Anneka's Challenge – Take 2 (by binny)
Your name is Rushind Anneka (or similar); born and bred in Angola (or Papua New Guinea - see later). You end up in a country where the standard of domestic football is not as high as in a neighbouring country, and somehow, you end up with a job in the lowest (playable) tier.
THE AIM
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To take your chosen club as far as possible in the lesser leauges and keep an up to date story on your progress. The higher you get and the more trophys you pick up, the better. However once you feel you are established enough in the lesser country your main aim shall be to leapfrog from there to the neighbouring country (third tier at best, or lowest tier available). To victory in the major Continental competition with your new side will be what wins the challenge for you.
ANY CATCHES?
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Yes Actually, Just two though.
1* You must stick with the same club in the lesser league throughout, and mirror this loyalty in the superior league. If you are sacked, you fail.
2* You must take one of your youth players which you have nurtured since you began there to the superiro league with you. This is any player who has come through your youth system (i.e. not signed); age is irrelevant.
List of lesser and superior countries (you only need to choose one combination) - subject to change
Wales/N Ireland/Rep Ireland/Scotland; England
Portugal; Spain - If you choose this option, your nationality must be Papuan Austria; Germany Belgium; France/Holland Switzerland; Italy Iceland; Denmark Finland; Norway/Sweden Belarus/Ukraine; Russia Slovakia; Czech Republic Slovenia; Croatia/Serbia & Montenegro Hungary/Bulgaria; Romania USA; Mexico - If you choose this option, your nationality must be Papuan Hong Kong; China Singapore/Malaysia; Indonesia Uruguay/Peru/Chile/Colombia; Argentina/Brazil - If you choose this option, your nationality must be Papuan South Korea; Japan (if you are playing a CM version of the challenge).
Ancient History Re-Write - Roman Only by Brian of Nazareth[/b]
Stage 1 - Home Rule
Starting off in Rome with a Roman elite side - start by ensuring Rome is the
leading club, by claiming all major honours at domestic level. Of course,
each match squad must contain pure-bred Italians, and no half measures
either - purely Italian.
Stage 2 - Asia Minor
With Rome in safe hands, you decide to venture further abroad to expand the
empire. First on the list is Turkey, where with your expertise, you should
be able to comfortably take the honours at your disposal, though of course
this will be achieved by bringing with you 2 players of your choice from
Roma/Lazio. Of course, in your final season before you leave, at least 60%
of your first team must be left behind.
Stage 3 Veni Vidi Vici
stage where you go and conquor England with a club from the south east.
Claim the Premiership title with a Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth,
Brighton etc. Employing Italian scouts and coaches is of course a bonus.
This is only a brief stop but once more the Italian presence must be left
behind with 6 of your first teamers left behind - including your captain.
Stage 4 Germania
Now then, ordered to fight here by Maximus Deridius the challenge is bring
your companions along with you once more, as they aid the overhaul of the
Bundesliga. As per usual domestic honours and leave strong quota of Italians
behind - at least a 60% majority of your first team.
Stage 5 The Republic Is Dying!
Argh, with the Republic dying from political feuds and the return of the
Emperor on the horizon under Augustus, you must return home to revitalise a
decadent city. Take control of the lowest Roman / Naples side - presumably
will be Napoli. Hopefully there's be at least one in a lower league. With
greater social acceptance foreigners aren't quite so outlawed although the
citizens still believe in the air superiority, so there can only be a
maximum of 5 outsiders in your match squad. Win Italian honours, and then
claim the Champions League. Rome Rule once again and restore pride to the
Empire.
Optional Stage: As a mark of the nations dominance, glory should be achieved
with a World Cup triumph - but this can be achieved at any stage in the
challenge.
The Colonial Returns. by Spurzgrrl
Start with the league of a country which is a former colony of a major European country (for instance, South Africa, India, USA, or Australia would be possible starting points, among others, for England; Brazil for Portugal, and so on). Win the league, and whatever continental competition there might be available (Asian Champions Cup, Copa Libertadores, whatever). Then get a job in the mother country, and win her leagues and continental competitions too - preferably with at least one star player (First Team status or better) from the colony you started in. Lots and lots of wide open possibilities in this one, lots of country combinations, and adjustable for various skill levels - if you're an utter muppet, start with the USA and win their leagues before moving on to England. If you're the reincarnation of Shankly Himself, start in Singapore. Similarly, it's easier to win the Portuguese or French leagues than the EPL or La Liga.
