Discover the best hidden wonderkid factories in Football Manager and all those ‘lesser-known’ clubs around the world with the best training facilities that for one or more reasons doesn’t quite make it to the top of the list of the best youth academies in Football Manager 2024.
Whether you are trying to track down the best Football Manager 2024 wonderkids (e.g newgens), or want to identify some of the best hidden gems, browsing through the youth teams of the best youth academies will be advantegous.
Although the biggest clubs with the best training facilities will oftenly produce the best newgens, these potential world-class talents will be difficult to sign unless you are loaded with money and can buy whoever you want, got great reputation, and/or are playing some fantastic football that makes the players to be part of your project.
If you got limited funds or are managing a smaller club with less reputation then you need to be more creative in your search for wonderkids and best newgens by using any trick in the book to identify the next superstar. Following up on our comprehensive list of the best youth academies on Football Manager 2024, we wanted to showcase all those amazing youth academies across the world who continously manage to produce great players within their nation and enables you to sign wonderkids on a budget.
In fact, there are hundreds of clubs around the world who manage to produce great players for their nation’s national team and have a great track record of producing international stars around the world that you probably overlook when hunting for wonderkids. Some of these clubs might be pretty well-known to you, but is overlooked when it comes to searching for wonderkids and hidden gems.
Today we will take a closer look at all those hidden wonderkid factories on Football Manager and all those clubs across the world with great youth facilities that has the potential to develop the next Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland or Kevin de Bruyne in the future of your FM24 save!
Here you’ll get to know some of the greatest youth academies from smaller nations with the best youth facilities within their nation. You can this guide to identify the next club to manage for a youth development save, or concentrate your scouting focus by monitoring the youth intakes of those nations with the highest chance of producing the best newgens on Football Manager and manually scout the latest youth graduates of a specific nation or a club.
If you’re interested in learning more about how clubs produce players at the annual youth intake, or how to scout for newgens, then we have written several guides on the topic to help you either create a world-leading youth academy for your own club, or scout for wonderkids with a more scientifical approach based on the information revealed within the Football Manager database.
This way, you’ll be able to track down all the best wonderkids in the future, such as these quality newgens 10 years into the game.
You can find all these guides within our dedicated archive to youth intake, or browse our scouting guides.
But back to topic!
In this guide to hidden wonderkid factories in fm24, we will take a closer look at all those clubs with one of the highest Academy coaching, youth training facilities and extensive youth recruitment in the game. Some of these amazing wonderkid factories is probably well known to you, but is easily overlooked when it comes to youth intake and the prospect of finding the next hidden gem within their youth ranks.
To make it easier to set up a scouting focus to identify the next stars, I have decided to categorize the clubs by scouting region. This aims to help you to quickly find the finest talents the region, or the nation, has to offer, as there are a number of quality players that are likely to be produced within the clubs’ youth academy.
Without any further ado, let us take a closer look at some of Football Manager’s best hidden wonderkid factories.
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkid Factories in South Europe
NK Domžale – Slovenia
NK Domžale is one of three leading clubs in Slovenia when it comes to youth development. Their youth academy has fed the Slovenian National team with top players, such as Benjamin Sesko, Samir Handanovic, Jan Mlakar, Jon Gorenc Stankovic and new kid on the block, FM24 wonderkid Luka Topalovic.
Established in 1920, the club had to wait over 80 years before their most successful era started. After promotion to PrvaLiga in 2002, the club won two consecutive league champions in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
They have regularly qualified for one of the UEFA club competitions as they normally tends to finish top 7 in the Slovenian top division. Their best performance was to reach the play-off round in UEFA Europa League 2017-18 when they were knocked out by Marseille.
In Football Manager, NK Domžale has one of the best youth facilities in the country and got three players called up to the Slovenian Under-21 National team. Visiting their youth team after the youth intake has happened can be beneficial, as they got the potential to produce some of the best Slovenian talents in Football Manager.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Excellent | Maximum |
| 14 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 20 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €224.9K
FM24 Balance: €870K
FK Sarajevo – Bosnia & Herzegovina
The rivalry between FK Sarajevo and FK Željezničar doesn’t only happen on the pitch, but it’s also a fierce battle of producing the best players within the nation. At the moment, FK Sarajevo is probably a horse head in front recognized as the best youth academy club in Bosnia with their top-notch youth facilities.
