Goal takes a look at some of the successful and not so successful players who were earmarked for bright futures in the game
Football Manager is famed for its accuracy, both in terms of detailing a player's ability and predicting their potential career arc, but sometimes, even Sports Interactive's meticulous research can deviate wildly from reality.
From its earliest stages, when it was known as Championship Manager, the game has consistently thrilled virtual bosses by identifying football's wonderkids - those precocious players who would go on to take the world by storm - before the wider public knew anything about them.