The Great San Marino Challenge & Discussion Thread

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Probably the most well known, most challenging, and most fun Football Manager challenges. It's been around for years, and in FM14 the challenge is back on! In this thread you'll see information on the challenge, what you start with, and my progress with the save!

I highly encourage you to share YOUR screenshots, videos and general progress while attempting this challenge!

Challenge Overview

San Marino are renowned for being one of the worst National Teams in the whole world. San Marino has a population over just over 30,000, and is situated near the east coast of Italy. The goal of the challenge is to develop the San Marino national team. But how do you do this?

San Marino also have a club team, which plays in the Olimpico stadium in San Marino, that has a capacity of just over 5000. The club plays in the third tier of Italy. The end goal is to develop the NT as much as you can, and to turn San Marino Football Club in to a top team in Italy.

How To Play As San Marino National Team -

By loading the default database you don't get the option to play as the San Marino NT. Here's how to do it.

1. Load up your game
2. Set your nations to Italy and as far down as Serie C 1/2
3. When choosing your database size, go to advanced
4. Under the list, add the Sammarinese players in to the database
5. When choosing your team, San Marino national team will be able to be chosen.

What you start with

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Of course, the key to improving the national team is developing your youth and bringing your promising players through your ranks and turning them in to good players for the National team.

While playing as the National Team, you will also play as San Marino, who start in Seria C1/A, which is the 3rd tier of Italy, promotion leads to Seria B, finishing last will not relegate you from Seria C.Please post any screenshots you have, of significant wins, the development of the team, or just general progress on how your save is going.

Follow My Progress On Youtube - TheFMHub - YouTube

Episode 1 [Introduction]

[video=youtube;mcB6Lc-kZq8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcB6Lc-kZq8[/video]

The goal is to keep this thread as alive as possible, so I will be posting regular updates through video and screenshot form that will track my progress on the challenge.

My Links


Youtube - TheFMHub - YouTube
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/fmhub
 
Just to kick off the first thread without including too much in the introduction, here's the 2nd and 3rd episode I have uploaded so far! 2nd episode is a much watch if you're interested in this series!

[video=youtube;PE7BThmaEeE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE7BThmaEeE[/video]
[video=youtube;s7yiGXRM0CE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7yiGXRM0CE[/video]
 
Was waiting for this thread!! I've already started the challenge around the time the game came out. Currently in my 3rd season and in the serie a, doing very well with such an average side. Some screenshots of my progress so far underneath. Had some recent big results vs Inter and Roma (in the cup). Will keep you updated of my progress, obviously a long way to go until I start producing San Marinese players but the way I'm going about this is get my team to the top of the game first whilst improving my training youth and stadium facilities then worry about creating players to win the world cup. Think it'll take longer but I like the idea that I'll have built the football club to the top from the bottom.

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Was waiting for this thread!! I've already started the challenge around the time the game came out. Currently in my 3rd season and in the serie a, doing very well with such an average side. Some screenshots of my progress so far underneath. Had some recent big results vs Inter and Roma (in the cup). Will keep you updated of my progress, obviously a long way to go until I start producing San Marinese players but the way I'm going about this is get my team to the top of the game first whilst improving my training youth and stadium facilities then worry about creating players to win the world cup. Think it'll take longer but I like the idea that I'll have built the football club to the top from the bottom.

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Looks very good! How did you go about sorting out your debt? I'm going to end up the season with about -?1m in the bank and I've only signed loan players really. Hoping that it will sort itself out but I'm not sure. Very impressive that you got to Seria A so fast, I think it will take quite a few seasons for me to get there!
 
Looks very good! How did you go about sorting out your debt? I'm going to end up the season with about -?1m in the bank and I've only signed loan players really. Hoping that it will sort itself out but I'm not sure. Very impressive that you got to Seria A so fast, I think it will take quite a few seasons for me to get there!

Loan signings is definitely the way forwards! Most of my team were loan signings in the serie c. I decided it was better than having contractual commitments to players who were not good enough in the event I got promotion. I replaced (by mainly releasing so it cost me money) my current players with better loan signings. Took them a month or 2 to start gelling but went on really good runs after that. If you get promotion you will have no problem at all with debt, the money in the serie b is much greater than you are spending when you go up. I was on minus almost 2 million when my 1st season ended but that quickly became positive after promotion. 2nd season, again loan signings, was doing very average until mid way through the season when I managed to sign some very good free transfer players since they couldnt find clubs of their own they lowered demands. So a good run in the 2nd season took me to the final day level on points with 2nd but in 3rd and 8 points clear of 4th. The rules in serie b are weird, I need to be over 9 points ahead of 4th to get automatic promotion from 3rd place otherwise I go into a playoff with 3 teams below. 4th won on the final day, so did I, 2nd didn't, so I got promoted on what was a fantastically exciting final day of the 2nd season! Just hit a bad patch of form after 2 extra time Italian Cup games in the serie a. Have you noticed a month break after the transfer window by the way? Every season I play at the very start of feb and very end of the month, that doesn't happen in real I don't think. Fixtures absolutely pile up before the break and it's annoying!
 