Founded in 1946, FK Sarajevo is one of the most successful clubs in the country with five Premijer Liga titles and seven BiH Cup trophies within their trophy cabinet. Now, it’s been a couple of years since the won the Premijer Liga the last time (2019-20) but their ambitions to develop the best youth within the nation continues.
Owned by Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan, FK Sarajevo has finished on a fourth place since their second place in 2020-21 and could be wonderful prospect for a build a nation / youth development save.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Excellent | Good | Good | Top |
| 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €199.99K
FM24 Balance: €1.49Mill
NK Maribor – Slovenia
Like FK Sarajevo, the youth academy of NK Maribor has established themselves as the most successful youth academy within its nation. The Slovenian club’s Academy incorporates over 200 young players from the age of 12 to 18 where they are able to get the first taste of sporting success as well as getting a football education that might result in the chance to play at a higher level.
A great number of NK Maribor’s Academy players has been called up to the nations youth National team , such as the case of Marcel Lorber (Slovenia Under-21) and Luka Poredos (Slovenia Under-18). In total, NK Maribor got currently 14 players called-up to represent the National team from U21 to U16 level.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Excellent | Maximum |
| 14 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 19 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €679.99K
FM24 Balance: €3.28Mill
Lokomotiva Zagreb – Croatia
Lokomotiva Zagreb is probably one of the clubs that gets easily overlooked when thinking about Croatian wonderkids. With fierce competition from Hadjuk Split, Dinamo Zagreb and Osijek, Lokomotiva Zagreb has struggled to finish higher than 5th position in the last 10 years. Their second place in the SuperSport HNL 2019/20 was their best achievement since the 2012/13 season.
Founded in 1914, the club has spent most of their history in the second tier, but has managed to establish themselves as a stepping stone club for a number of well-known Croatian players. Both Marko Pjaka, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanusec and Roko Simic has gone through the Academy. Now, they have three new amazing talents making their breakthrough at the club; Lukas Kacavenda (20), Fabijan Krivak (18) and Marin Soticek (19) – all hidden gem wonderkids on FM24 that you need to check out!
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Maximum |
| 13 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 20 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €599.99K
FM24 Balance: €500K
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkid Factories in Eastern Europe
Universitatea Craiova – Romania
Romania has a welth of clubs with great training and youth facilities. Farul Constanţa, U Cluj, FCSB and Steaua Bucuresti is probably one of the best-known clubs in Romania when it comes to youth production. The nations dark horse is Universitatea Craiova, or simply U Craiova together with Csikszereda (Liga 2).
U Craiova CS managed to develop one of the greatest Romanian players in my eyes, Gheorghe Popescu but has also club legends like Ilie Balaci, who scored 76 goals in 286 appearances at the club and has 65 National team caps.
CS Universitatea Craiova is amongst the top 5 most successful clubs in Romania. They have won the Liga 1 on four occassions, and has seven Cupa României titles. Their greatest era was in the 1970s and 80s with 7 trophies won. Their last major trophy before being refounded was achieving the double in 1990-91. Their last Cupa Romaniei trophy came in 2020-21 after ten years of fighting legal problems that resulted in dissaffiliation by the Romanian Football Federation and exclusion from the Liga 1.
After an absence of 23 years from the highest league, the club promoted back to Liga 1 in 2014-15. Since 2016, they have never finished below 5th position in the top division.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Excellent | Superb |
| 14 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 16 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €250K
FM24 Balance: €47.68K
FK TSC Bačka Topola – Serbia
When thinking about the best youth academy clubs in Serbia, our mind quickly wanders to the Red Star Belgrade Academy and Partizan Belgrade. But behind the top two, both Vojvodina Novi Sad and TSC Backa Topola is starting to make a name for themselves. While Vojvodina has a long and pride history, TSCcould be described as the new kid on the block with great youth facilities in Serbia.
Most of the club’s best youth graduates has come through at the 2003 generation or later, and their best talent to come through is Petar Ratkov, who was sold for €5mill to RB Salzburg in July 2023.
Established in 1913 as Topolyai Sport Club, TSC is the second oldest football club in the Serbian top division. Until promotion to the Superliga ahead of 2019-20 season, TSC has mostly played in the lower leagues. In fact, it’s the boyhood club of Dusan Tadic, who went to Vojvodina at the age of 14 before making his breakthrough for the club four years later.
In FM24, TSC has a few decent talents worth knowing. Both Veljko Ilic and Milos Pantovic are Serbian wonderkids that has the potential to play football at the highest level of one of top European clubs. Perhaps we’ll one day see them in the Eredivisie, Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Excellent | Superb |
| 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €399.99K
FM24 Balance: €1.1Mill
Levski Sofia – Bulgaria
The battle between Levski Sofia, Ludogorets, CSKA-Sofia and Botev Plovdiv to be labelled as the best youth academy in Bulgaria is fierce. When considering the youth facilities of all these clubs, they are pretty much identical – meaning all clubs should have an equal chance of produce quality newgens.
In the case of Levski Sofia, their commitment to nurture homegrown talents has always been part of the club’s vision, something the current manager Nikolay Kostov emphasizes when building his squad. Over the last two to three years, a number of Under-18 players have received their efBet Liga debut. The most reputable ones are Plamen Andreev and Asen Mitkov.
Over the years, Levski Sofia has contributed to the talent production within the country of Bulgaria and regularly talents coming through the Levski Academy has been called up to represent Bulgaria’s National team. This is something you can take advantage of in FM24, by keeping tabs of the new youth graduates of Levski, and the other great youth academies in Bulgaria when you build a youth team in the summer transfer window.
Puskás Académia – Hungary
In Hungary we find the wonderful Puskás Academia. The club founded in 2005 and named in honor of Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, has established themselves as one of the top five clubs in Hungary. Whilst they are yet to win the Nemzeti Bajnokság, they finished as runners-up in 2020-21 and became 4th last season.
Coming through the Puskas Academy, Hungarian internationals such as Zsolt Nagy, László Kleinheisler and Roland Sallai, has gone on to play for the Hungarian National team and nurtured their skills to become great players in some of the biggest football leagues.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Great | Adequate | Excellent | Average |
| 13 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 10 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €999.99K
FM24 Balance: €2.49Mill
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkid Factories in Central Europe
MSK Zilina – Slovakia
MSK Zilina is one of the most successful clubs in Slovakia. Between 2001and 2017, the club has won the Slovakian Niké Liga 7 times but has struggled to reduce the dominance of Slovan Bratislava.
For 2023/24 season, MSK Zilina bolster one of the youngest squads in Europe according to a report by CIES Football Observatory. Their average age of 22.2 paints the picture of a club who puts focus on youth development. Like FC Nordsjælland, the club has looked to Africa to identify talents as Under-21 players from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon has been signed to their first team squad through their African based affiliate club MSK Zilina Africa.
Their great Academy coaching is only beaten by Trencin within the country but has resulted in a number of great Slovakian players being brought through the Academy. Leo Sauer, Milan Skriniar, Martin Dúbravka, David Hancko and Robert Bozenik are just a few graduates from the renown Zilina Academy.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Excellent | Superb |
| 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €149.99K
FM24 Balance: €0
FC Viktoria Plzen – Czechia
From the wonderful Viktoria Plzen Academy, the club has given us legends such as Peter Cech and Pavel Nedved. The Cezh club has been a constant contributor to developing players for its National team and become an important team behind Slavia Prague, Sparta Prague and Sigma Olomouc to develop homegrown talents.
Viktoria Plzen has won the Fortuna:Liga on six occassions – the last time in 2017/18. That ended a 8 year dominance where the club won the Czech top division on five occassions starting from 2010-11. They also won the MOL Cup in 2009-10 and is a team no stranger to play in one of the European Competitions hosted by UEFA.
Viktoria Plzen has all the potential to develop some great Czechian players due to their excellent youth recruitment network that helps to attract youth from surrounding nations, such as Slovakia and Serbia.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Great | Good | Excellent | Great |
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €2.05M
FM24 Balance: €4.9M
FC Groningen – Netherlands
In the shadow of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord we find the wonderful youth academy of FC Groningen. Like many other Dutch teams, FC Groningen has a huge focus on developing home grown talents. Through the Groningen Academy, the footballing Europe has received some amazing players. Virgil van Dijk, Ronald Koeman, Arjen Robben and Orkun Kökçü is just a few of a long list of Dutch talents that has been developed by Groningen.
Since Fc Groningen currently plays in the Keuken Kampion Divisie, they represent a chance to poach cheap talents within their youth sides.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | Good | Above Average | Superb |
| 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €1M
FM24 Balance: €5M
Sparta Rotterdam – Netherlands
If you’re here to find clubs to manage for a youth development save on Football Manager, then the prospect of developing home grown Dutch talents at Sparta Rotterdam could be a wonderful challenge. Even though the club’s youth facilities is far from the best in Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam manage to produce a number of quality newgens at the annual youth intakes on Football Manager.
Established in 1888, Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest football club in the Netherlands. The Eredivisie club is fierce rivals with Feyenoord, both on the pitch and when it comes to producing the next generation of talents.
When simulating Football Manager for 10 years, Sparta Rotterdam was one of the big five of producing world class Dutch wonderkids. Although they were a few steps behind Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam managed to produce nearly 10 players with a minimum potential of 140! Their best youth graduate had a PA of 185! Most of these wonderkids where forwards or wingers (AMC, AMRL or ST) meaning they could be a great club to scout for fairly cheap attacking players available for under €10Million.
In real-life, Sparta Rotterdam has developed Dutch internationals, such as Lutsharel Geertruida, Memphis Depay, Ed de Goey, Georginio Wijnaldum and Marten de Roon. Latest emerging star at Ajax, Jorrel Hato, started out his career at Sparta before moving to Ajax at the age of 12.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Superb |
| 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €375K
FM24 Balance: €2M
Other leading hidden wonderkids factories
- Standard Liege, Jupiler Pro League, Belgium
- BSC Young Boys, Credit Suisse Super League, Switzerland
- Sion, Dieci Challenge League, Switzerland
- Sturm Graz, Admiral Bundesliga, Austria
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkid Factories in Western Europe
Sochaux-Montbeliard – France
Although Sochaux-Montbeliard had to take the tough steps down to the Championnat National due to financial problems, they are amongst the leading clubs in France when it comes to youth development. Founded in 1928 by a member of the Peugeot family, the club has been a member of the top division until relegation in 2014.
Its Academy has won the Coupe Gambardella twice, which is an under-18 youth competition goverend by FFF. Throughout the years, Sochaux-Montbeliard has established a reputation of being amongst the top 10 clubs in France for their work on nurturing homegrown talents. Jeremy Menez, Benoît Pedretti and Marcus Thuram is just a few of the many French talents that has come through the renown Sochaux Academy.
The latest product is French Wonderkid defender, Amidou Doumbouya, who was sold to OGC Nice at the end of summer transfer window 2022-23.
Despite currently playing in the third tier of the French football league system, Sochaux has three players within their ranks that plays for a National Team. Goalkeeper Mathieu Patouillet, who represents France Under-20, is currently on a loan at Sochaux, and uses their training facilities to get more experience and develop as a player.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Great | Good | Excellent | Great |
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €691K
FM24 Balance: €14.1M
Le Havre – France
For anyone following my FM journey, you might have discovered my special heart for Le Havre and its potential to become a significant club in developing French talents. The club somehow surprisingly promoted to the Ligue 1 ahead of this season and despite they are finding themselves on the 11th place, they are ahead of Olympique Lyon who are two points ahead of the relegation battle.
Le Havre AC is one of these clubs in Football Manager that manage to produce a number of wonderkids. Whether you can say it’s a golden generation every season is to exaggerate but their youth facilities is wonderful. In fact, many bigger European clubs look to the Le Havre Academy to poach great talents with high potential.
Such was the case with Isaak Touré, who was sold to Marseille in 22/23, Saël Kumbedi (sold to Lyon in 22/23) and Rafik Guitane (sold to Stade Rennais in 2017/18). Ferland Mendy used the club as a stepping stone before being sold to Olympique Lyon after being released from the PSG U17 team.
Le Havre has produced some amazing players throughout the years. Steve Mandanda, Dimitri Payet, Benjamin Mendy and Paul Pogba are just some of the club’s products.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Above Average | Great |
| 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €1.3M
FM24 Balance: €1.24M
FC Damm – Spain
FC Damm is a Spanish club who completely focus on youth development. Based in Catalonia, the Juvenile A, or Under-19 squad plays in the highest level of Under-19 teams; División de Honor Juvenil de Fútbol. Over the years, both Espanyol, Real Madrid and Barcelona has looked to FC Damm to poach some of the greatest Spanish talents. This should also be the case in Football Manager, if you’re managing a team on the Iberian Peninsula.
Famous Spanish players that has played for FC Damm are Gerard Moreno, Sergio Garcia, Aleix Vidal and Ramón Terrats, who plays regular LA Liga football for Villarreal these days.
In FM24, FC Damm has the potential to produce cheap hidden gems that you can sign for less than €1Million. Their potential might not be at the highest levels but at a level where they can become significant players for mid-table clubs.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Above Average | Maximum |
| 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 20 |
Malaga – Spain
Malaga has experienced some of the same faith as Sochaux in recent years. The club based in Andalucia, relegated from the Segunda Division after 2022-23 season and could easily be overlooked when hunting for cheap Spanish wonderkids. By relegating into the third tier, it was the first time since 1998 the club played on that level. Apart from the last 6 years, Malaga has been a regular competitor in the top division and played La Liga football for 10 consecutive seasons between 2008/09 and 2017/18.
Malaga CF is no stranger to nurturing Spanish internationals. Both Brahim Diaz, Youssef En-Nesyri, Pablo Fornals and Samu Castillejo are a product of their Academy.
By focusing on their good Academy coaching and good youth recruitment, the club has the second-youngest team in the league (24.2), if we look away from the B-Teams of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Cordero, Izan Merino and Andres Caro are three cheap gems that could be labelled as their current stars within the Malaga Academy. Check them out on FM24!
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Good | Great |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €1
FM24 Balance: €500K
Académica de Coimbra – Portugal
Although Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Porto are the leading clubs in Portugal when it comes to wonderkids generation, there are a few clubs beneath the top tier that could be wonderful picks for a youth development save. Apart from Feirense or Belenenses we have Académica de Coimbra, which is based in Liga 3.
Despite never winning the top division, the lower league club has won the Taca de Portugal twice, respectively in 1938/39 and 2011/12.
In FM24, the club has one of the best training facilities for a third division club. André Villas-Boas started out his managerial career at Académica de Coimbra, meanwhile Sérgio Conceição or Fiorentina’s new striker M’Bala Nzola has come through the academy or used them as a stepping stone for a professional contract, and a pathway to international football.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Great | Good | Above Average | Great |
| 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €60K
FM24 Balance: €300K
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkid Factories in South America
When talking about nations who produce quality newgens, Brazil (#1 youth rating 163) and Argentina (#6 140) is amongst the top 10 nations with the highest youth rating. So let us head over the Atlantic Ocean to look at some of the best hidden wonderkid factories in South America that you should be aware of.
Talleres – Argentina
Behind River Plate, Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo there are a number of clubs who can potentially produce the next amazing wonderkid on FM24. One of these clubs are Talleres, but I could also have mentioned their main rivals Belgrano (Liga Profesional) or Atl. Rafael (Primera Nacional).
Club Atlético Talleres was founded in 1913 and is regarded as one of the best clubs from the provice of Cordoba. The club promoted to Primera Division for the first time in 1969 but had to wait until 1997/98 before winning it for the first time. In the following season, Talleres won the Copa CONMEBOL – the precursor to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana tournament.
From the Academy of Talleres, a number of great Argentinian players have come through; Pablo Ledesma, Javier Pastore, Nahuel Bustos and Emanuel Reynoso who currently plies his trade at Major League Soccer club Minnesota.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superb | Great | Good | Good | Averge |
| 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €1.4Mill
FM24 Balance: €3.5Mill
Millonarios – Colombia
In the shadow of Deportivo Cali, Atletico Nacional and Envigado, there are a few Colombian clubs who got the potential to produce world class players. Both Junior FC and America de Cali could be mentioned as they are among 11 clubs with maximum youth recruitment.
However, I want to give my attention to Millonarios. Founded in 1937, the club based in Bogota is a regular contributor to develop players for the Colombian National team and its youth teams whilst also being the second most successful club in Colombia.
At the moment, the club got 6 players called up to one of the Colombian national teams. 5 players representing the main National team while there are two players representing either the Colombian U18 or U17, or both; left back Jhoan Hernández, potentiall regarded as one of their greatest talents, as well as Johan Rodallega and Breiner Quintana.
Jorge Carrascal, Beckham Castro and Carlos Andrés Gómez are just some of the hot prospects coming through the Millonarios Academy. At the club, you’ll also find one of the best cheap hidden wonderkids bargains in the likes of Daniel Ruiz.
Throughout the history, Millonarios has won the Liga Betplay Dimayor 16 times. They became Colombian champions the last time in 2023 when they beat Atletico Nacional on penalties. Their best era where in the 1950s and 60s when they won 9 titles between 1949 and 1964.
As a curiosity, Real Madrid legend and two times Ballon D’Or winner Alfredo Di Stéfano played for Millonarios between 1949 and 1953. He scored 90 goals in 101 appearances and helped the club win a number of major trophies incl. the Small Club World Cup.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Average | Adequate | Exceptional | Average |
| 12 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 12 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €700K
FM24 Balance: €1.4Mill
Union Española – Chile
Based in the same local regions, Metropolitana de Santiago, as Universidad de Chile, Universidad Catolica and Colo Colo, Union Española were one of the clubs who produced the most newgens with 140 PA in a 10 year holiday save I did.
Established in 1897, Club Unión Española is regarded as one of the greatest clubs in Chile, as well as being the second oldest club in the country. They have won the Chilean Championship seven times and has participated in the highest division for the last 24 years. However, now it’s 11 years since they won the Priméra División the last time.
From their Academy, the Chilean National team has been aided by Víctor Méndez (CSKA Moscow) and Carlos Palacios (Colo Colo). Within their current ranks, there are a few noticeable talents who got the ability to play for an European top club. Centre back Jonathan Villagra, who have represented Chile U23, attacking midfielder Bastián Yáñez and centre back Valentin Vidal are ones to watch at the club. All with the potential between 130 and 150.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Average | Good | Above Average | Superb |
| 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €31.7K
FM24 Balance: €63.4K
Emelec – Ecuador
Independiente del Valle has quickly rised to become one of the leading football academies in the world but Ecuador features other great wonderkids factories such as Emelec.
Emelec was founded in 1929 and is based in the city of Guayaquil. The city also hosts their main rivals Barcelona S.C – an Ecuadorian club famed for their brilliant youth academy and should be considered when scouting for wonderkids on Football Manager.
Their rivalry also extends to the development of youth. While Barcelona S.C has managed to produce a number of Ecuadorian wonderkids in the last 10 years, such as more recent products Allen Obando (17), Jhon Acurio (16) and Leonardo Campana (23), Emelec got only Jair Collahuazo who could be classified as a wonderkid.
Instead the long-term production of talent at Emelec is more noteable. Upon the years, the club has developed a number of players with tenths of national team representations. Enner Valencia, Christian Noboa and Ángel Mena are only three products from Emelec who got over 220 appearances for the Ecuadorian National team.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Good | Adequate | Excellent | Superb |
| 15 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €466K
FM24 Balance: €746K
Caracas – Venezuela
If you’re hunting for South American wonderkids on Football Manager, scouting Venezuela could be favourable to track down hidden gems and cheap wonderkids. In the nation both Deportivo Táchira, Monagas and Caracas are clubs who can produce newgens of a minimum PA of 120.
Caracas Fútbol Club was established in 1967 and have become one of the most successful clubs in the country with their 12 titles. Their golden era were between 2000 and 2010 when they won the Primera Division 7 out of 11 titles. Their first championship trophy was achieved as late as 1991 when they dominated the league for the next 6 years.
The club has produced notable internationals, such as Yeferson Soteldo, Josef Martinez, Wuilker Farinez and Sergio Córdova. Within the current squad, you will be able to find a cheap hidden gem named Saul Guarirapa (20) – a winger or striker with a maximum potential of 150.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Good | Adequate | Excellent | Superb |
| 13 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 18 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €560K
FM24 Balance: €1.12Mill
[FM24] Hidden Wonderkids Factories in Scandinavia
Vålerenga – Norway
In the capitol of Norway, Oslo, there are several clubs famed for their youth development and production of Norwegian internationals. Both Skeid, Stabæk and KFUM Oslo could be mentioned. Instead I’ve settled on Vålerenga Fotball. The club established their elite team in 1989 but was founded in 1913 as is one of the most reputable clubs within the nation.
With five Eliteserien championship trophies in the cabinet, it was a hard blow when Vålerenga relegated from the Eliteserien at the end of 2023 season after needing to play the relegation play-off match against Kristiansund where they lost on penalties.
The Vålerenga Academy has won several youth championships and could be regarded as one of the best in the nation, perhaps together with Rosenborg BK.
Throughout the years, Vålerenga has been an important figure in the development of Norwegian stars, such as Joshua King, Oscar Bobb, Kristoffer Klaesson, Håvard Nielsen and Frederik Oppegård to name a few.
Within their ranks, they have a few FM24 Norwegian wonderkid gems. The centre back Aleksander Hammer Kjelsen (17) is one you should take note of. Jones el Abdellaoui, Jackob Dicko Eng and Magnus Riisnæs are other notable talents that is rising through the Vålerenga Academy.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Exceptional | Maximum |
| 17 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 20 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €655K
FM24 Balance: €52K
IF Brommapojkarna – Sweden
For the last five to ten year, IF Brommapojkarna har established themselves as one of the leading youth academies in Sweden. Since 2007 the club has jumped up and down between the Swedish second division and the Allsvenskan.
Within those years, the club has been an important figure in the development of several notable Swedish internationals. They were the club that had Dejan Kulusevski within their youth ranks, before he was poached by Atalanta at the age of 16. Hot prospect Viktor Gyökeres came through the Brommapojkarna Academy before Brighton signed him. Ludwig Augustinsson who got 53 appearances for the Swedish National team is another gem in a long list of Swedish internationals who can contribute their rise to fame to the wonderful work done by Brommapojkarna at grassroot football. AIK striker, Jonah Kusi-Asare, who we recommended within the FM24 beta as one of the best wonderkids in Football Manager 2024 has also a product of their youth development policy, in the same way John Mellberg, Lucas Bergvall and Jardell Kanga has been labled as FM Wonderkids throughout the last few editions of the game.
If you download the FM24 NextGen Wonderkids Database, you’ll even meet the next product from Brommapojkarna Luka Petrovic who now plays for AIK.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Average | Good | Excellent | Top |
| 10 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 18 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €209K
FM24 Balance: €4.36Mill
AaB Aalborg – Denmark
The Danish Reds based in the northern region of Denmark was founded in 1885 and became the first club from Denmark to participate in the UEFA Champions League 110 years later.
AaB Aalborg was relegated from the Danish Superliga at the end of 2022-23 season and Oskar Hiljemark has a huge task to take the club from the ashes to revive their former glory.
Now it’s been 10 years since AaB won the Superliga for the fourth and so far last time. In the 2013/14 season they made the double by winning the Danish Cup as well.
Their good youth facilities and Academy coaching can let you discover a number of Danish talents coming through their academy, and could be a wonderful suggestion for a youth development save in Denmark.
The clubs greatest product is probably Joachim Mæhle who was one of the most significant players for Denmark at 2022 World Cup or the Euro 2020 when Denmark made it all the way to the semi-finals.
| Training Facilities | Youth Facilities | Youth Coaching | Youth Recruitment | Youth Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Good | Good | Above Average | Great |
| 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
FM24 Transfer Budget: €134K
FM24 Balance: €2.57Mill
This article is subjected to be updated with more clubs and hidden wonderkids factories in the future.
Please use the comments field below, if you want to recommend some lower league youth academies who can produce quality newgens in Football Manager.
NB! Don’t forget that clubs may improve their youth and training facilities in Football Manager as you advance in your save, so there might be other clubs that could produce great players outside these ones. How they generate players and how many may also depend on the playable leagues and divisions you load.
