Hi there,
For the last few years Fernando (@rocksendfm) has joined the blog before each new Football Manager game to introduce interesting South American clubs to manage in FM. This year, Fernando had the idea to conduct more in-depth case study pieces for one club from each nation. Due to word count, weâll therefore be combining two nationâs case studies per blog.
This blog features case studies for Argentina & Brazil. For a brief synopsis of the league systems visit the previous league guide here.
Massive thanks again to Fernando. Go check out his own website: www.rocksendfm.com, you wonât be disappointed!
We hope you enjoy,
Tony / FM Grasshopper
Argentina
Club: Club Atlético River Plate
Key Details:
Nickname(s): Los Millonarios
Founded: 1901
Ground + Capacity: Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti, âEl Monumentalâ / 70,074
Owner: Club
League: Liga Profesional de FĂștbol (Argentine First Division)
2021 finish: 1st
Background:
May 25, 1810, is the birthday of Argentina, and, therefore, a national holiday. It is then no surprise that May 25, 1901, was chosen by a group of teeangers living in the neighbourhood of La Boca to have a meeting. They are the sons of lower class Genovese immigrants, they work during weeks, so they can only meet during sundays and holidays. The reason for the meeting was discussing the possibility of creating a football club, which they would name Club La Rosales. Three years later they would hold another meeting, this time with the members of Club Santa Rosa, to arrange the merger of the two clubs. Out of that meeting was born the Club Atlético River Plate, who would wear the white and red colours of the city of Genoa.
Their first grounds were found in La Boca, in the areas near the Port of Buenos Aires, which would quickly bring about a rivalry with another side in the neighbourhood which was funded by Genovese (or Xeneize) descendants, Boca Juniors. Still, River Plate would quickly find success, achieving promotion to the Argentine First Division in 1908, and started getting recognition and a bigger following. Their first title came in 1914, and their first official clash with Boca Juniors, would come in 1913 (River won, 2-1). By 1920, they won their first national league title.
However, by 1923 the club faced an enormous problem. Not being able to renew the rent of the property where their stadium was, they were forced to move, renting instead a plot of land in the neighbourhood of Recoleta. This switch, from one of Buenos Aires poorest neighbourhoods to one of its most affluent, fundamentally changed the nature of their rivalry with Boca Juniors from local derby to near class warfare, as it changed the identities of who the two sets of fans were and was an important factor in creating Argentine footballâs biggest rivalry.
In 1932 they would complete the signing of BernabĂ© Ferreyra for 35,000 Argentina pesos (ÂŁ23,000 of the time), which would be a world football transfer record (the first and only time an Argentine team got it) and earn them the nickname of âLos Millonariosâ. With Ferreyra, River would win the titles of 1932, 1936 and 1937. In that decade they would also build Argentinaâs largest ground, the Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti, named after the River Plate president who secured the funds and the land but better known as the Monumental, which opened in 1938 with capacity for around 70,000 people.
It was a good idea to make it that big, because the 1940s would be good for River Plate. In 1942, FĂ©lix Loustau joined Juan Carlos Muñoz, JosĂ© Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera and Ăngel Labruna to complete the most fearsome striking force football had ever seen. That team would be known as La MĂĄquina, arguably the best team in Argentinian football, winning 10 official titles, including the leagues of 1941, 1942, 1945 and 1947.
From that point onwards, River Plate would continue to be a force in Argentinian and South American football, winning titles in every decade by the 1960s. In 1986, the biggest whole in their cabinet, the Copa Libertadores, was won, and then again in 1996. However, in 2011 the unthinkable would happen: River Plate were relegated. That made it so that Boca Juniors became (after Independienteâs relegation in 2013) the only club in Argentina never to be relegated, something the Boca fans hold very much over their rivals.
Return would be instantaneous, with River winning the Second Division in 2012, and then winning the 2014 title; and yet, their biggest moment was still to come. In 2014, River hired Marcelo Gallardo as their manager, and an era of nearly unparalleled success in Argentinian football history would start. Under Gallardo, River Plate would go on to win three Copa Argentinaâs and the 2021 Primera DivisiĂłn title. More importantly, however, they would win the 2015 Copa Libertadores, the clubâs third ever, and the 2018 Copa Libertadores, beating no one else but Boca Juniors in the final.
