Here's our list of 10 teams to manage on FM22 that are still waiting on their first ever league title. Clubs without a trophy in Football Manager 2022
10 Sides to lead to an inaugural league championship with on FM22.
Nothing quite beats that feeling of being the best side in your country’s domestic football championship. However, it is an even more sensational feeling when a side wins their maiden championship title.
Who of course could forget the wonderful scenes at the King Power Stadium in May 2016 when Wes Morgan and Claudio Ranieri hoisted the first ever league title in Leicester City’s long history in what was arguably the greatest underdog story ever.
So, if the celebrations of that famous night in Leicester that May have inspired you to take a side to their first ever championship title on FM22, here are ten sides who are waiting for your expertise.
FK Ural Yekaterinburg
It is also home to Ural Yekaterinburg, founded in 1930, The Bumblebees as they are affectionately known spent the entirety of the USSR era outside of the top flight, the Soviet Highest League. Their highest classification during this era was nine seasons in the Soviet First League, the country’s second tier.
Crucially for Ural, one of these seasons in the Soviet second tier was the final year of the Soviet era in 1991 where they achieved a third-place finish. This combined with several teams in both the Soviet Highest League (the country’s top-flight) & Soviet First League being non-Russian teams who would join the new football leagues of the newly independent countries meant Ural won promotion to the inaugural Russian Premier League in 1992. Their first-ever top-flight appearance.
After flirting between the top, second and third tiers of Russian football in the first twenty years since perestroika, Ural won the second-tier Russian Football National League in 2012/13 to reach the 2013/14 Russian Premier League, where they have remained ever since. Twice beaten cup finalists in the last five seasons (2016/17 and 2018/19, where they lost to Lokomotiv Moscow on both occasions), Ural are a club in need of a trophy.
Can you take them to that inaugural trophy and crucially league title on Football Manager 2022? One of the host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their home Central Stadium was given a huge makeover in time for the tournament and now has a capacity of 35,061. Can you achieve legendary status by taking the title to Yekaterinburg and outside of Russia’s big two cities and capitals of Moscow and St Petersburg?
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The next “win the first-ever league title” challenge comes courtesy of Ukraine.
Since the first edition of the Ukrainian Premier League in 1992, the league has
been dominated by two powerhouse clubs, Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Between them, the dominant duo have claimed all but one of the 30 championships
contested so far. Tavriya Simferopol in the very first edition of the Ukrainian
Premier League in 1992 are the only side so far to break the Dynamo-Shakhtar
duopoly.
A side that has emerged in recent seasons as a “best of the rest” behind Dynamo and Shakhtar has been FK Vorskla Poltava. Founded in 1956, Zeleno-Bili (The Green-Whites), spent the entirety of the USSR period in the local Ukrainian lower leagues. Upon Ukrainian independence, Vorskla found themselves in the Ukrainian second tier and eventually won promotion to the top flight for the 1996/97 season. They have remained a Ukrainian top flight club ever since and 2021/22 is their 25th straight campaign in Ukrainian football’s top flight.
Vorskla’s highest finishes in the Ukrainian Premier League have been two third place finishes (1996/97 and 2017/18). They have also during this time won the 2008/09 Ukrainian Cup and finished as cup runners-up in 2019/20. In addition to all of the above, Vorskla have qualified for European competition eight times (seven of which being in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, the other time being the 2021/22 Europa Conference League). Twice, in 2011/12 and 2018/19, they reached the Europa League group stages.
Clearly now one of the strongest sides outside of Dynamo and Shakhtar, can you now help Vorskla climb the next rung on the ladder and break up the “Big Two’s” dominance in Ukraine? Amongst Vorskla’s playing ranks are Luxembourgers Oliver and Vincent Thill. Brothers of Sebastien Thill, who has made so many headlines in the Champions League recently with his goals for Sheriff Tiraspol against both Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
FK Vorskla Poltava
A side that has emerged in recent seasons as a “best of the rest” behind Dynamo and Shakhtar has been FK Vorskla Poltava. Founded in 1956, Zeleno-Bili (The Green-Whites), spent the entirety of the USSR period in the local Ukrainian lower leagues. Upon Ukrainian independence, Vorskla found themselves in the Ukrainian second tier and eventually won promotion to the top flight for the 1996/97 season. They have remained a Ukrainian top flight club ever since and 2021/22 is their 25th straight campaign in Ukrainian football’s top flight.
