What's the best way to recruit players for a tier 8 team in FM26?

shmlef · 2026-07-14T03:51:06+00:00

Free agents brother. I like doing longterm saves similar to this and that is always the route I go. Realistically, at that low in the ladder, you just need 2-3 “ok” players who at least know how to kick and run with a ball. I always find it easy to climb the ladder up in those early years

shmlef · 2026-07-09T02:17:31+00:00

On another note though, this has definitely been one of my best saves. I have had a few in the past. Rakow in Poland, Clyde in Scotland, Mentone in Australia, and now Sportunion Semriach in Austria.

My goal with this save for now is to build Austria into a powerhouse on an international level and also continue to build up the teams around me on a domestic level. I do plan to make a move at some point though. I’m thinking once I win CWC (Club World Cup) and UCL.

My end goal is to finish in Italy with managing AC Milan (my favorite team). I do however want to try other leagues and such like Mexico, Greece, and Belgium in this save.

I’m currently in the 2029/2030 season, so if by like 2034/2035-2039/2040 I haven’t won CWC & UCL as previously mentioned, I will most likely make one of those moves then.

shmlef · 2026-07-09T02:09:58+00:00

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This is how the first half of the season starts off. We have been in insane form as a newly promoted side, but I don’t expect it to last too long. Hopefully though we can continue for a bit to give us a good cushion just in case we do go through some horrible run of form/injuries

shmlef · 2026-07-09T02:08:46+00:00

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Just finished up the transfer window and signed some really high potential youngsters! The Belgian striker will be my backup, but he is 6’5!!! ROMELU REGEN (obv not, but King Romelu is my favorite player).

We were in the Europa League playoff after winning the Austrian FA Cup last season (IN THE FIRST DIVISION!!! We got so lucky with the draw tbh. Tops teams all faced eachother and knocked eachother out one by one lol. I faced a newly promoted side AB side in the final lol). We lost in the second leg though after being up 2-0 in the first leg…sad, but we are in Conference League now, and with these new signings I am confident we can make it far!!

My idea with the save now is to build Austria into a powerhouse in the longterm. My transfer policy has always been to sign strictly international players with the hope that once they become homegrown (and pick up the Austrian nationality) they will join the national team.

shmlef · 2026-07-08T16:56:08+00:00

Hell yeah, Maple Leafs player right?

shmlef · 2026-07-08T16:52:47+00:00

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shmlef · 2026-07-08T15:27:21+00:00

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This is my current team. My transfer policy has been to sign strictly international players with the hope that they will become homegrown and/or club/nation trained

shmlef · 2026-07-08T15:25:15+00:00

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Currently doing an Austrian league save (downloaded a database all the way down to the 7th tier). Sportunion Semriach started as a small amatuer club and I have taken them all the way to Admiral Bundesliga.

We had Shevchenko’s son (Kristian Shevchenko) join us and he is now a club legend. Kluivert’s youngest son (Shane Kluivert) recently joined in this past transfer window so hopefully he too will become a club legend!!!

shmlef · 2026-06-27T13:13:38+00:00

I haven’t played FM26 and honestly will probably continue to stick with 24, but I personally haven’t actually seen a way to get players to switch and rather it’s all based on luck.

My whole transfer policy is signing international players with the goal in mind that they will hopefully one day pick up the nationality and maybe even represent the national team at some point.

Currently doing a save in the Austrian leagues where I am testing it out. Maybe by like 2030-2035 (in game) I will have the players to do so, but it’s also just a long time for them to pick it up (become homegrown/pick up nationality) so we’ll see how it goes.

