8 challenging teams to manage in Football Manager 2015

Sega’s amazing Football Manager series may be underrated due to the enormous clout possessed by the FIFA and PES titles, but FM still has a cult status among scores of gamers and avid football fans and FM’s creators, Sports Interactive, have managed to deliver yet again with the release of FM 15. A lot of awesome new features have been added into the game, including the growth of facial hair on the players in the game in the month of November in order to support ‘Movember’ (A good cause is always appreciated). So if you’re done managing your favourite team and are on the hunt for a new challenge here are a few clubs that might entice you.

#8 Auxerre

Auxerre is a pretty iconic club and has achieved a cult status due to Eric Cantona, Laurent Blanc, Djibril Cisse and more recently Yaya Sanogo all making their bones there. However the club have suffered a change in fortunes over the past few years and are currently languishing at the bottom of Ligue 2. There is a silver lining though as the club have an excellent youth system at its disposal, which could be the answer to some problems. Will you be the one to take them out of the depths?

#7 Red Bull Brasil

Another great challenge for you on FM 15 would be to take up the managerial reins of Red Bull Brasil. Whats great about this team is that youll be given a blank slate (and a blank cheque) to create your own legacy. Red Bull Brasil have the financial clout to claw their way into the Brazilian Serie A, and you could be the man that gets them there. Its certainly worth a shot if you ask me. So go ahead, and try to give them wings.

#6 Hamburger SV

The German club have a great stadium, superb facilities and a promising academy, but an imbalanced squad is the only thing thats holding them back from becoming top four contenders once again. Rafael Van Der Vaart, Pierre Michael Lasogga and Mohamed Gouaida are all proficient attackers, and with a few improvements to the midfield and defence Hamburg could very well be on their way to the top. Id take up the challenge if I were you.

#5 Feyenoord

Theyre one of the most successful clubs in Dutch football history, and its your job to keep them in the fight. Ronald Koemans departure along with the exodus of several of Feyenoords World Cup stars has left quite a gaping hole in the team, but theres still funds along with quality players who are capable of posing quite a threat to the clubs rivals. Bolstering the attacking and defensive department will be a top priority, and only a shrewd, business minded tactician would succeed in dispersing the cash wisely. Are you that person?

#4 Newcastle United

The Magpies are currently going through a terrible depression. Will you be the one to succeed where Alan Pardew couldnt, and turn their season around? The clubs facilities and stadium are top class, as is the funds available at your dispersal. The only challenge is to use them wisely and inject the squad with some quality, which will catapult them to the top half of English football once again. Sounds challenging enough for you?

#3 Manchester United

Managing Manchester United in FM was never considered as a challenge due to the enormous power they enjoyed over the past three decades, but Sir Alexs departure has changed a lot of things, and the club desperately need to rediscover their terrifying form they enjoyed during the legendary Scots rein. The midfield and defensive departments are crying out for reinforcements, and while Van Gaal can only address those issues in the summer you can do it considerably quicker. Finding the right formation for the Gaalacticos could be quite a task. Are you up to it?

#2 Southampton

Southampton have been one of the surprise packages of this season, and have, under Ronald Koemans leadership, have successfully proved that they can kick on despite the loss of many of their key players during the summer transfer window. However youll go back to basics in FM 15, and its your job to replicate Koemans achievements or even try to surpass them. The Dutchman has made some excellent signings in the form of Pelle, Bertrand and Elia, but if you still feel the need to strengthen then therell be funds at your disposal. Another bonus of taking over the reins at Southampton is their enviable youth setup, which has produced several stars over the years. So if youre looking for a challenge this is as good as any.

#1 AC Milan

One club thats desperately in need of a shot in the arm has got to be AC Milan. The once mighty Italian giants currently sit 11th in Serie A in a shocking fall from grace, and with current manager and club legend Filippo Inzaghis imminent exit waiting to happen, nows as good a time as any to take over from him in the game. Diego Lopez is a brilliant goalkeeper so that department is safe along with the attacking department consisting of El Sharaawy, Honda and the brilliant Menez. However the defence and midfield departments need some serious overhauls. Suso is a promising player so itll be wise to hold on to him, but the rest of the dead wood needs to be cleared out. Who knows maybe youll succeed where Inzaghi couldnt, and bring the Ancelotti days back to the San Siro.