Updated version: Os Melhores Desafios de “Sleeping Giants” para o FM 2027
After releasing the 5 Best European Challenges, Sul-Americanos, Non-EU, Exotic and the Gigantes Adormecidos, we decided to launch another new type of challenge for your save! How about starting a career at a historic club in a competitive league that is financially on its knees? That way you would make the most of your 'engineering' side in how you build a squad for a competitive league, given all the financial difficulties.
See our picks below to start a save and so start your career in Football Manager 2020!
BRESCIA
Serie A (First Division): ITALY
After defying all the odds last season on a tiny budget, Brescia managed to win Serie B and be promovido to the Italian top flight! This season, with an even tighter budget, they face an even bigger challenge: surviving in Serie A with the lowest budget in the league.
With two stars in the team, Mario Balotelli and Sandro Tonali , you have your main 'working capital' here to try to shine in Serie A and have a season above expectations!
MALLORCA
La Liga (Primeira Liga) - ESPANHA
After a steep fall in recent years, including relegation to the Spanish third tier, Mallorca managed to turn around this dark chapter in their history and, with back to back promotions in 2017-18 and 2018-19, they are now in La Liga, but in poor shape.
Despite the flood of signings they made in the summer, all of them were free agents, loans or small fees: none cost more than €2M. With one of the key players being wonderkid Takefusa Kubo on loan from Real Madrid, at Mallorca you will test your resource management skills to the limit, as you face no easy challenge against the financial powerhouses of Spanish football like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético.
DIJON
Ligue 1 (First Division): FRANCE
Over the last 10 years, Dijon have been the yo-yo team of France: "too good" for Ligue 2, always finishing near the top; "too weak" for Ligue 1, always finishing near the bottom of the top flight, surviving through the relegation play-off or, in some of those years, going down.
Another year with a tiny budget by Ligue 1 standards, and it is the experienced and highly rated Alfred Gomis, Didier Ndong and Bruno Ecuele Manga you will have to pin your hopes on to finally lift Dijon out of the bottom places they keep sticking to.
INVERNESS
Ladbrokes Championship (Second Division): SCOTLAND
Inverness were one of the most established clubs in the Scottish Premiership in the 21st century, even winning the Scottish Cup in 2016. However, after being relegated in 2017 and failing to return to the top flight the following year, the club has stagnated in the Scottish second tier. Having lost key players and being on shaky financial ground, they are tipped as one of the clubs that could fall further in the short term.
With Aaron Doran and Carl Tremarco , players who have been at the club for a few years, alongside experienced Premiership players like Miles Storey and James Keatings, you have a huge challenge here to bring Inverness back into the Scottish spotlight and finally create the stability the club needs.
BIRMINGHAM
Championship (Segunda Liga) - INGLATERRA
Finally, we left the highest profile case, in a country with a footballing competitiveness 'just how we like it'. Birmingham are in chaos: after being relegated from the Premier League in 2011, reckless spending without ever reaching the big goal (promotion) led last season to financial difficulties, a transfer embargo for breaking financial fair play rules and finally a 9 point deduction for misconduct.
With Ivan Šunjić and wonderkid Jude Bellingham in the squad, they are the ones you can count on to finally take Blues back to the Premier League! It is up to you to turn the page on this dark chapter in Birmingham's history.
Credits: FMBlog
