I created Catalonian Super League in Football Manager 2024, featuring 20 Catalonian clubs. The simulation spans 50 seasons to determine whether any team could dethrone Barcelona as the dominant club in Catalonia.
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League Structure
Catalonia Super League: A 10-team league with notable clubs including Barcelona, Espanyol, and Girona.
Catalonia First League: A second division featuring 10 additional Catalonian clubs.
Catalonia Cup: A knockout competition open to all Catalonian teams.
Catalonia Super Cup: Contested between the winners of the Catalonia Super League and Catalonia Cup.
The league replaced the Irish league system for this experiment, beginning as the 75th-ranked league in Europe.
Key Developments by Decade
Seasons 1–10: Barcelona Dominates Early
Super League Winners:
Barcelona won 9 of the first 10 titles, including an invincible season in 2032.
Espanyol shocked the league by winning the title in 2024.
Cup Success:
Barcelona and Espanyol shared early Catalonia Cup titles, while Europa surprised by winning in 2028.
Sabadell clinched the Cup in 2032.
League Growth:
Climbed from 75th to 21st in European rankings.
European Success:
No Catalonian team reached a European final during this period.
Seasons 11–20: Espanyol Rises
Super League Transition:
Barcelona extended their dominance to 14 titles out of 15 seasons.
Girona won their first title in 2041, marking the third different champion.
Espanyol’s Ascension:
Espanyol established themselves as Barcelona's closest rivals.
League Reputation:
Reached 9th place in European rankings, qualifying five teams for European competitions.
Cup Highlights:
Tarragona and Girona joined the list of Catalonia Cup winners.
Seasons 21–30: Espanyol Takes Control
Dominance Shift:
Espanyol overtook Barcelona as the most dominant team, winning 9 out of 10 titles during this period.
Cornellà’s Rise:
Cornellà emerged as a strong force, winning four Catalonia Cups between 2047 and 2051.
European Breakthrough:
Barcelona reached their first Europa Conference League final in 2052 but lost to Reims.
Seasons 31–40: Espanyol and Barcelona Trade Titles
Espanyol’s Streak:
Espanyol matched Barcelona’s record of 15 consecutive Super League titles.
Barcelona’s Comeback:
Barcelona began to recover, regaining competitiveness by the late 2050s.
European Success:
In 2065, Barcelona won the Europa Conference League, defeating Galatasaray.
League Ranking:
Climbed to 8th in Europe by the late 2060s.
Seasons 41–50: Barcelona Reclaims Dominance
Super League Surge:
Barcelona won five of the final six Super League titles, finishing with 26 titles overall.
Cornellà’s Moment:
In 2070, Cornellà won their first Super League title, becoming the fourth different winner.
Catalonia Cup:
Girona shone in the Catalonia Cup, finishing with 11 titles overall.
Final Rankings:
The league concluded as the 8th-best competition in Europe.
Notable Performances and Statistics
Super League Titles
Barcelona: 26 titles
Espanyol: 21 titles
Girona: 2 titles
Cornellà: 1 title
Total Trophies
Barcelona: 68 trophies
Espanyol: 55 trophies
Girona: 17 trophies
Cornellà: 7 trophies
European Success
Barcelona: Only Catalonian team to win a European competition, claiming the 2065 Europa Conference League.
Reflection and Conclusion
The Catalonian Super League experiment highlighted a fascinating shift in dominance. Barcelona, despite early dominance, faced significant challenges as Espanyol emerged as a credible rival. Espanyol's run of 15 consecutive titles marked a historic achievement, equalling Barcelona's best streak and creating a genuine rivalry.
Cornellà’s rise was a standout narrative, culminating in their first Super League title in 2070. Girona also cemented their place as a strong competitor, particularly in the Catalonia Cup.
The league's growth to the 8th-best in Europe underscores its success, though limited European triumphs reflect the difficulty of competing on a larger stage. Barcelona’s late resurgence secured their place as Catalonia’s top club, but Espanyol proved they could challenge the giants of Catalonia, making this experiment one of resilience, rivalry, and surprises.
Compared to other experiments, the Catalonian Super League stands out for its concentrated focus on a single region with a historic football culture, producing dynamic shifts in dominance and competitive growth. While Barcelona's ultimate victory was expected, the paths taken by Espanyol, Cornellà, and Girona brought unpredictability and depth to the league's narrative.
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