The biggest sleeping giants in Football Manager

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Valencia

Wisla Krakow

Schalke

Independiente

Bradford City

Bordeaux

Malaga

There’s nothing better than managing a sleeping giant in Football Manager—unless you support one in real life, like me. Then it’s more heartbreak than fun. But for FM players, these clubs are the holy grail: the chance to restore a fallen giant to its former glory. A passionate fanbase ready to adore you if you return them to the promised land. A club steeped in history, waiting for you to write the next chapter.

If you’re searching for a save to keep you hooked until Football Manager 2025, one of these clubs could be perfect. On the other hand, maybe you’re also looking for the most underrated strikers, or the wonderkids that have been forgotten.

Valencia

What has happened to Valencia? Once a regular fixture in European football and back-to-back La Liga winners in 2002 and 2004, they’ve become a shadow of their former selves. Competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona back then was no small feat.

Fast forward to now: it’s been five seasons since Valencia finished in the top four, and they’re currently languishing in 18th place in La Liga. That makes them the perfect FM challenge. With FM legend José Gayà as club captain and a rich history to rebuild, Valencia is packed with potential. Can you restore Los Che to their rightful place among Spain’s elite?

Wisla Krakow

Let’s step away from the usual suspects and throw in a wildcard. Wisła Kraków is one of Poland’s most storied clubs. They’ve won eight league titles since 1999 and even reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 1979. But the glory days are long gone.

Relegated from the Ekstraklasa in 2022, they’ve been stuck in the second tier of Polish football ever since. If you want a sleeping giant outside Europe’s top five leagues, this is your team. Can you guide Wisła back to the summit of Polish football and beyond?

Schalke

The German second division is a graveyard for sleeping giants: Hamburger SV, Hertha Berlin, and the iconic Schalke 04. With seven Bundesliga titles and regular top-four finishes in the early 2010s, Schalke is the third-most successful club in German history. As recently as 2018, they finished second in the Bundesliga.

But financial mismanagement has dragged them down to the second tier. Schalke’s passionate fanbase is desperate for a revival. Can you stabilize the club, navigate the challenges, and bring them back to Bundesliga glory?

Independiente

Who says all the sleeping giants are in Europe? Independiente is South America’s most successful club in the Copa Libertadores, having won it seven times. The catch? Their last triumph was in 1984.

Domestically, things aren’t much better. Independiente hasn’t lifted a trophy since 2002. If you fancy an exotic challenge, managing the Argentine giants could be for you. Can you end their 40-year drought and reclaim their spot as kings of South America?

Bradford City

For those who prefer to stick closer to home, Bradford City is an excellent English underdog story. Once a Premier League team in the late ’90s and FA Cup winners in 1911, they’ve fallen to the depths of League Two.

Despite their struggles, Bradford boasts the highest average attendance in the division—by over 7,000. This is a club with untapped potential. Your mission? Take the Bantams back to the Championship, at least, and perhaps even dream of a Premier League return.

Bordeaux

Few clubs have fallen as far as Bordeaux. From Ligue 1 contenders to the fourth tier of French football after a double relegation due to financial mismanagement, it’s been a steep decline.

This save offers an immediate challenge: Bordeaux should dominate their league. But the real test comes in returning them to Ligue 1 and making them competitive again. Can you revive a club that’s reached a European final and restore their former glory?

Malaga

Málaga has a storied past, with players like Isco and Ruud van Nistelrooy once gracing their squad. They even reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013. But those days are long gone.

Now back in the second division after a stint in the third, Málaga is still far from their former heights. Promotion last season was a step in the right direction, but there’s a long road ahead. If you want a challenging rebuild with a touch of sun and seaside charm, Málaga could be your ideal pick.

Do you think there’s a bigger sleeping giant that deserves a mention? Drop your suggestions in the comments!

About the Author

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.