All articles tagged with #football manager
Andoni Iraola is emerging as Liverpool’s likely new manager, with fans and pundits optimistic about a fresh, front-foot project to revive attacking football after a disappointing season, though some caution ongoing uncertainties and the challenge of delivering European success.
Liverpool are to hold formal talks with Andoni Iraola as a potential new head coach, with fans split over the risk and fit—some praising a Klopp-like style, others questioning the lack of trophy-winning pedigree; Luis Enrique is floated as an alternative if negotiations stall, and sporting director Richard Hughes faces pressure to seal the right appointment.
Pep Guardiola will step down as Manchester City’s manager at the end of the 2025-26 season and move into an ambassador role with City Football Group. In his 10 years, he guided City to 20 trophies, including a treble and the 2023 Champions League, and leaves with the Premier League-era record for wins and a soaring points-per-game average. City are set to finish second in the league behind Arsenal after a season that added trophy after trophy but fell short of the title.
Xabi Alonso has agreed to become Chelsea’s head coach on a four-year contract, with an official announcement expected soon. The move is being treated as a rapid hire after the FA Cup final, and he is set to have more influence in footballing matters under the club’s ownership as Chelsea look to rebuild their team.
Chelsea are close to appointing Xabi Alonso as their next permanent head coach on a four-year deal, replacing Liam Rosenior. Talks have progressed and Alonso is the preferred candidate, with an announcement expected after the FA Cup final; he is keen to relocate and brings success from Leverkusen and Real Madrid. Chelsea may start the season without European football, needing to finish eighth to qualify for the Conference League.
Tottenham are close to appointing Roberto De Zerbi as head coach, giving him seven Premier League matches to pull them out of a relegation battle after sitting 17th. If confirmed, his first fixtures would include Sunderland away and Brighton at home, with Leeds, Everton, Wolves, Aston Villa and Chelsea to follow. The appointment would bring a clear, attacking style and valuable top-flight experience, but success depends on stable club structure and alignment among management, owners and football operations to implement his system.
Football Manager fans received their first look at FM26 after the cancellation of FM25, which was delayed and ultimately shelved due to not meeting quality standards. The new installment promises visual and interface upgrades, as well as the inclusion of women's teams, with a teaser hinting at a 'match day first look' soon. Fans are excited about the return of the series, which has been a popular football management simulation since 2004.
Thomas Frank, known for his problem-solving and high-intensity football at Brentford, is taking a risky but promising step to manage Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a history of managerial upheaval, aiming to revive their Premier League stature and compete in the Champions League.
Gareth Southgate has resigned as England men's football manager following their European Championship final defeat to Spain. Southgate, who led England to significant improvements and back-to-back European Championship finals, stated it was time for change. His tenure saw England reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final, fostering a positive team culture and addressing social issues. Southgate's assistant, Steve Holland, has also stepped down.
The Athletic provides a guide to the best formations in Football Manager 2024. The recommended formations include 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, 4-2-4, and 5-4-1, each with specific player roles and tactical instructions. The article emphasizes the importance of adapting formations to suit the strengths of your team and suggests modifications to the suggested tactics.
The studio head of Football Manager developer Sports Interactive, Miles Jacobson, has challenged PlayStation boss Jim Ryan's claim that being on Xbox Game Pass is "value destructive" to games. Jacobson disagrees with Ryan's statement and believes that Game Pass has brought new players to the franchise and has been positive for their business. He emphasizes the importance of making profitable deals and rewarding shareholders. Jacobson's comments align with similar claims made by other studio heads, highlighting the benefits of subscription services like Game Pass in increasing audience reach.
Miles Jacobson, studio head of Sports Interactive, the developer of Football Manager, disagrees with PlayStation boss Jim Ryan's claim that subscription-based services like Xbox Game Pass are "value destructive" to video games. Jacobson states that for his studio, Game Pass and other subscription services have had a positive impact, bringing in new players and increasing the reach of the franchise. He believes that financially and creatively, these services make sense for his studio and that the quotes from other studios about their negative experiences are not recognized in his business. Sega, the publisher of Football Manager, also expresses satisfaction with the results of Game Pass and sees it as a great opportunity for quality titles.
Sports Interactive has announced that women's soccer teams will be introduced to the popular simulation franchise, Football Manager, in 2024. The studio aims to provide the same level of depth and quality for the women's game as it does for the men's, which has required extensive research and adjustments to the attribute systems, translations, and league rules. In addition to the inclusion of women's teams, Football Manager 2025 will see a shift to the Unity game engine, offering improved graphics and user interface. The studio also plans to allow players to transfer their progress from previous editions, ensuring a seamless transition and access to career saves.
Sports Interactive has announced that Football Manager 2024 will be the last of its kind, with the upcoming FM25 introducing new features such as the ability to transfer saves and play across multiple platforms. The studio also revealed that FM23 is the most-played game in the series, with five million players and counting. Moving forward, Football Manager 2025 will switch to the Unity game engine, offering improved graphics and user interface tools. Additionally, FM25 will introduce women's football for the first time in the franchise.