Why them in FM23?
On October 13, 2022, Marcelo Gallardo announced heâd be stepping down as River Plate head coach. If you donât follow Argentine football, youâd be excused to think âA big name coach is leaving. So what?â, but in reality itâs more, much more than that.
For starters, eight year-spells in charge of a club donât really happen in Argentina, not anymore at least. Right now, Gallardo is the 5th longest serving coach in the history of Argentine football; three of the four men ahead of him did in the 1950s, and the remaining one manages in the Second Division (no disrespect to Pablo VicĂł though, awesome man).
Moreover, Marcelo Gallardo is the most successful coach in the history of River Plate. His 14 official titles make him the official trivia answer to the question, but heâs been successful in plenty more areas. Under him, training facilities have been re-engineered to elevate the standards and coaching methodologies have been reworked, including the work of sports scientists and creating a playing DNA that made it far easier for players to transition to the first team. Even the historic Estadio Monumental is set to get a big renovation, which will be completed by 2024 and give it a 81,000 capacity.
Simply put, the departure of Marcelo Gallardo is no smaller a tectonic shift for River Plate than that of Sir Alex Ferguson was for Manchester United was in 2013. You could, theoretically, get a very similar experience managing Boca Juniors, but in all honesty you can do that just about any time. This is an opportunity to take over a massive club right when they will need a steady hand the most. I donât think a scenario like this will appear in Argentina (or even South America) any time soon, and thatâs why you should manage River Plate in FM23.
Key Personnel:
So youâve decided to take over the mantle of the best manager in the clubâs history and try your hand at being the Millonarios boss⊠brave, brave friend. So who do you count on not to make your stay very short and very un-Gallardo-like?
First off, NicolĂĄs de la Cruz. Gallardo picked up the Uruguayan as the replacement to Gonzalo âPityâ MartĂnez of ây va el terceroâ fame and the former Liverpool de Montevideo man has been up to the task. A Flair player, heâs also very much bought into the coachâs pressing scheme and doesnât need to carried by his teammates like the typical SA creative players.
Able to play on both sides and with both legs, heâll add versatility and flexibility to your setup, and he can do just about anything from Crossing, to Finishing, to Passing. However, at 24 years old, he will attract interest, and his contract expires at the end of the season, so you may not have him for long.
Next up, Esequiel Barco. The former Independiente number 10, he should be playing in Europe by now, but he hasnât exactly set the world alight at the MLS with Atlanta United (despite decent performances), so youâll have him for a year. Similar to De la Cruz, although perhaps a tad more of a wing player, heâs still very versatile and gives you options when you set up.
Last but not least, Paulo Diaz. An Aggressive and Brave defender, heâs the perfect match for a Gallardo-ball defender, with a comprehensive skill set and the physical tools to still do the âdirtyâ work. At 27, he still has a long career ahead of him, and will be the stalwart of you defence for years to come.
Honourable mention goes to Juan Fernando Quintero.
Want to manage in Argentina but you donât fancy Club AtlĂ©tico River Plate?
Iâll understand any non-takers. Perhaps grabbing the rudder after Marcelo Gallardo doesnât interest you. Perhaps taking such a big side isnât your thing. Perhaps, like a certain Scottish FMer, youâve already got your heart painted in the blue and gold of Boca Juniors. Itâs ok, Argentina has plenty of options when it comes to football, so if youâre looking for aâŠ
⊠great youth academy: Vélez Sarsfield
Yes, the usual answer is Argentinos Juniors, with the whole having produced Diego Armando Maradona, Juan RomĂĄn Riquelme, Fernando Redondo, Esteban Cambiasso and a long, long list more. But right now, few clubs are putting out so many incredible youngsters like VĂ©lez Sarsfield. Sad to miss out on Thiago Almada? Check out MĂĄximo Perrone, Mateo Seoane, ValentĂn GĂłmez, Santiago Castro, JuliĂĄn FernĂĄndez or Gianluca Prestianni⊠none of which are over 19, by the way.
