FIFA 23 Career Mode: Ranked! The 20 best clubs to play with
Starting FIFA 23 Career Mode? Here are the teams you NEED to play as
FIFA 23 Career Mode is all about the long game. Most of your time on FIFA may be spent in-game in 20-minute bursts – but this is where you can truly develop something special.
This is EA's answer to Football Manager, giving you the freedom to shape a football club and control every player. From the training ground to the boardroom, your inbox to your dugout, this is where you can spend hours crafting your perfect club with the utmost realism.
So who should you take control of? Allow us to help – and if you're still searching, here's a list of every single club in FIFA 23.
The 20 best clubs to play with in FIFA 23 Career Mode
20. Barcelona
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Crisis? What crisis?
Just a year ago, Barça were in turmoil, having lost Lionel Messi and financial restrictions shackling them. Now look: anyone who takes over the Cules has Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele on either side of Robert Lewandowski, with the likes of Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong to flog (they'll actually leave on the game), should you want to invest in more superstars.
It makes a fun career: in the short term, enjoy the speedsters, skillsters and Lewy banging in the goals while building the likes of Gavi, Ansu Fati and Pedri into world-beaters in the background. All three are some of the highest-rated for potential, while La Masia can churn out even more gems. Fun? Yeah… but difficult? Not a jot.
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19. Dynamo Dresden
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Dynamo Dresden are in the third tier in Germany, yet they pull in 30,000 punters a match and have a rich history in East German football, having won eight titles. Isn't it time to let the good times roll once more?
Their story is sadly very common in German football, with a handful of sleeping giants not where they deserve to be. But Dresden, at least, have a promising core of youth: 20-year-old Kevin Ehlers lines up in central defence with Jonathan Meier (22) at left-back, while former Bayern boy Oliver Batista Meier (21) is a potential star at right-wing alongside RB Leipzig loanee Dennis Borkowski (20) at centre-forward.
That's enough to build with already. You can get them back up in no time, right? Then it's about establishing a rivalry as the Batman to RB Leipzig's Joker…
18. Alaves
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21 years ago, Deportivo Alaves reached a UEFA Cup final, taking Liverpool to extra-time when a golden goal suckerpunched them 5-4 on the night in Dortmund. Ever since, their existence has been similarly pinball-esque between the top three tiers of Spanish football.
Right now, they're the best side in the Spanish second tier: Ruben Duarte and Nahuel Tenaglia are arguably their two best players at left-back and right-back respectively so no need to worry about the boring positions, while Real Betis starlet Rober is on loan and ready to burn grass on the wing. Promotion is in your sights: then you can rebuild this side and establish them beyond their yo-yo status with a few more exciting finds.
17. Derby County
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Derby's struggles in recent seasons have been well broadcast. But here's a club with no direct rivals for miles around, as many titles as Tottenham Hotspur and a Premier League-capacity stadium: it would be a decent club to own, were you in the mood to plough real-world money into a football club.
Settling by being Derby on Career Mode is a good challenge, though. Straight into the job, Louis Sibley, Max Bird and Jason Knight make an excellent midfield and they're all 21 and under. Get the Rams up and go from there: you'll need to sign some younger, quicker forwards and money is obviously tight, mind.
16. Hamburger SV
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In William Mikelbrencis, Mario Vuskovic, Anssi Suhonen Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and former Arsenal academy graduate Xavier Amaechi, Hamburg have a core of young talent to build around. If you don't get promoted first time around, the team will develop enough for you to have another crack soon enough.
They've won the European Cup and they have a ground as big as Arsenal's – yet they haven't been in the Bundesliga since 2018. Before that, they were in the top flight continuously since the founding of the club at the end of World War I. It's about time Bayern had some competition, don't you think?
15. PSG
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You don't have our respect if you choose to manage PSG – but you have our understanding.
That front three, a thriving academy and the expectation to sign more big stars: this is basically Ultimate Team without having to spend real-world cash on packs. If you're new to FIFA, you actually fancy unwinding when you play video games or you simply want to build the most ridiculously stacked team you can with limitless pots of virtual cash, Paris Saint-Germain are the club for you.
