From Rags to Riches: The 10 Most Challenging FM26 Comeback Saves You Must Start

Football is built on hope, passion, and the greatest comeback stories in sport. For every team that wins a title, there are others battling just to return to the promised land.

This season, a remarkable group of clubs has finally won promotion after years - and sometimes decades - of brutal absence from the top flight.

From the legendary 'Dinosaur' of German football to the resurgence of a Turkish giant and the return of a famous Greek champion, these 10 FM26 save ideas are all about survival.

Get ready for a dramatic 2025/26 season as we explore the history, pressure, and the challenges you will face as the manager of one of the best promoted clubs in Europe.

The 10 Greatest FM26 Comeback Stories to Take On as Your Next Save

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League: Bundesliga Founded: 1887

Hamburger SV

The Story:

After six grueling seasons in the 2. Bundesliga, the "Dinosaur" finally achieved it. They're promoted to the top tier again! However, the 2024–25 promotion season was a typical nerve-racking rollercoaster, complete with a managerial change in the middle of the season. Although it wasn't easy, the team was promoted, and now they face the difficult task of not just surviving but also thriving in the Bundesliga.

The Challenge:

You are the manager who has been hired to end the cycle of woe. Key players, most notably top goalscorer Davie Selke, have left the side that achieved promotion. The pressure from the fans has been tremendous, and the preseason has been difficult. Is it possible to put together a team that can compete in the top division and avoid subsequent relegation? The objective is to re-establish HSV as a permanent presence in Germany's elite, not only to keep afloat.

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League: Premier League Founded: 1879

Sunderland A.F.C.

The Story:

One of England's most successful and well-supported clubs. They have spent years stranded in the Championship following their terrible drop from the Premier League to League One. But the 2024–2025 season was a successful one. After finishing in a solid fourth place under the new management, they proceeded on an exciting play-off run and defeated Sheffield United 2-1 in the Wembley final to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

The Challenge:

Although the team possesses a talented young core, there is a huge financial and structural gap to bridge in the Premier League. Your job is to keep them in the top division by assembling a more robust, competitive squad through smart investment and recruitment. Can you firmly establish their position and turn the Stadium of Light into an impenetrable stronghold once more?

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League: Ligue 1 Founded: 1969

Paris FC

The Story:

For decades, Paris has been entirely dominated by the financial might and on-field success of Paris Saint-Germain. Now, Paris FC has finally been promoted back to Ligue 1 after a remarkable 46-year absence, giving the capital a second top-flight club. This achievement sets up a highly anticipated local rivalry, especially as the two clubs are set to share the historic Stade Charléty.

The Challenge:

This is the ultimate underdog story where the mission is to establish a second competitive team in the capital. You must find a way to thrive in the shadow of PSG while attracting enough talent to Ligue 1's most unique market. Can you compete with the financial and global prestige of your dominant neighbour to create an alternative footballing identity in Paris?

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League: Serie A Founded: 1909

Pisa SC

The Story:

A club with a long, albeit sporadic, history in the top flight, Pisa has finally been promoted back to Serie A after a crippling 34-year absence. Their return to the top division is a massive achievement, representing the end of a very long wait for the club and its dedicated fans. The famous Curva Nord of the Arena Garibaldi is now ready to host the elite of Italian football once again.

The Challenge:

The primary mission is to ensure their historic return is a permanent one and avoid an immediate drop back to the lower divisions. You must adapt a team that has been away from the top flight for over three decades and make them competitive enough to survive Serie A's famously brutal tactical grind. Success will depend on securing high-quality veteran players who can instantly introduce the necessary top-flight experience.

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League: La Liga Founded: 1926

Real Oviedo

The Story:

A historic club from the Asturias region, Real Oviedo is finally back in the Spanish elite after two and a half decades in the lower divisions. The club's comeback has been underpinned by a unique ownership model, which includes a partial stake held by Mexican giants Grupo Pachuca. After a nerve-wracking play-off final, their 24-year exile from La Liga is over, bringing top-tier football back to the Estadio Carlos Tartiere.

The Challenge:

Your task is to consolidate their position in one of Europe's most technically demanding leagues without the massive budget enjoyed by the top Spanish clubs. You must leverage the club's passionate fanbase and the Asturian pride to make their home ground a fortress. Can you blend local identity with smart transfers to secure survival and set the stage for long-term growth?

