Every FM player loves a good Rebuild Challenge, but what about taking on a club that has just suffered the ultimate setback?
This year, the most satisfying saves will involve leading a newly relegated club out of the financial and psychological crisis that follows the drop.
From historical giants to tragic underdogs, we've compiled a definitive list of the Top 10+1 Relegated Clubs to Lead Back to Glory.
If you want a save that tests your management, finances, and patience, your next FM26 dynasty starts here.
Top 10+1 Relegated Clubs to Lead Back to Glory
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The Story
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Leicester City has dropped back to the Championship (the second tier) just a few years after winning the Premier League title. Money is the biggest problem. The players are still paid huge, top-league salaries, but the club gets much less money now. The club is in financial danger if this continues. The fans are demanding that you fix this disaster right away. |
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The Challenge
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You must be a coach and an accountant. You have to sell your most expensive players, even if they are good, to stop the massive money loss. After that, you have to assemble a new, driven squad and get promoted back to the Premier League right away. Your job is to prove that Leicester should be at the top, not the bottom. |
Leicester City
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The Story
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Ronaldo Nazário, the renowned football icon, owns this team, however they keep going up and down between the top level (La Liga) and the second division. The "yo-yo" effect is getting old to the fans. They want the club to remain stable and have a clear plan for the future. |
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The Challenge
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First, you must win promotion back to La Liga. But the real test is keeping them there. Can you use Ronaldo's influence to sign players who are good enough to compete with Spain's giant teams? You must build a smart system to turn Real Valladolid into a stable, mid-table team that is never afraid of relegation again. |
Real Valladolid
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The Story
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VfL Bochum has been relegated from the Bundesliga again. This is a tough club known for its passionate, hardworking fans living in an industrial area. Their team spirit and battling mentality are what give them strength even though they don't have any star players. The fans want to see maximum effort to get promoted quickly. |
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The Challenge
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You must keep the club's "blue-collar" identity. Your first task is to win instant promotion back to the Bundesliga. You need to find cheap, hardworking players and use the club's own young talent. Your mission is to turn Bochum from a team that always struggles to a solid, stable top-league club without losing its unique, tough spirit. |
VfL Bochum
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The Story
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Venezia is well-known around the world for both its stunning scenery and its distinctive, fashionable football uniforms. Although they have gained a huge following worldwide, the team's on-field achievements haven't lasted. They have been relegated to Serie B once again. Although the team has a long history, they have recently played more in the lower leagues. |
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The Challenge
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You need to match the club's style with real success. The first goal is to win promotion back to Serie A. Once there, you must build a smart, affordable model that can compete. Can you attract quality players to the islands and keep them? You need to make Venezia a permanent top-league club, proving that their fashion and their football can both be top-class. |
Venezia
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The Story
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With two trips to the European Cup final over the years, Stade de Reims has an amazing history. But now, they have been relegated to Ligue 2. The weight of that old glory is heavy. They struggle to compete with the new, richer clubs in modern French football. |
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The Challenge
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You must use that famous history to motivate the team. You need to win promotion back to Ligue 1 quickly. The long-term challenge is how to compete with the powerhouse, PSG. Can you make Reims a consistent challenger for spots in European competitions, bringing the club back to the important status it once held? |
Stade de Reims
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The Story
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This historic, traditional Dutch team has fallen back to the second tier, the Eerste Divisie. The devoted supporters want the team to continue its tradition of hard work and dedication. They feel that the club missed a chance to become more stable recently. |
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The Challenge
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You are expected to win the second division title immediately. In the Netherlands, developing young players is key. To generate a steady flow of top talent, you need to build a philosophy around the youth academy. Can you help Willem II become a model for youth development and get back to the top league so they can compete with the big three (Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV)? |
Willem II
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The Story
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Adana Demirspor has been relegated, and the city is furious! This club has one of the largest, loudest, and most passionate fanbases in all of Turkey. The pressure from the supporters for an immediate comeback will be huge and intense. This club is powered by pure emotion and city pride. |
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The Challenge
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You need to use the energy of the fans to fuel the team in the First League. Turkish football is very difficult and unstable. You must handle the pressure, win promotion immediately, and then build a strong team that can survive the tough Super Lig. The goal is to establish Adana Demirspor as a permanent force in the top half of the table. |
Adana Demirspor
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The Story
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The dream-like rise from non-league to the Premier League in under a decade has ended with a brutal nightmare. Back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to the Championship, and then straight down to League One. The team is broken, and the fans are emotionally exhausted, while the club's identity is now defined by a traumatic fall. |
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The Challenge
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This is a total reset. You must quickly let go of the expensive players and save the club's finances. The biggest task is the psychological one: bring back the fighting spirit that defined the team. Can you lead Luton Town out of League One and prove that their Premier League adventure was not a fluke? |
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The Story
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The financial and on-field problems have caused a second relegation in a row, dropping the "Shrimps" out of the professional leagues and into the National League (the fifth division). This is the lowest possible level of professional football. The club was almost destroyed recently, but a last-minute takeover saved them. |
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The Challenge
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This is the famous "Road to Glory" challenge. You must save money and rely only on cheap players and youth talent. The National League is physically tough and unpredictable. Your job is to win promotion back to League Two and then begin the long, difficult climb back up the entire English football pyramid. This is the hardest and most rewarding long-term save you can do. |
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The Story
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Las Palmas, the proud club from the Canary Islands, has been relegated from La Liga. Playing their games on Gran Canaria gives them a unique home advantage, but the necessary air travel for every away match on the mainland is tiring for the players. The fans demand a beautiful, passing style of football. |
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The Challenge
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The first goal is to return to La Liga and stay there. You must find players who can handle the long travel and isolated location. You need to build a team that plays attractive football (dominates the ball) while being strong enough to win in the top league. Your mission is to make Las Palmas a powerful, permanent force in La Liga, ruling from their island home. |
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The Story
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Just over ten years ago, Montpellier shocked everyone by winning the Ligue 1 title. Now, they have returned to Ligue 2. The huge financial power of teams like PSG has made it almost impossible for this club to stay successful. The decline has been slow, and the fans want the club to find the defiant, fighting spirit of that title-winning team. |
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The Challenge
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The expectation is very high; the fans will not accept a long stay in the second division. You are under pressure for immediate promotion. Once back in Ligue 1, your key challenge is to compete for spots in European competitions. You must find clever, undervalued players to challenge the established, richer French teams. |
And there you have it. The Top Relegated Clubs for the FM26 Rebuild Challenge.
Whether you choose the massive financial and emotional rescue mission at Leicester City, the pure Road to Glory grind with Morecambe in the National League, or the cultural puzzle of rebuilding Adana Demirspor in Turkey, each club offers a rewarding, multi-season narrative.
The beauty of these FM26 rebuild saves is that immediate success is not guaranteed, it must be earned.
Your task is not simply to win promotion, but to establish the chosen club as a genuine force, proving that the drop was merely a temporary setback.
Which relegated club will you choose to lead back to glory? Let us know your favorite challenge in the comments below!
Discussion: FM26 Rebuild Challenge: Top Relegated Clubs to Restore
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