Off-Field – Football Manager 2021 Challenges
“We have top players and, sorry if I’m arrogant, we have a top manager.” – Jose Mourinho (Me in my bathroom mirror).
Lockdown is back this November, and so is the newest instalment of everyone’s favourite management simulator, Football Manager 2021. Despite the bleakness of the outside world this winter, Football Manager provides the perfect escapism for you to sink time into. Whether you’re a veteran of the game, or a relative newcomer, every year brings about a new fresh set of challenges and new journeys to go on. From the safety of your lockdown, you’ll be free to explore worldwide football leagues and discover hidden gems, that in 2/3 years time you’ll be claiming to have ‘discovered first’ (that’s right Haaland, I’m talking about you).
This article will cover some of my favourite Football Manager challenges for anyone starting out in the game, or for experienced players who are looking for that new save but can’t quite think where to start. Admittedly, some of these clubs/options will be more challenging and time consuming than others. But if you’re looking for that challenge, or just a little way to pass a bit of time then hopefully these ideas will spark some inspiration. So good luck in the brutal world of football management, and don’t forget to have bathroom mirror press interviews and wear your best suit for the cup final.
The Wanderer / Journeyman
The Journeyman save offers various ways to reach ‘completion’, as you aim to win everything, everywhere. No manager has managed to win the top 5 European League titles, Carlo Ancelotti has won leagues in England, Italy, France and Germany, Mourinho and Guardiola have won three and potentially could someday complete the lot. However, you could be the first. This challenge will require at least five seasons worth of game time, and may require a bit of luck with the job offers that become available, but if you can prove your worth across all five ‘big European leagues’ you could create history.
Alternatively, you could try out the ‘Pentagon Challenge’, in which you win the Continental title on each of the 5 continents. You’ll have to take on and win; The UEFA Champions League (Europe), AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), Copa Libertadores (South America) and the CONCACAF Champions League (North America) to complete this one.
The Wanderer/Journeyman could also be completed on an international stage, as you aim to win all the major International tournaments; The World Cup, European Championship, Copa America, AFCON, Asia Cup, the Nations League, and any others that I’ve missed off (I’m sure there’s a few). To do this one, you’ll need to be very organised and methodical in your planning, as these International tournaments occur every few years.
In order to complete a Journeyman challenge, it will take time and possibly some luck, as you’ll be hoping to have specific jobs becoming available. Additionally, you’ll need resilience as you aim to win everything. A true test of character but truly the most rewarding challenge to complete. Complete a Journeyman save, and you’ll for sure be wanting that on your CV.
PSG
Possibly one of the ‘easiest’ challenges on this list, PSG are quite a simple choice, almost guaranteed domestic dominators, an unbelievable squad of existing players and an apparent infinite transfer budget, you’ll have a fairly easy run for the most part.
However, the challenge with PSG comes from their European failures. Last year was the closest this side have come to claiming the Champions League trophy, and ending their European trophy drought. But the rain must come eventually, and with your help and leadership, you may finally bring the big trophy they crave so desperately to Paris and the Parc des Princes.
This will be the shortest of all challenges, as you will have just 1/2 years to win the big one, or you’re outta there. For a quick afternoon save, why not give it a go and see if Mbappe and Neymar can do the business.
AC Milan
AC Milan have had a rough last 5-10 years, with on-field difficulties and off-field issues. However, with the return of the King of Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimović last season, their fortunes have truly changed. With some excellent squad players, funds to bring in additional talent and ‘underdog’ status, Milan provide the perfect Italian challenge for Football Manager 2021, as they can aim to knock rivals Juventus of their perch, reclaim their Milan throne from Inter and recapture the European successes of previous generations.
They are truly a club that deserve to be at football’s top-table, and in both real life, and in-game this may just be about to happen. But in Football Manager 2021, you’ll need to push them over the line.
Additionally, I’d recommend doing whatever you can to convince Zlatan to play forever.
Rags To Riches
The very definition of a Football Manager challenge, a rags to riches tale of non-league to Premier League. It’s what many would describe as ‘completing’ the game, if you can climb the footballing pyramid with a non-league side all the way to the Premier League and subsequently Champions League success.
To take on this challenge, you’ll have to prepare yourself for the time contribution required to complete it, and the ability to remain loyal to your side, despite the interest from elsewhere you will receive as you climb the tables. But if you can make it through the non-league financial struggles, you’ll reach the big time and the riches and success it brings.
This challenge is possible in a variety of countries, as many European league have a similar tiered system to England, meaning you can become a legend in Spain, France or Italy. Just prepare for this to consume your life.
Manchester City
Managing Manchester City is very similar to the PSG challenge, however with the emergence of Liverpool under Klopp, there is the additional challenge of reclaiming the Premier League in 2020/2021.
As with PSG, you will be expected to immediately set about winning every trophy and every game possible, no room for slip ups. And in return for this pressure, you obviously have the unlimited ‘cheat mode activate’ budget available, enabling you to build the squad of dreams. However, I feel I should pre-warn anyone planning to sign every 5* potential player on the game immediately, you still need a strategy in order to gel a squad of big egos and immense talent. If you have 6 world class strikers fighting for 1/2 positions, you’re gonna need some incredible man-management.
In what could be quite a short challenge, probably 1/2 seasons maximum, you would be expected to reach the quadruple with this side, and win the trophy that has eluded Manchester City during their oil-fuelled years, the Champions League. Can you be the one to lead them to that big-eared trophy, and prove to Guardiola that in-fact you don’t need to bring out a completely new tactic in the biggest game of the season. Just build your dream team, win everything and keep everyone happy… sounds easy right?