⊠plucky underdog side: Unión (SF)
âEl Tatengueâ fans could be looking at the success derby rivals ColĂłn de Santa Fe are having, with the whole getting their first top tier title and reaching international recognition, but they also have been having a good time under Uruguayan manager Gustavo MunĂșa, and theyâll be competing in the Copa Sudamericana. If that doesnât convince you, last seasonâs title favourites-turned-bottlers AtlĂ©tico TucumĂĄn are also a good pick
⊠up and coming side: Defensa y Justicia
It is a bit of an obvious choice, and the argument could be put forward that they no longer are an up and coming side but very much a regular contender. Still, Defensa y Justicia have come a long way under the âguidanceâ of super agent Christian Bragarnik. All they lack is a title to show for it. If the idea of working with the man who could be called âthe South American Jorge Mendesâ doesnât entice you, recently promoted Tigre are also building up momentum once again.
⊠fallen giant: San Lorenzo
There is really no fallen giant in Argentine football at the moment, provided you ignore Ferrocarril Oesteâs 22 year spell in the Second Division, and even then youâre really stretching the definition of âgiantâ. If, instead, you look at which current big side is further away from the big lights, San Lorenzo de Almagro is the answer. Right now, theyâve made a stupendous recovery under looks-like-he-slept-with-his-clothes-on manager RubĂ©n DarĂo InsĂșa and are set to play next yearâs Copa Sudamericana, but thatâs now and youâre starting in January 2022, so San Lorenzo it is.
Brazil
Club: Club Athletico Paranaense
Key Details:
Nickname(s): Furação
Founded: 1924
Ground + Capacity: Arena da Baixada / 42,370
Owner: Club
League: BrasileirĂŁo SĂ©rie A (Brazilian First Division)
2021 finish: 14th
Background:
As itâs often discussed when talking about Brazilian football history, the game developed in a very focalized way in the land of jogo bonito. Brazil is an enormous country which is often hard to traverse, meaning for most of its history there was no national-scale footballing scene, but rather clubs developed in the micro-sphere of their home city. Big, rich cities like Rio de Janeiro and SĂŁo Paulo gave rise to big, rich clubs like Flamengo and Corinthians. Smaller sides in smaller cities would still be very dominant locally, as they were competing against clubs their own size, but they had no chance outside of their bubble. Now, however, the nature of the Brazilian game is changing, and there are few better examples of it than Club Athletico Paranaense.
Founded from the merger of International Foot-Ball Club and América Futebol Clube, Club Atletico Paranaense was born in 1924. The two clubs were actually friendly, with América having sprouted as something of a second team for International, and the merger was more aimed at competing better with their main rivals Coritiba Foot Ball Club and Britùnia Sport Club. Still, they would only find medium success, winning a few titles in each decade but never really breaking out from the shadow of Coritiba.
Things started to change in 1995. By that stage, the BrasileirĂŁo was becoming the top competition in Brazilian football, with clubs understanding it was far more valuable than their internal fights within the state championship. In that context, Club Atletico Paranaense launched the âAtletico Totalâ with the intention of bringing the club to the forefront of Brazilian football. That year they returned to the SĂ©rie A, and two years later they began the construction of a new stadium, which would open in 1999.
At the same time, sporting results improved significantly, winning the Paranaense State Championships five times between 2000 and 2009, and getting to the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 2000, and later they won the Brasileirao for the first time. In 2005 they played in the Copa Libertadores final, losing to Sao Paulo.
As time has moved on, Club Athletico Paranaense (who changed their name in 2018 to avoid confusion with Club Atletico Mineiro), has continued to improve. In 2019 they won the Copa do Brasil, and theyâve also won their first pieces of international silverware, winning the 2018 and 2021 Copa Sudamericanas. This year theyâve been back to the Copa Libertadores final, losing to Flamengo.
Why them in FM23?