Just don't brag about your five consecutive Champions League titles in the pub… no one's impressed.
14. Lyon
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There was a time when Lyon were, well, basically, PSG, winning title after title after title in the noughties. Until a couple of years ago, they were delivering European football consistently, too – and it's not as if the talent has dried up, there.
With the likes of Maxence Caqueret, Tete, Castello Lukeba and Rayan Cherki all coming through, there are still wonderkids that you can either develop or sell for a pretty penny. Alexandre Lacazette is back up front, too – let's dig out that iconic celebration that we've been using on FIFA for years.
13. Blackburn Rovers
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Blackburn striker Ben Brereton Diaz isn't signing another contract and is free to leave in the summer. That's £10-15 million that you can rake in to spend on new recruits right off the bat.
It's relatively straightforward to fire the only Premier League title winners outside the top tier back to where they belong, with the likes of Dilan Markanday (21), Tyrhys Dolan (20), Jack Vale (21) and Ashley Phillips (17) all potential cornerstones of your side in the next few years. Oh, and Bradley Dack hopefully will be a little less injury-prone on FIFA. Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1995.
12. Athletic Bilbao
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We all know the drill, don't we? Athletic Bilbao have eight titles to their name, have never been relegated and operate with a cantera policy of only signing players from the greater Basque Country. They're the most mystical, hipster side of Spanish football and challenging at San Mames is proof of a great coach.
If you're bored of the boardroom and want to make the most of the training pitch in Career Mode, Athletic are a superb option this time around, with the likes of Unai Vencedor, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Unai Simon in goal to build your team around for the next five to 10 years. If you get big enough, get that bid in Aymeric Laporte… he's practically the only big name you can sign, after all.
11. Newcastle United
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In FIFA 17, there was the option for you to go on loan to Newcastle United as Alex Hunter, then of the Championship, to get more minutes. How times have changed: now, they're essentially a stem cell of a football club with huge financial backing, ready to be transformed.
Your employers are probably going to want to see big names and you have the money to bring them to St. James's Park. With the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Kieran Trippier and Alexander Isak to play with, too – three mightily fun players in FIFA for entirely different reasons – the journey's going to be as exciting as the destination, should you manage the Magpies.
10. Inter Miami
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Because who wouldn't want David Beckham as a boss?
The MLS has been another page in Alex Hunter's story but at Inter Miami, you have some of the best talent in all of America – plus the legendary Gonzalo Higuain up front. The aim of the game is to turn this club into a global brand so bringing some star names and young Americans can be fun.
Oh, and keep an eye out for Felipe Valencia, whose trajectory from 50-rated outsider to 75-rated MLS fixture is one of the biggest in Career Mode.
9. Tottenham Hotspur
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Contrary to what you may believe, the best time to take over a club is mid-rebuild. Tottenham Hotspur have spent millions under Antonio Conte assembling one of the deadliest frontlines in world football and signing speed merchants for wing-back roles but the rest of the team is essentially ready for you to play around with.
Son and Kane are two of the best-rated players in FIFA 23 but aside from that, no one is untouchable. There are starlets like Alfie Devine, Pape Matar Sarr, Oliver Skipp and Bryan Gil coming through, though should you wish to scrap them all, there's money to make more big signings. And while your team's under construction, you don't have to worry about the goals. It's perfect – we don't know what Big Tony has to moan about.
8. Saint-Etienne
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If Paris Saint-Germain win the title this season, they will finally overtake Saint-Etienne as France's most successful club ever. ASSE were relegated last season and it's no place for a side of such stature: how about you give PSG a run for their money again?
This squad is full of young talent ready for nurturing: they can field a decent back five that's all 23 and under with 22-year-old English keeper Etienne Green – he was born to play with them, with that name – their most valuable star. You just need to replace Montpellier-bound Wahbi Khazri up front and manage the inevitable steep march back into the Ligue 1 establishment. Allez Les Verts!
