I created a Basque Super League in Football Manager 2024, featuring 20 clubs from the Basque region. The simulation spans 50 seasons, aiming to determine whether Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, or another club would emerge as the greatest in the Basque Country.
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League Structure
Basque Super League: Top 10 clubs, including Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, and others.
Basque First League: Second tier, featuring 10 additional clubs from the Basque region.
Basque Cup: Open to all teams from the Super League and First League.
Basque Super Cup: Contested by the Super League champions and Basque Cup winners.
The league system replaced the Irish leagues and began as the 75th-ranked league in Europe. The simulation explored whether the Basque Super League could climb the European ranks and which clubs would thrive.
Key Findings Over 50 Seasons
Early Seasons (1–15)
Real Sociedad’s Domination: Real Sociedad won the first 15 Super League titles consecutively, establishing themselves as the dominant force.
Athletic Bilbao’s Struggles: Despite being one of the two Basque giants, Athletic Bilbao's reputation declined rapidly. By season 20, they were relegated to the Basque First League, struggling due to their Basque-only player policy.
Other Clubs Rising: Osasuna, Alavés, and Eibar consistently challenged for top spots, with Osasuna and Alavés frequently finishing as runners-up.
Cup Success: Real Sociedad also dominated the Basque Cup and Super Cup, though smaller clubs like Cestao and Barakaldo occasionally surprised by winning the Basque Cup.
Midway Point (16–25)
Continued Domination: Real Sociedad extended their league-winning streak to 25 seasons, making them unbeatable in the title race.
Challengers Emerging: Eibar and Alavés began closing the gap, with Eibar rising to become the second-largest club by reputation.
Athletic Bilbao’s Decline: Athletic Bilbao’s relegation and inability to return to the Super League saw their reputation plummet to one of the lowest in the region.
League Growth: The Basque Super League climbed to 12th in Europe by the 25th season, just outside the top 10.
Turning Point (26–40)
Eibar Ends the Streak: Eibar finally broke Real Sociedad’s dominance by winning back-to-back Super League titles in 2055 and 2056. Osasuna and Alavés followed, each claiming their maiden Super League titles.
Wider Competition: The league saw increased competition as Eibar, Alavés, and Osasuna all claimed Super League titles, reducing Real Sociedad’s stranglehold.
Athletic Bilbao’s Rock Bottom: By season 40, Athletic Bilbao were firmly entrenched in the Basque First League, finishing near the bottom of the table.
European Success: Real Sociedad reached the Europa Conference League final in 2057, losing to Borussia Dortmund.
Final Seasons (41–50)
Dominance Resumed: Real Sociedad ended the simulation on a high note, winning the final five Super League titles to secure their place as the Basque region’s greatest club.
League Reputation: The Basque Super League peaked as the 10th-ranked league in Europe but ended as 11th by the final season.
Dramatic Finale: In the final season, Real Sociedad won the league on goal difference over Alavés, with both clubs finishing level on points and goal difference, separated by just one goal scored.
Athletic Bilbao Forgotten: Athletic Bilbao’s inability to recover saw them finish 9th in the Basque First League in the final season, a shadow of their former glory.
Key Statistics
Super League Titles
Real Sociedad: 42 titles
Eibar: 5 titles
Alavés: 2 titles
Osasuna: 1 title
Total Trophies
Real Sociedad: 91 trophies (42 Super Leagues, 18 Basque Cups, 31 Super Cups)
Eibar: 20 trophies
Alavés: 20 trophies
Osasuna: 13 trophies
European Success
Real Sociedad: Runners-up in the Europa Conference League (2057).
Other Clubs: No European titles or final appearances.
Conclusion
The Basque Super League experiment showcased a fascinating football landscape dominated by Real Sociedad. Their 42 league titles and 91 total trophies cemented them as the kings of the Basque Country. While Eibar, Alavés, and Osasuna mounted challenges and claimed significant victories, none could consistently dethrone Real Sociedad.
Athletic Bilbao’s dramatic decline was the experiment’s most unexpected twist. Their Basque-only signing policy, once their hallmark, became a major hindrance, relegating them to irrelevance in the Basque football hierarchy.
Ultimately, the Basque Super League achieved remarkable growth, becoming one of Europe’s top leagues. However, the story remained one of Real Sociedad’s enduring dominance, underscoring their strength and consistency in this virtual universe.
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