Why is that harder? Because you're going to struggle to get a job in the mother country with the reputation hit you're having from playing in such a low-rep league. Start in a higher-rep league, the second phase will be easier to accomplish.
Off the top of my head, the combinations possible would include:
England: USA/Australia/South Africa/India/Singapore/Hong Kong
France: South Korea
Spain: Argentina/Chile/Colombia/Mexico/Peru/Uruguay
Portugal: Brazil
Holland: Indonesia/Malaysia
I'd also add that anyone who starts in China or Japan could pick the country of their colony, as most of the large European countries had a big presence there: this would open up Italy, Germany, and Russia, for sure.
I don't think that any of the colonies of the other European countries have leagues in the game.
Judas Challenge by HD
My favourite idea now is the non-original "Judas" challenge. Take a wee team outside teh top division to the top league and into Europe, then leave for a "bigger" club that has either been relegated or slumped to be clearly worse than your present team and take them to a Premier/top division title. Finally leave them for a yet "bigger" club and win the prem plus a european trophy.
You'd need to be careful in stage 2 not to take a "top tier" club.
You have the obligatory "win the world cup" at the end too, for fun
Crossing the Berlin Wall by bartley_m
1. Taking Russia Start in Russia, take lowest possible league team and bring them to championship glory. Russian players only.
2Taking Europe Move to a Berlin team (e.g. Hertha) and take them to League, cup and CL glory (not in same season but say within 5 or 6 seasons?). Most use only communist players (see countries listed below) and German players.
3. Taking the World Finally, The US of A. Infiltrate a top half of top division club and create an entirely communist team (i.e. all players must come from a country that was communist durin cold war - China, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro etc)
Arnold Schwarzenegger Challenge by bartley_m
1. The start Take control of Graz, the town of Schwarzenegger's birth. Get them to the league title.
2. The Big Break Move on to 1860 Munich and take them to CL success.
3. Hollywood and politics Take Los Angeles Soccer team to the American title.
4. President Become the boss of the american national team and take them to world cup victory.
The Rise of Football [b]by beanochris
1.
Russia. Take a lower league Russian team with very little following and get them into the top league, then qualify for the UEFA Cup/Champions Leage to 'Give Europe a Warning'.
2.
Ukraine. Take over a Ukranian club with little reputation, bring 3 of your players at your last club with you, and achieve title success, getting past the first round of a European Competition to remind Europe that Communism is coming...
3.
Poland. Take over a Polish club (if possible), bringing 3 players from your previous club with you. Achieve the last 16 of a European competition to remind Europe. Also during this period, have many friendlies with American/UK clubs, to keep support from the Western Bloc. (Bloc is such a cool word)
4.
Build the Berlin Wall: Take over a German team based in Berlin. Bring in 3 players from your previous team. Build a considerable gap over other teams based in Berlin (hence the wall being built). Win a European competition to warn Europe: Communism is here!
5.
USA. Gain one step further than the communists. Secretly take over America by becoming manager of an American team. Bring in one player from your previous club (only one in order to keep away suspicion) and win the Major League twice in a row. America is now youes.
Finally...
6.
International. Take one of the countries that you passed through (Either Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, USA) and guide them to Cup success. Then world domination is yours.
Alphabet Challenge by Mochard
How about some kind of alphabet challenge. Where you start at a club begining with A then move to a club starting with B and so on. There is even a club beginning with X.
You would have to have leagues that have all 26 letters in but England covers pretty much all of the letters. Not sure what you would have to do before moving clubs maybe win a cup or promotion or something or maybe nothing just try and get through the alphabet in as few seasons as possible.
FootballMania Challenge by iamnobody Phase I – Learning about Football
Just as the Beatles started off in small clubs you need to start with a small club. Start off with any English Conference North or South (preferable one that is around Liverpool, but this is not required). This phase is completed when you have taken your team of choice to the Second Division.
Phase II – Getting Experience in Germany
After learning your trade in England it is time to work abroad. Apply for any available job in the lowest German division. After taking a job in Germany take that team to the top German division and win at least one trophy in Germany.
