Are you looking for a new save this summer? We’ve put together a list of exciting challenges for both beginners and advanced players that will keep you engaged and addicted while waiting for Football Manager 2025.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a rookie eager to test your managerial skills, we’ve got something that will spark your interest. Each of these challenges has been carefully selected based on last year’s performances to ensure a thrilling and realistic experience. From turning underdogs into champions to navigating financial crises, these scenarios offer unique opportunities that will test your strategic thinking and football knowledge.
You will find a mix of promoted and relegated clubs from the 2023-24 season, as well as a few clubs in a dire need of a revival ahead of 2024-25 season. If you want to play with any of these clubs in the correct leagues for 2024-25 season, check out the Passion4FM Football Manager 2024-25 League Update Database which sorts the correct divisions and leagues for over 20 nations in FM24 – meaning you can play FM24 as if it was FM25 already!
So, grab your tactics board and let’s explore our pick of 11 Football Manager 2024 summer save ideas.
Find more suggestions on teams to manage for the summer of 2024 as I bring you 5 different summer save ideas! Head on over to FMNatics’ YouTube Channel for more exciting challenges to try!
Table of Contents
11 Clubs to Manage Before FM25 Release
Ajax – Dutch Eredivisie
After making it to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, Ajax has missed the last two editions of the most important tournament in European football. Last season, Ajax finished 5th in the Eredivisie, which means they will only participate in the qualification stages of the UEFA Europa League next year. A particularly painful highlight of the season was a humiliating 6-0 loss to their fierce rivals Feyenoord, marking the worst defeat in 97 years.
Ajax has struggled to find the right manager and Director of Football following the departures of Erik ten Hag and Marc Overmars. While the club is financially stable, with a budget of $35 million, this is relatively modest compared to the $110 million recently spent on signings. Most of the payroll is already committed, meaning you will likely need to sell some players and rebuild the squad wisely. This challenge requires sharp financial management and astute transfer market dealings.
To save Ajax, you’ll need to employ a strategy that balances financial prudence with tactical innovation. Ajax is renowned for having one of the best youth academies in the world. The club has produced countless world-class talents over the years, and this tradition continues. Among the bright prospects is Jorrel Hato, considered one of the hottest football talents. Additionally, experienced players like Steven Bergwijn and Jordan Henderson provide a solid backbone for the squad.
Ajax’s recent downturn presents a unique and challenging opportunity for a fun save. Can you navigate the pressures of managing a top club, rebuild the squad, and restore Ajax to their rightful place among Europe’s elite? For those looking to increase the difficulty, consider utilizing players exclusively from the Ajax Youth system. This approach not only honors the club’s philosophy but also provides a rewarding and authentic experience.
Stadium: Johan Cruyff Arena (55,885)
Tamworth FC – English Vanarama National League
After back to back promotions, Tamworth FC is back to the Vanarama National League after a 10 year hiatus! Move back to 2022 and the club was still competing in the Southern League Premier Division Central which is on the 7th level of the English football league pyramid.
However, after winning promotions from the Southern League to the Vanarama North on goal difference in 2022-23 season, it was the start of a new era at the club! Entering the 2023-24 season with the expectation to establish themselves on that level, they remarkably won promotion by finishing 1st in the Vanarama National League North 8 points ahead of Scunthorpe United on 2nd place – making this exiciting time for any Lambs fans.
Based 23km north-east of Birmingham in the county of Staffordshire, Tamworth is based on the outskirt of a West-Midlands footballing center with Derby, Leicester, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham in close distance to their existance – something that you could take advantage of in Football Manager if you’re embarking on a zero to hero challenge with Tamworth FC for 2024-25 season.
Formed in 1933 and owned by Bob Andrews since 1984 when a consortium of local businessmen tried to rescue the club, Tamworth FC has gone from being a club with only a first team to embracing grass root football and try to develop local kids into future Tamworth FC players with their improvements to their Academy which now features 400 boys and girls according to an interview with Bob Andrews in the Tamworth Herald in April 2024, right after they secured their back-to-back promotion.
When entering the Vanarama National League, Tamworth’s squad is among the most experienced with an average age of 27.5 before any summer signings and transfer movements have been made – meaning it might be a great choice for anyone who enjoys squad building and build-upon the last two years success to hunt for further glories in the English football league. Perhaps you’ll be able to continue their promotion success with an incredible consecutive promotions to League Two?
Stadium: The Lamb Ground (4963)
READ MORE | Football Manager 2025 Features We Want
Marbella FC – Spanish Primera Federacion
With the summer approaching, everyone’s desire is to head to the beach for some sun and enjoy the beach. Many will probably look to the Spanish south coast for their vacation.