Alternative: Barcelona For this challenge suggestion I felt it necessary to provide the alternative option of Barcelona. It seemed apt to mention this at this point due to the Pep link between the sides. Additionally, the challenge for both clubs is to claim, or in Barcelona’s case, re-claim, the Champions League.
With Barcelona, you will have to think more about the re-build before attempting to win the big one, you will also have the league battle with Madrid, and the inevitable pressure of winning every trophy and every game possible. Typically seen as ‘easy’ challenges, the pressure of rebuilding a side and creating a dominant legacy is tough, regardless of the seemingly infinite funds available.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are a massively unique club, and provide one of the most challenging but most refreshing career options in the game. In their over 100 year history, Bilbao have kept an unwritten policy towards their operations, only bringing in and playing with players native to the Basque region.
This is where the challenge comes in. Given the clubs unique approach to transfers and youth system, you will need to work with your youth system to ensure that the club are finding their next big stars from within their own system. You don’t have the option to bring in a huge big-money signing and instead have to put your faith in the players at your disposal and at times put trust in the young players in your club.
Add in to this, the fact that the club have never been relegated from Spain’s top-flight, and you are having to compete with some of the biggest clubs and biggest players in the world each week and you’re in for a serious challenge. This one is certainly not for the light-hearted and will appeal to the football traditionalists for sure. If making major transfers is your thing, Bilbao are not for you, but if you want to uncover the next big thing in your youth setup, then give this a go.
Take The Throne
The ‘Take the Throne’ challenge provides a lot of options, as the premise is to take control of a club side in a league that has been dominated by one side for the past few years, think PSG in France, Bayern in Germany and Celtic in Scotland.
Once you have located your throne to challenge for, you can essentially determine your difficulty level, as you could take control of the ‘runner-up’ side such as Monaco, Dortmund or Rangers, or for the real challenge you could take a relegation threatened side to the top.
By taking on this challenge, you are given a lot of freedom to choose your league, your club and your ‘difficulty’ level. Additionally, this challenge provides some serious mental reward whilst not requiring you to sink all your free-time into it. This can be undertaken in one lazy weekend, a few long lunch breaks at work or even just on the commute.
This is one of my absolute favourite ways to play the game, as it’s challenging but not impossible, allows you to explore major European leagues and doesn’t take up too much time.
Visit San Marino
The Most Serene Republic of San Marino, the microstate enclosed by Italy and the definition of footballing underdogs. Achieving their highest FIFA ranking of 118th in 1993 and currently 210th in the world, the state with a population of just 33,000 provide the ultimate Football Manager challenge, that fans of the game have been attempting for years.
In order to ‘complete’ this challenge, you must win the World Cup with the international minnows. A story which in reality would signal the end of times, however in-game it is up there with the infamous ‘conference to Premier League’ accolades. Truly not a challenge for the feint-hearted, as the World Cup only occurring once every 4 years will require some serious time and effort being put into the challenge, whilst there are requirements of the save setup to ensure the database of available players makes the challenge possible.
If you dare embark upon this challenge, I’d recommend saying goodbye to your friends, family and social life as you will need a lot of energy to sink into this save. Additionally, you may need to research the challenge in more detail, as the community forums have laid out guidance and advice for those looking to attempt this challenge.
Buona fortuna! (Good luck!)
Life Up North
Yorkshire has seen some serious difficulties on the football field in the 21st century. It’s now over 17 years since Leeds United crashed out of the UEFA Cup at home to Malaga in the third-round of the competition, and since then it’s been pretty dismal reading in footballing terms for the country’s greatest county.
But, with Sheffield United having a seriously impressive 2019/2020 Premier League campaign, Leeds United returning to the big time and even Harrogate Town reaching the League 2 for the first time in their history, things are looking up.
Because of this turn around in recent successes, what better time to find yourself a Yorkshire side and see how far you can take them. Whether that may be continuing Sheffield United’s top-flight run into European adventures, becoming the virtual Bielsa and continuing the South American legacy at Elland Road or trying your hand at recovering one of football’s most historic sides, Sheffield Wednesday, who have suffered on-field and off-field issues in recent times. Further down the tiers, you have the likes of Rotherham, a plucky underdog side stuck in the nether zone of the Championship and League 1, the aforementioned Harrogate Town embarking on a League 2 journey, or further down the league system to teams such as York City, Bradford Park Avenue or Guiseley.
The options are vast, and each Yorkshire side has their own history and mini-storyline to embark upon. So why not dive into a tremendous part of the world and try your hand at becoming your very own, King of the North!
*Comments around Yorkshire’s greatness are completely unbiased. Seriously, it’s just fucking amazing.*
Jobseeker
The final potential challenge you could try is one for the purists, due to it’s difficulty, along with the time and effort required to succeed. With this challenge, you set your game off with a manager with no coaching qualifications, no previous playing experience and starting the game unemployed. From here it’s completely down to your in-game decisions and performances as to how far you progress and succeed in the game.
Your first job is almost certain to be in the lowest division, with a club at the foot of the table, the real lowest of the low. The club have tried every possible alternative but instead will give you, a complete nobody in the football world, a shot at managing. Football Manager fans have taken this challenge on for years, with varied levels of success. Myself, well I tried this on Football Manager 2020, and went on a wild journey from Billericay Town F.C. to winning the AFCON with the Ivory Coast, arguably, my greatest success in the game. This is possibly the most rewarding and joyous way to play the game, to truly challenge yourself.
Once you’re off the mark with your first club, the choices you make from there are either personal career based decisions, or loyal to the club who gave you your big break. Do you keep applying for bigger and better jobs? Do you see how far you can take your low-league squad? Or will you keep getting sacked and stay at the bottom rung of the ladder for eternity?
Well that’s the challenge.
