Does anyone play Football Chairman?
It's a downloadable (free) game on ipad.
You start in tier 6 with a 2000 capacity stadium.
You just hire coaches, improve facilities and hire players.
But the computer deals with who plays and the like.
Best I've done without cheating is tier 2.
What I hate, is you need to get the players in (I try via academy) but they leave if your training facilities aren't good enough, so you better hope you can get promoted to keep the income coming in.
Once you become a power though, god help your opponents, they'll never touch you again.