TOP7-challenges-for-FM20

Football Manager 2020 is getting closer. We are a month and half away from FM20 Beta release date. If you aren’t already, buy the game now and exercise the right to play the beta version. In meantime, you can read our new article – TOP7 clubs challenges on Football Manager 2020.

Union Berlin

At the end of the 2018/19 season, Union Berlin played a play-off for promotion to Bundesliga against Stuttgart. It’s nothing unusual, the game like this is played every year. But, for Union Berlin, win in that game was the biggest succes in thier history. They have become a member of Bundesliga for the first time since the club has been founded 113 years ago. So far, they managed to win only one trophy – East Germany cup in 1968.

For a just-promoted team, Union Berlin has a good team. The defense is led by experienced Neven Subotić, and the team is made up of several other well-known Bundesliga names such as Christian Gentner, Anthony Ujah or Manuel Schmeidebach. In addition to the experienced, there also are a couple young players around whom you can build the future.

For decades, Hertha was the only one Berlin-based club in Bundesliga. From this season Berlin will finally have a city derby in the Bundesliga. The first thing you need to do is take the keys of the city into your own hands, and then only the sky is the limit.

Grasshopper Zürich

Something completely different from Union Berlin. One of the oldest clubs from Switzerland and middle Europe, and record-holder by number of national titles (27), after several decades is no longer a member of Swiss Super League. More specifically, 70 years have passed since this 133-year-old club last time played second-league football.

Grasshopper is in financial trouble for many years, winning their last title back in 2003. There is another club in the same town – ten years younger FC Zürich, currenty a member of Swiss Super League. It’s up to you to bring Grasshopper back among the best Swiss clubs and renew a 123-years-old rivality between two biggest Zürich-based football clubs. Of course, bringing the club back to the top of Switzerland is also one of the challenges.

Andorra FC

What is San Marino in Italian football, AS Monaco in French, Cardiff and Swansea in English, that is Andorra FC in Spanish football from this season. At the end of 2018, Andorra FC got a new owner. Kosmos Holding, led by Gerard Pique, has taken over a club that has been competed in Spanish football system since 1948. Still, they have competed in the lower leagues in recent years. They spent the 2018/19 season in the first league of Catalonia, what is the fifth rank of Spanish football.

During the summer 2019., due to financial troubles, CF Reus has been kicked out from Segunda Division B (Third league). Andorra FC bought that vacancy for €452k. Andorian club have already competed in Segunda Division B, last time in season 1997/98.

Prior to the takeover by Kosmos Holding, Andorra FC had finances issues and was only one point away from relegation places in Primera Catalana. The new owners payed out the debt so we can expect that they will continue to help the club in financial terms. Of course, no one should not think that they will pump money into a club like the owners of PSG or Man City do. They will provide a stable financial picture so you can implement the ideas of your sports policy in peace. Certainly an interesting challenge for Football Manager 2020.

Palermo

Palermo went through a turbulent period late last season. After playing all 36 Serie B matches, the Sicily club finished third with 63 points and were the first favorites to promotion to Serie A via play-off. But, before the play-off matches, they were relegated to Serie C due to financial problems. They appealed and their sentence was reduced to -20 points. They dropped to 11th place, outside the playoffs, but retained second league status. But then, they were too late to submit the documentation needed to compete in Serie B and were therefore relegated to Serie D, the fourth rank of Italian football league.

The team was completely changed. Only defender Andrea Accardi stayed. All other players are new and will take time to get the chemistry up to a reasonable level. Therefore, this is a great challenge for both FM managers and new Palermo leaders in RL.

Although Palermo is a very popular club in Italy and beyond, they have never won Serie A or Copa Italia. The club’s biggest success is the Italian Cup final, where they played three times, the last time in 2011.

Anzhi Makhachkala

In early 2011, the brightest period of the club from Dagestan began. Billionaire Suleyman Kerimov bought the club and began with bringing expensive players. Roberto Carlos, Samuel Eto’o, Yuri Zhirkov and Willian are among the well-known and very expensive reinforcements which have strenghten the club in the next 18 months. But, in summer 2019, Kerimov decided to reduce the team’s annual budget by two-thirds. Club’s stars leaving, and Anzhi has been relegated from Premier League at the end of the season. After only one season, they are back among the best Russian clubs. Unfortunately, at the end of the 2018/19 season, they finished at 17th place and have been relegated one again. In addition, they have not even been licensed for the second league and will compete in the third rank of Russian football from the 2019/20 season.

Similar as in Palermo’s case, the club has been abandoned by all players, with Anzhi entering the new season with players who have been members of their reserve or junior team so far. The oldest players – Magomedov, Agabalaev and Gaydarov – are only 22 years old.

Chelsea

Somehow it seems to me that there is no need to explain too much here. All football fans know what’s going on with the Blues from London. They are not allowed to buy players for a year, and this summer, their best player – Eden Hazard – left the club. A difficult year awaits Frank Lampard, but it will not be easier for those who decide to play a career with Chelsea at Football Manager.

For those who like to develop young players, this could be an ideal challenge. Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori. The oldest of these six is 21, and there are some who are not much older.

Brescia

The 2000/01 seasons Brescia played the most successful season in history. They never won any trophy but that 8th place in Serie A back in 2001 was the highest finish in Serie A in their history. It was a season when Brescia’s jersey was weard by Roberto Baggio and Andrea Pirlo. A striker with experience of playing in biggest Italian clubs and young regista, a player from the Brescia youth academy.

We have a similar situation today. Before you attack me because of comparing Baggio and Pirlo with Balotelli and Tonali, I repeat, a similar situation. Balotelli, of course, is nowhere near Baggio, but he can help Brescia in thier first season in Serie A after many years.

Tonali and Balotelli aren’t the only valuable players in Brescia. There are also striker Alfredo Donnarumma, Serie B’s top scorer last season, and experienced Serie A players – Romulo, Alessandro Matri and Daniele Dessena with a few young additions. Great mix.