We all love a challenge, right? Here are six that don’t require an absurdly detailed knowledge of lower leagues and should be quick and easy to get into, but devilishly hard to complete.
AC Milan score in pre-season.
New England Revolution – the Revolution boast excellent training facilities and a good youth set-up, and should get decent revenue from a big stadium with undersoil heating. Jermaine Jones provides the spine to a team with two exciting young US stars, pact right-back Andrew Farrell and skilful striker Patrick Mullins. Navigating the draft system is its own challenge, but you should aim to win a Cup and move to one of the three big MLS clubs within two seasons.
Deportivo Cali – boasting the largest stadium in Colombia, D.C. are a sleeping giant you need to give a good shaking to. Striker Robin Ramírez will score lots of goals and U20s striker Carlos Rivas is one of the brightest prospects in Colombian football, along with tricky, creative midfielder Carlos Lizarazo. Restore a sleeping giant to its proper place at the top of Colombian football and aim for a Libertadores win within three seasons.
A.C. Milan – this one is because, while in the game the Rossenieri are predicted to finish 3rd, in real life they are terrible at the moment. Bereft of strikers and lacking strength at the back and in creative positions, the challenge here is to take a team that should be great and make them great again. The squad thinks you should win the title as well, so get ready for some internal strife. While the Scudetto should be a bridge too far in your first season, get a proper striker and who knows?
Leeds – talking of sleeping giants, Leeds, 17m in debt and subject to the whims of a somewhat confusing ownership structure, are pretty much the definition. The squad is full of talent but it will take time to integrate players like Bianchi, Sloth, and Sharp. Predicted to finish tenth, promotion should be the aim in your first season.
Anderlecht – one of my two current saves (along with FC Nantes), the Belgians are flush with potential: Praet, Tielemans, Mitrovic, Najar, and so on and so on. This team has the capacity to dominate the Belgian league for the next ten years but you should be looking to make inroads in European competition too. Try doing it without signing anyone new.
Real Betis – the LIGA adelante is full of teams who used to be regular fixtures in the top tier of Spanish football, and Betis are perhaps the most talented. Alfred N’Diaye and Lorenzo Reyes are too good for the second division so the spine is in place. Promotion is a certainty, but the trick is to stay up in the second season and bring on exciting prospects like Vadillo and Nono.