Phase III – Your Grand Return
Once you take your German team you have proven that you are a good manager…in Germany. Now is the time to return to England and take a team to the top. Take any 2nd division team to the EPL. In order to complete this phase ONE of these trophies must be won, the EPL, FA Cup or the CL. Once ANY of them are won then this phase is complete. You may continue to coach until you receive a job in the MLS to start the next phase but any cups/leagues won do NOT count for any other phase.
Phase IV – A New Continent
Just as the Beatles made it huge in America you must do the same. Go to the MLS and apply for any vacant job. Once a coach in the MLS you must win ALL available cups/leagues to complete this phase. The Cup/Leagues you must win are the following: MLS Cup, Open Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. These do NOT need to be done in the same season. Once completed this phase is done.
Phase V – A Second Grand Return
Again you return to England as a conquering hero. You will need to be hired by an EPL team, but the requirements to finish this phase are the same as in Phase III. Once you win either the EPL, FA Cup, or the CL this phase is complete. You may continue to manage while waiting for a job opening in the next phase, but awards will not count to the challenge.
Phase VI – Your Spiritual Awaking
After your return to England you realize that life is not all about winning trophies. You must be hired by a team in the Indian National Football League. You must take this team and win all available Cups. These are: Durand Cup, Federation Cup, National Football League, and the AFC Champions League. These do not have to be won in the same season. After winning your last trophy in India then you can start looking for a job in England again. You can continue to coach in India while waiting for a job in England to open up.
Phase VII - The Finale
This is it. Your long journey is over. The final phase consists of the following. You must take over a team in England (any team/any division) and you must win the following trophies: the FA Cup, Champions League, and the EPL. Only a couple requirements:
1) You must win at least two of the trophies in one season.
2) You must have one player from each country that you managed in and each player must play in at least half your games during the season.
If you can complete the challenge then you have won Continental Cups on three different continents and you can retire as the greatest manager of all time. Just as the Beatles are the greatest band of all time
The Summer Holidays Challenge by Peacemaker7 Stage 1 – The UK
As you are a young adult, not yet established in your career, your choice of holidays is limited to the UK and Ireland. To reflect this you can start your career at any club in a UK holiday destination of your choice. The only limits are they must be lower than the top league in Scotland, N Ireland, and the Republic and lower than the Championship in England.
(ie Torquay, Bournemouth, Blackpool, Ayr etc)
Once you have guided your club to be the Champions of their country, you are ready to take holidays abroad
Stage 2 – The Mediterranean
At this stage you can choose to holiday in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey or Greece. Choose a team from a coastal resort in the country of your choice, outwith the top division and guide them to a European trophy either Champions League or UEFA Cup.
(teams to be worked out)
Stage 3 – The Orient
Take a team from Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia or Indonesia and guide them to continental success. Any team is allowed.
Stage 4 – The World Tour
Take any of the countries you have managed in and try to win the World Cup. You must at least get passed the first group stage of the finals to progress to the next stage of the challenge.
tage 5- Back to the Future Old age is a time for reminiscing. Take over your original team, and win the Champions League or UEFA Cup three times
Once that’s done the challenge is over and you have died.
China: The Superpower Challenge by Young Jimlad
Start off at the bottom of the Chinese football ladder and work your way to the top (include the Hong Kong 1st Division), leading a team of all Chinese players to continental success, and if possible, victory in the Club World Championship (that is of course if its actually in FM2005). After this get appointed as the manager of the Chinese national side and win titles at international level.
The Da Vinci Code Challenge by Young Jimlad
As American Robert Langdon, start your quest at a lower level Parisian club work your way up to the top of French football with that club or another Parisian club (you’re only allowed to move to other clubs from the Paris vicinity). In search of answers make a move to a London club (there are plenty) and take them or another London club to the top of English football. Finally make a move to one of the clubs in the vicinity of Edinburgh and through success find the Holy Grail.
In this challenge European titles are optional until the third phase where they are mandatory.
Unititled as Yet by BrianW
1.You start in the second or third tier of your chosen country and choose two teams to act as a feeder club for Only one of these clubs can be in the top division of your country. You may only buy or loan players from these two clubs, or free agents who last played for one of the two clubs, or have played no competitive games at any level in any country. You have to win the national championship with this team.
