Football Manager 2023: What happened to the 17 best wonderkids on FM13? | OneFootball

Given that Football Manager 2023 is set to be released on November 8, we thought we’d take a look back at the 17 best wonderkids from Football Manager 2013, which was released 10 years ago now, and see if any truly reached their potential.

In a list compiled by PlanetFootball.com, they looked back at the 17 best young talents in world football at the time of FM13’s release and delved into their accomplishments… or lack thereof depending on who they’re talking about.

With all that being said, let’s take a look at the list shall we?

Who were Football Manager 2013 wonderkids?

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

He was one of the best young goalkeepers in the world at the time and his career since then has matched that. His 2014 transfer to Barcelona saw him win a Champions League, four LaLiga titles and five Copa del Rey trophies.

David Alaba

He won 10 Bundesliga championships with Bayern Munich and he’s won three Champions Leagues. Not half bad at all.

Raphael Varane

Jose Mourinho spoke very highly of the young French centre-back after his Real Madrid debut in 2011, calling him “the best defender.”

It’s arguable, but one thing that isn’t is just how successful and decorated a career Varane has had.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

The first rogue shout.

For this former Schalke player, it didn’t work out for the best at all. He spent the majority of his career in Germany and now plays for Romanian club FCU 1948 Craiova.

Phil Jones

It is very easy to forget how promising Phil Jones once looked.

In his time with The Red Devils, he was won the Premier League, FA Cup and the Europa League, but has had numerous injuries which meant he never could quite live up to Sir Alex Ferguson’s billing.

Romulo

The most obscure name on the list.

After his €8million move to Spartak Moscow, he fell off the face of the earth after sustaining an excruciating knee tear injury.

He did win the Russian Premier League in his return from injury in the 2016-17 season before returning to his home nation of Brazil.

Marco Verratti

The French giants signed him after he got Pescara promoted to Serie A in 2012 and got a return on their investment as he has helped them win eight league titles.

Thiago

Swapping Barcelona for Bayern Munich worked wonders for Thiago, who failed to break into the first team in Spain.

His list of achievements include seven successive Bundesliga titles and the Champions League, including a treble in 2019-20.

He did win two LaLiga titles and a Champions League with the Catalonian club, but he’s largely remembered for being an integral part of Bayern Munich’s super midfield.

He’s now plying his trade for Liverpool in the Premier League.

Eden Hazard

One of the most entertaining wingers in the Premier League during his heyday at Chelsea.

He has won two LaLiga trophies and a Champions League since leaving Stamford Bridge, but he’s struggled with injuries and hasn’t really played a part in the success when he has been fit anyway.

Mario Gotze

He scored the World Cup-winning goal in 2014, so that's enough to justify him as being a success, right?

Jack Wilshere

Surely the biggest 'what-if' in English football?

Now 30, Wilshere currently coaches Arsenal’s under-18s.

Iker Muniain

Many thought he was going to be a world-class player, but it hasn’t quite panned out that way as he has remained a loyal, one-club man for all of his career.

Oscar

Chelsea just signed the Brazilian attacking midfielder at the time of the game’s release.

He won the Europa League and the Premier League during his time at the west London club before he moved to China five years ago. We don't want to say he chased the money, but he chased the money.

Christian Eriksen

Since his professional debut, he’s made over 300 appearances – playing for the likes of Tottenham, Inter Milan, Brentford and now Manchester United.

Lucas Moura

Long before Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, this Brazilian winger was PSG’s record transfer.

Neymar

The Brazilian kid from Santos has done alright, hasn't he?

Romelu Lukaku

This striker has scored 68 goals in 102 games for Belgium and he’s not even 30 yet, but he also scored over 250 goals in a long club career and has accumulated over €300million in transfer fees. He also once claimed the title of Serie A Footballer of the Year after he led Inter to a Scudetto for the first time in well over a decade.

Probably not rated in parts of Manchester and London, though.