Every Club Vision | FM21 | MLS

December 9, 2020 Luke Hume Comments 1 Comment

In this FM21 guide, we will be showing you every FM21 MLS team’s club vision. Club Vision is a vital part of Football Manager 2021 and underlines your time at the club for many years to come.

Failure to meet the proposed club vision could lead to putting your job at serious risk!

If you are managing in the MLS for the first time, why not check out our how to manage guide and our who to sign guide?

Atlanta United

This is the default club vision at the start of the 2021 MLS season for Atlanta United. The board’s only club culture request is to ‘strive to make progress on and off the pitch’.

As part of the five year plan, they favour giving at least two years or more contracts. By the end of the five year plan, they expect to win the MLS Cup numerous times.

Charlotte FC

As Charlotte FC is a new expansion side in the game which doesn’t begin play in the MLS until the 2022 season, the club vision is rather vague. However, the club culture is set out before your MLS journey begins… Being favoured by the board are sign players to sell for profit, spend the original transfer and offering players at least 2 year contracts. The only preferred club culture is not signing players over 30.

The only objective on the five year plan is at the end of current season is to prepare for joining the MLS.

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire is a club esteemed in history, from being one of the first MLS expansion sides in 1998 to the name paying tribute to the great Chicago fire in 1871, but recent years have been tough for the fire.

The board have a number of club culture objectives they would like you to follow, which are: playing attacking & possessive football and to develop players through the youth system.

In terms of the five year plan, the board aren’t expecting any major silverware but do expect to be making the playoffs by the end of the plan.

FC Cincinnati

A relatively new team to the MLS, FC Cincinnati already have a large support base but can this lead to more success on the pitch? The only club culture request is to sign young players to sell for profit.

In terms of the five year plan, the board expect you to turn the side into an MLS Cup challenger, but for the first season, as long as you’re competitive, you will keep your job!

Columbus Crew

A charter club of MLS, they enjoyed their main success in the mid noughties but recent years have been up and down for the Crew but can you be the manager to take them back to the top?

The club culture is signing players under 23 for the first team BUT not signing over 30s so that rules out the former European stars! In terms of the five year plan, the board say that just challenging for a play off place will be enough to stay employed.

D.C. United

Another charter club of the MLS, D.C. United quickly became one of the dominant sides in MLS, having won 4 MLS Cups and 3 Supporters Shields. They’ve not won a trophy in nearly 13 years. They’ve won two Wooden Spoons for finishing bottom, but I don’t think DC fans want reminding…

The board wants you to sign high-reputation players continuing the DC history with Rooney and Rafael, however, in addition they also want development of the youth so combining the two could prove a challenge, possibly?

The board also wants you take DC back to the top, they are expecting to be challenging for the MLS title by the end of the plan.

Inter Miami

Inter Miami, or Beckham Miami as it was known during the early days, began play in the MLS during the COVID-hit 2020 season. David Beckham, a former player in MLS, was given the option to begin a franchise as part of his 2007 move to LA Galaxy.

The club culture is signing high reputation players, play entertaining football and sign players under 21, whilst the ongoing club culture is spending the original transfer budget, growing the club reputation and sign youngsters to sell for profit.

Inter Miami didn’t have a great inaugural season but Beckham expects a lot from you as a manager, he wants Miami to be the top dog by the end of the 5 year plan, can you please the Englishman in Miami?

Montreal Impact

Montreal Impact began playing in the MLS in 2012, becoming the third Canadian club after Toronto and Vancouver to play in the MLS. Yet to win a trophy in the MLS, the board are expecting you to bring the MLS Cup back to Canada.

The club culture is signing high reputation players, play entertaining football and to develop players through the youth system & sell for profit.

New England Revolution

New England Revolution were one of the founding members of Major League Soccer when it began in 1996 but carries the mantle of the most unsuccessful charter club with only two Eastern Conference titles to their name. Still playing at the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium, part of the five year plan is to build a new stadium.

The board would like you to buy players to sell for profit and develop youth. They would also like you to be challenging for the MLS title by the end of the five year plan.