Vorskla’s highest finishes in the Ukrainian Premier League have been two third place finishes (1996/97 and 2017/18). They have also during this time won the 2008/09 Ukrainian Cup and finished as cup runners-up in 2019/20. In addition to all of the above, Vorskla have qualified for European competition eight times (seven of which being in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, the other time being the 2021/22 Europa Conference League). Twice, in 2011/12 and 2018/19, they reached the Europa League group stages.
Clearly now one of the strongest sides outside of Dynamo and Shakhtar, can you now help Vorskla climb the next rung on the ladder and break up the “Big Two’s” dominance in Ukraine? Amongst Vorskla’s playing ranks are Luxembourgers Oliver and Vincent Thill. Brothers of Sebastien Thill, who has made so many headlines in the Champions League recently with his goals for Sheriff Tiraspol against both Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
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Our next club comes from Belarus in the shape of FK Neman Grodno. Founded in
1964 in the eponymous city of Grodno, which with a population of 373,547
inhabitants is the fifth biggest city in Belarus, Neman played the majority of
their history in the USSR era in the third tier. Two seasons were spent in the
Soviet second tier in 1968 and 1969.
Upon Belarusian independence, Neman were ranked higher enough in the Soviet pyramid to be assigned to the Belarusian Highest League for its inaugural edition in 1992, they have never been relegated from the top flight to this day. Despite this status as top flight ever-presents, Neman have never won the Belarusian Highest League, their best finish being a 2nd place finish in 2002. In 1992/93, they won the Belarusian Cup and finished as runners-up twice (in 2011 and 2014).
Belarusian football by-and-large since the new millennium has been dominated completely by BATE Borisov, who won thirteen consecutive Belarusian titles between 2006 and 2018. However, Dynamo Brest and Shakhtyor Soliogorsk’s triumphs in 2019 and 2020 respectively have blown the league more open. Can you now lead Neman Grodno, located just 15 kilometres from the Polish border in Western Belarus to a first-ever title triumph in either 2021 or beyond?
FK Neman Grodno
Upon Belarusian independence, Neman were ranked higher enough in the Soviet pyramid to be assigned to the Belarusian Highest League for its inaugural edition in 1992, they have never been relegated from the top flight to this day. Despite this status as top flight ever-presents, Neman have never won the Belarusian Highest League, their best finish being a 2nd place finish in 2002. In 1992/93, they won the Belarusian Cup and finished as runners-up twice (in 2011 and 2014).
Belarusian football by-and-large since the new millennium has been dominated completely by BATE Borisov, who won thirteen consecutive Belarusian titles between 2006 and 2018. However, Dynamo Brest and Shakhtyor Soliogorsk’s triumphs in 2019 and 2020 respectively have blown the league more open. Can you now lead Neman Grodno, located just 15 kilometres from the Polish border in Western Belarus to a first-ever title triumph in either 2021 or beyond?
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Our next challenge comes from the British Isles and more specifically Scotland
in the shape of one of the country’s most famous footballing institutions,
Queen’s Park FC. Based in Glasgow, Queen’s Park were founded in 1867 and are the
oldest football club in the world outside of England and Wales.
The Spiders as they are affectionately known won the Scottish Cup ten times between 1874 and 1893, finishing as runners-up in 1892 and 1900. In addition, the club also were runners-up twice in the English FA Cup, losing in both the 1884 and 1885 finals to Blackburn Rovers FC. Most remarkable of all, despite 128 years passing since their last Scottish Cup triumph, Queen’s Park are still ranked third overall for Scottish Cup victories, only Celtic and Rangers being ahead of them.
From their foundation until November 2019, Queen’s Park retained a strict policy of retaining amateur status. However, in a vote put to their supporters on November 2019, 91% voted to abolish the amateur status and go professional.