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League: Super Lig Founded: 1966

Kocaelispor

The Story:

Kocaelispor's promotion is a powerful story of resurrection after a spectacular fall from grace that saw the club drop as low as the amateur leagues. After years of financial hardship and successive promotions, they finally completed their journey back to the Süper Lig, ending a 16-year absence. This return marks a monumental day for the Green and Black army, who have patiently supported the team through its darkest period.

The Challenge:

The first priority is stability, as the Süper Lig is notoriously volatile, and financial discipline will be key to avoiding another collapse. You must build on the momentum of promotion by adding the quality needed to compete with Istanbul's traditional giants like Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. The mission is to take a resilient team from the industrial heartland of İzmit and make them a force in Turkish football once more.

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League: Primeira Liga Founded: 1939

F.C. Alverca

The Story:

F.C. Alverca's return to the top tier is an incredible tale, as the club folded entirely in 2005 before reforming in the regional leagues. The team's rapid rise was capped by a sensational double promotion, returning to the Portuguese top flight after 21 years of absence. Their story is further amplified by the new ownership group, which includes global superstar Vinícius Júnior.

The Challenge:

The new ownership has ambitious plans, but the sporting structure remains fragile, with an almost entirely new squad brought in over the summer. Your primary task is to quickly forge a cohesive team identity out of a group of new signings to ensure immediate survival in the unforgiving Liga Portugal. You must manage the high-profile external pressure and avoid an immediate relegation that could derail this revitalized project.

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League: Primeira Liga Founded: 1933

C.D. Tondela

The Story:

After a short but successful spell in the Primeira Liga, C.D. Tondela is back after a three-year absence. The club achieved their latest promotion by winning the Liga Portugal 2, showcasing their resilience and determination to reclaim their spot in the top flight. They return to the elite having just played in the Taça de Portugal final a few seasons ago, demonstrating their potential to punch above their weight.

The Challenge:

The goal is to move beyond being a typical "yo-yo" club by finding the consistency needed to firmly establish themselves in the Primeira Liga. You must use the promotion momentum to keep their core talent while making smart, calculated additions that can compete with the league's perennial top half. The central challenge is turning the small Estádio João Cardoso into a place where the 'Big Three' clubs truly fear to visit.

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League: Super League Founded: 1964

AEL FC

The Story:

AEL has returned to the Super League after a four-year absence from the top tier, following another successful promotion campaign. They are a historic side in Greek football, famously winning the title in the late 80s as the first club from outside Athens or Thessaloniki to do so, but have struggled for a consistent top-flight place since. The 'Queen of the Thessaly Plain' now attempts to revive its glorious but distant past.

The Challenge:

The mission is to take a team with a glorious pedigree and get them established once again in Greece's competitive top flight. You will need to build a stable team that can challenge for European places, thus enabling the club to compete with the traditional financial and media might of Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and AEK. The ultimate objective is to return them to their former glory and make the AEL FC Arena a feared venue.

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League: La Liga Founded: 1909

Levante UD

The Story:

After a two-year absence, Levante has earned promotion back to La Liga, recovering quickly from their previous relegation. Known for their exciting, attacking style of play and their ability to often produce memorable upsets, they are a club that consistently fights to remain in the top division. The club's quick return demonstrates the strong foundation they built during their previous five-year tenure in the elite.

The Challenge:

The primary task is simple but incredibly difficult: survive in one of the toughest, most tactical leagues in the world. You must use smart, budget-conscious recruitment and superior tactical coaching to compete against the sheer quality of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and the well-drilled sides of the Spanish top-flight. Success requires finding a distinct, high-energy style of play that can compensate for the lack of financial power.

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Each club now faces the ultimate test of survival, stability, and growth in a top-tier environment that is often unforgiving, and it is up to you to guide them.

Will you finally shake off the curse at Hamburger SV, can you establish Sunderland back among the elite, and will you consolidate the monumental comeback of Kocaelispor?

This season's promoted teams promise more drama, passion, and incredible moments than ever before.

Which of these incredible FM26 save ideas will you take on first? Let us know in the comments below!