Football Manager (FM) 2024 is the upcoming edition of the world’s most realistic management simulation game, offering fans an opportunity to take over the managerial reigns of their favourite clubs and lead them to glory.
Although the FM 24 official release date is still being closely guarded, we have already begun sorting out which clubs would present an intriguing managerial challenge in the coming instalment.
It can be difficult to know which team to pick when starting a new save, especially with over 120 playable leagues across the world to choose from. But that’s where we come in.
We have compiled a list of five of the most compelling teams to manage in Football Manager 24, covering clubs with complicated economic situations in the real world and those looking to rebuild their squad.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, these clubs will provide a unique and challenging experience for lovers of the beautiful game.
Barcelona (Spain – La Liga)
Barcelona are one of the best teams in Football Manager, but the Spanish juggernaut are in a bit of a pickle with their financial situation.
Managers will be tasked with working around a non-existent transfer budget, and their financial turmoil could see the club lose some of its biggest stars.
However, on the positive side, Barca still boast some of the brightest talents in world football, including the likes of Pedri and Gavi, alongside a few world-class veterans like Robert Lewandowski.
Players starting a save with Barca in FM 24 could also get the chance to coach Vitor Roque, who is one of the most talented wonderkids in the game.
However, the primary objective will be to solve the club’s financial crisis and restore them to the upper echelons of world football.
Juventus (Italy – Serie A)
Juventus are the most successful club in Italy, but the last couple of years have not been their finest, with the Serie A giants struggling on and off the pitch.
The Bianconeri squad is in dire need of quality additions across every area of the team. But their precarious financial situation means managers must make do with the default players for at least the first season.
Fixing the club’s economic dilemma means a new recruitment strategy will need to be implemented – one not based on signing players of higher reputation by spending a fortune on transfer fees and elaborate wages.
The goal would be to make Juventus the top team in Italy once again, which makes them an appealing choice for managers looking to challenge themselves in FM 24.
Paris Saint-Germain (France – Ligue 1)
Paris Saint-Germain are one of the richest clubs to manage in FM 23, with a starting transfer budget worth £71 million, and we anticipate the record-time Ligue 1 champions to maintain that figure in the new edition.
However, the French heavyweights are undergoing a massive squad overhaul, and managers looking to start a save with Les Parisien will be without seven-time Balon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Kylian Mbappe could also be missing from PSG’s FM 24 squad, with the Frenchman expected to leave the French capital this summer after refusing a contract renewal.
The silver lining for FM players is that Neymar could remain at PSG, and managers will be handed significant funds to rebuild the team around the dazzling Brazilian winger.
Chelsea (England – Premier League)
Chelsea are another club undergoing a major squad rebuild following a disastrous campaign where they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
The primary objective for managers looking to start a save with the Blues in FM 24 would be to return the club to the Champions League places, which could prove a reasonably easy task considering they will not be competing in Europe next season.
Several high-profile players, including Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante, have left the club. But on the bright side, FM players will be handed a bumper transfer budget while boasting a strong youth contingent to manage at Stamford Bridge.
Luton Town (England – Premier League)
Luton Town have completed one of the most heart-warming stories in the world of football as they get to compete in the English top flight for the first time since the 1991/92 season.
Their remarkable 10-year journey started from the fifth tier of English football in the 2013/14 campaign, and Kenilworth Road will host some of Europe’s biggest clubs next season.
Managers looking to continue Luton’s astonishing rise to prominence in FM 24 will be tasked with maintaining their top-flight status – although they will have minimal funds to work with in the debut campaign.
