The Toscana Philosophy | Only Tuscan Players

The Toscana Experiment – A Unique Football Manager 2024 Challenge

Introduction: The Athletic Club Philosophy

Athletic Club, based in Bilbao, is one of the most unique football teams in the world. Since 1911, the club has followed a strict recruitment policy, only signing players of Basque origin. This approach, known as the cantera policy, has shaped the club’s identity and philosophy, emphasizing local talent, youth development, and a deep connection with the Basque community. Despite these restrictions, Athletic Club has remained competitive in Spanish and European football, proving that a team built around regional identity can succeed at the highest level.


Inspired by this model, the creator of this Football Manager 2024 experiment introduces a similar concept by establishing a fictional nation, “Toscana.” Fiorentina, one of Italy’s most historic clubs, based in Toscana, is modified to follow a recruitment policy identical to Athletic Club’s—only players born in Tuscany can represent the team.
Fiorentina is entirely built around a strict recruitment policy, meaning the club can only sign Tuscan-born players. No foreign players, and not even Italian players from outside Tuscany, are allowed. The project extends beyond club football, introducing a Toscana national team, which competes exclusively in the World Cup.

However, enforcing this recruitment philosophy comes with challenges, particularly due to Football Manager’s database limitations. The game sometimes misclassifies player birthplaces, making it difficult to properly identify eligible Tuscan players. Through collaboration with another gamer, the creator overcomes these obstacles, ensuring that Fiorentina adheres strictly to its new recruitment policy.

To further strengthen the local identity, Fiorentina establishes exclusive affiliations with Tuscan clubs, securing a first-choice option for signing emerging talent. Over multiple simulated seasons, the video chronicles the club’s journey, tracking managerial changes, player development, and the struggles of competing at the highest level with a restricted player pool. More than just a gameplay challenge, this experiment explores deeper themes of football identity, community, and long-term sustainability.

Highlights

I'll attach a video here, made by LucullusGames, an Italian FM streamer, in the video the database is explained and also through the game, the results were simulated to see the evolution that could have over the years.

• Creating the Toscana Nation
A fictional nation, “Toscana,” is introduced, allowing Fiorentina to recruit only players born in Tuscany, mirroring Athletic Bilbao’s Basque-only policy.

• Strict Recruitment Policy
Fiorentina is restricted to signing Tuscan players exclusively. Attempts to sign non-Tuscan players, such as Kylian Mbappé, are blocked by the game’s mechanics, reinforcing the integrity of the challenge.

• Toscana National Team
Toscana national team is created but only competes in the World Cup, providing an international stage for Tuscan-born players.

• Affiliations with Tuscan Clubs
Fiorentina establishes partnerships with local clubs, giving it a priority option for signing promising Tuscan talents and ensuring a steady flow of players into the squad.

• Challenges with Player Data
The experiment exposes limitations in Football Manager‘s database, where some players’ birthplaces are inaccurately recorded, complicating scouting and recruitment efforts.

• Managerial Changes
The experiment documents various managerial changes at Fiorentina, highlighting the impact of leadership decisions on the club’s performance and ability to maintain competitiveness.

• Player Development and Youth Focus
With transfers limited to Tuscan players, the project places heavy emphasis on youth development, academy prospects, and the long-term sustainability of the squad.

• European Competitions
Fiorentina’s journey in European competitions provides insight into the difficulties and advantages of operating under a strict recruitment philosophy while competing against top clubs with unrestricted squads.

• Project Evolution
Over multiple seasons, the project adapts based on gameplay outcomes and strategic adjustments, showcasing the creator’s efforts to refine the system.

Key Insights


• Innovative Game Mechanics
This experiment demonstrates the flexibility of Football Manager 2024 and how modifying the game’s parameters can create unique and challenging gameplay experiences.
• Data Integrity Issues
The project highlights the importance of accurate player data in sports management simulations. Misclassified birthplaces can disrupt recruitment strategies and impact long-term planning.
• Philosophy of Recruitment
By implementing a policy similar to Athletic Club’s, this experiment serves as a case study on the benefits and challenges of local recruitment, fostering a strong club identity and deeper fan engagement.
• Dynamic Team Management
The changing fortunes of Fiorentina throughout the experiment emphasize the unpredictable nature of football management, particularly when operating under strict player limitations.
• Commitment to Youth Development
The project underscores the vital role of youth academies in building a competitive team without relying on external transfers. Developing homegrown talent becomes essential for long-term success.
• Performance Metrics and Adjustments
The creator carefully tracks Fiorentina’s progress over the seasons, analyzing performance data to make strategic adjustments—an approach crucial to successful football management.
• Cultural Impact of Football
The establishment of the Toscana nation and its recruitment philosophy reflects deeper cultural themes in football, such as regional pride and identity. This experiment invites discussion on how clubs can serve as representations of local heritage and values.

Installation Instructions

1) Extract the contents of downloaded .rar file with a tool such as WinRar or 7Zip (Unarchiver for Mac)
2) Move the .fmf file to your "editor data" folder, by default located at:
/Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2024/editor data
(Create the folder if it doesn't already exist)
3) You can move the kits, city, nations and logos to your "graphics" folder, by default located at:
/Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2024/graphics
Then go to Preferences > Interface in-game and clear cache; return to the same screen and reload skin.
4) Start a new career game with this database and make sure that '' Toscana_viola_3.fmf '' is ticked.


Kits, logos, stadiums and database were created and tested by LucullusGames
If you have any problem, difficulty or want to report a bug, just send me a message here or leave a comment!

I remind that for those who want, that the skin used in the video is available here:
FM24 Vince Skin & Low Res | 1.2



Screenshots

The project is supported by several key in-game screenshots that provide visual confirmation of the challenge’s integrity:

• A transfer attempt for Kylian Mbappé being rejected due to nationality restrictions.
• Fiorentina’s squad list, where all players are identified as Tuscan.
• A player search filter showing “Toscana” as a selectable nationality.
• Player profiles displaying “Toscana” as their official nationality instead of Italy.
• Affiliations with tuscany clubs.

Conclusion
This experiment goes beyond a standard Football Manager save—it explores the real-world implications of a localized recruitment philosophy and its impact on club identity, sustainability, and competitiveness. By enforcing a strict Tuscan-only policy, the creator offers a thought-provoking look at how recruitment strategies shape the long-term future of a football club.