How to climb from Série D to Série A

Climbing from Série D to Série A is the longest career in the game. In Séries B, C and D the top four go up, and in Séries A, B and C the bottom four go down. That means three promotions to reach the top, with less money and fewer fans at the start.

In Série D: spend little and spend well

Série D TV money is small: R$ 400K per season, against R$ 12 million in Série A. Money for signings comes from the club's balance: at the start of each season, the budget is 35% of the balance. So the best deals here are usually free:

• Free agents: no transfer fee, and they can be signed at any time, even with the window closed. Filter by position and tick Without a club only.
• Loans: borrow reserves and youngsters from other clubs until the end of the season, paying only their wages.
• Expiring contracts: a player whose contract ends this season costs 40% less.

Watch the wages. A player 6 points better costs about 2.7 times more per month, because wages grow very quickly with rating. Two well-chosen starters are worth more than five average reserves.

Tactics for small clubs

Against stronger clubs, counter-attacking with a low block works well: the team tires less and exploits the space left by opponents moving up. At home, against teams at your level, you can be more attacking. See the numbers in the tactics guide.

When promotion comes

Each promotion raises TV money: R$ 1.2 million in Série C and R$ 4 million in Série B. The club's reputation also rises, and it determines sponsorship and who agrees to play for you, because strong players turn down clubs that are too small. Before you start spending:

1. Renew the starters who are still useful, and don't overpay those who won't keep up in the new division.
2. Strengthen the weakest positions first.
3. Don't let wages go past the cap: the board limits signings.
4. Avoid big debts: below a certain line, the club is barred from signing players.

Invest calmly

Money left over? In Finances you can invest in the training ground (faster development), the youth academy (better youngsters) and the stadium (10% more seats per project). Investment only pays off over time, so do it after securing the squad, not before.

The National Cup helps pay the bills

Cup prizes are big for a small club: R$ 150K in the first round, R$ 1.2 million in the round of 16 and R$ 12 million for the winner. In the single-leg early rounds, the lower-division club plays at home, which gives a real chance of an upset. A good cup run can be worth more than all your TV money.

The title at the end of the road

Anyone who starts in Série D and wins Série A unlocks the From the basement to glory achievement. To practise the route in less time, the From the basement to Série B challenge asks for two promotions within 4 seasons.