Football Manager 2024: Complete Guide (Tactics, Transfers, Training and Long Saves)

A practical guide to running a successful Football Manager 2024 save: first-week checklist, tactics that make sense in the match engine, recruitment, training and youth development, plus where FM24 stands now that FM26 is out.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final FM24 release (FM25 cancelled February 2025; FM26 launched November 4, 2025). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Where FM24 Stands in 2026

Released: November 6, 2023, on PC/Mac (Steam), consoles, Apple Arcade (Touch) and Netflix (Mobile).
No FM25: Sports Interactive cancelled Football Manager 25 in February 2025. SI cited quality issues. FM24 was therefore the series' live edition for two seasons and became its most-played edition: seven million players inside 100 days, and roughly 19 million by September 2025. Its Steam reviews remain Very Positive (about 92%).
Successor: Football Manager 26, the first entry built in Unity, launched November 4, 2025, with a new interface, separate In Possession and Out of Possession formations, and women's football.
Delisted on Steam: The Steam page now reads "Football Manager 2024 is no longer available on the Steam store." Existing owners keep the game and its In-game Editor DLC. FM24 Touch players were moved on to FM26 Touch through Apple Arcade.
Why still play FM24? Stable match engine, a mature modding scene (skins, facepacks, real-name fixes, updated databases), and long-running saves you do not want to abandon.

Quick Start

Pick a club that matches the challenge you want. Top clubs mean pressure and boards that expect trophies; lower-league clubs mean patience, free agents and loans.
Read the board's expectations and the club vision before your first transfer. Missing "must" objectives costs you the job.
Build one tactic around your best players, not around a formation you saw online. Then add a second, more defensive version.
Delegate what you do not enjoy. Staff can handle friendlies, press conferences, training and even contracts for youth players.
Scout before you buy. Use scouting ranges, the Recruitment Focus and data from your analysts; do not sign players based on one good rating.
Hire good staff early. A strong assistant, head of youth development, and set piece coach (new in FM24) punch above their cost.
Protect morale and dynamics. A happy dressing room outperforms a slightly better unhappy one.
Give youngsters minutes. Development needs match time; loans are for players who will not play for you.
Save before big decisions, and keep more than one save file if you are nervous about corruption.
Import your FM23 save if you had one, but know the catch. FM24 lets you continue a FM23 career, but imported saves cannot unlock achievements. Start fresh if achievements matter to you.

What FM24 Added

Feature	Why it matters
Inverted Full-Back role	A full-back who tucks inside alongside the centre-backs in possession, giving you a back-three build-up from a back-four shape.
Set Piece Creator overhaul	Detailed control over corner, free-kick and throw-in routines.
Set Piece Coaches	A dedicated staff role that helps design routines; a real source of cheap goals.
Smarter AI recruitment	Rival managers compete more strategically for targets; expect more transfer battles.
Intermediaries	Hire them to help offload surplus players for a cut of the fee.
TransferRoom	A real-world transfer marketplace integrated into the recruitment screens.
J.League licence	J1, J2 and J3 League playable with licensed data for the first time.
FM23 save import	Continue an existing career from FM23 (a series first; imported careers cannot earn achievements).
Match engine upgrades	Improved animations, ball physics, lighting and rotational movement between players.

Tactics

Build from the squad

List your eleven best players and their natural positions.
Choose a formation where most of them play in their strongest spot.
Pick roles and duties that fit their attributes, not their star rating.
Choose a mentality (from Very Defensive to Very Attacking) that suits your team's quality relative to the opponent.
Add team instructions sparingly. Three or four good instructions beat ten conflicting ones.

Proven role combinations

Area	Combination	Why it works
Full-backs	One Wing-Back (Attack) and one Inverted Full-Back	Width on one side, rest-defence security on the other.
Centre-backs	One Ball-Playing Defender plus one Central Defender (Defend) or No-Nonsense Centre-Back	One progresses the ball, the other stays safe.
Midfield	Deep-Lying Playmaker or Regista, plus a Box-to-Box or Mezzala	A creator from deep and a runner.
Wide	Inside Forward on one flank, Winger on the other	Mixes cut-ins with crosses.
Striker	Advanced Forward or Pressing Forward with a supporting Attacking Midfielder or Shadow Striker	Runs in behind with a second goal threat.

