#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 7: Lacking A Goalscorer. A youthful #ValenciaCF continue to be the best of the rest in Spain, but the gap to Real Madrid and Barcelona looks increasingly insurmountable without a regular goalscorer.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 6 | Lacking A Goalscorer
Valencia CF enjoyed their best season so far under the stewardship of Roberto Lazaró in the 2027/28 campaign. And the manager was delighted to see his approach to blooding youngsters was resulting in plenty of progression.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 20, 2024 at 11:01 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 7: Lacking A Goalscorer. A youthful #ValenciaCF continue to be the best of the rest in Spain, but the gap to Real Madrid and Barcelona looks increasingly insurmountable without a regular goalscorer.
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#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 17: #Bundesliga Battle Built On Defence. We wrap up this latest series with #Mainz05's rock-solid defence leading a 3rd consecutive title and another run to the #ChampionsLeague semis.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 17 | Bundesliga Battle Built On Defence
The homegrown stars of 1. FSV Mainz racked up consecutive Bundesliga titles and showed their ability to compete with Europe's best in an exciting 2038/39 campaign. Now, Roberto Lazaró was looking to make it three in a row as he mulled over this being his final season in football management.
footballmanageraddict.com
March 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 17: #Bundesliga Battle Built On Defence. We wrap up this latest series with #Mainz05's rock-solid defence leading a 3rd consecutive title and another run to the #ChampionsLeague semis.
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A brand new save and our 3rd #WonderkidFactory as we head to #ValenciaCF. In Part 1, discover our objectives and a focus on Ibero-American players who can qualify as homegrown at the club within 3 years.
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#FM24 #FootballManager #FMBloggers
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#FM24 #FootballManager #FMBloggers
Wonderkid Factory | Part 1 | Looking To Los Cules’ Youth
One of my main Football Manager 2025 saves was going to be another wonderkid factory challenge trying to deliver success using a club’s youth production. However, unlike our previous saves wi…
footballmanageraddict.com
November 16, 2024 at 3:49 PM
A brand new save and our 3rd #WonderkidFactory as we head to #ValenciaCF. In Part 1, discover our objectives and a focus on Ibero-American players who can qualify as homegrown at the club within 3 years.
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/15/w...
#FM24 #FootballManager #FMBloggers
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/15/w...
#FM24 #FootballManager #FMBloggers
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 7: Homegrown Striker Marco Steps Up. #ValenciaCF had been desperately in need of a goalscorer and they finally find one as academy product Marco equals the club record for most league goals in a season!
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 7 | Homegrown Striker Marco Steps Up
Valencia CF had established themselves as the best of the rest in Spain after six seasons under Roberto Lazaró. However, the dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona and the lack of a goalscorer had the manager concerned about how he could take the club to the next level.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 7: Homegrown Striker Marco Steps Up. #ValenciaCF had been desperately in need of a goalscorer and they finally find one as academy product Marco equals the club record for most league goals in a season!
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#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 3: Adios La Mestalla. @valenciacf.bsky.social bid farewell to their long-time home as they finish behind Spain's big 3. However, their Ibero-American transfer policy delivers #NxGn glory for striker Gabriel Silva.
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/29/w...
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/29/w...
Wonderkid Factory | Part 3 | Adios La Mestalla
A strong second season in Valencia saw Roberto Lazaró lead Los Che to 4th place and Champions League football for the final campaign at their legendary La Mestalla home. But Lazaró was keen to impr…
footballmanageraddict.com
November 29, 2024 at 12:28 PM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 3: Adios La Mestalla. @valenciacf.bsky.social bid farewell to their long-time home as they finish behind Spain's big 3. However, their Ibero-American transfer policy delivers #NxGn glory for striker Gabriel Silva.
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/29/w...
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/29/w...
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 16: The Jürgen Klopp Park Era Begins. Exciting times at #Mainz05 as the club moves into a brand new stadium, defends its maiden #Bundesliga title and gets its first taste of the #ChampionsLeague.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 16 | The Jürgen Klopp Park Era Begins
The small city of Mainz, on the outskirts of Frankfurt in western Germany, wasn't accustomed to throwing huge parties. But you wouldn't have known it as seemingly the entirety of its 220,000 population took to the streets to celebrate their heroes lifting 1. FSV Mainz's maiden Bundesliga title in 2038. The city's streets flowed with Pilsner and the parties went on for what felt like weeks.
footballmanageraddict.com
March 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 16: The Jürgen Klopp Park Era Begins. Exciting times at #Mainz05 as the club moves into a brand new stadium, defends its maiden #Bundesliga title and gets its first taste of the #ChampionsLeague.
