---
title: "Football Manager 2023: Complete Guide"
game: "Football Manager 2023"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/football-manager-2023"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Builds"]
summary: "A complete FM23 guide for players still running careers in it: tactics and roles, squad building, recruitment, training, finances, and the FM23-specific systems (Supporter Confidence, squad planner, recruitment…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/football-manager-2023-complete-guide-410d95e2"
published: "2026-09-27T17:01:05.375Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:01:05.375Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Football Manager 2023: Complete Guide

A complete FM23 guide for players still running careers in it: tactics and roles, squad building, recruitment, training, finances, and the FM23-specific systems (Supporter Confidence, squad planner, recruitment meetings), plus what you need to know about its store status.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the final FM23 release. FM23 is no longer sold on Steam; the game itself no longer receives updates. Check the linked sources if something differs.*

> **Status note (September 2026):** The Steam store page for Football Manager 2023 now states that it **"is no longer available on the Steam store."** If you already own it, you can still download and play it from your Steam library, and existing saves keep working. The series has since moved on to **Football Manager 2024** (released 6 November 2023) and **Football Manager 26** (released 4 November 2025, after Sports Interactive cancelled FM25 in February 2025). FM23 careers cannot be carried forward into later PC editions; only Console and Touch careers could be carried from FM23 into FM24. Everything below applies to the FM23 match engine and systems.

## Quick Start

1. **Pick a club you know or one with a clear identity.** A mid-table side in a top league gives you enough money and players to learn every system.
2. **Choose a tactical preset and adapt it.** The tactics screen offers styles like Gegenpress, Tiki-Taka, Vertical Tiki-Taka, Wing Play, Fluid Counter-Attack, Route One, and Catenaccio. Pick one that suits your best players.
3. **Keep training on the default schedules at first.** Your coaches can manage it well; tweak it once you understand the effect on match sharpness and injuries.
4. **Hold the pre-season meetings** with your staff and board to set expectations you can meet.
5. **Delegate what you don't enjoy.** Friendlies, contract renewals for non-key players, and press conferences can all be handed to staff.
6. **Use the Squad Planner** (new in FM23) to see where the squad is thin over the next few seasons.
7. **Watch Supporter Confidence.** New in FM23, fans have expectations about playing style, results, and signings, separate from the board.
8. **Buy the In-game Editor only if you want sandbox control.** It's still listed as DLC, but it isn't needed for a normal career.

## FM23 Headline Features

| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| UEFA club competitions licence | Fully licensed Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League with authentic draws and graphics |
| Supporter Confidence | Fan groups judge your results, style, and transfer decisions |
| Recruitment meetings | Regular meetings with scouts to shortlist targets |
| Squad Planner | Map the squad by position across multiple seasons |
| Agents | Closer relationships with agents who offer players and act on your behalf |
| Out-of-possession instructions | Better defensive and counter-attacking setups |
| Dynamic Manager Timeline | A record of milestones in your career |
| Match engine changes | Improved wing-back and double pivot behaviour, new animations |

## Tactics

### Mentality

Mentality sets risk: **Very Defensive, Defensive, Cautious, Balanced, Positive, Attacking, Very Attacking**. Start at Balanced or Positive for a strong team and Cautious for underdogs. Change it in-game when protecting a lead or chasing a result.

### Team instructions

- **In possession:** passing directness, tempo, width, focus of play, crossing and dribbling preferences.
- **In transition:** counter-press or regroup, counter or hold shape, goalkeeper distribution.
- **Out of possession:** line of engagement, defensive line, pressing intensity, prevent short goalkeeper distribution, and trigger preferences (new FM23 options make low blocks and counter-attacks more viable).

### Roles and duties

Each position has several **roles** (for example Ball-Playing Defender, Wing-Back, Deep-Lying Playmaker, Box-to-Box Midfielder, Advanced Playmaker, Inside Forward, Advanced Forward, Pressing Forward, Target Man) and **duties** (Defend, Support, Attack). Balance matters more than individual roles:

- One or two creators (playmakers) per side is enough.
- Mix duties down each flank (e.g., full-back on Support with a winger on Attack, or vice versa).
- Pair a physical striker role with a creative partner in two-striker systems.

### Tactic-building rules of thumb

- **Build around your best three players.** If your best player is a playmaker, give him the role.
- **Don't max out every instruction.** Extreme settings (highest tempo, highest press, highest line) together often collapse against good teams.
- **Familiarity takes time.** A new tactic performs worse until the squad learns it; don't switch every match.
- **Use the analysis tabs** (shot maps, pass maps, conceded chances) to see what's going wrong.

