The best teams to manage in Football Manager 2023

Football Manager 2023 has so many teams to choose from that the choice of clubs available when starting a new game can be overwhelming. Every single club presents unique stories, challenges, and experiences, and there simply isn’t enough time to try them all out. One option is to simply pick the best team. But best how? Best players? Best reputation? Best finances? Best groundsman!?

Below you’ll find the teams who are best in at least some way. They’re all clubs who you can expect to have a lot of success with, but there are no easy rides in Football Manager 2023. Remember, the best clubs also have the highest expectations.

Related: Best wonderkids to sign in Football Manager 2023

The best Football Manager 2023 team overall

Manchester City

If we’re talking purely about the quality of players in a squad, then there’s simply no contest this season. Manchester City has so much talent throughout the squad, that they honestly ought to win the best Defence, best Midfield, and best Attack categories too, but we’ve given some mentions to other teams below to keep things more interesting. And if Man City’s existing squad isn’t good enough for you, then the club also has the second highest transfer budget in the game.

The Football Manager 2023 team with the highest transfer budget

R. Madrid: Transfer Budget: £103M

This is definitely an interesting season on which to take the reins at Real Madrid. Winning the UEFA Champions League (again) last season, arguably makes Real Madrid the best team in the world, but if you look closely at their squad, it’s not actually that great by their own phenomenal standards. The biggest Real Madrid stars have moved on or are getting old, and the younger crop still have a few things to prove. But that huge transfer budget means that, by making some shrewd purchases, you can assemble a squad to rival those of Man City and FC Bayern.

The Football Manager 2023 team with the (second) best Attack

FC Bayern München

Although FB Bayern’s squad lacks a classic, out-and-out striker, it more than makes up for this shortcoming with a truly formidable attacking midfield line-up. Thomas Müller, Sadio Mané, Leroy Sané, and up-and-coming wonderkid Jamal Musiala give the team so many creative options in attack, making FC Bayern almost impossible to contain.

The Football Manager 2023 team with the (second) best Midfield

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig is the fastest growing football team in the world right now, thanks to massive amounts of investment from its owner, the energy drink producer Red Bull. And the club’s midfield is looking especially impressive this season. Konrad Laimer, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Dani Olmo might not have worldwide reputations (yet), but they’re all still young. And, if you want a solid, versatile midfield that can control the game and maintain possession, only Man City can do better.

The Football Manager 2023 team with the (second) best Defence

FC Bayern München

With a legend like Manuel Neuer between the sticks, you could almost argue that FC Bayern doesn’t even need a good defensive line. But, as it happens, the club has one of the two best defensive squads in the world. Rising star Alphonso Davies is joined by the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano, making FC Bayern a very difficult team to break down indeed.

The Football Manager 2023 team with the highest potential

Valencia

Among the big five top-tier leagues, two squads have the lowest average age (24.3 years) VfB Stuttgart and Valencia. It’s impossible to say which of these has the highest potential, but Valencia are a better team overall. So, if you’re a patient player who loves the satisfaction of seeing a team of youngsters evolve into legends over several seasons, than Valencia is the team for you.