5 save ideas you should do until FM25 comes out

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Pentagon Challenge

J.League

Vaduz Challenge

International Journeyman

The Big Sam Challenge

In case you haven’t heard, FM25 is delayed, with its release date being pushed back by another four months. If you’re like me, then you’ve probably had a save in mind for FM25 that you’re now going to have to put off for a while. But while it’s not the situation anyone was hoping for, now is the perfect time to take on something new.

I’ve put together a list of five save ideas for you to use. These include managing specific clubs or in certain leagues, challenge saves that require you to achieve certain goals along the way, and even one that requires you to emulate the tactics of a true managerial great. So if you’re after some decent save ideas, you’re in the right place.

Pentagon Challenge

Starting off strong, this is the big one. While there are a few variations of it, the Pentagon Challenge simply (easier said than done) requires you to win every continental trophy in the game during one save. This means winning the Asian, African North American and European Champions Leagues and the Copa Libertadores in South America, requiring you to jump between teams and continents across your save until you’ve won them all.

While this is optional, many players like to up the challenge (as if they needed to) by starting off as unemployed, meaning they’ll be forced to start with some of the worst teams in the game. So if you’re someone who relishes a long, challenging save and you think you’re up to the task of going from the likes of South Africa’s Black Leopards to the dizzying heights of Real Madrid while winning plenty of silverware along the way, this save idea is for you.

J.League

Maybe you’re looking to change things up a bit and manage a team from outside Europe for once. Well, there aren’t many better options in FM24 than the J.League. Firstly, it’s the first time the J.League has appeared in FM, so it’s the perfect time to give it a go, but more than that, it’s also one of the most exciting up-and-coming footballing nations around right now. Japanese players like Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo are becoming household names in Europe, and with Japan starting to perform on the international stage, there are some top young players coming through for you to use.

Not only is the Japanese league system full of interesting clubs to use, but with the rise of big-spending clubs in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as perennial Asian giants South Korea and Iran, you can make it your job to cement Japan as the true number one league in the Asian confederation.

Vaduz Challenge

On the face of it, this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Win the Swiss League with Vaduz FC and then win the Champions League – simple, right? Wrong. Vaduz FC is the top club in Liechtenstein, but as the country is too small for a proper league of its own, Vaduz plays in the Swiss system. But, as a club based in a foreign country, Vaduz cannot qualify for the Champions League by winning the Swiss League, and will instead qualify for the Europa League.

Therein lies the challenge. Your only means of qualifying for the Champions League is by winning the Europa League. If you fail to win the Champions League, you’ll have to win the Europa League again for even a second shot at the UCL title. At its worst, this save might feel like banging your head against a brick wall, but if you manage to pull it off, you’ll be able to brag about having completed one of the hardest challenges FM has to throw at you.

International Journeyman

Unfortunately for all you international management enjoyers out there, FM25 is doing away with the feature, so this year is your last chance to make the most of it. In the spirit of that, what better way to see the world than an international journeyman save? Start off unemployed and take over at whatever nation will take you and jump from nation to nation on your way to the top.

You’ll likely have to start off at the very bottom of the rankings, managing the likes of the Cook Islands or Vanuatu. Over time, you’ll hopefully win enough games and earn yourself a move to the Philippines, then Togo, and on and on until you reach the Brazils and Englands of the world. Can you nation-hop your way from unemployment to World Cup champion?

The Big Sam Challenge

A spectre is haunting football – the spectre of Pep Guardiola. For better or worse, Pepball has become dominant at the highest levels of the game, with even teams in lower leagues attempting to replicate that effective but boring possession-focused tactical style. It’s therefore up to you to put an end to his reign of terror by overthrowing him using the classic tactical stylings of legendary England manager Sam Allardyce.

All that matters in this save is that you must play with a classic 4-4-2 formation and play route one football, ideally hoofing the ball to a big target man up top. Your recruitment, player roles and everything else are chosen by you and will be what makes or breaks your save. It’s up to you to do the big man proud and finally bring the 4-4-2 back to the masses.

About the Author

Alex is a Guides Writer for VideoGamer. He is an indie gaming obsessive with a soft spot for Zelda, roguelikes, and Football Manager, as well as an unhealthy relationship with his backlog.