15 Interesting and Challenging Teams to Manage in Football Manager 2017
It’s been known that Sports Interactive will start revealing some of the features packaged in the upcoming FM17 starting from September 2016. The Beta version of FM17 will be released in October before the full version (coming up on 4th November, 2016). However, before we welcome the new game, I will like to present the list of more interesting and challenging teams you need to manage in FM17. You may find some of these teams enlisted easier (if you’re a master) or very difficult to manage, but I believe you will find any of them really captivating.
Some people choose the team to manage because of a few reasons. Some prefer to manage the team they love most or have been a big fan of, some just like to take on the big teams which will be easier for them, while some go down the line to pick a team from the lower leagues and drive them to glory. Everyone is built differently and so are their preferences. But in case you’re still contemplating on which team to manage in FM17 save, which will keep you interested and challenged all the time, I present these fifteen teams to go for.
1) Newcastle United FC
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This English professional football club really needs a manager that can drive them out from English Championship to Premier League.
After spending almost six straight seasons in the EPL, Newcastle got relegated in 2015-16 season after very poor performances. Now they need to return back to the English top flight. They have to work harder to perform better with the few new players they signed. So, can you really take up the challenge and get them back to PL in FM17?
2) Rangers FC
This incredible Scottish club has won the Scottish Premiership 54 times, the Scottish Cup 33 times, and the Scottish League Cup 27 times, making it the club with the highest number of trophies on planet. However, the Gers were later placed in the lowest division of the Scottish football league after a liquidation process. And current owner, Sevco Scotland Ltd, was unable to secure the club a place in the top division.
Rangers started their 2012-13 in third division and have managed to secure a place in SPL after winning the 2015-16 Scottish Championship. But they now face the challenge of retaining their place in the league and retrieving the title from Celtic.
Can you conquer the odds and make these achievements in FM17?
3) AC Milan
The mighty has fallen. AC Milan, one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in Europe has been struggling to maintain a mid-table finish for 2 years now, and has failed to clinch the Seria A title since 2010.
The Rossoneri need to bounce back to its former glory. Will this be very difficult in FM17 despite a not-so-great financial status of the club? You have to try and see.
4) Middlesbrough FC
The Smoggies are currently back in the top tier of the English Football League after finishing 2nd in 2015-16 Championship. Now they face another tough challenge of staying in the PL (Premier League; now the current name of the English top division since Barclays failed to renew sponsorship contract) for next season. Though the transfer budget won’t be good enough to sign high profile players in FM17 database. But they already get a few interesting players like Negrado and Calum Chambers that can keep the team in good shape.
So if you can take up the managerial position and keep them out from relegation zone, the hot seat is available. Perhaps, the Boro can make history by lifting the PL title for the first time in history under your tactics.
5) Atletico Madrid
Since history, this fascinating Spanish club has tried its best to grab the UEFA Champions League silverware, but to no avail. They recently experienced another painful situation when they lost the 2015-16 UCL finale to their local rivals Real Madrid (for the second time in 3 years).
They have the quality of players, including the new signings they made in the summer transfer window, that are hungry for that trophy. The thing is… Can you take the job and fire them up to clinch that huge honour? Give it a try in FM17.
6) Olympic de Marseille
Los Phocéens has been out of shape since 2013. In 2015-16 Ligue 1 season, OM struggled to stay off relegation by finishing 13th; their worst Ligue 1 position in 15 years.
OM, till date, is the only French club to win the UCL title. But they now find it very difficult to qualify for Euro competitions. The club has lost its best players and its finance isn’t great. It’s going to be a big challenge for you once you occupy that hot seat.
7) CD Leganés
Managing this club will be the most difficult challenge on this list. For 87 years, this club has never played in the top flight of the Spanish Football League until this year. They finished 2nd in 2015-16 Segunda Division season and got promoted to La Liga.
With the type of squad they have and a very low transfer budget, do you think you can keep them in La Liga for at least 3 years in the upcoming game?
8) Parma Calcio 1913
Parma, being one of the most successful teams in Italy, and the fourth most successful teams in European Competition found itself in Seria D after a difficult financial situation. The bankruptcy they faced was a big blow.
However, they recently secured a place in Lega Pro – the second tier of Italian Football League. But the Crusaders still need to go back to Seria A and battle for the title. If you can get them there, pull the trigger once you get the game.
9) CA Osasuna
If your looking for a club that hasn’t won anything since its history, but still going to be interesting and very challenging to manage, Osasuna is the club. Their greatest achievements were being the runner-up of 2004-05 Copa del Rey finale and securing a 4th position in 2005-06 La Liga season.
Recently, Los Rojillos got back to the 2016-17 La Liga but they need to steer clear the bottom table. Osasuna may be a perfect save for you to create a great managerial history. It’s really going to be tough in Football Manager 2017.
10) SønderjyskE Fodbold
This Danish football club has spent 10 seasons in Danish Superliga without winning a single title. Their biggest fight so far secured a second place for them in the league. And they really need to fight harder to retrieve that title from FC Copenhagen.
So, if you find your FM managerial skill really good, take the boss hot seat and guide the team to glory. Have in mind that AaB, Brondby IF, FC Midtjylland, and FC Copenhagen will be walls of Jericho.
11) Bayer 04 Leverkusen
It’s been a surprise that this great German club, which has spent most of its history in top flight, has never lifted the Bundesliga trophy. They got close in 2000 and 2002 Bundesliga seasons, but got a bizarre miss out. Their name was jokingly changed to Neverkusen after a Treble Horror in 2002; they lost three trophies in one season.
Taking up this club in FM17 will be an exciting challenge because you need to change that Neverkusen to Everkusen. But Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Moenchengladbach, and Hertha won’t give you a breathing space.
12) Leicester City
After winning the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League trophy for the first time since 1884, the Foxes face the pressure of retaining the title. Can they do that in FM17? Or can they at least avoid the relegation zone?
You have to pick this interesting challenge and see how long you can go. As a big fan, you need to manage them and achieve a back-to-back title to set your own record.
13) Raseballsport Leipzig
This new created club has only spent 7 years in Germany. They don’t have much history. However, the club has managed to get into the 2016-17 German Bundesliga after finishing second in 2. Bundesliga.
For the first time, the Bulls now face the toughest challenge of playing in the top tier. Creating a RB Leipzig save in FM17 will at least require you to keep this club in Bundesliga irrespective of the squad and financial status. And if you can win the title for them in 3 seasons, that will be a huge record.
14) Portsmouth FC
When you talk of great English clubs disappearing out of phase, Portsmouth is one of them. Their last Premier League title was in 1950. They disappeared from the top division in 2010 and later dropped further to League One.
Currently, Pompey is now fighting in League Two; the fourth division of English football league. To get this club back to PL will be very difficult in FM17. But it’s a good test for you to try.
15) Wigan Athletic FC
Since showcasing poor performances in 2013, the Latics dropped out from EPL. They further dropped down to League One after spending one season in Championship. In 2016, Wigan got promoted to Championship after winning the third division.
Picking Wigan as your FM17 save will be tough and really challenging because you have to battle all 23 competitive teams to make it into the Premier League.
