Football Manager 2018: 10 Challenging Teams You Will Need To Use
Sleeping giants, overachieving minnows, and everything in-between.
Football Manager 2018 won't be released for at least another four months, but with the summer transfer window heating up, it's time to start thinking about the season ahead. Dedicated digital managers will already be making plans for their first few save games, and while there'll always be temptation to jump into the hot seat at Barcelona or Real Madrid, managing Messi, Neymar and co. doesn't exactly present a huge challenge.
Anyone can sign on with one of Europe's biggest clubs and coast their way to success every year. This can be fun for a season or two, but for many, FM's real joy comes from taking a less fortunate club, working around their limitations, and building them up to the same level as the aforementioned giants.
Prospering with these teams won't be easy. There'll be times when you'll want to smash your keyboard in frustration rather than hitting the space bar to continue, but your persistence will ultimately be rewarded, and the outcome should be much more satisfying than taking a shortcut to success with one of the world's richest sides.
From fallen giants to crisis-stricken underachievers, these clubs will test the full breadth of your managerial abilities.
10. Benevento
Benevento Calcio and FC Girona stand as last season’s biggest fairytale promotion stories, with both clubs set to compete in their respective country’s top division for the first time in 2017/18. Both should be fun to play as, but Girona are on the verge of being taken over by Manchester City’s parent company (City Football Group), which will likely diminish their difficulty level.
Thus, Benevento are this year’s most exciting ‘fish out of water’ challenge. They won their Serie A place with a playoff victory over fellow minnows Capri, and after 88 years slumming it in the Italian football pyramid’s lower reaches, they have a huge task ahead.
A city of just 60,000 inhabitants, they’ll have significant improvements to make this summer, with much of their squad comprised of those who served them in Italy’s third tier two seasons ago.
Benevento aren’t going to start with a big budget, and with an average attendance of just over 8,000 last season, they’ll struggle to bring further funds through the door. Star midfielder Amato Ciciretti is expected to depart for Napoli, meanwhile, and loanees George Puscas and Raman Chisbah, so crucial to last year’s promotion, have returned to their parent clubs. Good luck with this one...