New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls, or the MetroStars, as they were known then, were one of the 10 charter clubs to begin play in 96. The Metros had already signed USA international Tab Ramos and were regularly speculated as the dominant side of the MLS. However, the team massively failed to live up to expectations and wouldn’t win a trophy until 2013.

The last 10 years have been good for the New York side winning three Supporters Shields. The club culture is to play attacking football, develop players during the youth system and to develop the best MLS system. In terms of the five year plan, the board only expect you challenge for a MLS play off place.

New York City FC

NYCFC joined the league in the 2015 season, with great expectations on the second New York side, which they haven’t reached yet, but have a good record in league play, but failing at the last hurdle. They finished second in the Supporters Shield standing in 2017 and 2019.

Part of the City Football Group, the board expects the following club culture promises: develop players through the youth system, build a new stadium and to sign players to sell for profit.

CFG have high expectations for the Bronx-based side, and expect you to have won the MLS Cup numerous times by the end of the five year plan.

Orlando City

Orlando also joined the league in 2015 along with NYCFC but didn’t make the MLS Play-Offs for the first time until the 2020 season so it’s not been a great run by the Florida side. Even a home advantage in the Walt Disney World’s MLS is Back tournament didn’t lead to anything.

The board have two club culture items which are signing high reputation players and Brazilian players, whilst they are reasonable in what they expect from you as they only expect the club to be challenging for a play off space.

Philadelphia Union

The Union joined the league back in 2010. The Union won their first trophy in their 10th year as an MLS side during the COVID-riddled season as they took home the Supporters Shield.

The board have a number of club cultures including working to become self-sustainable and breaking even in the transfer market. They don’t expect too much so as long as you make the MLS Play Offs, your job should be safe.

Toronto FC

Toronto began play in the MLS in 2007 as the first Canadian team, the Reds enjoyed their best success during the mid 10s as they won both the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2017, winning the first by a record total of points, although, this has since been beaten.

The club culture expects you to sign high reputation players and develop the youth. Whilst on the pitch, the board expects you to maintain title challenges, it’s gonna be tough, but you can do it!

Austin

Beginning play in 2021, the board have set out their five year plan and club culture to sign players under 23 for the first team and to sign players to develop for profit.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, as a new expansion side, the board aren’t expecting too much from the team apart from not finishing bottom, but you can aim higher than that, surely?!

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids are another MLS charter club, beginning play in the 1996 season, and despite this, only have one trophy to their name, the MLS Cup in 2010. Recent years have been up and down for the Rapids as they finished runners up in the Shield in 2016 but could only finish 20th the following year.

The current club culture is developing players through the youth system whilst the ongoing requests is to break even in the transfer market and grow the reputation of the club.

In terms of on the pitch, the board would like you to challenge for the MLS Cup.

FC Dallas

FC Dallas joined the league before the inaugural season back in 1996, known as Dallas Burn. With only one trophy to show for it, can you lead them to be a destiny? The club culture is to play attacking football, developing players through the youth system, and to sign players under 21.

In terms of on the pitch, the board will be happy with you just challenging for the play offs as long as you are developing the MLS’ best youth system.

Houston Dynamo

Houston Dynamo possess one of the weirdest stories in MLS history – the beginning. During the early days of the MLS, crowds were low, quality was poor and it was tough. Millions of dollars were being lost every year. The San Jose Earthquakes were one of those teams, and the owners had enough. They took the brand, the team and the coaching staff and dropped them in Houston. And the Houston Dynamo were born!

The club culture consists of signing players under 23 and developing players through the youth system. They don’t expect much on the pitch though as just making the Play Offs is enough for them.

LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy. The Galacticos of MLS. The most successful club in MLS history, winning a record 5 MLS Cups and a joint-record 4 Supporters Shield. They’ve had David Beckham, Gio dos Santos, Robbie Keane all lacing their boots in sunny Los Angeles. The recent history hasn’t been great, they last won a Cup in 2014, and have finished bottom twice since then.

Despite the last few years not going the way for the Galaxy, the board remains undeterred, as they will judge you on signing high reputation players along with developing players through the youth system. On the field, they expect you to win the MLS Cup more times than not. No pressure!

