Football Manager Staff Responsibilities

Key Takeaways:

• Your backroom staff significantly impacts team performance
• Proper delegation lets you focus on crucial management decisions
• Staff quality directly affects training, scouting, and youth development
• Different roles require different attribute focuses
• Balance between delegation and hands-on management is essential

Importance of Reliable Backroom Staff

Don’t you dare to underestimate your team that always holds you back! Football Manager isn’t just about picking the right players or making tactical decisions during matches. Behind every successful team lies a capable backroom staff, which is the truth! Especially in the modern, top-tier football world.

Think of your backroom staff as the engine of your club. Just like a car won’t run properly without all its parts working together, your club needs various specialists working in harmony.

Your assistant manager, coaches, scouts, data analyst, and medical team all play crucial roles in keeping the club running smoothly.

The Core Staff Roles You Need to Know

Let’s break down the main staff roles you’ll encounter in Football Manager:

1. Assistant Manager: Your right-hand person who helps with match preparation and tactical advice
2. Head Coach: Leads your training sessions and helps develop players
3. Scouts: Find new talent and provide reports on opponents
4. Physiotherapists: Keep your players fit and help them recover from injuries
5. Director of Football: Handles transfer negotiations and contract renewals
6. Head of Youth Development: Oversees your youth academy and young player development

In FM24, and more in the next generations, data analysts are increasingly important in the general function of your whole management of a football club.

• Performance statistics
• Opposition analysis
• Training data
• Recruitment recommendations

How to Delegate Tasks Effectively

One mistake I often see new players make is trying to handle everything themselves. In my experience, proper delegation is key to success. Here’s what I typically delegate:

• Set Pieces Routines
• Opposition scouting to my chief scout
• Under 18 contract renewals to my Director of Football
• Youth team management to my Head of Youth Development

The Critical Role of Training Management

Training forms the backbone of player development in Football Manager. From my years of experience, I’ve learned that proper training management can transform average players into superstars. Your coaching staff’s attributes directly impact training effectiveness.

When delegating training responsibilities, consider splitting them between different specialists.

Mastering the Transfer Process

The transfer market can make or break your save game. Your Director of Football and scouting team play crucial roles here. I’ve found that having a well-organized scouting network with clear assignments leads to discovering hidden gems before bigger clubs find them.

Youth Development: Building for the Future

Youth development requires patience and proper structure. Your Head of Youth Development’s attributes significantly impact the quality of youth intake. Here’s what I’ve learned matters most:

• Judging Player Potential (at least 15)
• Working with Youngsters (minimum 15)
• Determination (14+)
• Professional personality type

The quality of your youth facilities also plays a crucial role. I always recommend requesting facility improvements from the board when possible.

Match Day Management and Team Talks

While you can delegate some match day responsibilities, I strongly advise handling team talks personally. Your assistant manager can provide valuable input, but the personal touch makes a difference in player motivation.

During matches, having an assistant manager with high tactical knowledge helps spot issues you might miss. They can provide valuable suggestions for tactical tweaks during the game.

Staff Recruitment Strategy

Building an effective backroom staff requires careful planning. Here’s my proven approach:

1. Prioritize key positions first (Assistant Manager, Head Coach)
2. Look for complementary attributes among staff members
3. Consider personality traits – they affect staff dynamics
4. Check for important hidden attributes through staff reports

Remember, staff wages impact your budget significantly. Sometimes it’s better to have fewer, high-quality staff members than many average ones.

Media Management and Public Relations

Media handling can significantly impact team morale and board confidence. While you can delegate press conferences to your assistant manager, I recommend handling key announcements yourself. Your responses can affect:

• Player morale
• Board confidence
• Fan satisfaction
• Transfer target interest

Frequently Asked Questions