Tips for how to do a build-a-nation save in Football Manager

Every Football Manager player, at some point, has looked at UEFA’s coefficient rankings and thought, “Why is that tiny nation’s league so embarrassingly low?” And then, a split second later, the even worse thought creeps in: “I bet I could fix that.”

Welcome to the Build-a-Nation challenge—where you single-handedly try to drag an entire footballing ecosystem kicking and screaming into European relevance. This isn’t just about managing a club, it’s about fixing an entire country’s reputation, one improbable Champions League qualifying round at a time.

Here’s how to do it without losing your mind (or your job). I did an article yesterday about the best teams and leagues for a ‘build-a-nation’ save, so make sure you check that out as well.

Help out the league

Your job isn’t just to make your team better. You need to improve the entire league, because your country’s coefficient isn’t just based on your results—it’s based on all teams in Europe. This means:

• Loaning out players domestically – That exciting 19-year-old winger you don’t need yet? Send him to another team in your league instead of letting him rot in your U21s.
• Avoiding hoarding – You’re not Man City. Let the other teams sign decent players, too.
• Helping them in Europe – I’m not saying you should throw league games to ensure your rivals qualify for Europe… but if your backup keeper “accidentally” throws the ball into his own net against second place in May, well, accidents happen.

Transfer market

This will be common knowledge to the more experienced players, but just re-iterating for people who’ve struggled in the transfer market before. If you’re managing in a league where clubs operate on £12.50 and a book of McDonald’s vouchers, recruitment is key. Your strategy should involve:

• Snapping up young foreign talent – Preferably from places like Brazil, Argentina, and Africa, where work permit restrictions aren’t as strict as in the UK. Sell them on for big money and reinvest in the squad.
• Maximising free transfers – Those ageing players discarded by bigger leagues? They might be the best player your league has ever seen.
• Exploiting affiliate clubs – Many leagues let you bring in loans from bigger clubs, which is a great way to get Premier League-quality players without spending a penny.

The real goal is to make your league a selling league first, then a competitive league later. Get rich, reinvest smartly, and watch as the rest of the league starts catching up.

Performing Well In Europe

This is where your UEFA coefficient points start stacking up. The key to success? Winning early-round European qualifiers.

• Take the early rounds seriously – You might be facing a team of part-time accountants from Andorra, but treat them like Barcelona. Every win gets you more coefficient points.
• Europa League and Conference League runs are your best bet – Unless you’ve somehow turned your team into the next Ajax, Champions League knockout rounds are a dream for later. For now, quarter-finals in the lesser competitions still give your league a reputation boost.
• Get as many teams into Europe as possible – If your league has one Champions League spot and one Conference League place, you need to fight tooth and nail to get your country’s ranking up to the next tier.

Once you start getting automatic group stage places, you’re on the way. That’s when more money flows into the league, more players want to join, and the whole ecosystem starts improving.

Be Patient – This Takes Years

A Build-a-Nation save isn’t a five-season challenge. It’s a 15- to 20-year project. If you’re not prepared to watch your first golden generation leave just as things are getting good, this might not be the challenge for you.

Expect moments of despair, like:

• Your best player being poached by a Championship side.
• Your league’s second-best team bottling a European qualifier against a club from Malta.
• Your board selling a wonderkid behind your back.

But over time, you’ll see progress—higher league reputation, better youth intakes, more competitive European performances, and, eventually, your nation climbing the UEFA rankings.

Other Quick Tips

• Don’t sell your best players abroad too soon. Keep them in the league as long as possible to boost domestic competition.
• Give your rivals cheap loans. Offer them high-potential players who need first-team minutes rather than shipping them off to a random Belgian club.
• Ask the board to improve youth recruitment and increase scouting range to find better players.

Why Do This to Yourself?

Because when it works, it’s beautiful. Seeing your little club go from unknowns to group-stage regulars. Watching other teams in your league actually compete in Europe instead of embarrassing you. And, eventually, getting your league into the top 10 in Europe—unlocking multiple Champions League spots and turning your nation into a genuine football powerhouse.

If that doesn’t sound like the ultimate Football Manager legacy, I don’t know what does.

Now, off you go—your coefficient isn’t going to fix itself.