Football Manager Challenges (23/24)
Football Manager is at its best when you give yourself a mission. Whether you’re tired of easy saves or just fancy something fresh, a good challenge can breathe new life into the game. Here are five fun and tricky Football Manager 2023/2024 challenges to test your tactics, patience, and creativity. Each one comes with a recommended club, why it’s interesting, and some tips to get you started.
Sleeping Giant Revival – Leeds United (England)
The Challenge: Bring back the glory days of a fallen powerhouse.
Leeds are a club with a rich history but recent struggles, making them a prime candidate for a resurrection job. Your goal is to return them to the Premier League elite and eventually conquer Europe, something they haven’t done in decades.
Why It’s Interesting:
Leeds have passionate fans, a big stadium, and just enough resources to be dangerous, but they also need a smart rebuild to compete with England’s financial giants. Balancing the books while building a squad that can go toe-to-toe with Manchester City and Liverpool is no easy feat.
Tips to Succeed:
- Scout for young, high-potential players to grow into stars.
- Use a high-energy pressing system to suit their traditional style.
- Invest in facilities early to develop homegrown talent.
The Youth-Only Challenge – Athletic Club Bilbao (Spain)
The Challenge: Win La Liga and the Champions League using only Basque players.
Bilbao famously recruit only players from the Basque region, and in FM 23/24, that rule remains one of the most rewarding restrictions in the game.
Why It’s Interesting:
Your transfer market is incredibly limited, meaning you’ll need to master youth development and clever tactical setups to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid. Every academy graduate feels like a huge win.
Tips to Succeed:
- Pour money into youth facilities and coaching staff.
- Keep an eye on smaller Basque clubs for hidden gems.
- Be patient—success takes seasons of steady growth.
The Fallen Star – Hamburg SV (Germany)
The Challenge: Return Hamburg to Bundesliga glory.
Once a mainstay in the German top flight, Hamburg have spent years in the 2. Bundesliga. Your mission is to bring them back to the top and eventually challenge Bayern Munich for domestic dominance.
Why It’s Interesting:
The club has great infrastructure and a big fanbase but also high expectations and pressure. Balancing immediate promotion with long-term stability is a true test of squad building.
Tips to Succeed:
- Build a solid defense to survive the intense promotion race.
- Target Bundesliga-quality free transfers to get an early edge.
- Develop a long-term plan to compete financially with Bayern and Dortmund.
The Ultimate Underdog – Wrexham AFC (Wales/England)
The Challenge: Take Hollywood’s favorite underdog from the lower leagues to the Premier League and beyond.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham are everyone’s second club right now. In FM 23/24, you can ride the wave of their growing popularity and attempt to climb the English football pyramid all the way to European competition.
Why It’s Interesting:
You’ll start with a decent squad and a bit of media attention, but surviving each step up the ladder is tough. The financial gap between leagues is brutal, so smart management is key.
Tips to Succeed:
- Prioritize promotions over cup runs early on.
- Build a core of young players who can grow with the club.
- Keep an eye on free agents to stretch your budget.
The Continental Conqueror – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
The Challenge: Win the Champions League with a club outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Shakhtar are a talented side with a history of developing young players, but the gap between the Ukrainian league and Europe’s elite is huge. Lifting the Champions League trophy will require clever tactics, scouting brilliance, and some luck.
Why It’s Interesting:
You’ll dominate domestically, but breaking through in Europe forces you to build a squad that can handle PSG, Manchester City, and Bayern on a smaller budget.
Tips to Succeed:
- Use your reputation to sign talented South American youngsters.
- Focus on a strong defensive setup for European nights.
- Sell high and reinvest wisely to stay competitive.
Final Whistle
Whether you’re reviving a sleeping giant or building a dynasty from scratch, these challenges will keep you glued to your save for countless hours. Football Manager 2023/2024 is all about stories, so pick one of these adventures and create a journey that you’ll still be talking about years from now.
Which challenge will you take on first?