alexparkin789
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Hello and welcome to my list of the top clubs to manage in the Iberian Region in Football Manager 2019. I'm not going to go into huge depth around the current first team squads instead I'm going to focus on some additional challenges to do whilst playing as them. So if you're stuck for a team to manage on FM read below!
Recreativo de Huelva (Spain)
The oldest club in Spain who last played in La Liga in 2008/9. Since then they have slowly slipped down the footballing pyramid and now play down in Segunda División B in the third tier of Spanish football (whilst narrowly avoiding financial ruin in the process). They currently possess a steady if unspectacular squad with defensive players Tropi and Ivan Gonzalez being the teams better players. Many of the teams better forwards are currently on loan, a problem that will have to be addressed at the end of the current season.
With a squad predicted to finish 4th, can you guide them out of the third tier of Spanish football and secure their first promotion in 13 years? One of the main things working in the clubs favour is the Great training facilities, much better than most of the other teams at this level!
Hard Mode: Return to La Liga in time for the club's 130th anniversary
After a long decade of decline, Recreativo will turn 130 in two seasons time. Can you bring back the good times by securing back to back promotions so this milestone can be celebrated in style?
Very-Hard Mode: Win the clubs first major trophy using only players from your region
Recreativo has only managed to win a solitary second division title in their long history. Can you secure a maiden title while only using players from the Andalusian region? Surely it will mean more to the local players!
Hércules CF (Spain)
Despite being able to list David Trezeguet and Mario Kempes as former players the Catalan club now plays down in Segunda División B. Predicted to finish top of the league despite having insecure finances they have the potential to grow quickly if you can balance the books effectively.
I'll be honest the only reason I included Hercules in this list is due to some of the awful records I found while researching this list. For example, they didn't win away from home in 72 consecutive league games and, in the 2010/11 season, they failed to score in 11 consecutive away games (both Spanish footballing records). I'm not sure why they historically perform so badly away from home but if you decide to manage them then you can try to banish some of these demons.
Hard Mode: Get Iraklis as a feeder team
Iraklis is Greek for Hercules and fans of both clubs have a strong bond off the pitch celebrating this fact. As manager can you make this bond stronger?
Very-Hard Mode: Go 12 consecutive away games without scoring and not get fired or relegated
Why not play the game badly for once? Break this unwanted record.
Barcelona (Spain)
Ok. Ok. I know. Barca is a very obvious choice but hear me out. Despite currently having one the best squads in world football many of the best players are now the wrong side of 30 and will need replacing. In the short term, you will be able to have a lot of fun splashing the cash attempting to rebuild the squad but you may be wondering where the real challenge comes from. Well....
It's still a reasonably strong starting position, however......
In the league, Real Madrid dominates the records for most titles (33) and consecutive titles (5) while in Europe they have won the most European Cups (13). Aim to become Barcelona's answer to Alex Ferguson and knock Real Madrid off their perch whilst wiping them out of the record books (which they currently dominate). To do this you'll have to start by winning 9 more league titles and 9 more Champions League titles but they hold many more records besides these.
Hard Mode: Only use youth team players
To add to this challenge, attempt to do all of the above while only using players from the famous La Masia academy. They already have the best facilities available in the game but can you nurture enough talent so you can succeed without buying any players?
Very-Hard Mode: Have an academy player beat Messi's career stats
Exactly as it says on the tin. Can you bring through a youth player who is better than one of the best players of all time?
CD Tenerife (Spain)
The second best team in the Canary Islands behind Las Palmas, they have never won a major trophy in their history. Predicted to finish midtable this season they have a solid base to build from and become the top team in the region.
Hard Mode: Don't sign players from the mainland
As an island team (like Santa Clara below) try and succeed in the game by not signing any Spanish players from mainland Spain!
Very-Hard Mode: Win a major trophy only signing Chinese players
In 2017 Tenerife opened a football academy over in China. To celebrate this partnership can you win a major trophy while only using academy graduates or Chinese players in the first team and win a first major trophy in the process?