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#WonderkidFactory Part 7: A Gunma Golden Generation. @OfficialThespa step up to @J_League for the first time and a young squad upset quite a few of Japan's elite. While the season ends with an exciting youth intake. #ThespaGunma #JLeague
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 7 | A Gunma Golden Generation
A narrow victory saw Thespakusatsu Gunma end their playoff hoodoo to earn their first ever promotion to the top tier of Japanese football in 2031. Now the hard work began for Robaato Rasamu to build a side capable of survival.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#WonderkidFactory Part 7: A Gunma Golden Generation. @OfficialThespa step up to @J_League for the first time and a young squad upset quite a few of Japan's elite. While the season ends with an exciting youth intake. #ThespaGunma #JLeague
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#WonderkidFactory Part 8: Chasing First Silverware. A fully homegrown @ValenciaCF reach two cup finals in 2031 and are right in the mix for the #LaLiga title fight. But could they claim the first trophy of he Roberto Lazaró reign?
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 8 | Chasing First Silverware
The big two of Barcelona and Real Madrid seemed near-invincible as they both racked up over 100 points in 2029/30. And, despite Valencia having the best 2 players in the league, they finished a massive 27 and 29 points behind the pair.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#WonderkidFactory Part 8: Chasing First Silverware. A fully homegrown @ValenciaCF reach two cup finals in 2031 and are right in the mix for the #LaLiga title fight. But could they claim the first trophy of he Roberto Lazaró reign?
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#WonderkidFactory Part 2: A Surprise Cup Final. More big transfers are followed by an influx of Ibero-American youngsters at #ValenciaCF. And they enjoy a strong #LaLiga showing to challenge the top 4 before reaching the #EuropaLeague Final.
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/22/w...
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/22/w...
Wonderkid Factory | Part 2 | A Surprise Cup Final
A promising first season in Valencia saw Roberto Lazaró secure European qualification despite form dramatically tailing off in the last few matches. Lazaró’s success convinced owner Peter Lim…
footballmanageraddict.com
November 22, 2024 at 11:06 AM
#WonderkidFactory Part 2: A Surprise Cup Final. More big transfers are followed by an influx of Ibero-American youngsters at #ValenciaCF. And they enjoy a strong #LaLiga showing to challenge the top 4 before reaching the #EuropaLeague Final.
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/22/w...
Read here: footballmanageraddict.com/2024/11/22/w...
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 4: A Gayá-Less New Era. @ValenciaCF lose their captain and starting goalkeeper but a young side continues to impress. And the performances of star man Javi Guerra help them split the 'big 3' for the first time.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 4 | A Gayá-Less New Era
After 103 years at their historic home, Valencia Club de Fútbol bid farewell to La Mestalla as they ushered in a new era at the 55,000-capacity Nuevo Mestalla, but they would do so without their inspirational homegrown captain.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 4: A Gayá-Less New Era. @ValenciaCF lose their captain and starting goalkeeper but a young side continues to impress. And the performances of star man Javi Guerra help them split the 'big 3' for the first time.
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#WonderkidFactory Part 12: Great At Home, Terrible Away! @1FSVMainz05 punch above their weight as a young side have the 5th-best home record and 5th-worst away record. And they finish 4 points behind Bayern in a fight for European football.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 12 | Great At Home, Terrible Away!
Mainz survived with relative ease in their first season back in Bundesliga. But the big challenge now facing Roberto Lazaró, moving into his third season in Germany, was to continue developing his young squad - some of whom were one year away from obtaining homegrown status.
footballmanageraddict.com
February 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#WonderkidFactory Part 12: Great At Home, Terrible Away! @1FSVMainz05 punch above their weight as a young side have the 5th-best home record and 5th-worst away record. And they finish 4 points behind Bayern in a fight for European football.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 9: Gunma's First Misfire. After several seasons of success, Gunma get a taste of reality as stepping up to the Asian Champions League proves a step too far. And a young squad gets drawn into a relegation battle.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 9 | Gunma’s First Misfire
Thespakusatsu Gunma recorded a fifth successive record high finish under the tutelage of Robaato Rasamu, who led the club into the Asian Champions League for the first time by finishing 2nd in J1 League in 2033. However, Rasamu was a little concerned about how well his youthful homegrown team would cope with domestic and continental matters.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 9: Gunma's First Misfire. After several seasons of success, Gunma get a taste of reality as stepping up to the Asian Champions League proves a step too far. And a young squad gets drawn into a relegation battle.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 3: Takeover Precedes Gunma Playoff Push. @OfficialThespa undergo a board takeover and see off interest in most of their hot prospects, before mounting a push for the #J3League playoff places.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 3 | Takeover Precedes Gunma Playoff Push
Thespa Gunma's young stars achieved a solid top-half finish in the longest football season known to man, as a 16-month J3 League campaign finally ended in May. That overperformance saw managed Robaato Rasamu field interview requests from multiple J2 sides.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 3: Takeover Precedes Gunma Playoff Push. @OfficialThespa undergo a board takeover and see off interest in most of their hot prospects, before mounting a push for the #J3League playoff places.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 10: Gunma's First Japan International. @OfficialThespa enjoy a much better season as they push for a top 8 finish. And Yusuke Ishii becomes their first academy international... then decides he wants out!
