FM27 clubs with a rich owner: sugar daddy clubs in Portugal

Some people like to take a poor club and build it up the hard way. But others prefer to have a rich owner in the background, ready to help. If you are in the second group, this article is for you. We have gathered the FM27 clubs with a rich owner, in other words, the clubs with a benefactor (the famous sugar daddy). The data comes from the FM Blog database.

In total, there are 729 clubs from 70 nations, in other words, 667 men’s and 62 women’s clubs. However, not all benefactors are the same. So first we explain the four types, and then we show every Portuguese club on the list.

The four benefactor types

In FM27, a club’s benefactor can be one of four types. Each one changes the way the money arrives:

• Foreground: the owner is front and centre and invests openly. It is the type closest to the classic sugar daddy.
• Background: the support stays behind the scenes and thinks about a long project. In other words, it helps, but it is not unlimited money.
• Underwriter: the owner covers the losses. So it works as a safety net, not as a big starting budget.
• Underwriter (Expects Returns): it also covers the losses, but expects to get the money back.

Plus, there is an important detail. These categories are separate from the club’s budget and bank balance. So a club with a benefactor does not necessarily start with a lot of money to spend.

The world top: Manchester City in front

FM Blog ranks the clubs by reputation, on a scale from 0 to 10,000. Manchester City are top, with 9150. Then come PSG (8750), Al-Hilal (7650), Newcastle (7550) and Al-Nassr (7000).

However, these clubs are already giants, so the challenge is small. So for a different save, it is worth looking at mid-sized and small clubs. And there Portugal has plenty to choose from.

The Portuguese clubs with a behind-the-scenes benefactor

No Portuguese club has the Foreground type, the most generous one. Still, eight men’s clubs have a benefactor behind the scenes (Background):

• SC Braga (6650): it is the Portuguese club with the highest reputation on the list. So it is the obvious choice to take on the big three.
• Famalicão (5900) and Rio Ave (5700): two clubs with an ambitious owner and room to grow.
• Académico de Viseu (5000): a historic club with strong backing, great if you want to bring a club back to the top.
• Lusitânia de Lourosa (4900): it plays in Liga 2, but has an owner supporting it behind the scenes.
• CD Mafra (4800) and Leça (4500): they play in Liga 3, the first in the South series and the second in the North.
• Cascais (1250): it plays in the Lisbon district league. So it is the longest challenge of all.

Underwriter: the other Portuguese clubs

Four clubs have the Underwriter type, where the owner covers the losses: FC Arouca, Atlético Malveira, Florgrade and Portalegrense. Of these, Arouca is the best known and the only one in the Liga Portugal.

The Underwriter (Expects Returns) list is the biggest. It has 12 clubs: Estoril Praia, Santa Clara, Moreirense, Casa Pia, Estrela da Amadora, Portimonense, Alverca, AFS, Torreense, Leixões, O Elvas and Alcochetense. At these clubs, the owner covers the losses, but expects the money back and does not hand you an open safe. In other words, you can take a bit more risk without sinking the club.

Finally, the list also has one Portuguese women’s team: Racing Power, also with a behind-the-scenes benefactor (Background).

Save ideas with a rich owner

With this list, there are careers for every taste. For example:

• Braga champions: take the club with the most reputation outside the big three and try to win the Liga Portugal.
• From the district league to Europe: start at Cascais and climb division by division, with the owner always by your side.
• Youth project: at Famalicão, the support is long term. So bet on youngsters and on Portuguese wonderkids.
• A historic club’s return: Académico de Viseu or Leixões give you a save full of history.

If you prefer sleeping giants, also check our FM27 sleeping giants challenges.

Our take

It is interesting to see so many Portuguese clubs with a benefactor, especially in the lower divisions. But it pays to read the type carefully before choosing. An Underwriter gives you security, but will not let you buy half of Europe. Plus, the budget is separate, so always check the club’s finances at the start. Still, Braga and Cascais look like the two most fun saves on this list, each at one extreme.

Sources

• FM27 Sugar Daddy Clubs (FM Blog)