Ever managed a rival club? Would you ever consider doing it?

[Stone Cold]

In real life, managers and players often work for clubs that are rivals of their favourite clubs. They try to be professional about it and do their best regardless. 

Football Manager is basically you simulating the life of a professional football manager. But how far are you willing to go? 

As a huge Benfica fan, I wouldn't be able to manage Porto or Sporting. It would just feel wrong to achieve success with those clubs. I know it's just a game, but I want the game to be enjoyable. And I wouldn't enjoy myself managing two clubs I strongly dislike. 

Anyone else in Portugal is fine by me. I've managed Vitória Guimarães and Beira-Mar in the past and those were fun experiences. 

 

What about you? 

 

[FrazT]

No, not under any circumstances.

[rusty217]

Yep, it's not an issue for me. I don't play as myself. I create a manager and role play as them. I'd never manage one of their rival clubs, but I have no issue managing one of my rival clubs.

[bpecanha]

I support Vasco da Gama (Brazil), our main rivals are Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo. Flamengo and Fluminense I would never manage, but Vasco's relationship with Botafogo is kinda good despite the rivalry. So I've managed them in FM16. In two years, I won the Rio State Championship, Brazilian Serie A, Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup.

The Club World Cup was a shocker because we have faced Al Ain from United Arab Emirates in the final, they won 2-1 against Juventus in the semis. And in the final we've wasted a lot of chances, they held us to penalties, but then we won 6-5.

[parsdaft1982]

No way, not happening EVER lol

[gunner86]

Done it before, would do it again. A project is a project.

[Tony Wright 747]

I don't think I could ever manage Pompey

[EvilWolf1980]

I could never go to Man utd or Everton 

[Harper]

Only to ruin them

[kevhamster]

On 23/09/2023 at 11:42, Tony Wright 747 said:

I don't think I could ever manage Pompey

Same! It'd be a struggle for me. 

[sgevolker]

No. Some clubs are a no go for me, in real life and in FM. Wouldn‘t be fun for me to manage them. 

[Tony Wright 747]

1 hour ago, kevhamster said:

Same! It'd be a struggle for me. 

Either one of us could probably do a better job than Martin at the moment

[Iggy Hassan]

I'm a Bradford City fan, so managing Leeds was always a big no. However, they always seem in dire need of sorting out for the better. They have some good youngsters at the club, so maybe this year I will have a go. I just can't stand their fans...

Maybe not divulge that in my first press conference 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Iggy Hassan

[samrnpage]

Yes of course, it aint that deep and all it does is narrow your options and narrows your mind. As much as you hate you admit it, everyone loves to hate their rivals and without your rivals your seasons and football clubs are a lot more dull. 

[fc.cadoni]

No, nope, never. 

[Brasilia88]

I support PSV and no way I'd go for Ajax. Maybe Feyenoord though, but that's a family matter. Besides, Ajax is already easy mode. However, people forgot to tell the club IRL that...

[streety]

No not ever. 

[BadAss88]

On 22/09/2023 at 23:35, Stone Cold said:

In real life, managers and players often work for clubs that are rivals of their favourite clubs. They try to be professional about it and do their best regardless. 

Football Manager is basically you simulating the life of a professional football manager. But how far are you willing to go? 

As a huge Benfica fan, I wouldn't be able to manage Porto or Sporting. It would just feel wrong to achieve success with those clubs. I know it's just a game, but I want the game to be enjoyable. And I wouldn't enjoy myself managing two clubs I strongly dislike. 

Anyone else in Portugal is fine by me. I've managed Vitória Guimarães and Beira-Mar in the past and those were fun experiences. 

 

What about you? 

 

Why not? In real life there are plenty of players/managers who played/managed both Benfica and Porto/Sporting..

So it doesn't seem unrealistic to me.

[GS_Ball]

I would never manage Newcastle United.

 

[Kickballz]

As previously said to ruin them.

Never seriously.

[Novem9]

No, and I find it difficult to manage any teams that have colors like our rivals. Even in Catania, which has similar colors but not exactly the same, it took me a few seasons to get used to

[Stone Cold]

Em 27/09/2023 em 00:25, BadAss88 disse:

Why not? In real life there are plenty of players/managers who played/managed both Benfica and Porto/Sporting..

So it doesn't seem unrealistic to me.

I know. But not everyone is the same. I feel like I'd be committing treason against Benfica if I lead either Sporting or Porto to both domestic and European success.

I'm going to guess based on your apparent knowledge of Portuguese football that you're also Portuguese. Surely you are aware of how seriously your average supporter takes football here and how strong the rivalry between Benfica and Sporting/Porto is?

Em 29/09/2023 em 16:33, Novem9 disse:

No, and I find it difficult to manage any teams that have colors like our rivals. Even in Catania, which has similar colors but not exactly the same, it took me a few seasons to get used to

Well, I started a save with Celtic sometime ago and I can understand how you feel. 

Managing Brighton or Real Sociedad would be weird for me at first as well, I imagine,

[BadAss88]

8 hours ago, Stone Cold said:

I know. But not everyone is the same. I feel like I'd be committing treason against Benfica if I lead either Sporting or Porto to both domestic and European success.

I'm going to guess based on your apparent knowledge of Portuguese football that you're also Portuguese. Surely you are aware of how seriously your average supporter takes football here and how strong the rivalry between Benfica and Sporting/Porto is?

Well, I started a save with Celtic sometime ago and I can understand how you feel. 

Managing Brighton or Real Sociedad would be weird for me at first as well, I imagine,

I'm Belgian so no Portugese and although I'm more of a Benfica-fan in Portugal, I've managed all of the big three in Portugal.

And do you consider Jorge Jesus as a traitor? Because he was a Sporting-player and later managed Benfica (2 times) and Sporting as well..

[kiwityke1983]

I'd never ever manage Sheffield Wednesday or Real Madrid under any circumstances.

Possibly only to relegate them as some form of double agent of destruction.

 

[Stone Cold]

47 minutos atrás, BadAss88 disse:

I'm Belgian so no Portugese and although I'm more of a Benfica-fan in Portugal, I've managed all of the big three in Portugal.

And do you consider Jorge Jesus as a traitor? Because he was a Sporting-player and later managed Benfica (2 times) and Sporting as well..

Ah I see. It's just that I rarely encounter foreigners who know such details about Portuguese football.

Well, rivalries in Portugal are very strong. There's a lot of hatred from Porto and Sporting against Benfica and vice-versa. 

I don't know much about Belgian football to draw any parallels. But would you manage any rival clubs in Belgium? And how strong are the rivalries there?

As for Jesus, he went directly from Benfica to Sporting after refusing to renew his contract. Also, he took a lot of shots at us since then. Plus, he's always been a rude and arrogant person, so I haven't liked him since about 2010. Way before he went to Sporting. And I didn't like to see him return to Benfica. Also, he played for Sporting when he was young and has always been known for being a sportinguista.

When he was a Benfica manager in his first stint he blackmailed the board to give him a better contract or else he'd go to Porto. So yeah, he's a traitor. 

As for your argument about managers and players having worked for rival clubs in Portugal, well, they are professionals, first and foremost. And will go to whoever pays them more. I don't get paid to play FM. Even if I try to immerse myself in it and make it more realistic, it's still a video game at the end of the day and I want to have a good time and make the money I paid for it worth it. Managing 2 clubs I hate would not be a fun experience, imo.

[Lempicka]

Would never manage Everton, but did have a go at Man United in CM93. It was many seasons into a long term save and they were languishing in the 4th tier.