Football Manager 26 Guides
42 career guides for top European clubs. Epic rebuilds, underdog challenges, and dynasties to build.
By challenge type
Dynasty
Powerful clubs where pressure is immense
Rebuild
Big clubs in trouble to rebuild
Underdog
Small clubs with big ambitions
Ligue 1(10 clubs)
Paris Saint-Germain
Dynasty2025: first Champions League title. 2026: ENCORE against Arsenal in Budapest, won 5-4 on penalties. ...
Olympique de Marseille
Rebuild14 YEARS without beating PSG at the Vélodrome in the league. Then September 22, 2025: Marquinhos own...
Olympique Lyonnais
RebuildJuly 2025: OL was TWO STEPS AWAY from administrative relegation due to financial issues. Michele Kan...
AS Monaco
UnderdogTHE MOST FASCINATING ECONOMIC MODEL IN EUROPEAN FOOTBALL. Champions in 2017 with Mbappé (18), Bernar...
LOSC Lille
UnderdogChampions in 2021 with a budget 10x smaller than PSG. 3rd in Ligue 1 2025-26 (61 pts), qualified for...
Stade Rennais
Underdog2019 Coupe de France against PSG in the final, won on penalties. THE HOME OF CAMAVINGA AND DEMBÉLÉ. ...
RC Lens
Underdog2nd in Ligue 1 2025-26 (70 pts). QUALIFIED FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. And on December 14, 2025, the m...
OGC Nice
UnderdogSeason 2025-26: 16th in Ligue 1, PLAYOFF ZONE. Saved from relegation via playoffs against Saint-Étie...
AS Saint-Étienne
Rebuild10 Ligue 1 titles — ABSOLUTE RECORD in France. 6 Coupes de France. European semi-finals. And yet: ST...
FC Nantes
RebuildRELEGATED to Ligue 2 for 2026-27. 23 points in Ligue 1 2025-26. Halilhodžić (74) couldn't reverse th...
Premier League(9 clubs)
Manchester City
Dynasty10 YEARS. 20 TROPHIES. Then Pep Guardiola hands over to Enzo Maresca in June 2026. THE ETIHAD expand...
Liverpool
Dynasty20 ENGLISH LEAGUE TITLES — joint record with Man United. Slot wins the title in his very first seaso...
Arsenal
DynastyPREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2025-26 after 22 YEARS OF WAITING. Their first title since the 'Invincibles...
Manchester United
RebuildNIGHTMARE SEASON. Ruben Amorim sacked on January 6, 2026 (worst season in recent history). Michael C...
Chelsea
RebuildCONFERENCE LEAGUE 2024-25. FIFA Club World Cup 2025. And also: PREMIER LEAGUE'S BIGGEST EVER PRE-TAX...
Newcastle United
UnderdogSaudi PIF at the helm since 2021. Top 5 in 2025-26, Champions League qualified. Alexander Isak sold ...
Aston Villa
UnderdogEUROPA LEAGUE 2025-26 WINNERS (3-0 vs Freiburg in the final). First major trophy in 30 years. 4th in...
Brighton
UnderdogTony Bloom bought Brighton in 2009 when they were in League One, WITH NO HOME STADIUM. The professio...
Nottingham Forest
RebuildBrian Clough. 1975: Forest arrived in D2, 13th. 1977: English champions. 1979 AND 1980: EUROPEAN CHA...
La Liga(8 clubs)
Real Madrid
Dynasty15 Champions Leagues. THE RENOVATED BERNABÉU — €1.347 billion, 83,186 seats. Xabi Alonso takes over ...
FC Barcelona
RebuildLA LIGA CHAMPIONS 2025-26 (2nd consecutive title). Flick extended to 2028. Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi...
Atlético Madrid
DynastySimeone. 14 YEARS in charge. The Metropolitano (70,460 seats) roars. 4th in La Liga 2025-26. A MASSI...
Real Sociedad
UnderdogCOPA DEL REY 2026 WINNERS. They beat Atlético Madrid 4-3 on penalties on April 19 in Seville. 10 HOM...
Athletic Bilbao
UnderdogONLY Basque players can play. Since 1912. NEVER relegated from La Liga. 24 Copas del Rey — 2nd all-t...
Real Betis
UnderdogCopa del Rey 2022. Regular Europa League. And now THE BIG PROJECT: Benito Villamarín stadium under t...
Villarreal
UnderdogEuropa League 2021 against Manchester United on penalties. And now: 2nd CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE...
Sevilla
Rebuild7 EUROPA LEAGUES. THE ABSOLUTE RECORD. And yet: RELEGATED from La Liga in 2025-26 (18th, 34 pts). Ma...
Serie A(8 clubs)
Inter Milan
DynastySERIE A CHAMPIONS 2025-26 (21st title, clinched May 3 with a 2-0 win vs Parma). Double: Scudetto + C...
AC Milan
Dynasty7 CHAMPIONS LEAGUES — joint record. 6 Ballon d'Ors won under the rossonero jersey. But 2025-26: OUTS...
Juventus
Rebuild9 CONSECUTIVE SCUDETTI (2012-2020) — Serie A record. Buffon, Del Piero, Platini, Zidane, Pirlo. THE ...
Napoli
Dynasty36 YEARS without a Scudetto. Then 2023: CHAMPIONS. Then 2025: CHAMPIONS AGAIN. Now 2nd in 2025-26, C...
AS Roma
Rebuild3rd in Serie A 2025-26 — RETURN TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for the first time since 2019. 2-0 victory a...
Lazio
Underdog9th in Serie A 2025-26. Coppa Italia finalists (lost 2-0 to Inter). Sarri calls it a 'Year Zero' aft...
Atalanta
UnderdogEuropa League 2024 won (3-0 against Leverkusen — HISTORIC). Coppa Italia 2024. And then the unthinka...
Fiorentina
Underdog2025-26: 'ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SEASONS IN MODERN HISTORY' (Wikipedia). Palladino resigns before...
Bundesliga(7 clubs)
Bayern Munich
DynastyBUNDESLIGA CHAMPIONS 2025-26 (34th title!). DOUBLE: Bundesliga + DFB-Pokal. RECORD: 122 Bundesliga g...
Borussia Dortmund
Underdog2nd in Bundesliga 2025-26 (73 pts). Champions League. Jobe Bellingham (Jude's brother, 19) signs at ...
RB Leipzig
UnderdogFounded in 2009. German 5th division. 7 YEARS to reach the Bundesliga. Runners-up in 2017, CL semi-f...
Bayer Leverkusen
Dynasty2023-24: UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS. 51 matches unbeaten — ABSOLUTE EUROPEAN RECORD. Finally no more 'Neverk...
Eintracht Frankfurt
UnderdogEuropa League 2022: 40,000 Frankfurt supporters INVADE Seville. Victory over Rangers. ONE OF THE WIL...
VfB Stuttgart
UnderdogCHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIED 2025-26 (4th, 62 pts). 2-2 draw against Frankfurt on the final matchday —...
Union Berlin
UnderdogIn 2009: fans renovate the stadium WITH THEIR OWN HANDS to avoid closure. In 2019: PROMOTION TO THE ...
Why play Football Manager 26?
Football Manager 26 is the most realistic football management simulation in the world. Whether you dream of rebuilding a legendary club or leading a modest team to the top, FM26 offers this immersive experience.
Our guides accompany you on every adventure: recommended tactics, smart signings, ego management, youth development... Everything you need to succeed in your career.