No Trophy: 14 Difficult Teams to Manage in FM18
Have you ever gone down the line to pick up a very low rated club to manage because you want something more tough, or maybe you’re getting bored of managing the big teams? Well, I just have some very difficult teams to manage in FM18. So if you feel you’re a superb manager in Football Manager 2018, or you feel that you want to go for something hard just to create a sensational history, pick a team on this list and roll.
On this list, the only similar thing among these teams presented is that none have any trophy in their museums. This means that they are still counting on someone to lead them to glory irrespective of their situations. As a lover of the game, can you accept the challenge and thrive? Last time I provided a list of some interesting and challenging teams to manage, but this list holds more difficult ones. Moreover, these clubs have never experienced a sensational outcome since creation. But can you make a difference?
1) NK Slaven Belupo
This club, located in Koprivnica, Croatia, was created in June 1997. It’s the first club created in Koprivnica when a group of students playing football was first called Đački nogometni klub. The known student club later acquired its official name, Slaven, in 1912, but the team later disappeared in 1926. In 1930, this club surfaced again in the Croatian Football, bearing the name HSK Koprivnica. The name ‘NK Slaven’ returned in 1958 and ‘Belupo’ was added due to sponsorship agreement.
Since history, this club has made some good impressions in the Croatian Football, including Europe. But unfortunately, they haven’t lifted any title. In FM, their honour history is empty. The best and the most recent achievements were finishing 3rd in 1. HNL 2011/2012 season and reaching the 2015/2016 Croatian League Cup finale.
2) Herfølge Boldklub Køge
Actually, this Danish football club was formed as a result of two clubs merging together. The first club known as Herfølge Boldklub was founded in 1921, while the other one named Køge Boldklub was created in 1954. Because Køge BK was facing financial difficulties, leading to its bankruptcy in February 2009, the team merged with the former in March 2009. Thus HB Køge was formed.
This team has a fairly good reputation. But they have never won any honour since 2009. Currently, the club is in NordicBet Liga.
3) Hartlepool United FC
Can you imagine a club, being 109 years of age, has never smelled any honour? That is, its museum may be empty; no trophy to be found. Not only that they haven’t won any trophy, but they literally haven’t played in the English Premier League since history.
Hartlepool United is an English club founded in 1908. The club’s best achievement came in 2005 when they finished 6th in League One, but narrowly missed promotion to the League Championship after losing to Sheffield Wednesday after extra time.
4) Hobro Idræts Klub
Just like Hartlepool, Hobro is 104 years old without any trophy. The Danish football club was formed in 1913 and are now currently playing in NordicBet Liga after they finished 12th in the 2015/2016 Danish Superliga; they got relegated. They really need a manager that can lead them to glory. Can you do that in FM18?
5) Amiens Sporting Club Football
Amiens SC, created in 1901, is a French club located at the northern part of Amiens city. From 1903 to 1914, this club acquired some honours in USFSA League (Picardie) when depicted as a non-professional football team. However, as a professional team in 2001, The Unicorns finished as runner-up in Coupe de France.
Remarkably, they finished 2nd in 2016/2017 Ligue 2, giving them the licence to play in the upcoming 2017/2018 Ligue 1. They are still hoping to wining a trophy.
6) APO Levadiakos
This Greek football club was formed when two local teams (Pallevadiaki and Trofonios) merged in 1961. Since its creation, this club has always been struggling to remain in the top tier of the Greek Football League. The team has been relegated a lot of times but always manages to get back to the Superliga, only to struggle again to survive in the top division.
Levadiakos made some improvements in 2005, which got them back to the top division; they have remained there till date, irrespective of some poor performances. But, maybe, because of their insufficient struggles, the club’s name has never been engraved on any trophy.
7) Sportclub Telstar
Telstar is also among the teams that were formed by merging of two separate teams. Stormvogels and VSV merged in Ijmuiden to form Telstar in July 1963. Taking a tour to their history, the White Lions’ best success came in 1973 when they finished 6th in Eredivisie. But from 1978 till date, the club has been in the second tier of the Holland Football League. They came close to being in Eredivisie in 1982, 1994, 2001, 2005, and 2009 but lost the promotion play-offs. Hence I think this club is going to be a frustrating one to manage.
8) FC Bourg-Péronnas
This French club was created in Bourg-en-Bressen in 1942. Since their history, they have never played in Ligue 1, but they currently play in Ligue 2 after securing a 3rd place finish in Championnat National. So if you can take up this challenge, getting them to Ligue 1 by winning the Ligue 2 trophy irrespective of the calibre of players and poor financial status, will be a huge achievement.
9) FC Emmen
Formed as an amateur football club on 25th August 1925 and previously known as BVO Emmen, FC Emmen has almost the same history of achievement with Telstar. The only difference is that Emmen has never played in Eredivisie since creation. They have reached the promotion play-offs eleven times but lost all. It’s been heart-breaking for them. In 1996, FC Emmen finished 2nd in Eerste Divisie, which has been their only best performance so far.
10) Unión Deportiva Almería
UD Almeria is the successor of the then 1971 Spanish football club named Agrupación Deportiva Almería that later dissolved in 1982. This successor, nicknamed Rojiblancos, appeared in 1989. They played in the 2007/2008 La Liga BBVA after sealing a second place finish in the currently called La Liga 1|2|3. In that season in La Liga, under the guidance of Unai Emery (the present PSG manager), Almeria secured an 8th place finish; being their best performance so far. Since then, the club has been in decline.
11) Futbolnyj Klub Krasnodar
Being among the clubs that was found in the 2000s, this Russian football club doesn’t have much history. However, it was introduced in 2007. The Bulls managed to make it to the top division of the Russian Football League in 2011. Though the team finished fifth in the Russian Football National League (the second pyramid of the Russian Football League), the promotion to the top division came as a blessing. Three teams ahead of them declined to play in the top division due to financial issues. This influenced the league organisers to replace one of them with Krasnodar.
Presently, the Black-Greens play in the Russian Premier League. They made an outstanding performance in the 2016/2017 RPL by securing a 4th place finish, but still hoping to perceive that first great moment.
12) FC Lugano
This Swiss football club first appeared in Lugano, Switzerland in 1908 but later dissolved in 2003; due to bankruptcy. In 2004 AC Lugano appeared after amalgamating with FC Malcantone Agno, which later triggered the reborn of a new FC Lugano on 4th June 2008. Nevertheless, the old Lugano won some trophies (3 Swiss Super League titles and 3 Swiss Cup trophies) but the reformed one hasn’t made that impact.
It’s going to be tough managing this club. And retrieving that league title from FC Basel is going to be difficult. But, you can give it a try. Winning the Swiss Cup will be a first step.
13) Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union, aka The U, is an American soccer team that was founded in 2010. In the same year, they got included in the American Major League Soccer because the league association needed to increase the number of teams in the league. So far, this club hasn’t been doing well in MLS. The only best achievement was being the 8th team in the final league table in 2011. If there was a second division in USA, The U would have been playing there.
14) New York City FC
Managing this one of the most recent created clubs would be very interesting. Unlike other newbies, New York City FC is rich, which means you may find them a bit easier to lead to glory.
The Pigeons, as nicknamed, was unveiled on 21st May 2013 as an expansion team of MLS, but began playing in the league in 2015. They have only played for two seasons. Therefore, they don’t have much history.