However, for the new manager of Marbella FC, partying and tanning shouldn’t be first on his mind, and hopefully the players can stay away from all the temptations.
Situated 60km away from Malaga, Marbella FC could be a wonderful vacation save as you take your laptop to the beach!
Founded in 1997, the club has experienced promotion from the fifth tier of the Spanish league system to Primera Federacion in under 2 years. With two consecutive promotions, they are one of the rising clubs in Spanish football. Owned by a Chinese investor, and currently being managed by 33 year-old Fran Beltrán, who were manager of Real Madrid U18 before taking the position as head coach of Marbella FC before 2023/24 season.
The club is starting to get a great foundation in place to establish themselves on the third level. A few days ago, it was reported that former Real Madrid legend Casemiro has joined the club’s board as a new shareholder.
According to Casemiro’s decision to join the club as a new director, he said; “it is an honour for me to join Marbella Football Club because my biggest motivation is the spectacular possibilities for growth of the club. […] together we will dream big to take Marbella to the top, but now we have to enjoy our wonderful promotion to Primera Federacion.”
As a newly promoted Primera Federacion team for 2024-25 season, the minor lower-league club Marbella FC will come up against Ibiza, Andorra, Recreativo, Real Madrid Castilla and other top spanish clubs’ B-Teams.
Can you realize the dream of making Marbella FC into a top club and compete for the club’s first La Liga trophy? Marbella FC could be the ideal Football Manager 2024 summer save idea as you await on news about FM25 release!
Stadium: Dama de Noche (1500)
Belenenses – Portuguese Liga 3
Founded in 1919, Belenenses is one of the oldest Portuguese clubs. Along with Boavista, it is the only club to ever win the Portuguese League besides Benfica, Sporting, and Porto. But it happened a long time ago: 1945-1946. During their golden era, Belenenses was known for their attacking prowess and strong defensive play, boasting some of the best talents in Portuguese football.
In the modern era, Belenenses experienced a resurgence when they qualified for the UEFA Europa League in the 2015-2016 season, showcasing their ability to compete on a European level. However, in 2017, just two years before its 100th anniversary, a significant upheaval occurred. The club split from its parent entity, a privately owned company (Belenenses SAD), due to disputes over management and ownership. As a result, the original club had to start over from the bottom of the Portuguese football pyramid as an amateur club in the regional leagues of Lisbon. Despite this setback, Belenenses retained its historic Estádio do Restelo and its loyal fan base, who continued to support the team passionately.
Since then, Belenenses has shown remarkable resilience and determination, steadily climbing the ranks of Portuguese football. They managed to ascend from the regional leagues back to the second division, demonstrating their enduring spirit and the strength of their community support. However, the 2023-2024 season brought another challenge as the team faced relegation from the second division.
Can you revitalize this historic club to its former glory while navigating the complexities of financial constraints? This is a great option if you are looking for a rebuild save.
Stadium: Estádio do Restelo (19,980)
Bologna – Italian Serie A
Bologna emerged as one of the greatest stories of European football in 2024. Under the helm of Thiago Motta and his bold 2-7-2 tactic, the club soared to a remarkable 5th place finish in Serie A, securing a spot in the Champions League for the first time since the 1960s. This historic achievement revived memories of Bologna’s golden era when the club was a dominant force in Italian football. Between the 1920s and 1960s, Bologna won seven Serie A titles, establishing itself as one of Italy’s premier teams.
However, the likely departure of Thiago Motta to Juventus will leave Bologna in need of a new coach. Taking the reins at Bologna means not only continuing the recent success but also building on the club’s rich heritage. The opportunity to guide Bologna back to domestic glory and cement their place among Europe’s elite is enticing for any manager. The squad boasts great talents such as Joshua Zirkzee, Lewis Ferguson, and Jesper Karlsson, each capable of making significant contributions on the European stage.
Bologna’s recent success and storied history make them a fascinating project.
Can you navigate the pressures of Serie A and European football to restore Bologna to their former glory? Ready to crank up the difficulty? Emulate Thiago Motta’s daring 2-7-2 formation for an added challenge.
Stadium: Renato Dall’Ara Stadium (38,279)
RFC Liège, Belgian Challenger Pro League
The first league in Belgian football was held in 1895–96 with seven teams, including Antwerp (2022-2023 Champions) and the winner FC Liégeois. The club, commonly known as RFC Liège, currently plays in the Challenger Pro League, the second division of Belgian football.