Sporting CP (Portugal)
One of the biggest clubs in Portugal who also have a prolific youth academy. They are currently going through huge off-field problems. Provide some on-field success to try and bring some stability to the club using the ever impressive Portuguese regens that come through your academy. Sporting hasn't won a Champions League title........yet.
Hard Mode: Win a First ever Champions League with C.Ronaldo in the squad
It seems odd that such a historically huge club has never won the biggest prize in European football so go out there and win one. Just to ramp up the difficulty can you get to this point before Ronaldo retires AND get him on your team?
Very-Hard Mode: Find a way to get Benfica and Porto relegated
Along with Sporting, Benfica and Porto are the only other sides never to be relegated from the top flight in Portugal. Can you find a way of ******* with them enough to get them relegated and cement your place at the top of the Portuguese game?
C.D. Santa Clara (Portugal)
The only team from the Azores to ever compete in the top flight of Portuguese football and they are playing in the top flight in the 2018/19 season. Their home stadium has a capacity of over 13,000 which is about a fifth of the population of the island!
With very little in the way of facilities and a bottom of the table finish predicted, there is a lot of work to be done. Their best player is Iraqi international Osama Rashid who plays in the middle of the park but they also have a smattering of other internationals in the squad.
Hard Mode: Highest ever league position without making signings
If you are looking for a one season challenge then Santa Clara have a best-ever league finish of 14th in the Premier League. Can you beat this in your first season without making any signings?
Very-Hard Mode: Become Portugal's main team without signing players from the mainland
A little twist on the usual homegrown challenge. Only sign or develop players who were born in the Azores or Madeira and become the best team in Portugal. You will have to overthrow the traditional powerhouses (Porto, Sporting and Benfica) in the process. This should be easy...Christiano Ronaldo came from Madeira after all!
FC Santa Coloma (Andorra)
If you fancy a totally different challenge then why not try Andorran football. Santa Coloma is the most successful club in the Andorran leagues but has only ever won three games in Europe (in 34 attempts). The long-term aim here would be to improve the club in Europe and use this to develop the Andorran national team to be able to compete with much bigger nations.
As the Andorran Leagues aren't in the game by default you'll have to download a mod from steam to play there but you can find one by claassen here.
Hard Mode: Qualify for the Champions League group stages
Santa Coloma currently holds two records for Andorran clubs in Europe. They are the only team to have won a game as well as the only team to ever keep a clean sheet. Fair to say you will be starting from the very bottom in this save!
Very-Hard Mode: Win a European competition using only homegrown players
Need I say more? Huge development of the facilities is needed!
Let's be honest both of these objectives are very difficult and very long term as the Andorran League is one of the worst in Europe. It will take a lot of time to achieve either, this game won't be for the fair weather player!
Honourable Mentions
Athletic Bilbao
One of three clubs never to be relegated from La Liga which is even more impressive when you consider that they have a policy to only sign players who were born or trained in the Basque Country. Sticking to the transfer policy provides an extra challenge to trying to grow Bilbao into a major club once again with a major focus on youth development. This is a classic Football Manager challenge!
Sp Covilhã
A team based in the middle of Portugal's mountainous region currently enjoying their 9th consecutive season in the second tier, Covilha are a team punching way above their weight as they have minimal facilities or resources at the club.
They haven't played in the top division since the 1980s and a lot of work will be needed to get them promoted back there. Predicted to finish 17th in the first season your first objective will be to keep them in the league and build from there.
A good underdog story if you can develop them!
UD Ibiza
A town more famous for its nightlife than it's football UD Ibiza gained some fame with its interesting choice of third kit this season as they prepare to play in the third tier of Spanish football.
Can you bring footballing glory to the island team, building on their status as a midtable team at this level?
Thank you for reading! I hope you find these challenges a fun addition to your game if you choose to start one!