2. Now you have to help out any of the clubs you've been sponging off who have fallen on hard times. You cannot continue onto stage 3 unless all three of the clubs in your alliance are in the top flight. You may achieve this by selling the required players at the required prices to your allies to help the AI gain promotion, or if the opportunity arises, take over at a club in need of help. If you were to do this, you would only be allowed to buy players from your original club, and the 3rd ally.
3. Take control of the national team of your choice (hint: this will be the country you are managing in almost without exception) and select two further clubs to make an alliance of 5 clubs. Now win either the continental championship or World Cup with players from those 5 clubs only.
Easy company (Band of brothers challenge) by bubbles
1.
preparation (curahee)
originally trained in georgia, for the challenge we move the traing phase to the south coast of england ready for the move across the channel...
take control of any south coust side an guide them to the title of whatever division they are in.
during this seaon you should try to appoint a least one US national to the staff (suggest either Asst man or player)
Stage two (D-day)
move into europe taking control of the lowest availble french league team in the normandy area (see what i mean about geography!)
lead this side to the french title.
you must take your previously appointed US national with you (as you will try to do the whole way through the challenge)
stage 3. (going dutch)
Take charge at eindhoven in holland and lead them to the dutch title
stage 4 (Belium)
Take charge of a struggling belgium side and lead them to the leage title (there will be a club restriction, havent figured out what yet)
stage five (liberate europe)
take charge of a german side (restrictions again)
lead this side to domestic and then european dominance.
this side must have as many US in as possible.
stage 6 (concurrent)
Take any of the available european national jobs from countries involved in the challenge at any point in the game lead them to european championship glory.
Stage 7
If possible take control of the US team (after stage 6 complete) and lead them to world cup glory proving once and for all that you can force europe (and the rest of the globe) into sporting submission.
The No Surrender Challenge by Raptor
An FMS Challenge designed to suit both single and multiplayer games, the No Surrender Challenge is about stopping the Fourth Reich (a.k.a. European Union) in its tracks. Or helping it supersede nation states as we know it, whatever takes your fancy you part-time Hitler. Bear in mind you’d be a fascist, globalist pig if you choose the latter
Phase 1
Erm, actually, non of this “Phase x” boll0cks. Welcome to the most non-linear challenge in the stories forum’s history. Your only restriction (in honour of The Kevin Keegan Challenge ) is that you have to start outside the top flight of your chosen starting league.
So, no path to follow, and some vague ramblings about stopping the EU… How do we go about this? Well, as you know, some folks are happy with the union, others despise it. That’s what we invented democracy for: we sit down, talk things over, and have the majority of our democratically elected representatives decide what happens next. Right? RIGHT?! Well, not in the EU. The European Parliament is a paper tiger as we tend to say in the Netherlands, a powerless group of parliamentary rejects, a bunch of money-draining bureaucrats and a lot who quite frankly [deleted to keep secret service from Casa Raptor]. We’re talking about 700+ people here, whose voices and votes mean next to f*ck all. But we’ll use their balance of “power” as the basis for this challenge’s points nevertheless (pre-planned post-2009 figures). I’m sure they’ll sleep well tonight, knowing that for the first time in 25 years, they were good for something. So below you’ll find the number of Challenge Points up for grabs for every EU nation. This includes Romania and Bulgaria, who will join the Union in 2007.
Pts/Country
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99 Germany
72 United Kingdom
72 France
72 Italy
50 Spain
50 Poland
33 Romania
25 Netherlands
22 Greece
22 Belgium
22 Portugal
20 Czech Republic
20 Hungary
18 Sweden
17 Austria
17 Bulgaria
13 Slovakia
13 Denmark
13 Finland
12 Ireland
12 Lithuania (not selectable)
8 Latvia (not selectable)
7 Slovenia
6 Estonia (not selectable)
6 Cyprus (not selectable)
6 Luxembourg (not selectable)
5 Malta (not selectable)
Twenty-seven countries then, and 21 have their league in FM2005 (older versions have a lot less available, but this challenge is still playable on any version of CM).
