--- title: "Football Manager 2020: Complete Guide" game: "Football Manager 2020" game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/football-manager-2020" author: "Qloud" author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud" topics: ["Builds"] summary: "A manager's handbook for FM20: your first week at a club, building a tactic that works, training and player development, the new Development Centre and Club Vision systems, scouting and transfers, finances, and…" url: "https://qna.gg/g/football-manager-2020-complete-guide-de8e6eb4" published: "2026-09-27T16:44:04.837Z" updated: "2026-09-27T16:44:04.837Z" source: "QnA.GG" --- # Football Manager 2020: Complete Guide A manager's handbook for FM20: your first week at a club, building a tactic that works, training and player development, the new Development Centre and Club Vision systems, scouting and transfers, finances, and dressing-room management — plus what you need to know about the game's status in 2026. *Researched September 2026 — current as of FM20's final patch (20.4.4 hotfix, September 25, 2020). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.* > **Status:** Football Manager 2020 is **unlisted on Steam** at the publisher's request — it can't be bought there anymore, but existing owners can still download and play. The final patches (20.4.2 to 20.4.4, September 2020) added **network-game cross-play with the Epic Games Store version** and fixed save/cloud issues; there have been no updates since. The database is frozen at the 2019/20 season. Buying the game through Steam also came with **FM20 Touch**, the streamlined version. --- ## Quick Start 1. **Pick a club whose expectations you can meet.** The board and **Club Vision** judge you on multi-year goals; a mid-table club with realistic targets is the best first save. 2. **Set up your staff before your tactic.** Hire a good Assistant, coaches and scouts early; they drive player ratings, training and recommendations. 3. **Start with a simple, balanced tactic.** A 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 on Balanced mentality with default instructions works. Tweak one thing at a time. 4. **Use the Development Centre** to manage youth players from the academy to the first team. 5. **Set Playing Time Pathways** when you sign or renew contracts — a promise you break damages morale. 6. **Talk to players, but don't overdo it.** Team talks and individual chats swing morale; keep promises. 7. **Watch the wage budget, not just the transfer budget.** Wages are what sink clubs. 8. **Use the Data Hub and staff reports** to diagnose why you're losing. 9. **Save often and keep multiple saves.** Especially before transfer deadline days and key matches. --- ## FM20's New Systems | Feature | What it does | How to use it | |---|---|---| | **Development Centre** | Central hub for youth teams, from arrival at the club up to first-team readiness | Check it every month; track progress, set up loans, and promote the ready ones | | **Club Vision** | Board-agreed culture, playing style, transfer policy, and multi-year milestones | Read the Vision on day one. Signing young players or playing a certain style might be part of it | | **Playing Time Pathway** | Defines current and future squad status across a contract (Fringe Player → Star Player) | Offer realistic statuses; future pathways help sign ambitious young players | | **Backroom staff changes** | New roles and more staff advice across areas | Read staff meetings and act on their suggestions | | **Match engine improvements** | More realistic player behavior | Watch at least key highlights; the engine rewards coherent tactics | --- ## Your First Week at a New Club 1. **Read the board's expectations and Club Vision.** 2. **Staff review**: in Staff > Responsibilities, decide what to delegate (friendlies, contracts for youth, press conferences) and what to keep. 3. **Hire staff**: Assistant Manager with good judging ability, coaches rated highly in the areas you want (attacking, defending, fitness, goalkeeping), and scouts with good Judging Player Ability/Potential. 4. **Squad review**: ask your Assistant for a squad assessment; identify one or two weak positions. 5. **Tactic**: pick a formation that fits your best players, not the other way around. 6. **Pre-season**: schedule friendlies (a mix of easy games and a couple of harder ones) to build match fitness. 7. **Transfers**: fill the gaps with loans and free agents before spending big. --- ## Tactics ### Structure A tactic is made of: - **Formation** — e.g., 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2. - **Roles and duties** — each player has a role (e.g., Ball-Winning Midfielder, Advanced Playmaker, Inside Forward) and a duty (Defend, Support, Attack). - **Mentality** — from Very Defensive to Very Attacking; controls risk, tempo and positioning collectively. - **Team Instructions** — split into **In Possession**, **In Transition**, and **Out of Possession**. - **Player Instructions** — individual tweaks (shoot less, dribble more, close down more, etc.). ### Balanced starter tactics | Formation | Roles (example) | Why | |---|---|---| | **4-2-3-1** | GK (Defend), FB (Support) x2, CD (Defend) x2, DM (Defend) + DLP (Support), W (Support) + IF (Attack), AM (Attack), AF (Attack) | Balanced, works for most squads | | **4-4-2** | GK, FB x2, CD x2, BWM (Defend) + BBM (Support), WM (Support) x2, DLF (Support) + AF (Attack) | Simple, strong defensively and on counters | | **4-3-3 (DM wide)** | DM (Defend), CM (Support), CM/Mezzala (Attack), IF (Attack) x2, CF/AF | Possession and pressing | **Principles that matter more than formation:** - **Balance duties** — not every player on Attack duty; keep at least a couple of players on Defend. - **Mentality determines risk** — Balanced or Positive is a safe default; go Defensive to protect leads. - **One change at a time** — you can't learn what works if you change five things