Best teams to manage in Football Manager 2024

The best teams to manage in FM 24 aren’t always clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Manchester City, and instead are the fallen dynasties, local heroes, or project saves that can really energise any playthrough.

While it's always fun to manage a club in Football Manager with lots of money or the best youth prospects, the real enjoyment lies in the rejuvenation of a club that isn’t quite in favour right now, so will owe all of its success to your managerial efforts.

We'll still go over the free spenders and La Masia imitators, as they hold an important place in the game, especially for a first save, but if you’re looking for fresh ideas and project clubs to really delve deep into, then we’ve got you covered here.

So, continue reading to see all of the best teams to manage in Football Manager 24, as we’ve got everything you need to know ahead of your new save in our list below.

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Best teams for money in FM 24

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Figuring out which clubs have the most money in Football Manager isn’t exactly a difficult task as you just need to take one look at the real world and it’s abundantly clear.

However, check out the list below if you’re just wanting to spend some cash and sign the best players, as there is certainly a place for that in the world of FM:

• Manchester City (Premier League)
• Manchester United (Premier League)
• Chelsea (Premier League)
• Paris Saint Germain (Ligue 1)
• Real Madrid (LaLiga)

While a few of the clubs listed won't have the biggest transfer budgets to start with due to big summer outlays (unless you pick 'Your World'), they will give you plenty of money to play around with in the coming seasons and remain the richest clubs in the world.

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Best teams to manage for youth

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If you're looking to set up for the future without splashing the cash, you might want to think about managing one of the best teams for youth in Football Manager 2024 listed below:

• Benfica (Liga Portugal)
• Sporting (Liga Portugal)
• Barcelona (LaLiga)
• Manchester City (Premier League)
• Chelsea (Premier League)
• Liverpool (Premier League)
• Ajax (Eredivisie)
• PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
• RB Salzburg (Austrian Football Bundesliga)
• KRC Genk (Belgian Pro League)

While there's a fair amount of crossover with the richest clubs in the game, you can have a lot of fun with teams like Benfica, PSV, or even KRC Genk as you try and hold on to your youngsters and achieve domestic and European glory.

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Best challenge save teams to manage in FM 24

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The idea of a 'challenge' save is something that draws more Football Manager players than most, as there are few better feelings than bringing a fallen giant back to glory, or your local team to the top of the table.

Here are some of the best teams to manage in Football Manager 2024 if you're looking for a challenge or a journey save:

• Paris FC (Ligue 2)
• Deportivo de La Coruña (Primera Federación)
• Portsmouth FC (EFL League One)
• Athletic Club (LaLiga)
• Parma (Serie B)
• FC Schalke 04 (2. Bundesliga)
• Derby County (EFL League One)
• 1. FC Kaiserslautern (2. Bundesliga)
• 1860 Munich (3. Liga)
• Your local club

While many of the selections above offer a challenge with a historical attachment, sometimes the most fun you can have with a save is just going for a country and picking a team at random. With this, you have the chance to form more of a unique bond with the team and carve out your own stories.

So, that wraps up all of the best teams to manage in Football Manager 2024, giving you a selection of ideal squads depending on whether you're looking for money, youth, or a tricky challenge.

Check out our Football Manager homepage for more guides like this, including all of the best wonderkids you can pick up too.