Nottingham Forest on FM26 - Return of the Champions
2 Champions Leagues. 1979 and 1980. Brian CLOUGH. Trevor Francis. Peter Shilton. Forest beat Malmö and Hamburg back to back. Then 29 YEARS without European football. In 2025-26, Europa League and City Ground expansion. The GIANT awakens.
Why choose Nottingham Forest?
Because Forest is the greatest ANOMALY in football history. A club from the City Ground (30,602 seats) that won TWO consecutive European Cups in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough — one of the greatest managers of all time. Absent from the Premier League for 23 years, Forest returned in 2022. In 2025-2026, the situation is both CATASTROPHIC and fascinating: FOUR different permanent managers in a single season (Nuno, Postecoglou, Dyche, Vítor Pereira), unprecedented in Premier League history. The club sits 17th, three points above the relegation zone. You're walking into total chaos, and you need to avoid relegation before building something great. No FM challenge will have prepared you better to manage a full-blown crisis.
The Clough story
1977: Forest promoted to D1. 1978: English champions. 1979: European champions. 1980: European champions AGAIN. Never seen before, never seen since. Clough was a provocative GENIUS. His legacy awaits continuation.
Tactics: defensive solidity and maximum efficiency
In a survival situation, Forest needs ONE THING: to stop conceding goals. A compact 4-4-2 or a defensive 4-5-1 are your best options in the short term. Low block, tight lines, press only on the ball carrier — you cannot afford to leave space in behind your defence. OFFENSIVE TRANSITIONS are your only weapon: win the ball deep and play fast to a strong centre-forward. Brian Clough's legacy is practical, efficient, no-frills football — and two European Cups. You're not here to look pretty. You're here to WIN.
Objectives: Europe every year
160th season in club history. 4th consecutive Premier League season. Europa League 2025-26 - first European cup in 29 years. The objective: NEVER go down again.
Forest proves you can achieve ANYTHING. From Division 2 to double European champions in 3 years. Want to rewrite that story? The City Ground awaits. Come on you Reds!