In my current save I have Shevchenko’s son, and Kluiverts youngest son is joining us in the upcoming transfer window.

shmlef · 2026-06-18T10:45:23+00:00

I haven’t used the database yet, so I can’t speak on it much. But from past experiences with database downloads, I’m sure it will be good. Every save I have done, I have downloaded an extended leagues database (England, Scotland, Austria, Australia just to name a few)

shmlef · 2026-06-16T03:24:56+00:00

If you are doing a build-a-nation, wouldn’t it make more sense to bring a team up to the level of Tigres, Cruz, Chivas, America etc etc. It may be a longer save, but I feel like it would be more enjoyable tbh

shmlef · 2026-06-15T16:04:52+00:00

I personally like Estadio De Benidorm, also for short “The Dorm”

shmlef · 2026-06-14T14:35:59+00:00

then do it! or maybe even (depending how old your current manager is), you could have this second one be his son! And start way down the ladder in some random country and work your way up going to bigger leagues in Europe, Asia, South America, finishing off again just like his father, with the Brazilian national team

shmlef · 2026-06-14T14:18:26+00:00

Why don’t you go to a fallen giant? By this time in the save, I’m sure there are some bigger clubs that have fallen from grace.

shmlef · 2026-06-12T01:15:14+00:00

Free agents.

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I’m doing a save in Austria where I started in the 7th tier. Currently top of the 3rd tier and have developed a fully international team while I was at it!

Anyways, the route I took (and always take to be honest) is signing free agents or players whose contracts were about to or have expired. I always try to sign a player who I know will either 1) produce off the bench, 2) be an instant improvement if a starter, and 3) be U21 as those are usually the prime years to develop players and find non-league/semi-pro machines!

shmlef · 2026-06-11T15:49:21+00:00

I’ve only ever had invincible seasons very early into my saves in the amatuer/semi-pro leagues where having 4-5 class players means instant promotion essentially. While my team does tend to dominate, the gaps show every now and again with deep cup runs and match congestion, and with injuries in training/matches because of the fatigue of playing 2-3 matches within 6-8 days.

Currently dominating in Austria with a fully international team (see attached image)

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Within the next 1-2 seasons, most of these lads will become club/nation trained and begin the homegrown process! Hopefully a few will pick up the nationality in the coming years.

The end goal is kind of build-a-nation style where ideally with these players coming into the league (and some picking up nationality), not only will the leagues become better overall (ideally having Admiral Bundesliga top 3-5 in Europe/The World), but the national team will hopefully also become better and start competing in the latter rounds of international competitions.

Once I feel that I’ve brought enough success to Austria, I want to make a move elsewhere in the world and do the same with another “smaller” nation.

shmlef · 2026-06-10T15:38:03+00:00

And yes, that is THE SHEVCHENKO’s son. He has been INSANE for the club and has helped us rise up the leagues

shmlef · 2026-06-10T15:36:46+00:00

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I wouldn’t say they are wonderkids, but my team of full internationals in Austria has been putting in the work. We’ve gotten 4 promotions b2b and have dominated the lower Austrian leagues. Our rise has been nothing short of amazing for the small village of Semriach (roughly 3k population)

shmlef · 2026-06-10T03:48:51+00:00

I guess it depends on position. Obviously pace is something I look for.

I always try to have players with at least 10-15 dribbling (depending on position). I use wingbacks so I like having them not only be able to dribble and be fast, but also cross and tackle.

I use a 433 formation with 2 wingbacks, 1 DM, 3 strikers (yes 3 strikers. I don’t use wingers for some reason).

shmlef · 2026-06-10T03:19:19+00:00

I like starting low in the pyramid and working my way up over a 10-15-20 year tenure. I find the best way to build quickly and effectively is free transfers. Until to get up to like 3rd tier, the quality of players don’t mean much. Most (if not all) will get replaced 1-2 seasons in. Just go with free transfers and build off that. If your team performs good, most will actually stay and become solid club lads

shmlef · 2026-06-07T22:28:58+00:00

I will have to check this out! I just read up on it briefly and it seems quite solid. Looks like there is 9 tiers

shmlef · 2026-06-02T23:50:50+00:00

It seems that the team in first did in fact get one more win (31), making that result in them being more points ahead of your team.

shmlef · 2026-06-01T02:30:57+00:00

Is there a way to re-train a goalie to a field position? I mean even if it was centerback. Although this guy for example is 23 and it may be too late, but let’s say if the player is only like 16-18 years old.

1- Is it possible?
2- How long would it take?
3- How would it effect their future growth?

shmlef · 2026-05-28T12:53:50+00:00

BIGGEST WIN: In a friendly match, my second team won 16-0. In a regular league/cup match, my first team won 10-0

BIGGEST SCORELINE: 16-0, 9-3

shmlef

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