Save yourself the bother of adding up everything, the total is 732, the number of MEPs from 2009 onwards. Though the EU loves to apply QMV (Qualified Majority Voting) whenever it suits the Franco-German alliance, we’ll go for the slightly more simple solution of outright majority. Earning 367 points will win you this challenge.
Got that? Good, now pay attention, cos we all know politicians are useless, especially those on the Scottish Green Party’s case. We’re gonna let footballers do the talking. It’s time to vote with the boot. Hell, they probably have more influence on people than those paid good money to run our political structures.
To earn any nation's points, achieve any of the following collections of silverware:
* two (top flight) league titles
* three FA and/or League Cups (or equivalent)
* the Double (league title + FA Cup)
Furthermore, in all but the six most valuable countries, the following combination will also suffice:
* one (top flight) league title plus 2 FA and/or League Cups (or equivalent)
Single-player mode: You’re free to change jobs around Europe and take on anything you want to. However, as soon as you move to another country, you have to win any piece of silverware (this includes charity shields, lower league cups and lower division championships, but not “mere” promotions) within 3 full seasons of going there. If you fail to do so, your mission in that particular country has failed. Should you lift any trophy, no matter how insignificant, you may carry on for a maximum of 2 further seasons (5 in total, the lifespan of a European Parliament) to meet the above criteria to earn a nation’s points. Again, if unsuccessful, it’s "mission failed", in which case the points on offer go to “the other side”. A season is deemed a full season if control of any club in that nation is obtained no later than the last day of the month of the opening (top flight) league fixture.
Leaving a country before you hit the target equals admitting defeat and sees the points go to other side, except for first time you do this (which will be your only let-off in the entire challenge). Using this solitary “escape” resets both the timer and silverware for this particular nation, so you’re free to try it again. If you dare. Please note you won’t be considered to have “left” a country until the time you’ve started a new job in a different country. If in between leaving a country and starting a new job the 3 or 5 year period to achieve success elapses, you lose that country’s points! So if you’re considering abandoning a sinking ship, leave yourself with enough time to get a job elsewhere. The final whistle blown on the final league game in the highest division (or cup final if played at a later date) constitutes the end of the season. Playoff games and the like won’t be considered a stay of execution.
Multi-player mode: no time limit, first to hit target gets points, no punishment for abandoning a country, you can always go back and pray your rival doesn’t hit the national target first.
Bonuses during the game:
Winning the UEFA Cup: points for the nation of the losing finalist (if still up for grabs and if EU member)
Winning the European Cup: points for the nation of the losing finalist (if still up for grabs and if EU member) + points for not selected nation of choice
Single-player backfire mode: losing a European final means the points of the nation beating you go against you, as a "mission failed"
Bonuses to be nominated at start of game:
1x "twinned" nation: points for any non-selected league of choice linked to outcome of attempt in other (selected) country
1x double points nomination: at the start of the game, you must nominate one country for double points. Select carefully: success means a giant leap towards hitting the overall target, failure would be a major setback. Go for maximum points in Germany, or for "safe" points in a country you know well.
City-specific bonuses:
Certain cities take a special place in EU history, as places where key treaties were signed or major institutions are hosted. Achieving national targets with clubs from these cities results in double points (note: cannot be combined with "double points nomination", maximum number of points for any single nation is twice its nominal value). This city-specific bonus cannot "backfire" on you should you fail to hit the national target.
Multiplayer alternative: instead of doubling your own points, you may opt to take the points of any other nation rated equal to or lower than your current, selected or not. This leaves you with the tactical option of ruining the hard work done by your rival, who might be about to scoop the points of that other country after a few seasons of hard work.
Treaty of Paris (ECSC)
Treaty of Rome (EEC)
Maastricht Treaty (EU)
Treaty of Nice (New balance of power)
Luxembourg (ECJ)
Frankfurt (ECB)
Brussels (EP)
Strasbourg (EP)
Amsterdam Treaty (Eastward expansion)
Single player or multiplayer, hitting the overall target of 367 points mean you win the challenge. But beware: fail in a few countries, and your score against (single player) or your rival’s tally (multiplayer) will hit 367 before you do, and that means game over. Points for any nation can only go to one player, and once they’re awarded, they’re “greyed out”. While you’re still allowed to take up managerial jobs there, they serve no purpose. The points cannot be nicked anymore, so it’s best to move elsewhere at the earliest available opportunity.