together. - **Familiarity** — new tactics take time to learn; stick with one or two. ### In-match management - Watch the first 15–20 minutes. If the opponent overloads a flank, move a winger back or switch a fullback to Defend. - Use **Shouts** sparingly (e.g., "Demand More", "Encourage") based on the team's body language. - Make substitutions around 60–70 minutes for tired players (check condition and sharpness). - Protect leads by lowering mentality and adding a DM or a defensive fullback. --- ## Training and Player Development - **Training schedule**: Your coaches can manage it, or you can build weekly schedules focusing on match preparation, tactics, attacking/defending, and recovery. - **Individual training**: Assign a **role** and an **additional focus** (e.g., "Finishing", "Quickness") to help a player develop specific attributes. - **Match time is key** for young players' growth. Use loans and the reserve/youth teams via the Development Centre. - **Mentoring**: group young players with experienced, determined professionals to improve personality traits. - **Injury risk**: Check the medical centre's injury risk ratings and rest players marked high risk. ### Understanding player quality - Current Ability (CA) and Potential Ability (PA) are hidden; staff give **star ratings** based on their judging ability. Better scouts/coaches = more accurate stars. - Attributes are rated from 1 to 20. Look at role-relevant attributes, not the overall star rating alone. --- ## Scouting and Transfers - **Scouting packages** cost money and determine how much of the world your scouts can see. Upgrade when your budget allows. - **Scouting assignments**: send scouts to specific regions or competitions, with filters (age, position, potential). - **Recommendations** are sorted by staff opinion; check the full scout report ("pros/cons") before bidding. - **Negotiation**: Include instalments, sell-on percentages and add-ons to fit budgets. Agents want signing-on fees and wages. - **Free agents and loans**: best early value for smaller clubs. - **Selling**: Players with rising value and one or two years left on contracts are prime sell candidates. ### Popular young targets in the FM20 database FM20 players often target young talents who were breaking through in 2019, such as **Ansu Fati**, **Erling Haaland**, **Jadon Sancho**, **Kai Havertz**, **João Félix**, **Eduardo Camavinga**, **Rodrygo** and **Mason Greenwood**. Their growth varies per save, so scout them yourself. --- ## Finances - **Wage budget** is the real constraint. Long contracts with high wages to aging players will cripple you. - **Transfer budget** can be adjusted by moving money between transfer and wage budgets (Finances > Budget). - **Incomes**: prize money, TV rights, sponsorships, gate receipts, player sales. - **Board requests**: facilities upgrades, youth recruitment and training facilities improve long-term outcomes. Ask when the board is happy. --- ## Dressing Room and Media - **Squad hierarchy and dynamics**: keep team leaders and influential players happy; they shape the mood. - **Promises**: playing time and signing promises are tracked; break them and morale drops. - **Team talks**: be calm/assertive rather than aggressive by default; praise when the team plays well, demand more when they underperform. - **Press conferences**: can be delegated to your Assistant. Answers affect players, the board and the fans. --- ## Common Mistakes to Avoid - **Overloading attack duties.** Your defense collapses. - **Constantly changing tactics.** Familiarity and results suffer. - **Ignoring the Club Vision.** Boards will sack you even if results are good if the vision is ignored. - **Signing too many players** at once — squad dynamics and wages suffer. - **Letting youth rot on the bench.** They need minutes or loans. - **Promising Star Player status** to players who won't get it. - **Neglecting staff**: poor coaches slow development, poor scouts mislead you. --- ## Advanced Tips - **Tactic analysis**: use the Data Hub and after-match analysis to find where you concede (crosses, set pieces, through balls) and fix that specifically. - **Set pieces**: design routines in the set pieces screen and assign takers with strong Corners, Free Kick Taking and Penalty Taking attributes. - **Opposition instructions**: target weak-footed or slow players by closing down or tight marking. - **Affiliated clubs**: use them to loan players and grow a pipeline. - **Youth intake**: improve Youth Recruitment and Junior Coaching through board requests for better long-term intakes. - **Network games**: FM20 supports network play (cross-play with Epic since 20.4.2); agree on save times and holiday rules with friends. --- ## FAQ **Can I still buy FM20?** Not on Steam — it's unlisted. If you already own it, it's still in your library. **Is FM20 worth playing today?** Yes for its match engine and the new systems it introduced (Development Centre, Club Vision), but the database is from 2019/20. For current squads, play a newer edition. **What's the difference between FM20 and FM20 Touch?** Touch is streamlined for faster seasons with fewer details. Steam buyers also got Touch for free. **How do I improve youth players?** Give them minutes (loans or matches), assign an individual training focus, and pair them with good mentors. **What's the best tactic?** Whatever fits your players and Club Vision. A 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 with balanced duties is the safest starting point. **Does FM20 have an in-game editor?** Yes, it's a separate paid add-on (DLC) for FM20. --- ## Sources - [Football Manager 2020 on Steam (store page and official announcements)](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1100600/) - [FM20 20.4.2 update and 20.4.3/20.4.4 hotfix announcements (Steam news)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1100600) - [Football Manager official site](https://www.footballmanager.com)