[FM24] Saving Austria

[Slipky]

Football was life, and Enrique Artigas was no exception, hailing from Montevideo, Uruguay. As a teenager, he had been an extremely talented young midfielder for Danubio's U21 team, possessing exceptional vision and technique. However, his playing career ended after a serious knee injury prevented him from jumping to the senior squad. That defeat was devastating for him, but Artigas turned that nightmare to his advantage when he used it to channel his love for the game into coaching, to stay connected to a sport that had shaped him.

It wasn't until the tender age of 25 that Artigas joined Danubio's coaching staff in the youth setup, where he wasted little time gaining a reputation for his tactical acumen and the art of cultivating young talent. He had turned out to be one of those dynamic and natural leaders at the core of the development of many of the Danubio stars-to-be. It wouldn't be very long before he would be considered one of Uruguay's most promising new coaches; his commitment to player development, mixed with attractive attacking concepts of the game, placed him well in the eyes of clubs both nationally and abroad.

Now, aged 30, Artigas has taken up his first big managerial role for one of Austria's most historical clubs, Austria Wien. Stepping into European football is the gutsy move of this young Uruguayan, but he isn't new to beating the odds. At Austria Wien, he will be called upon to bring fresh ideas, a focus on youth development, and South American flair to the club's style of play. A move from Montevideo to Vienna now signals a fresh, exciting chapter in his career, and he's out to make an instant impact on the Austrian Bundesliga.

It is going to be a big challenge for Enrique Artigas, who is starting his managerial career in Europe, taking over a club like Austria Wien, which has to face a huge debt of €20 million. The inevitable financial strain means that Artigas will have limited resources available for strengthening the squad, something that is going to force him to work with what he has and heavily rely on the club's youth academy. The transfer budgets will be lean, and any attempt to bring in experienced or high-profile players may just be out of the question. He will be under pressure for low-cost solutions - mainly free agents or loanees - but also to work on developing the players who are already at the club.

This debt also means that Artigas could be under increased pressure for quick results. He will be expected to lead the club into a financially stable condition by the board and the fans, which might need qualification into European competition to raise revenues. Knowing when to balance the need for success on the pitch with keeping the finances of the club in order is a tightrope that is usually expected of a coach, especially one who is just finding his feet in top-flight management. Every decision-from the tactical choices to squad selection-may be scrutinised all the more heavily, knowing any failure to perform could exacerbate the precarious financial situation of the club.

This will be my last FM24 save. Let's go!

[Slipky]

Unfortunately, I got a nasty crash a month into the save and all of my progress is gone.
I'll look for a different destination for Artigas.