This was supposed to come out prior to the season 11 updates, but I hadn’t got around to completing the text, so they can come in here anyway. I will give an update on where we are with the FC Jerusalem save – what we have done and where I think the save will go, or where I want it to go anyway. plus I will give a quick update on the World as it is in 2030; at the end of 10 seasons of FM21.
Firstly I can’t remember if I actually gave our quests in this save numbers or just rambled on about them in the Save Ambition blog. But I think winning the Israeli Premier League marks the completion of Phase 1. Now we move onto Phase 2 – winning the Champions League.
To reiterate here are the main goals for the save and what we have achieved.
Phase 1 – Israel
1. Earn Promotion from Liga Gimel Central ✔
2. Turn professional ✔
3. Gain Promotion to Premier League ✔
4. Win domestic Cup ✔
5. Finish in Champions Playoff ✔
6. Qualify for European Competition ✔
7. Challenge for Title ✔
8. Win Ligat Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ✔
9. Dominate Israeli football
We are definitely on our way to completing point 9. Two league titles in a row, and looking dominant throughout. With Champions League qualification we are only going to get stronger. I don’t know what constitutes domination; but if we continue to win the league for the next 3 or 4 seasons then this will count.
Phase 2 – Europe
10. Reach group stage of European competition ✔
11. Get to European competition knockout stage ✔
12. Qualify for Champions’ League Group stage ✔(we completed this in season 11)
13. Make Champions League knockouts
14. Play in European Final
15. Win European competition final
16. Play Champions League Final
17. Victory in Champions League
18. Become European behemoths
Phase 3 – The World
19. Qualify for World Club Cup
20. Win World Club Cup
I’m not sure the save will continue long enough to achieve goal 18, but it is there as a target to shoot for. I definitely want to win the Champions League. Looking at other people’s blogs/videos etc. for clubs similar to ours, in a similar situation from where we are now, I think we are at the midpoint of the entire save arc. This means it will probably take us another 5-6 (or more) seasons to get to the point where we can challenge for Champions League glory. The road is long, and we are just beginning the next story in the history of FC Jerusalem.
10 Year Review of European Football
Now let’s take a look at the landscape of football in 2030 according to FM. In my save I have the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 loaded so will take a look at the past 10 winners of those leagues. Along with the European competitions and, Euros and World Cups.
Premier League
Not much difference in the winners to normal. The Big 6 dominating (well maybe not Arsenal!) Man Utd (4), Tottenham (2), Liverpool (2), Man City (1), and Chelsea (1) with the titles. Arsenal did get a runners up spot lately but all the top three spots are taken up by the so called Big 6. Doesn’t bode well for the future really if they keep winning.
Just to point out I am currently playing in 2033 and last seasons Premier League (2032/33) was won by someone else. I will not spoil the surprise for our 20 season update. Hint: they are IRL playing in the Championship. No real outsiders in the Premier League, although Bees fans will be happy to know Brentford managed to make the Premier League, albeit for a single season.
La Liga
Another predictable league. Real Madrid (5), Barcelona (4) with a sole triumph for Atletico. Only 2 occasions where those three didn’t make up the top 3 places. Not much to say.
Bundesliga and Ligue 1
I put these both together as these are extremely boring, and not a lot to say about it. Complete dominance by Bayern and PSG. A few different teams managed third place in Germany in the last few years, but France sticks with the teams you would expect, although it is somewhat mixed up.
Serie A
The Milanese giants eventually overhauled Juve’s dominance, but they seem to have wrested control of Serie A back. A few different teams in third again, but no one you wouldn’t expect to have a challenge every few season.
So the Big-5 main European leagues were quite predictable. And looking that little bit into the future (of the present in current game time) not a lot has changed other than the sole Premier League win going to an unexpected side.
So if the domestic leagues are quite boring and predictable what about the European continental competitions? Lets start at the third competition and work our way to Champions League
Europa Conference League
At least we have different winners for Europa Conference League. And only Eintracht Frankfurt manage to make more than a single appearance in a final. Maybe this competition will add a bit of variety to European football when it comes into play next season. A few teams from the lesser European nations managing finals appearances, which is good to see. English teams seem to be doing well in this competition. And as a Newcastle fan I am over the moon to know I onbly have to wait a few years to see them winning something again!
Europa League
Another competition with multiple different winners, and some big clubs have obviously fallen into this from the Champions League. No real outsiders lifting the trophy, although a couple of smaller sides reaching the final.
Champions League
Three new names on the Champions League roll of honour. PSG eventually claim their maiden CL crown after years of dominance in France, and a second title a few years later. Sheik Mansour gets a return on his investment with Man City finally getting their hands on the trophy after all the money being sent. Three titles in a 6 year spell putting some gloss on their burgeoning trophy cabinet. Pep finally delivering the coveted Champions League to Man City after all the time and money he spent.
Again no real surprise teams in the list. Just a roll call of European footballs who’s who. Although Bayern, Barcelona and Italian football fans might be slightly disappointed with the winners list.
World Club Cup
With the World Club Cup reverting to a four year cycle only 3 tournaments have been completed. Chelsea the surprise team in that. Winning the title after England hosted the 2025 tournament, and Chelsea being England representative. If anyone knows how they manage to be then let me know, since I can’t work it out!
Before we go onto the International competition let’s take a look at some of the individual player results from the past 10 years.
Ballon D’Or
The Messi/Ronaldo dominance clearly swapped for the Mbappe (4)/Haaland (5) domination. Haaland taking Mbappe’s place in the PSG side as Mbappe swapped Paris for Manchester. The only player breaking the supremacy is a French newgen, starting at Rennes and making his way to Bayern.
Leading Transfers
Mbappe leading the way in transfer fees, on a massive £207M. All the main clubs involved in the list of top transfers. A few players appearing multiple times – Demir, Foden and Zaniolo. Zaniolo with the highest total transfers as he also had a £61M transfer to Spurs.
European Nations League and Euro’s
Same kinds of winners of the European Nations League, and after 55 years of hurt England finally win a major football trophy. Maybe it is written in the stars, might be worth a quid if it goes ahead this year. Switzerland coming second in the latest Euros it a bit of a turn up for the books, but if Greece can win it then the Swiss can mount a challenge.
World Cup
A maiden World Cup triumph for the Portuguese, and after CR7 has retired too, he won’t like that, especially since he only played a few minutes in their other major tournament success. The USA eventually making the most of their talented young stars, and home advantage to end runners up in 2026. And another slight surprise in a Croatia finishing third – although that is 2 semi-final appearances in four tournaments.
That brings a close to our 10 year review. No massive surprises along the way. Football hasn’t gone crazy in a decade of in game time. We have to wait another ten years to see how the landscape has changed, and if there are any new names to be seen on the leader boards. If all goes to plan hopefully FC Jerusalem will be on some of them.
FM RioSantos 