International Management
For some reason, it became fashionable to include an International management stage in about 90% of challenges submitted in the past few years, and occasionally, it looked like such a stage existed purely for the sake of having one. To counter this, I was going to ban International management from this challenge outright. But I’d only get Brussels’ anti-competition commissioner knocking on my door, and I’d rather die of AIDS/cancer/watching A**x play than listen to their sh*t, so if you want to have a stint on the International stage, by all means, be my guest. I guess I should make it interesting for you then eh? Let’s call it “Knocking on Europe’s Door”. Your restrictions are: any International team you manage has to be a non-EU member, and you can’t manage a club side at the same time. Points are obtained by eliminating EU members from the knockout stages of the European Championships, World Cup or Olympics. Your reward for taking such a scalp is their nominal value, but only if their league isn’t selected. Should any of these nations knock you out, points go against you. Furthermore, under no circumstances is it possible to win or lose the points for the six most valuable nations via this International route.
Notes:
1) At the start of the game, you must select one “home nation” (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) to represent the United Kingdom and its 72 points. At least, if you want to run any of them, that is. While you’re allowed to run, and even manage in, the other three, they do not have any influence on your points tally.
2) The handful of “double points” opportunities mean the total number of points up for grabs is actually higher than 732, but this does not change the winning target of 367. Instead, it enables people with less powerful computers to still participate in this challenge. For instance, running just three leagues (and four divisions, due to the forced lower league start) might do, if you nominate Germany as your double points nation (2x99=198), take Paris, Nice or Strasbourg to enough French glory (2x72=144), and hit the target in the Netherlands (25). This would give you exactly 367 points. Theoretically, you could even complete the challenge with just one league running, by winning a few European trophies and beating teams from powerful nations in the process. The Asylum Seeker Challenge by Badgers
Wanted dead by your own government, you must seek refuge in England. Leaving your country, (any non-EU country in Eastern Europe) you must make your way across Europe through connecting countries, ending up in France. Once in France you must either :
(1) Get your French side an away match against an English side in European competition (not a friendly), resign after the match and run off into the English criminal low life. Eventually get yourself a job in England and take them to big success, earning yourself a UK passport.
(2) Whilst managing a Northern French side with a major port, eg. Calais, sneak aboard a ferry and end up in a Southern UK city with a major port, eg. Portsmouth, Southampton, Dover. Take this side to big success and earn yourself a UK passport.
Easy / low spec version : Going across Europe to France you may only move countries after winning the main league competition or if you are approached to manage another team in a connecting country.
Hard / high spec version : Going across Europe to France you may only move countries after winning the main league competition with a team from a lower division or if you are approached to manage a team in a connecting country. Due to keeping a low profile you must not manage teams in any capital cities.
Untitled as Yet by King Jeff
Especially liked the Communist Challenge idea (I think I had entered something along teh same lines a couple years ago during one of the Challenge votes), and between the suggestions on the first two pages I think you could create a dynamite European scenario. I was thinking about how an Asian version of this would play, though, and came up with this. It needs work (and a more flushed out back story) but I think it would be a little different than the usual...I've tried to keep it short and achievable because of how slow FM plays compared to when we used to be able to make CM challenges that lasted 15-20 years.
Requirements: You must, must, must play the first stage with a tactic that you have created yourself. The requirements will change throughout the challenge, though.
Phase 1: Russia You've got your first big break: managing any team not in Moscow or St. Petersburg in the Russian Second Division. Your goal? Get your club into the top league and get your name established as one of the top young managers in the country. Once you've established your club in the top half of the Premier Division (finish at least one year there) you look abroad to spread your revolutionary ideas on football management to a place that may be on the verge of a revolution of its own...
Phase 2: China You arrive in the mainland with your custom tactics but discover your way of thinking isn't very much appreciated in the heart of Communism. Rather than risk your career by revolting, you conform. Playing a flat 4-4-2, take over any team in China and with a team of all Chinese players (you wouldn't dare risk playing a foreigner) win the Chinese Premier Division. Your successes lead you to believe that falling in line isn't so bad after all...spread the message to the Capitalist swine in the Land of the Rising Sun
Phase 3: Japan. No country in Asia is in more need of a little Communism...playing your adopted 4-4-2, spread out the balance of power by using different teams to win the J-League, Emperor's Cup and the Asian Champions League. Each team you play as must have a first team squad with at least 2 Russians and 2 Chinese players.
