“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” – Bill Shankly (Me in my bathroom mirror).

Football Manager 2022 is here, and as another year of the time-stealing game series arrives onto our laptops and consoles, many will be thinking of their first challenge to take on. With optimism and determination to take on some big challenges, we have put together our first (of several) lists of challenges you could take on in the latest edition of the game. These first 5 are very much the ‘traditional’ challenges, however are the longest and most time-consuming of the lot. We will be putting together several of these lists through the year, so as always, let us know if you have any challenges you’re trying out this year (@NextGoalWinBlog on Twitter) or let us know if you’ve taken on any of our suggestions, we’d love to hear from you.

So, let’s get going with these challenges, grab your suit and tie, iron your shirt, and do a bit of media training for those bathroom mirror interviews on cup final day, and most importantly, good luck out there!

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. The risk of getting sacked can completely throw out seasons of work, however the reward for seeing the likes f Wealdstone in the Champions League is the ultimate ‘completion’ of the game in my opinion.

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.

Journeyman/The Wanderer

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 real life CV.

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. With World Cup 2022 on the horizon, it’s highly unlikely that there will be a short term shock, meaning it will be a several year project, so potentially one to work on in the background of a club save, or get used to ‘taking holidays’.

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!)

Jobseeker

This challenge is possibly the most ‘true to life’ experience many of us could have in this simulated world of football management. 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 2021, and went on a journey from U21 manager of Russia to becoming manager of lower league Scottish sides before settling at Chorley in the National League North where I finally had success in making it to League 1 before drifting away from the save. 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.

Create A Legacy

Finally (for now), if you are looking for the arguably biggest challenge of the lot, you can look to ‘create a legacy’ by creating your own club from scratch. For those wanting a complete ‘hands on’ experience, begin everything from the very beginning and climb through the leagues. There is so much customisation available in this challenge, and whether you decide to start you club in the Vanarama National League North/South and climb through the leagues, or if you choose to add in lower division databases and even customise it to make yourself and friends/family as your starting XI, then the challenge is a big one. With at least 5 promotions to gain, and then the small task of winning the Premier League and Champions League, doing it with your own club that you built from the very outset will feel incredible. Be warned, this one will be a time stealer and it might hurt that bit more if you face the sack from your own club, however the rewards at the end of this make it worth the time and effort for sure.

I must admit that I have never actually taken this challenge on myself and utilised the ‘create a club’ feature, however FM22 might just be the year to change all that. With a bare minimum of 10 seasons to complete, this is for the fanatics, and hardcore fans, and I would strongly recommend adding in those lower league databases. This challenge could easily challenge the dreaded San Marino or Pentagon challenges for difficulty level, however if you are ready willing and able to take this on please do get in touch (@NextGoalWinBlog on Twitter) as we would love to hear about it and possibly write up something on your efforts.

Whatever challenge you take on, enjoy and good luck out there!