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 10 | Gunma’s First Japan International
After enjoying several seasons of success, Thespakusatsu Gunma and Robaato Rasamu came down to earth with a thump as they got drawn into a J1 League relegation battle in 2034. But, 12 months on from a title challenge, they finished the season well to maintain their top-flight status.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 10: Gunma's First Japan International. @OfficialThespa enjoy a much better season as they push for a top 8 finish. And Yusuke Ishii becomes their first academy international... then decides he wants out!
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 4: Transfer Errors Before Gunma Hit J2 Flying. Robaato Rasamu makes a Brazilian transfer fail ahead of @OfficialThespa's return to #J2League. And his young side push for consecutive playoff finishes.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 4 | Transfer Errors Before Gunma Hit J2 Flying
The unfancied youthful side of Thespa Gunma were the surprise package of Japan's J3 League as they snuck into the playoffs and put in two huge performances to seal promotion to the second tier.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 4: Transfer Errors Before Gunma Hit J2 Flying. Robaato Rasamu makes a Brazilian transfer fail ahead of @OfficialThespa's return to #J2League. And his young side push for consecutive playoff finishes.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 15: Back In Title Contention. Robaato Rasamu leads @OfficialThespa back into the fight for the #J1League title but a lack of goals sees them fall just short. And a Colombian prospect becomes their best player yet.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 15 | Back In Title Contention
Thespakusatsu Gunma's first J1 League title defence didn't exactly go to plan as they suffered a slow start but recovered to the board's expected top-half finish in 2039. And manager Robaato Rasamu recognised it was time to shake things up a little.
footballmanageraddict.com
February 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 15: Back In Title Contention. Robaato Rasamu leads @OfficialThespa back into the fight for the #J1League title but a lack of goals sees them fall just short. And a Colombian prospect becomes their best player yet.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 13: Gunma's First Trophy. Rabaato Rasamu's exciting young @OfficialThespa side continue to compete at the top of #J1League. They win a maiden trophy in the #EmperorsCup before taking the title race to the final day.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 13 | Gunma’s First Trophy
Thespakusatsu Gunma finished 2nd in J1 League for the third time in five years as Robaato Rasamu's exciting youngsters excelled again in 2036/37. But, after 12 years in charge of Gunma, Rasamu was keen to take the next step and secure the club's first major silverware.
footballmanageraddict.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 13: Gunma's First Trophy. Rabaato Rasamu's exciting young @OfficialThespa side continue to compete at the top of #J1League. They win a maiden trophy in the #EmperorsCup before taking the title race to the final day.
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#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 9: @ValenciaCF's Best Title Shot So Far. The homegrown European Champions turn their attention to domestic matters. And, despite Real winning their first 21 matches, #ValenciaCF's young stars keep pace.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 9 | Valencia’s Best Title Shot So Far
Roberto Lazaró joined in the Champions League celebrations for a few days before returning to work to start plotting how to close the gap to the mighty Real Madrid and Barcelona, who'd shared the last 7 Spanish titles.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 9: @ValenciaCF's Best Title Shot So Far. The homegrown European Champions turn their attention to domestic matters. And, despite Real winning their first 21 matches, #ValenciaCF's young stars keep pace.
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#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 13: Mainz Legend, Brajan Gruda. The impressive rise of #Mainz05 continues as they start #Bundesliga well. But a stellar European run sees league form fall away, leading to a huge moment for a club legend.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 13 | Mainz Legend, Brajan Gruda
Huge relegation favourites 1. FSV Mainz 05 surprised Bundesliga to finish 7th and secure European qualification. However, the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer was worrying Roberto Lazaró heading into the summer of 2035.
footballmanageraddict.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 13: Mainz Legend, Brajan Gruda. The impressive rise of #Mainz05 continues as they start #Bundesliga well. But a stellar European run sees league form fall away, leading to a huge moment for a club legend.