LAFC

LAFC is one of the newest clubs in the MLS, joining as an expansion team in 2018, and immediately showed the other clubs that they were not just here to make up the numbers and that they meant business, finishing 4th in their inaugural season. A year later, they won their first trophy, the Supporters Shield.

To meet the club culture, you will have to sign high reputation players (based in LA, this gives you a huge advantage because who wouldn’t want to live in LA?!), and playing attacking football. To meet the on the field requirements, you will need to win or seriously challenge for the MLS Cup.

Minnesota United FC

The Loons began MLS play in 2017, having previously played in the now defunct NASL. After a tough first two years, the Loons have moved up the rankings and at the time of writing are in the Conference Finals to fight for a spot in MLS Cup.

The club culture includes making progress on and off the pitch, grow the club reputation and to sign young players to develop for a profit. Meanwhile, on the pitch, they want you to challenge for a MLS Play-Off place, seems easy, but can you do it?

Nashville SC

One of the newest expansion teams, set in the capital of line dancing, Nashville joined the MLS in the 2020 season. The board have lined up their club culture as follows: playing attacking football, and signing players from domestic rivals and an ongoing club culture is signing players to then sell on for a profit.

They have taken a modest approach to matters on the pitch as they slowly want to become a MLS Cup challenger by the end of the five year plan.

Line dancing, living near Graceland, and attacking football – what’s not to love?

Portland Timbers

Portland Timbers dates back to the 70s back in the old North American Soccer League and began their MLS journey in 2011 and just four years later won the 2015 MLS Cup. They’ve not won anything since apart from the MLS is Back tournament at Walt Disney World during the 2020 season. They have managed to finish in respectable positions each year.

The board expect you as a manager to sign high reputation players and to play entertaining football, whilst on the pitch, they want you to challenge for a play off spot.

Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake joined the MLS as an expansion side in 2005, the first expansion since the MLS nearly folded back in 2001 which led to the folding of both Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion. The only trophy won in this time is the 2009 MLS Cup.

The club culture is currently developing players through the youth system, signing players under 21 and sign young players to sell for profit, however, the owner is looking to sell the club so therefore no five year plan have been made, apart from the fact the club wants to be self-sustainable by 2024.

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose have a strange story in MLS as I explained about Houston Dynamo earlier. Having roots in American soccer right as far back as 1974, the franchise began play in the inaugural season as the San Jose Clash, but when the owner took the team to Houston at the end of 2005, it would be two years before the Earthquakes returned.

In both the club culture and on the field, the board have decided short and sweet is the best, as the only culture is to develop the youth through the club, whilst they would like you to get the team to challenge for a playoff spot.

Seattle

Another club esteemed in history with roots all the way back to the 70s in the old NASL, the Sounders began MLS play in 2009, and have done well in a short time, winning 2 MLS Cups and a Supporters Shield.

In terms of club culture, the board would like you to sign high reputation players whilst also developing the youth. Whilst on the pitch, they would like you to maintain a MLS title challenge by the end of the plan. They would also like you to grow the club reputation, good luck.

Sporting KC

Sporting KC is another charter club in MLS as they began play in the 1996 inaugural period known then as the Kansas City Wizards. In this time, they’ve won 2 MLS Cups and a Supporters Shield. They’ve moved between conferences in recent years due to the constant growing of MLS but are now back to their roots in the West.

The board has set out the following for the club culture: playing entertaining football, develop the youth and growing the club reputation. Meanwhile, on the pitch, the board believes you are the manager to take them back the top, can you win that first MLS Cup since 2013 for the Missouri based side?

Vancouver

The Whitecaps joined the MLS in 2009 as a new expansion team having played in the second division beforehand. The franchise was named after the Vancouver Whitecaps that played in the NASL back in the 70s. The Whitecaps haven’t won any major honours since beginning play in MLS, but did finish 3rd in the Supporters Shield standing in 2015.

The club culture of the club is to sign young players to develop for profit, and develop the best youth system in the country. On the field, they expect you to reach the play offs for the first season but after that, you need to be challenging for the Cup, otherwise, you could be saying farewell to living in snowy Vancouver.

There we have every FM21 MLS Club Vision. Obviously, these club visions can change in game throughout the years when a board changes or if you get promoted or relegated. However, these are the default club visions at the start of the game.

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