## Squad Building and Recruitment

- **Scouting:** Set a scouting focus (regions, competitions) and let the recruitment team report. Recruitment meetings surface targets regularly.
- **Attributes:** Players have technical, mental, and physical attributes on a 1 to 20 scale. For most roles, check the **highlighted key attributes** for that role in the player's profile.
- **Hidden potential:** Scouts give star ratings for current and potential ability. More knowledge (scouting reports) makes these more accurate.
- **Agents:** Build relationships to get tips on available players and smoother negotiations.
- **Loans:** Loan out young players to get them match time at a suitable level; check their loan's playing time and development.

### Transfer tips

- **Negotiate installments** and add-ons to stretch your budget.
- **Use player-plus-cash deals** to offload unwanted players.
- **Check the release clauses and contract expiries** for bargains; players in their final year are cheaper.
- **Buy young, sell at peak.** Selling a 27-year-old at peak value funds two younger replacements.

## Youth Development

- **Youth Intake:** Arrives yearly; quality depends on youth facilities, junior coaching, and youth recruitment.
- **Head of Youth Development** influences the personality of intake players; hire one whose personality you want in your squad.
- **Mentoring groups:** Put young players with experienced, professional senior players to improve their personality and hidden attributes.
- **Playing time:** First-team or good-level loan minutes matter as much as training for development.

## Training

- Default schedules balance fitness and sharpness. Increase intensity when the fixture list is light, drop it during congested spells.
- **Individual training:** Assign a role to train and an additional focus. Retraining a player in a new position takes time.
- **Watch injury risk** on the medical centre screen and rotate players showing high risk.

## Finances and the Board

- Keep the **wage budget** under control; wages are a recurring cost that eats future budgets.
- **Board requests:** Ask for better facilities, youth recruitment, or a bigger budget when you're meeting expectations.
- **Supporter Confidence** and **Board Confidence** are separate; you can lose the fans while the board is happy, and vice versa.
- **Club Vision** lists the board's long-term expectations (e.g., playing style, youth development, league position).

## Matchday

- Set **match preparation** focus (e.g., defensive shape, attacking movement) based on your weak areas.
- Use **team talks** carefully; a player's reaction depends on the situation and your tone.
- Watch **key and extended highlights** at least early in a save so you can see why chances happen.
- **Make changes at half-time** with the analyst's suggestions and heat maps.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Copying an internet tactic without the right players.** Many downloaded tactics exploit specific match engine patches and specific player types.
- **Changing tactics constantly.** Familiarity drops and performance falls.
- **Ignoring squad morale and dynamics.** Unhappy key players drag down the dressing room.
- **Overpaying average players.** Wage structure problems haunt later seasons.
- **Neglecting the youth setup.** Cheap improvements to youth facilities and staff pay off over a long save.
- **Selling too many players at once.** Squad depth for cup runs and injuries matters.

## Advanced Tips

- **Set player roles for set pieces** separately; set-piece goals win tight matches.
- **Use data analysis** to spot overperforming players in weaker leagues before scouts rate them highly.
- **Build a feeder club** relationship to place youngsters.
- **Hire staff with the right attributes** (e.g., working with youngsters, tactical knowledge, judging ability) for each job, not just the best-known names.
- **Use the In-game Editor** for sandbox or "fixing" saves if you prefer, but expect it to lock achievements for that save.
- **Keep a backup save** before key transfer windows and cup finals if you like to experiment.

## FAQ

**Can I still buy Football Manager 2023?**
Not on Steam. As of September 2026 the store page says the game is no longer available. Owners can still install and play it.

**Can I move my FM23 career into FM24 or FM26?**
No for the PC/Mac edition. Carry-forward only applied to FM23 Console and FM23 Touch careers into FM24 Console and Touch.

**What's the best tactic in FM23?**
There's no single best tactic; a coherent system that suits your squad and a manageable pressing intensity outperforms copied "meta" tactics in long saves.

**Is FM23 still worth playing?**
Yes if you already own it, especially for its licensed UEFA competitions and many community databases and mods. Newer editions have newer data and a different match engine.

**How many people played FM23?**
It reached around five million players, more than double the series' usual annual number.

**Does FM23 still get updates?**
No. Development moved to later editions.

## Sources

- [Football Manager 2023 on Steam (store status and DLC)](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1904540/)
- [Football Manager 2023 on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Manager_2023)
- [Football Manager 26 on Wikipedia (FM25 cancellation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Manager_26)
- [Football Manager 2024 Out Now (Steam, 6 Nov 2023)](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/5288974951221546272)
- [Get 20% Off Football Manager 2024 - carry-forward note (Steam, 16 Feb 2024)](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/8033928544497151220)
- [Football Manager Steam news hub](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1904540)