Football Manager is back, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it. The game’s new features and updates are sure to bring out the competitive streak in all of us. Whether it can steal some of EA FC 24’s recent thunder however remains to be seen. 

The football simulation behemoth has boasted record-breaking sales since its release under its new banner, with the game coming as the successor of the beloved FIFA franchise. 

FIFA – world football’s governing body, not the game itself – and the game’s producer EA Sports were unable to come to terms on a new rights agreement worth as much as $1bn, with the Canadian company clearly feeling that the amount quoted was far too much to pay for a four-year deal. They have pushed forward on their own and they are reaping the rewards right now. 

EA Sports has been a pioneer in the eSports space and their World Cup is now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to its winner. It has reached popularity levels previously unthought of, with platforms such as https://thunderpick.io/en/esports even allowing betting on the fixtures. While Football Manager has some way to go before it reaches those levels of popularity, it is still comfortably the best management simulation on the market today. 

With the growing list of football teams to manage, we picked a few that we think you’d definitely enjoy working with. So, without further ado, let’s see who is in dire need of your assistance on the November 6th release date. 

Chelsea 

When it comes to English Premier League powerhouses, Chelsea are right at the very top of the list. They have won the top flight no fewer than six times and they have lifted the UEFA Champions League twice in the last 11 years. They have a loyal fanbase and a squad that’s always full of talent. However, in the new version of Football Manager, the Blues will be in disarray. 

In the 18 months since his £4bn takeover from Roman Abramovich, American business mogul Todd Boehly has spent over £1bn on new players at Stamford Bridge. However, those new additions are yet to gel and the best they could manage last season was a 12th-place finish, their lowest in 27 years. With star players like N’Golo Kante, Timo Werner, and Mason Mount all leaving the club, you somehow have to find a way for their new additions to gel. 

The likes of Wesley Fofana, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Enzo Fernández are all under 23 years of age and all arrived for eye-watering fees. Add to that the talent of academy products such as new captain Reece James and defender Levi Colwill and the talent is most certainly there to lead the Blues into the future. But the club demands success now, can you blood the new generation while also picking up silverware along the way? 

Union Berlin 

Union Berlin is a club that has taken the Bundesliga by storm in recent years. Their unrivaled exceptional work ethic has led them through the divisions and to become a fan favorite. In 2018, the club had never even played in the top tier of German football but five years on, they are now dining alongside Real Madrid at the most elite dinner table in European football, the Champions League. 

Die Eisernen may not have a star-studded lineup, but they make up for that deficiency in spirit and enthusiasm. They have brought in veteran Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus on a free transfer and the 2021 European Championships winner is the perfect anchor to build a rock solid defence around. 

Kevin Volland, Robin Gosens, Brenden Aaronson, and Lucas Tousart have provide the team with an experienced spine, and with a touch of fine-tuning, you may very well be able to turn a few heads on the continental stage in your first season at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. 

AS Roma 

Third-season syndrome has most certainly struck once again for Jose Mourinho. The Special One has led Roma to back-to-back European finals, winning the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2021 before losing to Sevilla on penalties in last season’s Europa League final amidst a bucketload of controversy. 

This season though, the Giallorossi sit way down in 10th place in the Serie A table, and a change may be necessary at the Stadio Olimpico. 

The Eternal City outfit has a history that’s rich in tradition and befitting of the city they call home. As a manager, you can expect to work with a team that has a good balance of youth and experience. 

Winger Nicola Zalewski falls into the former category, while veterans such as Chris Smalling and Rui Patricio fall into the latter. Add to that a number of huge names all looking to reestablish themselves as top stars like Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, and new signing Houssem Aouar and your team is already shaping up nicely. 

The Romans haven’t lifted the Scudetto since club icon Francesco Totti was in his pomp back in 2001. Over two decades on, can you bring Serie A success back to the capital once more?