Top 8 Sleeping Giants to Rebuild in FM24

Discover the top 8 sleeping giants in FM24 and rebuild them into world-class teams. A must-read for every Football Manager fan!

Bring These Fallen Clubs Back to Glory in Football Manager 2024

Every Football Manager player loves a good rebuild save. There's something incredibly satisfying about taking a once-great club, buried in mediocrity or worse, and leading them back to their former glory. It’s the ultimate long-term project, where every signing, every tactic, and every youth prospect matters.

I’ve been down that road countless times—staring at a club’s empty trophy cabinet, imagining the Champions League nights that could return. If you’re up for a challenge in FM24, here are eight sleeping giants that are just waiting for the right manager (that’s you!) to wake them up.

1. Schalke 04 (Germany)

Once a Bundesliga powerhouse, Schalke 04 fell from grace, struggling to stay competitive due to financial troubles, poor management, and failed transfers. Now back in the 2. Bundesliga, the road to redemption is challenging. With a huge fanbase and rich history, Schalke is a top FM24 project. A strong youth academy and club infrastructure are assets, but expectations are high. Your goal is to restore financial stability and bring them back to Bundesliga dominance. Careful signings and sound tactics are key—missteps could see you out of a job fast!

READ ALSO: Top 7 Clubs with Elite Youth Academies in FM24

2. Valencia CF (Spain)

Oh, Valencia. A club with Champions League history, now plagued by financial woes and questionable ownership that have dragged them down in recent years. Once a force in Spanish football, they now struggle to maintain relevance in a league dominated by financial giants. You’ll be dealing with limited funds, making every transfer and contract renewal a crucial decision. However, the squad still has promising talents and a strong youth system that could be your key to success. Your mission? Reignite their La Liga competitiveness, restore their reputation, and finally break the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly. If you can stabilise the club financially while building a squad capable of challenging for European spots, you might just return them to their former glory.

READ ALSO: FM24 Sleeping Giants: 5 Epic Clubs to Transform into Football Powerhouses

3. Sunderland AFC (England)

If you’ve watched Sunderland ‘Til I Die, you already know this club has suffered enough. Once a proud Premier League side, they endured a painful slide down to League One before clawing their way back to the Championship. But their story isn’t over yet—far from it. Now, they need a tactical mastermind to push them back into the Premier League and restore their former status. The fans? Passionate and fiercely loyal, packing out the Stadium of Light week in and week out. The potential? Enormous, with a mix of young talent and experienced pros waiting for the right leader to take charge. If you can manage the expectations and recruit wisely, Sunderland could once again be a force to be reckoned with in English football.

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4. Sampdoria (Italy)

Once a dominant force in Serie A, Sampdoria now finds itself languishing in the second division, a shadow of its former self. The club has a rich history, with legendary players and unforgettable European nights, but recent struggles have left them adrift. Sampdoria is one of the most satisfying long-term rebuilds in FM24, offering a perfect blend of nostalgia and challenge. Can you stabilize the finances, revamp the squad, and implement a tactical system that restores their identity? If you can manage that, you just might bring them back to their glory days and challenge Juventus, Inter, and Milan once again.

READ ALSO: The Ultimate San Marino Challenge: Club and Country in Football Manager

5. Saint-Étienne (France)

Did you know Saint-Étienne holds the record for the most Ligue 1 titles? It’s hard to believe now, considering their recent struggles and the dominance of PSG. Once the kings of French football, they’ve fallen into mediocrity and are in desperate need of a leader who can restore their reputation. The passionate fanbase is still there, waiting for a revival. Your job? Put them back on the map and dethrone PSG—easier said than done, but imagine the satisfaction of breaking their monopoly on the league. With smart tactics, a focus on youth development, and a strong recruitment strategy, Saint-Étienne can rise again and reclaim their place among France’s elite.

READ ALSO: Top Reasons to Manage Ligue 1 Teams in FM24

6. Deportivo La Coruña (Spain)

Deportivo La Coruña was once a dominant force in La Liga, even winning the title in 2000. They competed in the Champions League, taking on Europe's best, and boasted a squad full of top-tier talent. But now, they find themselves stuck in Spain’s lower divisions, far from the glory days, struggling to reclaim their place among the elite. The financial situation isn't great, and rebuilding won’t be easy, but with a strong youth system and a dedicated fanbase, the potential is there.

With smart transfers, a well-structured tactical approach, and a long-term vision, you can lead them back to the top and write a new chapter in their history. The road to success will be long, but imagine the satisfaction of taking Deportivo from the depths of obscurity back into La Liga—and beyond.

READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024: Resurrecting the Fallen Giants

7. Hamburger SV (Germany)

Hamburg’s fall from Bundesliga mainstays to 2. Bundesliga regulars is one of the biggest shocks in German football. Once a club that consistently challenged for European spots, they now struggle to even return to the top flight. With a stadium built for big occasions and a devoted fanbase that still believes in a comeback, Hamburg presents an ideal FM24 save for those who love the challenge of reviving a fallen club. The infrastructure is in place, but financial struggles and underperforming squads have kept them stuck in mediocrity. With smart transfers, solid tactics, and a long-term vision, you could be the one to bring them back to where they belong.

READ ALSO: Top 5  Fallen Giants in Football Manager 2024

8. Parma (Italy)

Parma’s history is steeped in greatness—think Buffon, Cannavaro, and Crespo—but in recent years, they’ve become a yo-yo club, bouncing between Serie A and Serie B, never quite able to regain the stability of their golden era. A club once feared across Europe, they now struggle with inconsistency, financial difficulties, and an over-reliance on short-term solutions.

To truly restore their former glory, they need a steady hand, a clear long-term vision, and a manager willing to navigate the challenges of lower-tier football before taking them back to the big stage. The passionate fanbase is desperate for success, and the infrastructure is still solid—this club is crying out for a revival. Can you build a squad capable of climbing back up and once again challenging Italy’s elite? It won’t be easy, but if you succeed, you’ll have written a legendary comeback story.

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Final Thoughts

Rebuilding a sleeping giant in FM24 isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in the game. Whether you’re reviving Schalke, leading Valencia back to glory, or bringing Deportivo out of the shadows, every decision you make matters. So, which club will you wake up first? Now go on, fire up FM24, and make history.