. All that remains is captain Mbappe, who has matured into the best player on the planet. At 25 years of age, he is primed and ready for his breakout moment at club level, and that means leading PSG to that elusive first-ever Champions League success. He has support from teenager Warren Zaïre-Emery, but you may very well need to access some of that all-important never-ending Qatari sports fund if you are to find the strength to get the record Ligue 1 champions over the line.
Napoli
Victor Osimhen is the star of the show. The powerful Nigerian striker scored 26 goals in 32 league games last term as he led his side to glory. Can you find a way to bring the best out of him just as Mazzari did and bring the Champions League to the streets of Naples for the first time ever?