A number of reasons were cited for this decision. One was a fear of being left behind due to relegation and promotion being enabled from the Scottish fourth tier and non-league from the mid-2010s onwards. In addition, in the summer of 2013, the club lost Andrew Robertson, now of Liverpool to Dundee United and received no transfer fee owing to their then-status as an amateur club.
Queen’s Park’s first full season as a professional club in 2020/21 could not have gone any better as they won the Scottish League Two title with 54 points from their 22 games earning promotion to the third tier Scottish League One. Winning another Scottish Cup would be a fantastic enough reason to take charge of Queen’s Park, however, a Scottish Premiership triumph and toppling both Celtic and Rangers is an even larger incentive. Can you restore Glasgow’s original giants to glory?
Queens Park FC
The Spiders as they are affectionately known won the Scottish Cup ten times between 1874 and 1893, finishing as runners-up in 1892 and 1900. In addition, the club also were runners-up twice in the English FA Cup, losing in both the 1884 and 1885 finals to Blackburn Rovers FC. Most remarkable of all, despite 128 years passing since their last Scottish Cup triumph, Queen’s Park are still ranked third overall for Scottish Cup victories, only Celtic and Rangers being ahead of them.
From their foundation until November 2019, Queen’s Park retained a strict policy of retaining amateur status. However, in a vote put to their supporters on November 2019, 91% voted to abolish the amateur status and go professional.
A number of reasons were cited for this decision. One was a fear of being left behind due to relegation and promotion being enabled from the Scottish fourth tier and non-league from the mid-2010s onwards. In addition, in the summer of 2013, the club lost Andrew Robertson, now of Liverpool to Dundee United and received no transfer fee owing to their then-status as an amateur club.
Queen’s Park’s first full season as a professional club in 2020/21 could not have gone any better as they won the Scottish League Two title with 54 points from their 22 games earning promotion to the third tier Scottish League One. Winning another Scottish Cup would be a fantastic enough reason to take charge of Queen’s Park, however, a Scottish Premiership triumph and toppling both Celtic and Rangers is an even larger incentive. Can you restore Glasgow’s original giants to glory?
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Turkey is the location for the next club who are seeking a first ever league
title from FM22 players. The Turkish Super Lig has historically been dominated
by Istanbul giants Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, so can you now knock
these three capital club giants off their perch by leading Antalyaspor to their
first-ever Turkish title?
Founded in 1966, The Scorpions are currently into the 26th year of their existence as a top flight club in Turkey. Their highest finish in their history was the 5th place achieved during the 2016/17 Turkish Super Lig. In addition to never having won a Turkish league title, Antalyaspor have also never won a Turkish Cup, their best performance in this competition being twice runners-up (in 1999/00 and 2020/21).
Currently, there is a famous face managing the club in the shape of former Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin. Can you, instead of Sahin take Antalyaspor to the top in Turkey? There is so much potential here waiting to be unlocked. Antalya is the fifth largest city in Turkey with a population of over 2.5 million inhabitants. In 2015, Antalyaspor inaugurated their new 32,537 capacity Antalya Stadium. Can you be the manager to unlock that potential?
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The next team who are title-less needing your help are a popular FM save from
many a years past, Parma Calcio. Founded in 1913, Parma were until 1990 a club
who had a relatively unremarkable history. However, under the management of the
legendary Nevio Scala, who coached the club between 1989 and 1996, Gialloblu’s
fortunes transformed completely upon Parma’s first-ever promotion to Serie A for
the 1990/91 season.
The 1990’s proved a glorious era for Parma, bankrolled by Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi, the club won its first major honour in 1991/92 by winning the Coppa Italia. Immediately afterwards a UEFA Cup Winners Cup title followed in 1992/93 and Gialloblu then reached the final of the same competition in 1993/94, where they lost to Arsenal FC.
In 1994/95, Parma defeated Juventus in the UEFA Cup final before then in 1998/99 winning a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double. Finally, in 2001/02, the club won their third Coppa Italia in ten years, emerging victorious against Juventus on away goals after a 2-2 score-line over two legs.