The times they are a-changin. The meaning of what big sides in Brazil are is changing. With the national footballing scene properly set up and state championships more a burden than a focus for big teams, being a âbig sideâ is no longer enough to push people around in the Brasileirao. Three of Brazil's Big 12 are currently in Serie B, while Club Athletico Paranaense, together with the likes of Fortaleza, RB Bragantino and AmĂ©rica-MG are taking advantage of this new brave world to reap the rewards.
Theyâre doing it by being smart. Right now, few clubs have the scouting, analytics and coaching infrastructure that Club Athletico Paranaense have in place, with the Brazilian Federation poaching talent from their staff and their sports complex, known as "CajĂș", is considered to be the most modern in the country and one of the most innovative in the world, with players from Colombia, Argentina, Spain and even India travelling there to train. The results are showing, and not only in their continental silverware. Fernandinho, Renan Lodi and Alex Sandro all came through the Club Athletico Paranaense academy.
By taking them over on FM23, youâll be jumping in a project thatâs ready to burst into fighting with the heavy weights. Their Arena da Baixada was rebuilt in 2014 and remains one of the premiere venues in South American football, while their facilities will give you the opportunity to develop new talent. Who knows, maybe with the right push that Copa Libertadores can finally be lifted.
Key Personnel:
Taking over a team in Brazil means getting rid of a few of your FM vices, two of them being the love of a short squad and the hatred of people over 30. My first key personnel, ex-Manchester City master of tactical fouls, Fernandinho, explains both points. With the State Championships adding anywhere from 10 to 15 games to your season to the regular 38 and continental competition being a given for almost anyone, youâll need more than 23 men, even before thinking about the Copa do Brasil or any regional cups. Much in the same way, being the best league in South America but still not at European level means talent is at a premium and thereâs no such thing as overlooking a 37 year old who can still control your midfield.
With the Technique, First Touch and Passing to go with his otherworldly mentals, Fernandinho is set to be your main man for at least the first couple of seasons, and should do well to use him wisely, cause heâll be hard to replace.
Midfield secured, you can unleash diminutive Uruguayan David Terans. Not as iron-willed as the Brazilian, Terans has quality escaping through his pores. A Corners and Free Kick specialist, killer Technique, Flair and Vision should make him the main creative hub of your team for a few seasons.
The future, however, is safe. At least for as long as you can keep hold of 17-year-old Vitor Roque. Technically and physically gifted, heâs no slouch on the mentals side, with enough Composure, Decisions and Work Rate to ensure he wonât be caught sleeping on the job. Heâs able to play all across the front of the attack, and he has the skill to Finish, Cross or Pass, so youâll have to decide which job to give him and how to develop this big talent.
Want to manage in Brazil but you donât fancy Club Athletico Paranaense?
Picking a save in Brazil can be tricky. The issue with having twelve big sides is that you never quite know which ones are struggling and which ones are basically ready to overpower the whole continent. In any case, here are some options if youâre looking for aâŠ
⊠great youth academy: Santos
A bit of a daft choice, I agree. Yes, they developed Pele and Neymar, but I like to stay away from obvious picks. Problem is, thereâs really not much else in terms of non-massive teams with good academies. You could pick any of Cruzeiro, Gremio or Vasco da Gama as âhardâ picks over the fact that they start in Serie B, but theyâre still big sides.
⊠plucky underdog side: Atlético Clube Goianiense
Another club who are working smartly, Goianiense made it all the way to the Copa Sudamericana semi finals this season, and you have that ticket when you pick them on FM23. They arenât making any massive waves just yet, but thereâs potential. AmĂ©rica-MG are another good shout.
⊠fallen giant: São Paulo
Again, any of Cruzeiro, Gremio or Vasco da Gama make more sense, particularly Cruzeiro who almost go down to the third tier a few years back, but if youâre hellbent on starting in SĂ©rie A, theyâre the only big side without international competitions and are a mess of a club right now.
...big side to win the Copa Libertadores: Flamengo
This has to be the easiest save in the whole of South America. The latest Copa Libertadores winners IRL, they have an absolutely stuffed squad with a mix of European-calibre big names and ridiculously talented youngsters. Whatâs worse (or better, for them) is that they have the economic muscle and youth talent to just keep it going forever. This is PSG on steroids.