Using the preset styles

The Tactics screen's preset styles (Gegenpress, Tiki-Taka, Vertical Tiki-Taka, Control Possession, Wing Play, Route One, Fluid Counter-Attack, Direct Counter-Attack, Catenaccio) are good starting templates. Pick the one closest to your squad's strengths and adjust roles.

Gegenpress needs fit players with high work rate, stamina and pace. Rotate or you will pay for it in injuries and fatigue.
Counter-attacking styles suit underdogs with quick forwards.
Possession styles need technically strong midfielders and ball-playing defenders.

In-match management

Watch the first 15 minutes. If opponents are overrunning midfield, drop a mentality step or change a role before conceding.
Use shouts and quick changes, not full tactic swaps, for most in-game adjustments.
Protect leads with a more cautious mentality and fresh legs rather than parking the bus from minute 60.
Read the assistant's feedback and analysis widgets at half-time; they highlight exploited flanks and poor performers.

Set pieces

Set pieces are one of the most reliable goal sources in FM. Hire a set piece coach, let them generate routines, then assign your tallest, best-heading players as attacking targets and your best crosser to take corners. Check defensive set pieces too: mark the opponent's aerial threats man-to-man.

Recruitment and Transfers

Set a Recruitment Focus (for example, a young left-footed centre-back under a wage limit) and let scouts fill your shortlist.
Check hidden risk: injury history, personality and adaptability affect how a signing settles.
Use loans and free agents heavily in the lower leagues.
Offload smartly: Intermediaries and TransferRoom exist to move surplus players; list unwanted players early in the window.
Structure deals: add-ons, instalments and sell-on clauses let you afford more than your raw budget suggests.
Expect competition: FM24's AI clubs fight harder for targets, so do not assume a bid will go through unopposed.

Training and Development

Let the head of youth development and coaches run the schedule until you understand intensity and match preparation.
Individual training: set a new role or a specific focus (for example, a weak foot) for key youngsters.
Mentoring: pair young players with experienced, professional personalities to improve their mentality.
Minutes matter more than training. A 17-year-old with high potential needs regular games, in your team or on loan.

Squad Management and Morale

Promises matter. Break them and players and their friends turn on you.
Dynamics: watch the hierarchy; unsettled team leaders can poison the dressing room.
Press conferences and team talks affect morale. Delegate them if you are unsure; the assistant is safe.
Rotate in congested periods. Match sharpness and fatigue both matter; injuries spike when players are tired.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Downloading a "meta tactic" and blaming the players when it fails. Tactics depend on your squad and the engine; learn why it works.
Too many team instructions. Contradictory instructions confuse players.
Signing on reputation. Big names on big wages can wreck your finances and dynamics.
Ignoring board confidence until the sack warning appears.
Never loaning young players out. A season on your bench stalls development.
Letting contracts run down. Renew key players with more than a year left, not in their final months.

Advanced Tips

Scout the opposition and set opposition instructions against dangerous players.
Use data analysts to find undervalued players by expected goals, progressive passes and pressures.
Build a feeder network with affiliate clubs for loans and first options.
Staff attributes matter more than star ratings; check specific coaching attributes for each training category.
For long saves, consider the In-game Editor DLC or community database updates if you want refreshed data, and keep save backups before installing mods.

FAQ

Is there a Football Manager 2025? No. FM25 was cancelled in February 2025. FM26 released on November 4, 2025.

Can I still buy FM24? Not on Steam; the store page says it is no longer available. Existing owners keep it.

Can I import an FM24 save into FM26? FM26 is built on a new engine (Unity); do not assume saves transfer. Check Sports Interactive's current FM26 notes before planning around it.

Should I move to FM26? If you want current squads, women's football, separate In Possession and Out of Possession formations, and the FIFA licences SI announced in October 2025 (including the World Cup), yes. If you have a long-running FM24 save, a mod setup you love, or you dislike FM26's rebuilt interface, FM24 still works fine offline.

What is the best formation in FM24? There isn't one. Pick a shape your best eleven fit, then tune roles and mentality.

How do I develop wonderkids faster? Regular minutes, good mentors, the right individual training focus and quality coaches.

Why do my players keep getting injured? Usually high-intensity pressing without rotation. Lower training intensity or rotate more in busy periods.

Can I manage in Japan? Yes. FM24 was the first edition with licensed J1, J2 and J3 Leagues.