Despite their status as “Cup Kings” in Italy between 1992 and 2002 in Italy, Parma never won a Serie A title. The closest they came was under Carlo Ancelotti’s management in 1996/97, when they finished as runners-up in Serie A to Juventus by just a margin of two points.
Can you now succeed where Ancelotti and legendary members of that 1996/97 team failed such as Gianluigi Buffon, Roberto Sensini, Dino Baggio, Hernan Crespo, Fabio Cannavaro, Enrico Chiesa and Lilian Thuram and win the Serie A title? After relegation in 2020/21, Parma find themselves in Serie B for 2021/22. In the last 20 years since the glory era ended, Parma have had to endure two bankruptcies and a strong decline. Are you the manager to revive the glory days?
Antalyaspor
Founded in 1966, The Scorpions are currently into the 26th year of their existence as a top flight club in Turkey. Their highest finish in their history was the 5th place achieved during the 2016/17 Turkish Super Lig. In addition to never having won a Turkish league title, Antalyaspor have also never won a Turkish Cup, their best performance in this competition being twice runners-up (in 1999/00 and 2020/21).
Currently, there is a famous face managing the club in the shape of former Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin. Can you, instead of Sahin take Antalyaspor to the top in Turkey? There is so much potential here waiting to be unlocked. Antalya is the fifth largest city in Turkey with a population of over 2.5 million inhabitants. In 2015, Antalyaspor inaugurated their new 32,537 capacity Antalya Stadium. Can you be the manager to unlock that potential?
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Parma Calcio
The 1990’s proved a glorious era for Parma, bankrolled by Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi, the club won its first major honour in 1991/92 by winning the Coppa Italia. Immediately afterwards a UEFA Cup Winners Cup title followed in 1992/93 and Gialloblu then reached the final of the same competition in 1993/94, where they lost to Arsenal FC.
In 1994/95, Parma defeated Juventus in the UEFA Cup final before then in 1998/99 winning a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double. Finally, in 2001/02, the club won their third Coppa Italia in ten years, emerging victorious against Juventus on away goals after a 2-2 score-line over two legs.
Despite their status as “Cup Kings” in Italy between 1992 and 2002 in Italy, Parma never won a Serie A title. The closest they came was under Carlo Ancelotti’s management in 1996/97, when they finished as runners-up in Serie A to Juventus by just a margin of two points.
Can you now succeed where Ancelotti and legendary members of that 1996/97 team failed such as Gianluigi Buffon, Roberto Sensini, Dino Baggio, Hernan Crespo, Fabio Cannavaro, Enrico Chiesa and Lilian Thuram and win the Serie A title? After relegation in 2020/21, Parma find themselves in Serie B for 2021/22. In the last 20 years since the glory era ended, Parma have had to endure two bankruptcies and a strong decline. Are you the manager to revive the glory days?
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We next take a detour to Argentina, a league dominated historically by clubs
from either Buenos Aires city or the region of Greater Buenos Aires. However,
your title-less club you must play as on FM22 hails from the other side of the
country, from Godoy Cruz in Mendoza Province, it is Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz.
Founded in June 1921, Bodeguero (Wine Producer) recently celebrated their centenary year and are current members of the Argentina Primera Division, the top flight of Argentine football. The club won a second tier title in 2005/06 and finished as runners-up to Boca Juniors in the 2017/18 Primera Division by a margin of just two points.
Can you now make Godoy Cruz and the Mendoza region famous for something other than wine by leading them to an historic first title triumph? With a South American save, there is the chance for players to also manage in the Copa Libertadores. Following up a first Argentine title with a first Libertadores triumph is a great new save objective to aspire to here.
Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz
Founded in June 1921, Bodeguero (Wine Producer) recently celebrated their centenary year and are current members of the Argentina Primera Division, the top flight of Argentine football. The club won a second tier title in 2005/06 and finished as runners-up to Boca Juniors in the 2017/18 Primera Division by a margin of just two points.
Can you now make Godoy Cruz and the Mendoza region famous for something other than wine by leading them to an historic first title triumph? With a South American save, there is the chance for players to also manage in the Copa Libertadores. Following up a first Argentine title with a first Libertadores triumph is a great new save objective to aspire to here.
