[FM20] The Great Liechtenstein Challenge - FC Balzers

The aim of this challenge is to conquer the world with both FC Balzers and Liechtenstein by ultimately winning the Champions League with the club and the World Cup with the country.

For those unfamiliar with the challenge, it is based on the old San Marino Challenge but rather than being based in Italy, it is based in the Swiss football league system as that is where all Liechtenstein clubs play their football. Most people try this challenge with Vaduz who are in the 2nd tier and already professional, FC Balzers are a semi-professional team in the 4th tier.

2 reasons why this is HARDER than the San Marino Challenge:
1. The only way you can qualify for the Champions League is by winning the Europa League as only Swiss based clubs are allowed to qualify for Europe through league position. Winning the Liechtenstein Cup puts 1 club into the Europa League First Qualifying Round.
2. Being based in Switzerland, the profile of the league is much lower than in Italy. Therefore developing a club that can win the Champions League is much harder to do here. Less money, less reputation etc.

I will be posting updates on YouTube and doing live streams on Twitch for this career...a first for me!

Part 1 - The Welcome

Ok so below is part 2 of my Great Liechtenstein Challenge. In this installment there is a quick update of how the season is going so far, we play our Liechtenstein Cup Quarter Final game against Triesenberg and our 13th league game of the season against Kosova ZH to take us to the halfway point of season one. Were the media right to predict that we would be in for a relegation battle or have we managed to cobble together a team that an compete?

Part 2 - S1 The Halfway Point

goog luck

2020-04-11 09:36#268478 deadzpool : goog luck

Thanks man. So far so good! Hopefully make some decent signings in Jan transfer window

In this episode we catch up on what happened in the January transfer window, we check out the youth intake, discuss some other club news and also play two HUGE games!

First up we have the Liechtenstein Cup Semi Final against the big boys, FC Vaduz. Can we beat the only professional club in Liechtenstein or have we finally met our match?

Following on from that we have the big local derby in the league against Eschen/Mauren. What could go wrong?

This is not an episode to miss (ok, I'm biased but still, its pretty action packed)

Part 3 - S1 The Cup Semi Final

It's part 4 and in this one we round up what happened in the first season of this Liechtenstein Challenge. Were we able to lift the Liechtenstein Cup and qualify for the Europa League? Could we come through the Promotion Playoff to take us to tier 3? And are my board of directors getting too big for their boots?

This episode also covers off our pre-season transfer activity for season 2 and the first league game of the new season as well as a quick roundup of the National Team progress.

Part 4 - S2 The Board Expects

In this episode we reach the halfway point of season 2! Tune in to find out which Liechtenstein legend has signed for the club, see the live draw for the cup semi final and watch us travel away from home to play current table toppers, Chiasso!

There is also a short National Team update and a look at the sorry state of affairs at Vaduz!

Part 5 - S2 A National Legend Joins

Good luck with this challenge, very hard one indeed!

2020-04-19 17:50#268842 Eoin97 : Good luck with this challenge, very hard one indeed!

Thanks mate. It certainly is a tough one but that's what attracted me to it. Really enjoying it so far, fingers crossed it will end in success!

In Part 6 we review season 2 where we managed to hold our nerve for the league and cup double! We look at some new signings, a few departures, success with the national team and review the upcoming season in tier 2. Then...the big one... our first ever match in European Competition... but is it what we expected? Did this challenge just get even HARDER?!

Part 6 - S2/3 Doing The Double

In this latest update we are just over halfway through our third season and it is all still to play for as we continue our journey up the leagues with FC Balzers.

Watch this update to see our brand new signing, 16 year old regen, Noah Kottelat, high hopes for him! We also take a look the national team where we secured our best result yet! Finally we play a Challenge League match against Rapperswil.

Part 7 - S3 In The Hunt

Well season 3 is over and I don't think it will come as a spoiler to you all to learn that it is the first season of this career that we haven't won a promotion. In part 8 we wrap up the season, review the ups and downs and get a little bit angry at the chairman meddling in our affairs. We also give the National Team some air time as we play our second game of the UEFA Nations League away at Hungary with a young 16 year old making his international debut.

We also briefly look ahead to next season and take a look at the progress of Vaduz and Eschen/Mauren.

Part 8 - S3 The Chairman Intervenes

Now available in HD!

In Part 9 we take a look at how the early part of season 4 has gone in what is looking like a very close league table. We delve into the summer signings that were made to strengthen the side and look at our attacking players and their recent form with absolute delight.

We then play against promotion chasing Aarau who traditionally we have struggled against having only beaten them once in five meetings so far.

With a third of the season complete is this Balzers team the best it has ever been?

Part 9 - S4 A Flying Start

Here we are at part 10 already and we mark this episode with some huge news for the club and the long term prospects of this career. We managed to win the Challenge League in season 4 and so we take a peak back at that and all the things that have happened at the club since then. We look forward to our first season in the Swiss Super League, look at some great new signings and some very recognisable faces that have joined the coaching department.

We also play a big game against an overseas team, what could that possibly mean?!

The developments have been plentiful and so there is information a plenty in this milestone episode so it is one that you definitely don't want to miss!

Part 10 - S5 A New Chapter

We have reached the halfway point of season 5 and as it's winter break time, we take a look back at the season so far, our first ever season in the Swiss Super League. From disastrous starts, conceding late and struggling to navigate life with the smallest wage budget in the league to historic results and an amazing coaching team. We have it all covered in this episode in what has been a rollercoaster of a season so far.

We watch the highlights from what is the best result of the save so far, swing by the National Side, Vaduz and Eschen/Mauren to view their progress and contemplate what the rest of the season may hold for my FC Balzers side.

Part 11 - S5 Finding Our Feet