Besides being the first champion, RFC Liège is also known for a couple of interesting facts:
- the ‘philosophy’ of the club is based on the integration of local young players
- fostering popular and faithful support
- the historic Bosman Rule.
Jean-Marc Bosman was a player for RFC Liège whose contract had expired in 1990. He wanted to change teams and move to Dunkerque, a French club. However, Dunkerque refused to meet his Belgian club’s transfer fee demand, so Liège refused to release Bosman. Bosman went to court and won. The ruling allowed professional football players in the EU to move freely to another club at the end of their term of contract with their present team. This landmark decision, known as the Bosman Rule, revolutionized football transfers and is the reason why we can now sign free agents.
Last season, RFC Liège finished in 7th, thus not qualifying for the Pro League. RFC Liège’s rich history and unique challenges present a rewarding opportunity.
Can you navigate the complexities of managing a historic club, rebuild the squad, and restore RFC Liège to its rightful place in Belgian football? How about making it even hearder by only signing free agents (Bosman ruling) and using your youth players?
Stadium: Stade de Rocourt (8,000)
Puskas Akademia – Hungarian NB1
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Scoring 806 goals in 793 official games during his career, he is the seventh top goal scorer in football history. In October 2009, FIFA announced the introduction of the FIFA Puskás Award, awarded to the player who has scored the “most beautiful goal” over the past year.
Puskás Akadémia is a football club that competes in the top flight of Hungarian football. Founded in 2005, the club is based in Felcsút, Hungary, a village dating back to the 13th century with 1,688 inhabitants and a stadium capable of hosting nearly 4,000 people. Last season, they finished in 3rd place and will compete in the Europa Conference League. Despite their recent success, Puskás Akadémia has never won the Hungarian League, which is dominated by Ferencváros, the team from Budapest that has won the league 34 times.
Taking on the challenge of managing Puskás Akadémia involves more than just tactical acumen. It requires strategic vision and a commitment to developing homegrown talent. The club has invested heavily in its youth academy, reflecting the legacy of its namesake, Ferenc Puskás, and the Hungarian tradition of nurturing football talent.
Can you lead Puskás Akadémia to its first-ever Hungarian league title and establish dominance over Ferencváros? Transforming a small village club into a football powerhouse is no small feat. Do you have what it takes to realize this dream? For an added challenge, rely exclusively on players developed within Puskás Akadémia’s youth academy.
Vitesse – Dutch Keuken Kampion Divisie
After 35 years in the Dutch Eredivisie, it’s an emotional farewell to the top flight for Vitesse Arnheim. After receiving an 18-point deduction because of breaches of their licencing conditions, one of the classic Dutch teams is in position to loose their professional licence, meaning the club might start in the bottom tier of the Dutch league and work their way up.
However, to prove that they are financial sustainable, Vitesse has started a crowdfunding campaign where current and former players and loanees has helped to raise more funds.
The ties to the former Chelsea owner, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has now put the club in a financial crises. From being a club that has been well-known for their youth development and being a stepping-stone for Chelsea graduates, it’s a dark cloud looming over the Dutch club.
Founded in 1892, SBV Vitesse Arnhem is currently the second oldest football club still existing in the Netherlands but has never won the Eredivise yet! In fact, it’s now 110 years since they finished runner-ups.
The only major honour to speak of in Vitesse’s club history is winning the TOTO KNVB Beker trophy 2016-17.
Throughout the history, Vitesse has always been one of the leading clubs in the Netherlands for developing (home grown) talents. Over the year, world-class players like Martin Ødegaard, Wilfried Bony, Philip Cocu, Robin Gosens, Mason Mount and Nemanja Matic has all been walking through the gates of the GelreDome. However, two of their greatest icons might be former Dutch National team player John van den Brom, who played at the club first between 1986-93 and then from 1996 to 2001, or striker Roy Makaay, who later scored 78 goals in 128 appearances for Bayern Munich.
Now, the current squad features a mix of potential wonderkids and experienced players.
Brighton’s Kacper Kozlowski and Adrian Mazilu, AZ’s Mexx Meerdink and PSV’s Fodé Fofana will probably all be gone by 2024-25 season meaning they have to rely on Mats Egbring and Andy Visser to rebuild the club from the ashes.
Managing Vitesse Arnheim on Football Manager 2024 could be a wonderful youth development save ahead of FM25 release! Can you rebuild the club and take them out of their financial chaos?
Le Mans, French National 1
Run since 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance-focused sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious races.
