Football Manager: 2006 Wonderkids
Football Manager 2006 Wonderkids
🎯 The "Bargain Genius" Tier (Under £5M)
| Player | Position | Club | Cost | Why they're magic | |--------|---------|------|------|------------------| | Lúcio (no, not that one – Carlos Lúcio) | D/WB/M L | Cruzeiro | £500k-£1M | Brazilian left-footed wing-back with 19 crossing and 17 dribbling. | | Nuri Şahin | MC | Dortmund | £2-3M | 18 passing, 19 technique at age 17. Future vice-captain. | | Anthony Vanden Borre | D RC, WB R, M RC | Anderlecht | £2-3M | Can play literally everywhere. Physical monster. | | Hatem Ben Arfa | AM RLC | Lyon | Loan or £4-5M | Flair 20. Aggression 20 for nutmegs. Frustrating but unplayable on his day. |
4. Best Long-Term Signings (by position)
Goalkeeper
- Iker Casillas (24, Real Madrid) – expensive but set for 10+ years
- Hugo Lloris (19, Nice) – cheap, becomes world-class
Right Back
- Daniel Alves (22, Sevilla) – attacking monster
- Philipp Lahm (21, Bayern) – reliable defensively
Left Back
- Giorgio Chiellini (see above) – can retrain to LB
- Marcelo (17, Fluminense) – future star
Centre Back
- Vincent Kompany – best in game
- Per Mertesacker (20, Hannover) – tall, calm
Midfield
- Steven Gerrard (25, Liverpool) – complete CM
- JoaquÃn (24, Betis) – best right winger
- Arjen Robben (21, Chelsea) – injury-prone but unplayable
Striker
- Carlos Tevez (21, Corinthians) – hard to sign but worth it
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (23, Juventus) – target man extraordinaire
The Cheap Hidden Gems (Under £5M)
| Player | Club | Cost | Position | Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Hatem Ben Arfa | Lyon | £3M | AM LC | Extremely lazy but magical dribbling. Frustrating but unplayable on his day. | | Luisao | Benfica | £4M | D C | Towering Brazilian. Cheap, dominant in the air, great for top 4 Premier League sides. | | Vedran Ćorluka | Dinamo Zagreb | £1.5M | D RC, DM | Versatile, composed, low wages. Instant profit after 1 season. | | Freddy Adu | D.C. United | £2M | AM/F C | Massive hype IRL. In FM06, inconsistent but became a legend if tutored well. | | Giuseppe Rossi | Man Utd | Loan/£3M | ST | Italian poacher. Lacked strength but had 18 finishing + 18 technique. |
Notable FM06 Wonderkids
Below are widely reported and statistically impactful wonderkids often cited by the community for FM06: football manager 2006 wonderkids
- Wayne Rooney (young real-world talent in 2004–2005 era): Already a top prospect, reached world-class status quickly in saves.
- Theo Walcott (if present in database depending on update): Fast, attacking winger with high PA in some databases.
- Cesc FÃ bregas, Lionel Messi (depending on database variant and regional updates): Some saves produced phenomenal growth for these young players.
- Real and generated regens: FM06’s regen system produced many previously unknown wonderkids with high PA; community forums cataloged recurring high-potential regens appearing in multiple saves.
Note: Exact wonderkid lists varied by database updates, editor use, and individual save randomness.
Practical Takeaways for Players
- Prioritize youth facilities and coaching to maximize PA realization.
- Use regular first-team minutes or strategic loans for top prospects.
- Scout early and act decisively when reports indicate high PA.
- Consider position and physical/mental attributes when projecting future impact.
1. Lebohang Mokoena (19, AM/F C, Orlando Pirates)
The South African Messi. For £180k, you got a striker with 20 Flair, 19 Dribbling, and 18 Finishing. He had terrible teamwork (6), but who cares when he scores a hat-trick from the halfway line? He would dominate the Premier League for a decade. Football Manager 2006 Wonderkids 🎯 The "Bargain Genius"
6. Warning – Injury-Prone Wonderkids (Avoid or Handle Carefully)
- Michael Owen – constant muscle injuries
- Arjen Robben – will miss 3+ months per season
- Jonathan Woodgate – rarely fit
- Louis Saha – similar to Owen