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#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 10: Finding A New Wonderkid Factory. After success at Valencia, Roberto Lazaró decides it's time for a change and ends up in Germany with Mainz. He raids South America and leads his new club into a title race.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 10 | Finding A New Wonderkid Factory
After leading Valencia CF to Champions League and LaLiga glory with a fully homegrown team over the last two seasons, Roberto Lazaró decided it was time for a change.
footballmanageraddict.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
#FM24 #WonderkidFactory Part 10: Finding A New Wonderkid Factory. After success at Valencia, Roberto Lazaró decides it's time for a change and ends up in Germany with Mainz. He raids South America and leads his new club into a title race.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 8: Surprise J1 League Title Bid. Robaato Rasamu's exciting young @OfficialThespa squad continue to overperform, as they push towards the top of @J_League_En. And there's a huge surprise maiden champion of Japan.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 8 | Surprise J1 League Title Bid
Thespakusatsu Gunma upset all the odds to not only avoid relegation but finish 7th in their first-ever season in the Japanese top tier. Robaato Rasamu was excited about the potential at the club as his promising youngsters continued to deliver.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 8: Surprise J1 League Title Bid. Robaato Rasamu's exciting young @OfficialThespa squad continue to overperform, as they push towards the top of @J_League_En. And there's a huge surprise maiden champion of Japan.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 2: Young Stars Shine Despite Long First Season in Japan. A long slog in Japan sees @OfficialThespa's youngsters deliver, including striker Masaya Nishi scoring 19 goals in 60 matches.
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Discover our new youth dev tracker here:
Wonderkid Factory | Part 2 | Young Stars Shine Despite Long First Season in Japan
Robaato Rasamu found himself in the midst of a 16-month second season in Japan, relying on an extremely inexperienced squad. After enduring a painful J2/J3 Special Tournament, the rookie Japanese manager was slowly starting to get improved performances out of his young Thespa Gunma side.
footballmanageraddict.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 2: Young Stars Shine Despite Long First Season in Japan. A long slog in Japan sees @OfficialThespa's youngsters deliver, including striker Masaya Nishi scoring 19 goals in 60 matches.
Discover our new youth dev tracker here:
Discover our new youth dev tracker here:
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 6: Surviving Board Interventions for Another Playoff Shot. The @OfficialThespa board wade in on sales, but loyalty prevails before a 3rd successive best ever finish. But could they break the playoff hoodoo?
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 6 | Surviving Board Interventions for Another Playoff Shot
For the second time in 12 months, Thespakusatsu Gunma suffered promotion playoff heartache fresh from recording the best position in club history in 2030. Their overachievement saw manager Robaato Rasamu interviewed by relegated J1 League side Cerezo Osaka, but he remained committed to the Gunma cause.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 6: Surviving Board Interventions for Another Playoff Shot. The @OfficialThespa board wade in on sales, but loyalty prevails before a 3rd successive best ever finish. But could they break the playoff hoodoo?
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#WonderkidFactory Part 5: Cruel Penalty Pain. @OfficialThespa's #J2League promotion hopes come down to a final day showdown amid a real drop in form at the end of the season.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 5 | Cruel Penalty Pain
Just six minutes separated Thespa Gunma from a surprise promotion to the Japanese top tier. However, the J2 League's silly rule that the home side gets promoted if a playoff final is drawn meant they missed out, which, in hindsight, was probably for the best given they'd just recorded the club's record high finish.
footballmanageraddict.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#WonderkidFactory Part 5: Cruel Penalty Pain. @OfficialThespa's #J2League promotion hopes come down to a final day showdown amid a real drop in form at the end of the season.
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#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 17: Gunma Chase A Historic Treble. A tactical shift works wonders as @OfficialThespa end a continental hoodoo and chase down their rivals aiming for a second #J1League title.
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Wonderkid Factory | Part 17 | Gunma Chase A Historic Treble
Supporters of Thespakusatsu Gunma were becoming all too accustomed to the feeling of being second best. They saw their side finish 2nd in J1 League for the fifth time in nine seasons in 2041, which, in fairness, they probably couldn't have dreamed of before manager Robaato Rasamu arrived at the club 16 years ago.
footballmanageraddict.com
March 6, 2026 at 11:01 AM
#FM26 #WonderkidFactory Part 17: Gunma Chase A Historic Treble. A tactical shift works wonders as @OfficialThespa end a continental hoodoo and chase down their rivals aiming for a second #J1League title.
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