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Missed out on a champions league spot by 1 point... all those millions I could've had. Came down to playing Napoli on the final day, I had no chance! Lost 3-0! On a brighter side, building a new 21,500 seater stadium! Was selling out in the current stadium. Loan payments only 235k a month, so not too bad and money will be made back on ticket sales easily by increasing capacity 4 fold.
 
think you misspelled the title thread as you obviously meant the BETA San Marino challenge and discussion thread?

of course I did not invent it (played it since CM 2003-04 though) but I introduced http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/fm-challenges/59384-great-san-marino-challenge-discussion-thread.html as a challenge on FM-base a few years ago and I'm planning to set it up again for FM14 after the official release! I mean, the 'challenges' section isn't even open on this site...

I wish you good luck with the challenge and hopefully you'll have lots of success, though I'm not sure I understand why you'd want to 'steal' this challenge here, using 'my' typical title thread and even most of the sentences of my original thread... might have included the mini-challenges as well! not cool!
 
think you misspelled the title thread as you obviously meant the BETA San Marino challenge and discussion thread?

of course I did not invent it (played it since CM 2003-04 though) but I introduced http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/fm-challenges/59384-great-san-marino-challenge-discussion-thread.html as a challenge on FM-base a few years ago and I'm planning to set it up again for FM14 after the official release! I mean, the 'challenges' section isn't even open on this site...

I wish you good luck with the challenge and hopefully you'll have lots of success, though I'm not sure I understand why you'd want to 'steal' this challenge here, using 'my' typical title thread and even most of the sentences of my original thread... might have included the mini-challenges as well! not cool!

he can play what he wants obviously but a bit of respect to the peeps who made the challenge wouldnt go amiss methinks. When someone makes a Bilbao story I get mentioned about 80% of the time and the peeps who try it usually PM me for hints and tips.

I remember when I started my original Bilbao save with Aitor Herrera in it I found someone had started a youtube channel with the exact same name, signed the same players and used my tactics without even mentioning me even though he was blatantly copying me and that ****** me off!!!

Anywho its neither here nor there really. Lets hope he stays the course and doesnt give up after a few seasons. I couldnt hack it myself and I love a long term save based around youth development!!
 
he can play what he wants obviously but a bit of respect to the peeps who made the challenge wouldnt go amiss methinks. When someone makes a Bilbao story I get mentioned about 80% of the time and the peeps who try it usually PM me for hints and tips.

I remember when I started my original Bilbao save with Aitor Herrera in it I found someone had started a youtube channel with the exact same name, signed the same players and used my tactics without even mentioning me even though he was blatantly copying me and that ****** me off!!!

Anywho its neither here nor there really. Lets hope he stays the course and doesnt give up after a few seasons. I couldnt hack it myself and I love a long term save based around youth development!!

of course anyone can play what they want, I'm glad if OP can start a youtube channel and a story thread on this site as I want the SM challenge to be popular and I like to think that in a (very) little way I have helped this process! I don't even need credit!

I have not invented the SM challenge, I created a specific thread on FM base (which was missing at the time despite a number of stories/questions) as there seemed to be a bit of interest and maybe I helped spreading that interest in last years (I have to say those thread proved to be quite popular actually :)). I find it strange to use my typical 'great' title thread, on the very site I introduced the challenge, esp since FM14 hasn't even been released and challenges section is not open yet... kandersson is still in the house (H)
 
Breakthrough! 2017 youth intakes with San Marino, got a San Marinese player with 4 and a half star potential to become a star in the serie a! My upgraded youth system is beginning to deliver! An update, in quarter finals of UEFA cup and 4th in the league, on course for a champions league spot as italy has regained their 4th champions league spot again on my game. ( sitting 9 points ahead of 5th and 7 behind 1st).
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Just had a massive result. Lost 1st leg UEFA cup 1-0 after an early red card... but return leg at home won 5-0 after extra time, so 1-0 at 90 minutes, and another 4 goals in extra time! Now I'm in the final of the UEFA cup! Could win my first trophy with San Marino!

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what tactics are you using? they must be good?

theyre alright. i made some popular tactics a few fms ago for this site but ive stopped posting. my tactics evolve to suit my players now.. im playing a 433 41221 with 2 wingers and 1 dm right now with heavy player instructions and team instructions.
 
Episode 4 is uploaded! Been reading through the progress of people and very impressed. I'm going to upload some screenshots later!

[video=youtube;Pv9B7r0NNt4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv9B7r0NNt4&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
Got into the champions league group stage - drew chelsea and porto and feynoord, very tough! Also non-domestic shirt sales of 111! Worldwide baby!
 
Won the UEFA cup last season. Little update on my game, apart from losing European super cup to Barcelona 2-1, I'm completely unbeaten this season entering March. 5 draws and 1 win in my champions league group, still progressed. Just played the first KO round, won 2-1 vs PSG in the first game at my new stadium, a 21500 seater. Totally sold out. Club is now worth ?105m, which I think is very good going! Currently top of the league 1 game in hand and 3 points ahead of Juventus. Both of us in amazingly fine form. Don't know how I am doing so well. Spent a net ?30m this season, ?15m last season, ?7m season before that and ?0 the two seasons before that.

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San Marino Episode 5, looking at my transfers!

[video=youtube;IX6Bezs3-wY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX6Bezs3-wY[/video]
 
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