7. Schalke
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It's been a weird few years for Schalke, what with a lockdown relegation, promotion and the uncertainty of what happens next at the Veltins-Arena. They have one of the weakest squads in the Bundesliga, few starlets to hang your hat on and curiously, Maya Yoshida is still toiling away out in Gelsenkirchen for them. Remember him?
This is a long, long-term project. The Royal Blues won't challenge this season, next or maybe the season after but with a prolific academy that produced the likes of Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer, plus some savvy scouting, re-establishing this side can be extremely satisfying – and all with Dortmund staring you down as big rivals. The hard work of the promotion is already done: just take them back to Europe in time.
6. RB Salzburg
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Fancy a challenge outside of Europe's top five leagues? Or… just fancy managing Benjamin Sesko?
Red Bull Salzburg are already Austria's top powerhouse but taking control of them on FIFA 23 Career Mode is all about developing their impressive roster of wonderkids and getting them deeper in the Champions League. Given that the official UCL branding is now a part of the game, you can sim the domestic fixtures and focus entirely on the European nights, should you wish.
The money is good (for Austria, at least), while Luka Sucic, Nicolas Seiwald and Lucas Gourna-Douath are all 22 or under with massive potential. It's a job like no other.
5. Salford City
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Assuming that Gary Neville doesn't sack you, Salford City is a great place to start if you're looking to rise from the fourth tier to the top.
The squad is a decent quality and they've always been one of the stronger sides financially for their level. There's an expectation that you're going to improve the brand and deliver quickly so this could end up being a tough job – but a rewarding one in the long-run. Imagine how Nev and co. would take Salford surpassing Manchester United eventually down the line…
4. Feyenoord
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Feyenoord are the third-biggest team in the Netherlands and yet they have a European Cup among other silverware, a good record at bringing through youth and hey, the shirts aren't bad either.
Captain Orkun Kokcu typifies this team: 21 years old, with room to grow into a stellar playmaker – or you can bin him and speculate to accumulate. Feyenoord aren't a giant in the European game anymore but by wheeling, dealing and developing kids, you can turn them into a feared beast once more – and with plenty of competition at the Eredivisie, domestic titles won't be a walkover either.
3. Como
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Patrick Cutrone plays up front. Cesc Fabregas in midfield. Dennis Wise is club president. What's not to love?
Como haven't been in Serie A for 20 years next year but now might be the time for them to rise again. This is an ageing team with Luis Binks, Giuseppe Ambrosino and Jacopo Da Riva their best prospects – all loanees. They're not too difficult to get promoted, however, and in the top tier, they'll be in a better position to recruit. Join the project at the very beginning and shape it in your image.
2. Norwich City
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The best clubs to manage in Career Mode are those who have just gone down. They still have the money to rework the squad and are at a crossroads where you can help them change direction. If they've got nice shirts, that's a bonus.
Well, Norwich have the best damn shirts in the Championship – and the squad ain't bad either. Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell, Josh Sargent and Gabriel Sara are your four most valuable players and all have age on their side. Decide which of the big names you're building around and which you're jettisoning for some money and work from there.
The Canaries didn't spend the summer doing the rebuild for you – unlike Burnley – so this can wholly be your project. Just promise us you'll keep them up next time, yeah?
1. Juventus
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The bad news is that EA have lost the rights to one of Italy's finest sides, Piemonte Calcio. The saving grace is that Juventus are back in their place.
This Juve side is not the one of a few years ago, either. Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa are absolute monsters up front in this game, while Manuel Locatelli can evolve into a world-class player alongside Paul Pogba (who still has the skill levels of old). Plus, there's youth in abundance with Fabio Miretti, Kaio Jorge, Nicolo Fagioli and Moise Kean to develop into superstars. It's one of the most well-rounded European giants around, squad-wise.
There's financial backing, you're welcome to make big-name buys and the kits are actually real this time around. Molto bene: the Old Lady are back.
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Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