You can check out more of my work here or if you want to give any feedback then you can do so on Twitter or in the thread below.
Alex
Recreativo de Huelva (Spain)
The oldest club in Spain who last played in La Liga in 2008/9. Since then they have slowly slipped down the footballing pyramid and now play down in Segunda División B in the third tier of Spanish football (whilst narrowly avoiding financial ruin in the process). They currently possess a steady if unspectacular squad with defensive players Tropi and Ivan Gonzalez being the teams better players. Many of the teams better forwards are currently on loan, a problem that will have to be addressed at the end of the current season.
With a squad predicted to finish 4th, can you guide them out of the third tier of Spanish football and secure their first promotion in 13 years? One of the main things working in the clubs favour is the Great training facilities, much better than most of the other teams at this level!
Hard Mode: Return to La Liga in time for the club's 130th anniversary
After a long decade of decline, Recreativo will turn 130 in two seasons time. Can you bring back the good times by securing back to back promotions so this milestone can be celebrated in style?
Very-Hard Mode: Win the clubs first major trophy using only players from your region
Recreativo has only managed to win a solitary second division title in their long history. Can you secure a maiden title while only using players from the Andalusian region? Surely it will mean more to the local players!
Hércules CF (Spain)
Despite being able to list David Trezeguet and Mario Kempes as former players the Catalan club now plays down in Segunda División B. Predicted to finish top of the league despite having insecure finances they have the potential to grow quickly if you can balance the books effectively.
I'll be honest the only reason I included Hercules in this list is due to some of the awful records I found while researching this list. For example, they didn't win away from home in 72 consecutive league games and, in the 2010/11 season, they failed to score in 11 consecutive away games (both Spanish footballing records). I'm not sure why they historically perform so badly away from home but if you decide to manage them then you can try to banish some of these demons.
Hard Mode: Get Iraklis as a feeder team
Iraklis is Greek for Hercules and fans of both clubs have a strong bond off the pitch celebrating this fact. As manager can you make this bond stronger?
Very-Hard Mode: Go 12 consecutive away games without scoring and not get fired or relegated
Why not play the game badly for once? Break this unwanted record.
Barcelona (Spain)
Ok. Ok. I know. Barca is a very obvious choice but hear me out. Despite currently having one the best squads in world football many of the best players are now the wrong side of 30 and will need replacing. In the short term, you will be able to have a lot of fun splashing the cash attempting to rebuild the squad but you may be wondering where the real challenge comes from. Well....
It's still a reasonably strong starting position, however......
In the league, Real Madrid dominates the records for most titles (33) and consecutive titles (5) while in Europe they have won the most European Cups (13). Aim to become Barcelona's answer to Alex Ferguson and knock Real Madrid off their perch whilst wiping them out of the record books (which they currently dominate). To do this you'll have to start by winning 9 more league titles and 9 more Champions League titles but they hold many more records besides these.
Hard Mode: Only use youth team players
To add to this challenge, attempt to do all of the above while only using players from the famous La Masia academy. They already have the best facilities available in the game but can you nurture enough talent so you can succeed without buying any players?
Very-Hard Mode: Have an academy player beat Messi's career stats
Exactly as it says on the tin. Can you bring through a youth player who is better than one of the best players of all time?
CD Tenerife (Spain)
The second best team in the Canary Islands behind Las Palmas, they have never won a major trophy in their history. Predicted to finish midtable this season they have a solid base to build from and become the top team in the region.
Hard Mode: Don't sign players from the mainland
As an island team (like Santa Clara below) try and succeed in the game by not signing any Spanish players from mainland Spain!
Very-Hard Mode: Win a major trophy only signing Chinese players
In 2017 Tenerife opened a football academy over in China. To celebrate this partnership can you win a major trophy while only using academy graduates or Chinese players in the first team and win a first major trophy in the process?
