Top 10 Teams to Manage in FM26

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

The 2023-24 season was incredible for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with the club losing just one competitive game as they claimed an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga title, a first DfB Pokal in 31 years and reached the UEFA Europa League final.

They continued to impress last season with their stylish brand of football, reaching the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and finishing second in the Bundesliga.

The 2025/26 season has brought new challenges. They had one managerial change in the off-season, another early into this campaign and significant squad turnover in the transfer window. That’s where you come in to take the reins at the BayArena.

Leverkusen’s summer recruitment focused on quality prospects. Jarell Quansah and Loic Bade bolstered their defence, while Malik Tillman and Eliesse Ben Seghir add dynamism and quality in the forward areas. It’s over to you to build on those foundations, shaping this young side into another domestic title winner.

Crystal Palace

From Germany to England and Crystal Palace, who are currently riding the highest high in the club’s history.

Having never previously won a domestic trophy, The Eagles have broken new ground this year by following up their FA Cup win in May by dramatically claiming the Community Shield.

The South London side’s success is built on a solid defence, with Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi and Chris Richards complementing their wing-backs and goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Combining them with the creativity of Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada and Yeremy Pino in midfield, you’ve got every chance of continuing their upward momentum. For your first season, it’s about savouring a first-ever campaign in Europe and making your way into the top half of the Premier League. With more smart recruitment, who knows what you could achieve?

Bologna

Another recent cup winner enjoying a purple patch are Bologna. Last season saw the club compete in the UEFA Champions League, their first European campaign in 59 years, before finishing in style by winning the Italian Cup.

Although their success has seen them lose some key players, Bologna still has a strong squad led by talismanic Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson. In this summer’s transfer window they favoured experience, signing Ciro Immobile and Federico Bernardeschi, and size, adding Martin Vitik and Torbjorn Heggem to their backline. A late move for rapid English winger Jonny Rowe adds another exciting dimension to the attack.

Having ended a couple of long waits in real life, the next one for you in the FM26 dugout is to take Bologna to an eighth scudetto or league title. Their last came in 1964, so how sweet would another one be?

Sunderland

Making a welcome return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years are Sunderland.
 
The Black Cats were one of the busiest clubs in the summer transfer window, with 15 permanent additions arriving at the Stadium of Light.
 
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka was a headline-grabbing signing but they added quality in all areas, from Reinildo, Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele at the back to the creative talents of Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey up front. When you combine them with the likes of Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and a wonderkid like Chris Rigg, and Sunderland are a very exciting proposition in FM26.
 
Avoiding relegation in your first season will be the priority but their early season form in real-life has shown they’ve got the quality to do it. Savour those Wear - Tyne derbies along the way and then you can start dreaming big

Durham Women

Staying in the North East, Durham Women offer a great starting point for players wanting to explore Women’s Football as it debuts in FM.

Members of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 since its inception in 2014, Durham were owned by the city’s university until earlier this year and continue to retain a real community club feel.

With the Barclays Women’s Super League expanding next season, a one-place improvement on last season’s finish of fourth would be enough for a promotion play-off spot. You’ll have to battle local rivals Sunderland and Newcastle for it, but guiding Durham to the top flight would be a defining achievement in the club’s proud, community-driven story.

London City Lionesses

If you can achieve promotion with Durham, you’d be taking inspiration from London City Lionesses, who became the first non-affiliated club to achieve promotion to the WSL last season.

The gap between WSL2 and WSL has proved large in recent years but Lionesses, one of three clubs owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, were very busy in the summer.

They added elite talents Katie Zelem, Grace Geyoro, Elena Linari and Danielle van de Donk to a team that already included Nigeria, Finland, Japan and Sweden internationals.

With last season’s star striker Isobel Goodwin already proving she can step up, the squad at your disposal is primed for a strong debut campaign. Once you’ve established yourselves in the top-flight, your goal will be to mix it with with established title contenders like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City

GNK Dinamo Zagreb

If you’re looking for a dominant club to start with, look no further than Croatian giants GNK Dinamo Zagreb.

The most successful club in the nation’s history, Dinamo have won 25 Croatian league titles from a possible 34 but last season was a rare blip as they finished second.

That prompted a busy summer at Stadion Maksimir that saw them add a nice mix of players from young talents like Matteo Perez Vinlof and Gabriel Vidovic through to experienced operators like Scott McKenna and Ismael Bennacer. They also signed a recent FM favourite in striker Dion Drena Beljo.

With a Dinamo save, your first goal is simple – reestablish yourselves as a domestic powerhouse. From there it’s about kicking on in UEFA competition and adding to the club’s packed trophy cabinet.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Another club looking for fresh impetus are Borussia Mönchengladbach.

10th last season, The Foals were winless through their first six this season. That prompted a managerial change – and gives you an opportunity.

There’s a lot to like in their squad. You’ve got young talents primed to kick-on in Luca Netz, Rocco Reitz and Oscar Fraulo, as well as Asian internationals Kevin Diks, Jens Castrop and Shuto Machino. You also have the opportunity to be the manager who unlocks Giovanni Reyna’s full potential.

Although stability is the primary goal, there are other plotlines to watch for in your first season. There are derbies with FC. Köln now they’re back in the Bundesliga, while old rivals FC Bayern München once again look the side to beat. You might not get the best of them first time round but reigniting their competitive battles of the 1970s will come with tactical innovation and smart recruitment.

Birmingham City

Birmingham City were picture-perfect last season, capturing headlines off the pitch with their celebrity investors and dominating the competition on it as they smashed the Sky Bet League One points record.

Their dream is following in the footsteps of Ipswich Town and achieving back-to-back promotions straight into the Premier League, a level they’ve not competed at since 2011.

To work towards that, the club were busy in the summer, bringing back academy graduate Demarai Gray to be part of a new-look attacking unit that also includes Japan star Kyogo Furuhashi and German striker Marvin Ducksch.

The Sky Bet Championship is often described as one of the toughest leagues in the world but with a good squad and positive momentum, you’ve got every chance to contend in The Blues’ dugout in FM26.

BK Häcken

Our recommendation to take charge of Swedish side BK Häcken is based on managing one player in particular: Felicia Schröder.

The teenage Swedish striker is one of the most talented young players in the women’s game and she’s got very high potential in FM26. It’s with good reason - she’s been the driving force behind Häcken’s bid for a second Damallsvenskan title.

In 22 games this season, the 18-year-old has scored 27 and assisted a further 10 – that’s a direct involvement in more than half of the club’s league-leading goal output.

With Schröder spearheading the attack, supported by Anna Anvegård, Monica Jusu Bah and Canada’s Carly Wickenheiser in midfield, your job is to replicate Häcken’s excellent campaign and then see the heights you can guide Schröder to in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and beyond.

These 10 teams should give you inspiration for your first FM26 career but with a record 58 playable nations to choose from, the perfect save game is waiting for everyone.

Let us know where you kick-off your journey to the top on social media @FootballManager.