What Are Wonderkids?

If you're new to the Football Manager Series, odds are you are wondering what all the Talk about Wonderkids means. Believe it or not, Wonderkids have been a staple of the Football Manager Series since its early infancy. You see, Wonderkids are Players found in Football Manager 2018 that have been classified as having high potential ability. On top of this, in order to earn the Wonderkid title, these same players must be twenty years of age or younger. Unless a Player fits both of these requirements, they can not and will not be considered a Wonderkids. In the simplest of terms, Wonderkids are young players that should be stars one day, some even before turning the age of twenty-one.

Most Players that have this type of potential usually already have the title of Wonderkid labelled to them within the game; however, there are a few players that don't have the Wonderkid title already attached to them yet still have the pure potential to one day be a star on the football field. Most of these young players that missed earning the title - only discoverable by playing the game and Scouting said players - should be pretty close to getting there, while there are even a few that could be what is known as a late bloomer (not living up to their potential before the age of twenty-one).

Unfortunately, most Wonderkids found in Football Manager 2018 already belong to a club. Because of this, you will either need to select being the coach of this club at the beginning of the game in order to have them on your team and develop them accordingly, or you will need recruit them externally with what is known as a Transfer. With a Transfer, you will be able to obtain said Players from these other teams in order to garnish their talents; however, due to the Transfer Fees you will pay these other clubs, it is far more expensive than, say, starting with a club with said Wonderkid or even signing a Free Agent.

Wonderkids are the most sought after Players in all of the Football Manager Series, and the same reigns true in Football Manager 2018. Having a future star is almost an invaluable asset to have, especially with a Player so young and with the ability to almost become one overnight. Unfortunately, however, they all come at a cost to obtain, either by selecting to coach a club with a Wonderkid or by paying hefty Transfer Fees to obtain one externally. A Wonderkid can be the difference in a long, successful career or a short, abysmal one, but proper planning must be made when trying to obtain one, and further planning must be made in order to properly develop these players so they can be molded into a superstar.