Updated version: The Best “Sleeping Giants” Challenges for FM 2027
After releasing the 5 Best European Challenges, Sul-Americanos, Non-EU and Exotic, we decided to launch another new type of challenge for your save! How about starting a career at a sleeping European giant and taking it back to the heights it reached many years ago? At the very least, you'll get a stadium named after you. (laughs)
See our picks below to start a save at a gigante adormecido and so start your career in Football Manager 2020!
RAPID BUCUREŞTI
Liga 2 (Second Division): ROMANIA
Rapid Bucareste, everyone recognises this name: one of the best known and most successful Romanian clubs (during the 20th century)! However, in the 2000s the club's then owner George Copos was charged with sports corruption, and that is when the huge decline of this Romanian institution began, until in November 2012 the club was declared insolvent.
Currently competing in the second tier, it's up to you to put this Romanian club back in the spotlight and end the years of glory CFR Cluj and Steaua Bucureşti have enjoyed since Rapid's decline. A tip? With Romania home to several Portuguese players, you have an excellent recruitment source here!
MAGDEBURG
3. Liga (Terceira Liga) - ALEMANHA
This name probably means nothing to you! However, Magdeburg is a former East German heavyweight, with even an international title in its trophy cabinet: 1 Cup Winners' Cup won in 1974.
In a city of more than 200,000 people, with a 27,500 capacity stadium and one of the most fanatical fan groups in all of Germany, take Magdeburg to the latest version of the Bundesliga and bring joy back to your fans! It won't be easy at all, since you'll have to climb 3 very competitive divisions, but it's the ideal challenge if you want to revive a sleeping giant in the lower leagues.
LEEDS UNITED
Championship (Segunda Liga) - INGLATERRA
There's no way this name will go unnoticed! With 3 titles in the Premier League and 1 final in the Champions League in its history, a serious financial crisis in the early 2000s led to the relegation and decline of this historic English club.
Currently playing in the Championship (Segunda Liga) , and having lost in the promotion play-offs last season, make this historic club a giant again and bring the titles back to Elland Road! With the stability that now exists at the club, it is the best challenge you can have in a country as competitive and packed with games as England.
KV MECHELEN
Jupiler Pro League (First Division): BELGIUM
Probably an unfamiliar name, but one with a big historic landmark in Belgian football. With 4 titles of the top league in its trophy cabinet, Mechelen were also the last Belgian club to win a European competition (European Super Cup in 1988). In the early 2000s it went through a serious financial crisis, which led to the big decline of this Belgian institution.
Despite being caught up in Match-fixingscandals, this year it managed to get back to the Primeira Liga! Without cheating (laughs), end the current dominance of Anderlecht and Club Brugge, with Standard Liège occasionally butting in, and make Mechelen one of the most successful clubs in Belgium again!
STADE DE REIMS
League 1 (First Division): FRANCE
Finally, we left a challenge you weren't expecting but that is truly exciting! Stade de Reims was one of the best and most successful French clubs between 1948 and 1962, winning in that period 6 French top flight titles as well as reaching 2 finals of a European competition , the Latin Cup, losing both to Real Madrid.
After this golden age, they went through serious financial crises, went into insolvency and started again (under another name) in the 6th Division! Currently playing in the French top flight, fill the 21,668 seats of the Stade Auguste Delaune again and bring back the golden age the club enjoyed 60 years ago.
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