Scandinavia is not the most ideal place to play football. The playing fields are completely frozen in the winter, due to the long, cold, dark Nordic winters Scandinavians have to endure. Because of the climate in Scandinavia skiing and ice hockey have became popular sports among Scandinavians.  Despite this, football is still a big factor, especially in Denmark and southern Sweden where the winter is a lot shorter. Scandinavians countries have all proven they can produce top European players; Michael Landrup, Peter Schmeichel and Henrik Larsson, to name a few.

But why look for young talent in Scandinavia when countries like Brazil and Argentina produce a large crop of today’s best talent? Well firstly, no work permits are needed in Scandinavia because they are part of the EU. Also, countries like Brazil have age restrictions so a player has to be atleast 18 before you can sign them, and often by the time they have got to this age, their values have rocketed. Young talent in other European countries are often overvalued and only available to rich clubs, Scandinavia on the other hand, provides a wide range young talent at a bargain price. Players such as John Arne Riise, John Carew and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all fine examples that Scandinavia are still producing fantastic players who can play at the highest level. All these players had to start somewhere before they became international footballers, so let’s take a look at some possible future stars in football manager.

Denmark


Lasse Qvist - Available from 1.1 to 1.5mil, which may seem a lot but very much worth it; with the right training he could become a leading premiership striker.
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Nicolaj Agger - Not quite as talented of his older brother, Daniel, but the Agger family are definitely producing some good footballers. Should be a target for mid-table clubs at the most.
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Thiago Maranhao – 17 year old Brazilian with a lot of talent. Plays in an attacking midfield position and although he is not the next Kaka, he definitely has the ability to succeed in the premiership.
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Rang Shawkat – A great bargain at 12k for a defender who can play on the left or the right, good target for championship teams to lower premiership teams.
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Erton Fejzullahu – This striker will be available for around 350k, probably a good target for the lower half of the premiership.
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Norway


Kristofer Haestad – On loan at Wigan at the start of season; definitely has the potential to succeed at European level as one of Norway’s best prospects.
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Edu (Lyn) – This young Brazilian already has the ability to skin a defence with his explosive skill and can only improve, good target for around mid-table clubs.
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Abdoulrazack Traore – Has to improve a lot but with good training and some vital experience you could have yourself a good premiership winger and also available on a free.
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Arnaud Monkam – His potential could lead him to becoming a decent premiership midfielder and is available for a mere 20k.
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Kevin Larsen - He has good attributes all-round and can only improve, premiership mid-table club at the most.
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Per Ciljan Skjelbred - He is already a decent player despite his young age and will improve quite a fair bit in a short time if you give him some experience. He would be a very good signing but value for money he is no great bargain.
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Sweden


Pontus Wernbloom – This defensive midfielder looks like he has all the right attributes to succeed at a lot of premiership clubs and shouldn’t set you back more the 400k.
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Daniel Sliper – On loan at the start of the season, he can play on the left, right and the centre, should be a target for mid-table clubs and below.
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Dennis Boskailo – Has the potential to become a very good centre back in the future and would not cost more than 200k, at the most, he could succeed at European level.
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Iceland


Viktor Illugason – This 16 year old striker is already agreed to join Reading but does have the potential to compete with the likes of Kevin Doyle.
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Pape Faye – A signing probably for lower premiership clubs/championship; looks like a good future target man.
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Finland

Mika Ääritalo – Young striker available from 20 – 30k, at the most, lower premiership clubs should look to sign him.
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Jussi-Pekka Savolainen – Naturally a left winger, who is available from around 5k, and once again, at the most lower premiership clubs should be looking to sign him.
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Lauri Dalla Valle - This young Finnish lad could have the potential to play for a top four club, and is probably the best fourteen year old in Finland. Whats more is that he is at an amateur football club so will probably be willing to sign for any professional side.
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IMPORTANT

Remember all of these players’s potential may slightly vary in your own game and they are all from Football Manager 2007 7.0.2 using a large database. Also Players with values say under 100k may have the potential to succeed at a higher level but could be a transfer target for lower league clubs. To make sure every single one of these players are on your game, you should probably load Scandinavia, but this is not essential as most of them are likely to be in the game.