Football Manager 26 marks a new era for the long-running series, combining an overhauled interface, the long-awaited debut of women’s football, and deeper tactical tools that make every decision matter. Choosing the right team for your first save is crucial — it sets the tone for your entire FM26 journey. Below, we break down the best clubs to manage this year, ranging from fallen giants and exciting rebuilds to historic underdogs and women’s football pioneers.
1. Bayer 04 Leverkusen – The Bundesliga Redemption Arc
League: Bundesliga (Germany)
Transfer Budget: €20M
Wage Budget: €250,000 per week (approx.)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
After a near-perfect 2023–24 campaign that saw them crowned unbeaten champions, Bayer Leverkusen enter FM26 in transition. A managerial carousel and squad turnover have created a delicate balance between youth and ambition.
New faces like Malik Tillman, Loic Badé, and Eliesse Ben Seghir bring energy, while established players such as Granit Xhaka provide leadership. Your task is to stabilize this talented group and guide them back to Bundesliga glory and beyond in Europe.
Challenge: Compete with Bayern Munich’s dominance and restore continental prestige.
2. Sunderland – The Premier League Revival
League: Premier League (England)
Transfer Budget: €45M
Wage Budget: €400,000 per week (approx.)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
Back in the Premier League after eight long years, Sunderland represent one of FM26’s most rewarding rebuilds. With Granit Xhaka leading a youthful and aggressive squad featuring Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra, and Simon Adingra, this save blends nostalgia with modern ambition.
Your early goal is survival, but the Stadium of Light faithful will demand long-term progress. Handle the fierce Wear–Tyne derbies with Newcastle carefully — they’ll define your early seasons.
Challenge: Survive first, then establish Sunderland as a top-half mainstay.
3. Borussia Mönchengladbach – Rebuild the Foals’ Legacy
League: Bundesliga (Germany)
Transfer Budget: €15M
Wage Budget: €120,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
Once a powerhouse of German football, Mönchengladbach now find themselves stuck in mid-table mediocrity. The squad, however, is far from hopeless — Giovanni Reyna, Luca Netz, and Rocco Reitz offer strong foundations.
You’ll need tactical discipline to rebuild confidence and turn defensive fragility into resilience. Channel the club’s proud 1970s spirit and bring them back to European contention.
Challenge: Modernize tactics and restore a fallen Bundesliga titan.
4. Crystal Palace – South London’s European Dream
League: Premier League (England)
Transfer Budget: €46M
Wage Budget: €500,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Fresh from FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, Crystal Palace have never looked stronger. Players like Marc Guéhi, Adam Wharton, and Yeremy Pino make them an exciting side for FM26 managers who love dynamic football.
The key challenge is depth — the club’s first-ever European campaign will stretch resources thin. Manage fatigue, rotate smartly, and push for a top-eight finish.
Challenge: Juggle domestic duties with Europe while sustaining momentum.
5. Bologna – The Italian Renaissance
League: Serie A (Italy)
Transfer Budget: €18M
Wage Budget: €100,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Bologna’s first Italian Cup in decades and Champions League qualification make them an enticing Serie A project. Despite losing key players, experienced arrivals like Ciro Immobile and Federico Bernardeschi give you a capable core.
With Scottish playmaker Lewis Ferguson running the show, your goal is to break Juventus and Inter’s hold on Italian football. Ending the Scudetto drought since 1964 would cement your legacy.
Challenge: Build on success to restore Bologna’s title-winning heritage.
6. Chelsea Women – Europe’s Unfinished Business
League: Barclays Women’s Super League (England)
Transfer Budget: £500K
Wage Budget: £9,600 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Women’s football finally arrives in FM26, and Chelsea Women are the team to beat. With stars like Sam Kerr, Lauren James, and Catarina Macario, they dominate domestically but still chase their first UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
Your tactical flexibility will determine whether you can finally deliver Europe’s biggest prize to London.
Challenge: Maintain domestic dominance and conquer Europe’s elite.
7. Durham Women – Grassroots to Glory
League: Barclays Women’s Championship (England, WSL2)
Transfer Budget: £250K
Wage Budget: £3,500 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
Durham Women embody FM26’s new frontier. Competing in the Barclays Women’s Championship, they offer a community-driven, long-term challenge. With promotion to the WSL within reach, every signing matters.
Rivalries with Sunderland and Newcastle intensify the drama as you aim to write history for a small club with big dreams.
Challenge: Achieve promotion and establish stability in the WSL.
8. RC Strasbourg – The Loan Factory Challenge
League: Ligue 1 (France)
Transfer Budget: €7M
Wage Budget: €150,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
As Chelsea’s satellite club, Strasbourg offers a unique developmental dynamic. With loan stars like Mike Penders and Kendry Páez, the team oozes potential but faces constant player turnover.
Your task is to build a sustainable identity while balancing reliance on loanees. Qualifying for Europe amidst the chaos would make this one of FM26’s best stories.
Challenge: Develop young stars while maintaining consistency.
9. Galatasaray – The European Ambition
League: Turkish Süper Lig (Turkey)
Transfer Budget: €53M
Wage Budget: €250,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Galatasaray dominate domestically, but FM26 challenges you to make them European contenders. With Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sané leading the line, you have the firepower — but aging stars mean transition looms.
Carefully manage contracts and plan a generational refresh while chasing Champions League silverware.
Challenge: Sustain success while rejuvenating the squad.
10. FC Schalke 04 – The Fallen Giant Rebuild
League: 2. Bundesliga (Germany)
Transfer Budget: €500K
Wage Budget: €26,000 per week
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★★
A true “fallen giant” save. Schalke’s financial collapse and relegation shattered a proud club. Now, in the 2. Bundesliga, you inherit strong facilities but a limited transfer budget.
Youth development is key — produce the next Neuer or Sané and restore the Royal Blues to their rightful place.
Challenge: Secure promotion and rebuild Schalke’s legacy brick by brick.
Honourable Mentions
- Union Berlin: Keep the fairytale alive with a sustainable European run.
- London City Lionesses: A true test of tactical depth and independence in the WSL.
- Birmingham City: Back-to-back promotions to return to the Premier League.
- Wrexham: Continue the Hollywood dream in the Championship.
- FK Panevėžys: Introduce Lithuania to European football relevance.
Football Manager 26 isn’t just about tactics — it’s about storytelling. Whether you’re rebuilding Schalke, chasing Europe with Leverkusen, or taking Durham Women to the top, the challenge you choose defines your FM26 journey.
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Each club offers a different flavor — big budgets, long rebuilds, or grassroots success. Find the one that matches your managerial ambition, and write your own footballing legacy. Play Now!