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Back to Europe and more specifically Belgium for the next club seeking a first
national title in the shape of Royal Charleroi Sporting Club. Les Zebres were
founded in 1904 and in addition to being a club who has never won a Belgian
championship title, they have also yet to have a Belgian Cup honour to their
name.
The closest Royal Charleroi came to an elusive first title was in the 1968/69 season, when they finished 2nd in the Belgian Pro League, five points behind eventual winners Standard de Liege. In the Belgian Cup, Charleroi twice have finished as runners-up, firstly to Beveren in 1977/78 and secondly to their old nemesis Standard Liege in 1992/93.
Can you be the man to go down in Charleroi history by leading them to an historic first league title? Belgium is an ever-improving league which recently has developed a fine reputation for young talent emerging onto the scene. It should be a good fun league to play in, especially for those FM players who like playing and developing young talent.
Royal Charleroi Sporting Club
The closest Royal Charleroi came to an elusive first title was in the 1968/69 season, when they finished 2nd in the Belgian Pro League, five points behind eventual winners Standard de Liege. In the Belgian Cup, Charleroi twice have finished as runners-up, firstly to Beveren in 1977/78 and secondly to their old nemesis Standard Liege in 1992/93.
Can you be the man to go down in Charleroi history by leading them to an historic first league title? Belgium is an ever-improving league which recently has developed a fine reputation for young talent emerging onto the scene. It should be a good fun league to play in, especially for those FM players who like playing and developing young talent.
Toulouse FC
One such club without a Ligue 1 title to boast about is Toulouse FC. The modern incarnation of the club which was formed in 1970 was a continuation of the original Toulouse FC which was formed in 1937, won a Coupe de France title in 1957, finished as Ligue 1 runners-up in 1955 before selling its place in Ligue 1 to Red Star FC in 1967 and folding shortly afterwards.
The modern club have never won a Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue or Ligue 1, their highest classification being a 3rd place Ligue 1 finish in 2007/08. Toulouse is more known as being a Rugby city, with Stade Toulousian in Rugby Union being amongst the most successful European club sides in that particular sport.
Can you be the one to deliver a famous first French football title to The Pink City? Toulouse FC is currently playing in Ligue 2 and has recently had a majority takeover by American investment firm RedBird Capital Partners. They also have former Tottenham Hotspur, Saint-Etienne and Liverpool FC director of football Damien Comoli as club president.
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Because we are feeling generous, we are giving you a choice in the final
title-less club to lead to glory. The challenge comes from England and FM gamers
can choose one of the following current Premier League clubs, Southampton FC or
West Ham United.
Southampton have spent 44 years of their history in the top flight of English football. They have won just one solitary FA Cup in 1975/76, when they defeated Manchester United in the final at Wembley. The Saints have played in two EFL League Cup finals in 1978/79 and 2016/17, losing both to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United respectively. Their highest league finish though was runners-up in the 1983/84 English top flight by just three points to Liverpool FC.
West Ham United like Southampton have finished as runners-up in the EFL League Cup twice (1965/66 and 1980/81). The Hammers have also won three FA Cup titles (1963/64, 1974/75 and 1979/80), unlike Southampton, however, West Ham also possess European honours, having won a UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1964/65 and a UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. However, West Ham’s highest finish in the English top flight was a 3rd place finish in 1985/86.
Southampton FC or West Ham United
Southampton have spent 44 years of their history in the top flight of English football. They have won just one solitary FA Cup in 1975/76, when they defeated Manchester United in the final at Wembley. The Saints have played in two EFL League Cup finals in 1978/79 and 2016/17, losing both to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United respectively. Their highest league finish though was runners-up in the 1983/84 English top flight by just three points to Liverpool FC.
West Ham United like Southampton have finished as runners-up in the EFL League Cup twice (1965/66 and 1980/81). The Hammers have also won three FA Cup titles (1963/64, 1974/75 and 1979/80), unlike Southampton, however, West Ham also possess European honours, having won a UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1964/65 and a UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. However, West Ham’s highest finish in the English top flight was a 3rd place finish in 1985/86.