Sporting CP (Portugal)
One of the biggest clubs in Portugal who also have a prolific youth academy. They are currently going through huge off-field problems. Provide some on-field success to try and bring some stability to the club using the ever impressive Portuguese regens that come through your academy. Sporting hasn't won a Champions League title........yet.
Hard Mode: Win a First ever Champions League with C.Ronaldo in the squad
It seems odd that such a historically huge club has never won the biggest prize in European football so go out there and win one. Just to ramp up the difficulty can you get to this point before Ronaldo retires AND get him on your team?
Very-Hard Mode: Find a way to get Benfica and Porto relegated
Along with Sporting, Benfica and Porto are the only other sides never to be relegated from the top flight in Portugal. Can you find a way of ******* with them enough to get them relegated and cement your place at the top of the Portuguese game?
C.D. Santa Clara (Portugal)
The only team from the Azores to ever compete in the top flight of Portuguese football and they are playing in the top flight in the 2018/19 season. Their home stadium has a capacity of over 13,000 which is about a fifth of the population of the island!
With very little in the way of facilities and a bottom of the table finish predicted, there is a lot of work to be done. Their best player is Iraqi international Osama Rashid who plays in the middle of the park but they also have a smattering of other internationals in the squad.
Hard Mode: Highest ever league position without making signings
If you are looking for a one season challenge then Santa Clara have a best-ever league finish of 14th in the Premier League. Can you beat this in your first season without making any signings?
Very-Hard Mode: Become Portugal's main team without signing players from the mainland
A little twist on the usual homegrown challenge. Only sign or develop players who were born in the Azores or Madeira and become the best team in Portugal. You will have to overthrow the traditional powerhouses (Porto, Sporting and Benfica) in the process. This should be easy...Christiano Ronaldo came from Madeira after all!
FC Santa Coloma (Andorra)
If you fancy a totally different challenge then why not try Andorran football. Santa Coloma is the most successful club in the Andorran leagues but has only ever won three games in Europe (in 34 attempts). The long-term aim here would be to improve the club in Europe and use this to develop the Andorran national team to be able to compete with much bigger nations.
As the Andorran Leagues aren't in the game by default you'll have to download a mod from steam to play there but you can find one by claassen here.
Hard Mode: Qualify for the Champions League group stages
Santa Coloma currently holds two records for Andorran clubs in Europe. They are the only team to have won a game as well as the only team to ever keep a clean sheet. Fair to say you will be starting from the very bottom in this save!
Very-Hard Mode: Win a European competition using only homegrown players
Need I say more? Huge development of the facilities is needed!
Let's be honest both of these objectives are very difficult and very long term as the Andorran League is one of the worst in Europe. It will take a lot of time to achieve either, this game won't be for the fair weather player!
Honourable Mentions
Athletic Bilbao
One of three clubs never to be relegated from La Liga which is even more impressive when you consider that they have a policy to only sign players who were born or trained in the Basque Country. Sticking to the transfer policy provides an extra challenge to trying to grow Bilbao into a major club once again with a major focus on youth development. This is a classic Football Manager challenge!
Sp Covilhã
A team based in the middle of Portugal's mountainous region currently enjoying their 9th consecutive season in the second tier, Covilha are a team punching way above their weight as they have minimal facilities or resources at the club.
They haven't played in the top division since the 1980s and a lot of work will be needed to get them promoted back there. Predicted to finish 17th in the first season your first objective will be to keep them in the league and build from there.
A good underdog story if you can develop them!
UD Ibiza
A town more famous for its nightlife than it's football UD Ibiza gained some fame with its interesting choice of third kit this season as they prepare to play in the third tier of Spanish football.
Can you bring footballing glory to the island team, building on their status as a midtable team at this level?
Thank you for reading! I hope you find these challenges a fun addition to your game if you choose to start one!
You can check out more of my work here or if you want to give any feedback then you can do so on Twitter or in the thread below.
Alex
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