Le Mans is also home to Le Mans FC, a French football club established in 1985 that plays in the National 1 (Third Division) of French football. The club’s stadium, the MMArena, is located inside the Circuit de la Sarthe, the home of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Despite being overshadowed by the illustrious racing event, Le Mans FC has its own unique charm and potential. While the club has yet to win any major trophies, it offers an exciting challenge for a new save. Last season, the team finished 5th in National 1, demonstrating potential but still falling short of promotion. The challenge is to turn Le Mans into a city known not only for racing but also for football achievements. One of the key elements missing in the game is a fierce rivalry. To spice up your save, consider creating a rivalry with a nearby club. Châteauroux, for instance, is relatively close and also competes in the lower tiers of French football. Developing a narrative around this rivalry can add an extra layer of excitement and competition to your journey.
Le Mans FC faces significant financial challenges. With no transfer budget and a fully committed payroll, you’ll need to rely heavily on free transfers, youth development, and smart loan deals. This limitation will test your managerial skills and your ability to scout and develop talent effectively.
With careful planning, strategic thinking, and a bit of luck, you can transform Le Mans FC into a formidable force in French football and bring pride to a city already renowned for its racing and passion.
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Freiburg, German Bundesliga
SC Freiburg is a German club located in the picturesque city of Freiburg. The club was founded in 1904 and has a rich history, although it has never won any major football titles. Freiburg is known for its stability and long-term vision, best exemplified by the tenure of Volker Finke, who managed the club for an impressive 16 years from 1991 to 2007. Under Finke’s guidance, Freiburg experienced significant growth, becoming a respected team in German football.
Another notable figure in the club’s history is Joachim Löw, the former coach of the German national team. Löw is the club’s second-highest all-time leading scorer, with 81 goals to his name, showcasing his impact as a player before his illustrious managerial career.
Last season, SC Freiburg finished 10th in the Bundesliga, which means there will be no European soccer next season. This presents a perfect opportunity for you to take on the challenge of managing the club and pushing it to new heights.
The club boasts superb training facilities and a good youth system, providing a solid foundation for developing future stars. However, financial constraints mean you’ll need to be shrewd in the transfer market and make the most of your resources.
An intriguing aspect of this challenge could be bringing Joachim Löw back from retirement. Imagine having him as your Director of Football or assistant coach, adding his vast experience and tactical knowledge to your backroom staff. This could be the boost you need to elevate SC Freiburg to new levels of success.
Can you surpass Volker Finke’s legacy and bring unprecedented success to Freiburg? Take on the reins of SC Freiburg and embark on a journey to build on the club’s proud history, nurture young talent, and strive for glory in the Bundesliga.
Stranrear FC – Scottish League Two
It was a dramatic season finale for one of the world’s oldest football clubs at the end of 2023-24 season. After only scoring 38 goals in 36 matches, Stranrear FC finished at the bottom of the Scottish League Two, meaning they had to secure their position in the professional leagues of Scotland through a relegation play off match.
After beating East Kilbride 5-3 on aggregate, Stranraer secured their place in the League Two for 24/25 season but the outlook if they failed to win that match would be catastrophic – a risk of falling out of the league system for the first time in the club’s history.
Founded in 1870, Stranrear FC is the third oldest football club in Scotland and described as the 20th oldest football club in the world.
After finishing at a record high second place in League One 2014/15, this historic football club has been on a downward spiral for the last 10-20 years. In fact the club has found themselves on the third or fourth level of the Scottish pyramid throughout the last decade, resulting in the attendance and income diminish despite of having the same sponsorship agreement with Stena Line for the past 35 seasons!
Having one of the youngest squads within the League Two and an average attendance of 399 spectators coming to Stair Park, the club finances makes investing in players nearly impossible – resulting in the future looking dark.
The trophy cabinet of Stranrear is far from major. By only winning the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1996, finishing as runner-ups in 2014/15 when they managed a draw against Glasgow Rangers stands as their best achievement in the modern era of the club.
Managing Stranrear FC on Football Manager 2024/25 gives you the opportunity to take a club from the bottom of the Scottish league system and build a new foundation for such a “fallen giant”, if we can even use that label!
Stadium: Stair Park (4178)
We hope you have found some great suggestions for a summer save ahead of Football Manager 2025 release! If you’re looking for more challenging and save ideas, we have a huge variety of team recommendations and intense challenges to try on Football Manager 2024.
Let us know in the comments, what’s your most enjoyful save has been on Football Manager 2024 and whether you will embark on a new summer save whilst watching the UEFA Euro 2024 actions.
Credit: Photo used in article image by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash
