I've read quite a number of career stories here and there, but nearly 90-95% of the users start the game by immediately choosing great clubs.

In a game I always look for the 'close to real life' factor. I mean, I'ld love to coach AC Milan (my favourite team) but what's the fun of choosing them immediately? Surely none of us would wake up tomorrow and find himself leading a team in the Champions League!!!

I always start unemployed, choosing to play in England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Germany, Greece and Turkey. I choose the full leagues of these countries, i.e. till the lowest divisions, and start my career.

Am I the only to do this? I'ld love reading some 'close to reality' stories. :cool:

I've recently got bored with my Liverpool game, and in the past when this has happened I've picked another team to manage, with the aim of doing as well as possible for that team.

But this time I've decided to start a game at the bottom with the aim of getting myself as high up the managerial food chain irrespective of how many times I have to switch clubs.

I've started unemployed route (with past experience of SUnday League). However I don't know I'm managing yet as it took so long for a job offer to come in that I left it on holiday and went to bed, only to find that my PC was switched off in the morning. I have a vague recollection of waking up in the night.... checking it..... seeing that I've been offered a job.... accepting it.... but I can't remember the team!!

Can't wait to get home tonight to find out who it is!

With a career game, you've got to commit to it and be ready for the long haul. Usually takes 5-10 seasons to start getting somewhere, and then another 5-10 to get to the 'big' teams, so 15 seasons from when you start, you csn reasonably expect to be in with a shout of the likes of (in current terms) Pompey, Bolton and Middlesbrough - assuming you've been successful with lower sides.
You might get lucky, as I once did, and find a (currently) 'big' team that has hit the skids and is willing to take a chance. If you can get them back up the divisions, you're obviously with a big club in a top division and other jobs might roll in - though of course you're already with a club you might want to stick with.
That's the thing that attracts me to the career 'mode': do I leave the side I've dragged from nowhere and take a chance? Or do I stick with the side I've been at for 3/4 seasons or so, and risk losing the dressing room and dropping like a stone?

Avram Grant. As a Chelsea fan, I felt the need to mention this.

I prefer building a tiny club, or at least did on the older versions. Found it to be particularly challenging on FM08, what with all the bugs, compared to my favoured CM 99/00 and CM 01/02.

My best was starting as B 1913 who have now merged to form FC FYN. They were in the Third Division in Denmark. I signed a complete new first team, got them promoted, only lost on first day of season, after 2 further seasons got them into the First Division, spent two seasons struggling against relegation, managed to just escape, and then spent the next 10 seasons winning the league without fail, cup almost every year and chalked a champions league win in there too.

All with a ground 5000 in size.

My favourite achievement though was signing a striker on a free (Danish), and after him having scored roughly 90 goals in two seasons, selling him for £13 million to Valencia. I made his career, because he was a reserve at a mid-table side before that, bizarrely, because his vital striking stats were fantastic...

After 15 seasons, Liverpool offered me the job after their manager retired having won the league. It was actually the first time in the game I had been offered another position. I don't know whether this is because the board refused approaches or whether no-one thought they had a chance of me accepting. I accepted it after some deliberation. It would only be natural. But I hate Liverpool with a passion so I quit the game, it ruined it for me!

But yeah, there is my rise from nothingness to fame at a big club.

Ive just started this style of game be it 'Journeyman' or whatever you want to call it, and it is immensely more rewarding than just starting as Chelski and buying Messi for $60 million.

I got the job at Sint-Truiden, relegation certanties of Belgian Jupiler league 1 in the press, and guided them to 3rd, although 14 points behind Standard on top. I qualified for Europe for the first time in their history, was given a 2million quid transfer budget and have found some real gems, including Alexander Rondon and a couple of American internationals on the cheap. Its great, i intend to stay until ive won the Belgian cup and the league, and then look at a bigger job (was offered FC Twente but turned it down as want to win some **** with De Kanaries!)

Im in no hurry though...i feel like the hopes of this small club have been lifted by mtself and would feel like Ossie Ardiles if we won something.

I got a job at harrogate town (second bottom of conference south at time) and I've never had so much fun in my life.

I also find that when doing this you create a team. As there are not many fans and no media coverage it is easier to get rid of players you do not like and bring in your type of players.

When i said "never had so much fun in my life" i meant on FM

I often start unemployed. In my last game in FM07, I started unemployed, then hooked on with Pegaso Real de Colima in Mexican First Division A. From there, I moved on to Torpedo Moscow, then FC Twente, then Hertha Berlin, and finally Inter Milan. I actually hesitated before buying FM2008 because I wasn't sure I was willing to leave the game in 07.

Think i should try this un-employed lark.I support chelsea, although never play them in the game,as i like to start in league 1,or the championship.Find starting in a top league no challenge,apart from one game with portsmouth where it was fun.

Yea i always like to start unemployed after ive got bored with my wolves game (which is who i start off with when i first buy the game) and ive got 16 countries with all leagues on and im really into it at the moment. Started off with Colima in the Mexican First Division A (religation candidates) but after three years nd no improvements on both the financial and facility front i decided to resign. now im unemployed again but since i have so many leagues im sure ill get another job soon.