An improved season saw Thespakusatsu Gunma compete for the Japanese title for the second time in four seasons, two years on from a relegation battle. That improvement saw the club qualify for the Asian Champions League for the second time.
If you've read any of our FM Stories, you'll know that one of my favourite elements of playing Football Manager is developing young players to become world beaters. I'd love the ability to get deeper into youth development in FM and gain more knowledge of youngsters coming through the system.
Oriol Ribas was the toast of every Catalan native as he led his beloved Unió Esportiva Sant Andreu to playoff glory and back into the Spanish third-tier Primera Federación. However, he quickly encountered a few challenges ahead of his second season in management.
Thespa Gunma put their relegation battle behind them to record a top-half finish in J League in 2035, while star academy product Yusuke Ishii became the club's first graduate to play for Japan. The summer of 2035 saw big moves as Gunma's all-time record goalscorer Masaya Nishi, who scored 133 in 334 games for the... Continue Reading →
Revolution was afoot in Cataluña as Ultras leader Oriol Ribas was elected as manager of fourth-tier club Unió Esportiva Sant Andreu. The rookie manager was entrusted with the mammoth task of restoring Catalan glory by leading the charge to usurp the mighty FC Barcelona.
Thousands of people descended on Camp Municipal Narcís Sala ahead of one of the most highly anticipated nights in recent Catalan history. The football culture in Barcelona had been shifting rapidly, as club memberships had increased 600% over the last five years, passionate fans created electrifying stadium atmospheres, and local vendors were completely sold out of replica kits. But this wasn't due to a surge in support for the club you might be thinking of.
After enjoying several seasons of success, Thespakusatsu Gunma and Robaato Rasamu came down to earth with a thump as they got drawn into a J1 League relegation battle in 2034. But, 12 months on from a title challenge, they finished the season well to maintain their top-flight status.
A strong season back in her homeland of Sweden saw Freja Holm tick the Damallsvenskan title off her list with Malmö FF. That wrapped up an eighth top-tier title of the 11 playable women's leagues in Football Manager 26, leaving Holm with Australia, Denmark and Germany to tick off.
Freja Holm finally ended Arsenal and Chelsea's domination of England's WSL as she led Manchester City to their first title in 29 years. Now 20 years into her Trailblazer challenge to win the top 11 women's football leagues, Holm had ticked off seven.
Manchester City Women finished as best of the rest behind Arsenal and Chelsea and lost Freja Holm's second FA Cup Final to Arsenal in 2044. And it was safe to say the Swedish manager was a little sick of the two London clubs' domination in England.
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