(should take about 6-9 seasons to complete depending on your success and how quickly you can land a job in another country)
The University Career Challenge by Pierroth
Before you start the challenge, you have to have an idea of which university you wish to go to. I'd still need to finalize the list and try find the most recent rankings, but you'd have to choose one of the top 20-30 universities in Europe to make your home at. The "home" team of the university will be obvious in some cases (Cambridge United, Oxford United, etc.) and pretty open-ended in others; the home team must also NOT be in the top division in the country (No picking Hearts if you're going to the University of Edinburgh). As well, you must adopt the nationality of that nation; if you're going to school in France, you're French. Deal with it.
You can also edit in a team through a swap file which meets these requirements if you wish.
Stage 1 - Passing the Entrance Exam
What, you thought that you could just waltz into a place of higher learning without any strings attached? Afraid not. In order to be accepted to the university of your choosing, you need to pass the entrance exams to make sure that they'll allow you in.
Take control of any team near your university; I'm thinking the closer the better. (Don't waltz off to Carlisle if you want to attend Cambridge, for example.) If possible, the team must be below the league that your chosen university is; if it's not possible, then pick a team in the same division. You can ace the exam by earning promotion in your first season; failing that, two top-half of the table finishes (ideally in two seasons, but you might be a bit slow...) will get you a passing grade.
Stage 2 - Studying at Home
Now it's time to crack open the books; if you thought it was tough enough getting into university, you haven't seen anything yet. You'll have to go to great lengths to end up as outstanding graduate.
Move straight to your chosen "university" as soon as possible. Your goal is to work your way up to the top division in your chosen country; once there, you must win the league title and the country's main domestic cup, as well as make the finals of either the Champions League (if you're a really smart student) or the UEFA Cup (if you're a slacker). To be fair, if you're ahead of the game study-wise you can pocket the domestic cup before earning promotion to the top flight. You don't need to accomplish the double or the treble, but it would look nice on your diploma.
Stage 3 - Studying Abroad
You've got your diploma but you're still not satisfied; you have a veritable thirst for knowledge. It's time to see what some of Europe's smaller, but by no means modest universities have to offer.
Take a job at any team in Europe which has a educational-sounding name; anything with a "College" or "University" variant somewhere in the name sounds good. I'd have to make up the list but there's a large number of possibilities for this one, ranging from Spain to Romania to Ireland. Most of these teams are pretty small to begin with, but you know that the university's never going to make an impact on the world stage; a simple top-division title and one trophy of your choice (domestic cup or European trophy if you're still ambitious at this point) will suffice.
Stage 4 - Lending a Helping Hand
You're pretty much bored with university life, but you're still searching for new findings. A research trip to a poor developing/third-world country might be just the ticket; an in-depth study of the country's culture/economy/what have you could be just the ticket for instant recognition among your peers.
The following countries are those which rank among the 50 poorest countries in the world and are manageable in FM:
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Guinea, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Togo, Vanuatu, Zambia
Obviously, some of these countries are going to be much easier to manage, others more difficult; however, the choice is up to you. Your goal is to get one of these poor sides into the World Cup; however, IF you decide to pick Guinea, Mali, Republic of Congo, Senegal or Togo, that's pretty much considered taking the easiest path possible, and as a result you'd better make it to the Round of 16.
Stage 5 - The Ceremony
You've accomplished so much in such a short period of time - congratulations! But the job's not quite over yet... it's time to return to your old university to give a lecture on what you've learned throughout your journey; if that goes well, rumor has it they may grant you an honorary doctorate for your efforts.
Head back to your Stage 2 team as soon as the job becomes available; hopefully things haven't gone to hell since you departed. Since you need to present your findings, you must sign two members of your old Stage 3 team and two members of your Stage 4 national team. At least 2 of these 4 players must be in your starting lineup whenever possible. Win the league title and a European trophy and you'll have proved your worth.
*Official* FMS Challenge 2005 #2 - First Round Voting Thread. 
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