I ask because I intend to share my Football Manager 2012 story, which represents my best ever fortunes on an FM game (it's not my best ever run on a management sim- that came on Ultimate Soccer Manager, but that's a far easier game).
It begins (obviously) at the 2011/12 season, and as a Liverpool fan, I took on the role of Liverpool manager. At this point the club has only £2 million or so available to spend, so you have to make do with you've got. The likes of Agger, Carragher, Gerrard, Suarez and Reina made up the core of my side and then the likes of Bellamy, Aurellio, added to it. I managed to win the FA Cup in my first season and finished second in the league, only losing three games- but Man Utd only lost once and cruised the title race.
I would however, win three league titles and three Champions League titles until departing the club in the summer of 2018 (along with a smattering of FA and League Cups). I was reasonably pleased with that- I don't generally fair too well at the game so it felt good to actually get a few trophies. I signed the likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Marik Hamsik (Hamsik in particular was a bargain of a player), but I got an offer to become England manager and didn't want to turn that down. I won the 2020 European Championships but faired poorly at the World Cup in 2022 (Quarter finalists, I think). I left England after that and after a year became AC Milan manager.
I wasn't there for long- I won the Copa Italia in 2023 and Seri A in 2024. I was thrashed 8-0 by my old club Liverpool in the 2024 CL final, and midway through the 24/25 season I wasn't 'feeling' it anymore, but I wasn't ready call time on my career so I resigned as AC boss and waited till I felt the urge to play again.
When I resumed I wound up in the middle of the 25/26 season at League 2 Chesterfield- yes, Chesterfield. They were flirting with relegation, but I managed to keep them going, signing a few youngsters and free transfers to bolster the squad- we snuck into the playoff places on the final day of the season and then went and won the playoffs- not something I'd expected but at the time it felt like a better accomplishment than anything else I'd achieved.
Midway into the 26/27 season and I'd gotten Chesterfield into the playoff places of League 1. I was quite happy, but then I received an offer to take charge at Real Madrid. I couldn't say no to that!
When I joined they were some way behind leaders Barcelona and well off the pace of a CL spot. I knew I faced a battle on my hands and two wins and two defeats from my first four games weren't encouraging signs for consistency. However, I stomped Barca at the Nou Camp and went on to chase them down- eventually winning the title with games to spare.
It was the start of FIVE consecutive La Liga titles, though sadly I would only win one CL with them- all too often I'd reach the final only to come unstuck- at the end of my fifth season in charge, and yet another final defeat, I left.
I was in charge of Spain for a year- working toward qualification for either WC or EC- I forget which, However, at the end of that year, Liverpool asked me to take over again. Once again, I couldn't say no.
In my absence Liverpool had only won three more league titles but, after I'd brought them up to 8 CL titles, they'd won five more to rest on 13. My next sequence is what I regard as my best achievement on an FM game by far.
I won the Premiership six times on the trot, and for the first five seasons also won the Champions League- I have never known such a run- I lost my sixth CL final, but I retired my manager feeling very pleased.
I've since started up a new manager within the same game- this time at Spurs. I lead the title race by four points from Arsenal, and my 'old' club Liverpool are struggling a little.
Bizzare facts: at one stage, Manchester City, despite their millions, were relegated. Yup, that's right, relegated. Former Premiership side Wigan have sunk to the Blue Square Premier league. Swansea and Southampton have both qualified for the Champions League. Scotland won the World Cup, as did Mexico. It's been a funny career.
Anyone else got any FM stories?
It begins (obviously) at the 2011/12 season, and as a Liverpool fan, I took on the role of Liverpool manager. At this point the club has only £2 million or so available to spend, so you have to make do with you've got. The likes of Agger, Carragher, Gerrard, Suarez and Reina made up the core of my side and then the likes of Bellamy, Aurellio, added to it. I managed to win the FA Cup in my first season and finished second in the league, only losing three games- but Man Utd only lost once and cruised the title race.
I would however, win three league titles and three Champions League titles until departing the club in the summer of 2018 (along with a smattering of FA and League Cups). I was reasonably pleased with that- I don't generally fair too well at the game so it felt good to actually get a few trophies. I signed the likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Marik Hamsik (Hamsik in particular was a bargain of a player), but I got an offer to become England manager and didn't want to turn that down. I won the 2020 European Championships but faired poorly at the World Cup in 2022 (Quarter finalists, I think). I left England after that and after a year became AC Milan manager.
I wasn't there for long- I won the Copa Italia in 2023 and Seri A in 2024. I was thrashed 8-0 by my old club Liverpool in the 2024 CL final, and midway through the 24/25 season I wasn't 'feeling' it anymore, but I wasn't ready call time on my career so I resigned as AC boss and waited till I felt the urge to play again.
When I resumed I wound up in the middle of the 25/26 season at League 2 Chesterfield- yes, Chesterfield. They were flirting with relegation, but I managed to keep them going, signing a few youngsters and free transfers to bolster the squad- we snuck into the playoff places on the final day of the season and then went and won the playoffs- not something I'd expected but at the time it felt like a better accomplishment than anything else I'd achieved.
Midway into the 26/27 season and I'd gotten Chesterfield into the playoff places of League 1. I was quite happy, but then I received an offer to take charge at Real Madrid. I couldn't say no to that!
When I joined they were some way behind leaders Barcelona and well off the pace of a CL spot. I knew I faced a battle on my hands and two wins and two defeats from my first four games weren't encouraging signs for consistency. However, I stomped Barca at the Nou Camp and went on to chase them down- eventually winning the title with games to spare.
It was the start of FIVE consecutive La Liga titles, though sadly I would only win one CL with them- all too often I'd reach the final only to come unstuck- at the end of my fifth season in charge, and yet another final defeat, I left.
I was in charge of Spain for a year- working toward qualification for either WC or EC- I forget which, However, at the end of that year, Liverpool asked me to take over again. Once again, I couldn't say no.
In my absence Liverpool had only won three more league titles but, after I'd brought them up to 8 CL titles, they'd won five more to rest on 13. My next sequence is what I regard as my best achievement on an FM game by far.
I won the Premiership six times on the trot, and for the first five seasons also won the Champions League- I have never known such a run- I lost my sixth CL final, but I retired my manager feeling very pleased.
I've since started up a new manager within the same game- this time at Spurs. I lead the title race by four points from Arsenal, and my 'old' club Liverpool are struggling a little.
Bizzare facts: at one stage, Manchester City, despite their millions, were relegated. Yup, that's right, relegated. Former Premiership side Wigan have sunk to the Blue Square Premier league. Swansea and Southampton have both qualified for the Champions League. Scotland won the World Cup, as did Mexico. It's been a funny career.
Anyone else got any FM stories?
