🏅FM24 Player Roles: Pro Tips For Football Manager Glory Story (2024)

In the world of football management simulation, Football Manager offers an immersive experience where managers can strategize and optimize their team’s performance.

One of the crucial aspects that managers must consider is assigning appropriate FM 24 positions and roles to their squad members. These football player positions dictate specific instructions and behaviors for players on the pitch, allowing them to perform their designated tasks efficiently and contribute to the team’s overall success.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into various football manager 2024 player roles across different roles and understand how they impact the team’s FM tactics and gameplay.

FM24 Player Roles – Goalkeepers

1. Sweeper Keeper:
   The Sweeper Keeper role is designed for goalkeepers who possess excellent ball control and distribution skills. These keepers act as additional defenders by sweeping up loose balls outside the penalty area and initiating quick counterattacks. With their ability to play out from the back, Sweeper Keepers become a crucial part of the team’s build-up play.
   
2. Defensive Goalkeeper:
   In contrast to the Sweeper Keeper, the Defensive Goalkeeper focuses primarily on shot-stopping abilities and maintaining a secure position between the posts. These keepers are less involved in the outfield play but excel at saving shots and commanding their defense.

FM24 Player Roles – Central Defenders

1. Ball Playing Defender:
   The Ball Playing Defender (BPD) is comfortable in possession and contributes to building attacks from deep positions. They are known for their progressive passes or ability to carry the ball forward into space, effectively starting attacks from the back.
   
2. No-Nonsense Center Back:
   The No-Nonsense Center Back (CB) emphasizes defensive duties, such as winning aerial duels, making strong tackles, and intercepting opposition passes effectively. They prioritize defensive stability and avoid unnecessary risks on the ball.
   
3. Limited Defender:
   The Limited Defender focuses on conservative defending, staying back to mark opponents tightly and maintaining positional discipline. They are less likely to venture forward and instead concentrate on thwarting the opposition’s attacks.
   
4. Wide Centre – Back:
   The Wide Centre Back in Football Manager (WCB) combines defensive solidity with the ability to cover wider areas, essential in three-at-the-back formations. They excel in transitioning play from defense to attack, requiring good pace and tactical awareness.

Defenders:

Read more: FM24 Tactics: Play Out of Defense – Modern Football Standards

FM24 Player Roles – Full-Backs:

Full-backs play a crucial role in modern football, providing width to the team’s attacking play while also offering defensive cover. In Football Manager 24, two intriguing full-back football player positions have been introduced to enhance the tactical options for managers.

1. Conventional Full Back: In Football Manager, the Full Back role is a versatile position, primarily focused on providing width in both defensive and attacking phases.

   These players are tasked with defending the flanks against opposition wingers and contributing to the team’s offensive play. They often overlap wingers or provide crosses from wide areas. Fullbacks need a good balance of defensive skills, stamina, and crossing ability.

   Ideal Example Player: Kieran Trippier

   Depending on the tactical setup, they can play more defensively or take on a more attacking role, making overlapping runs and joining in the final third. Their adaptability and endurance are key, as they cover a lot of ground along the touchline.

2. Inverted Full-Back: Tactically, inverted full-backs offer flexibility in both defensive structures and attacking dynamics, adapting seamlessly during transitions between offensive and defensive phases​​. FM Scouting for players with a mix of defensive and technical attributes, citing examples like Kyle Walker and Joshua Kimmich​​.

   Training regimes focus on enhancing both defensive capabilities and midfield skills, with drills simulating match scenarios to improve decision-making and adaptability​​.

   This emphasizes the unique blend of defensive strength and creative playmaking offered by the inverted full-back role in modern football​​.

   Ideal Example Player: Joshua Kimmich

3. No-Nonsense Full Back: The No-Nonsense Full-Back in Football Manager is a defensively-focused role. Players in this position prioritize clear, simple defensive actions over complex playmaking.

   They excel in tackling and intercepting, often choosing to clear the ball quickly rather than retaining possession or joining attacks. This role suits players with strong defensive attributes and a straightforward approach to preventing opposition advances on the flanks.

   See Also

   Offensive Positions in Football (All Positions Explained)24me (for iPhone) ReviewThe Most Important Positions For Football & Why They Matter

   Ideal Example Player: Lucas Hernandez

4. Complete Wing-Back:The Complete Wing-Back role is exemplified by players like Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool.

   This role is designed for attacking-minded full-backs who possess the ability to contribute effectively both offensively and defensively. Alexander-Arnold is renowned for his exceptional crossing ability, precise passing, and intelligent positioning, making him a formidable weapon in Liverpool’s attacking repertoire.

   When playing as a Complete Wing-Back, the player is encouraged to make overlapping runs down the flanks, delivering accurate crosses into the box, and supporting the team’s attacking moves.

   Despite their advanced positioning, Complete Wing-Backs are also expected to track back diligently and provide defensive cover when required. This role adds a new dimension to the team’s attacking play, making the full-back a potent offensive threat

5. Inverted Wing-Back:The Inverted Wing-Back role is embodied by players like Joao Cancelo of Manchester City.
   This role is deployed on the opposite flank from the player’s stronger foot, allowing them to cut inside and create passing lanes and scoring opportunities.

   Cancelo’s tactical intelligence and dribbling skills enable him to confound opposition defenses with his unpredictable movement. When operating as an Inverted Wing-Back, the player’s primary focus is on creating and contributing to the team’s buildup play from a central position rather than providing width on the flanks.

   This role often requires players with excellent technical abilities, as they are expected to retain possession and make incisive passes through the central areas.

   While their attacking contributions may be more centralized, Inverted Wing-Backs are still responsible for providing defensive support when needed, using their positional awareness and anticipation to break up opposition attacks.

Full-Back Position and Roles:

Read More:

FM24 Player Roles – Midfielders

1. Anchor Man:
   The Anchor Man operates in front of the defensive line, covering passing lanes, making interceptions and tackles, and efficiently distributing the ball to initiate attacks. They play a crucial role in shielding the team’s defense while transitioning into offensive moves.
   
2. Deep-Lying Playmaker Defend/Support:
   The Deep-Lying Playmaker operates from deeper positions and is adept at making accurate long passes or incisive through balls to initiate attacking moves. The Defensive version focuses more on defensive duties, while the Support version provides a balance between offense and defense.
   
3. Box-to-Box Midfielder:
   The Box-to-Box Midfielder covers vast amounts of ground during matches, showcasing energy, stamina, dynamic runs, and diligent tracking back. They contribute significantly both offensively and defensively throughout the game.
   
4. Carillero:
   The Carillero excels at connecting the defensive and midfield ranks, providing sideways passing options, and maintaining positional discipline. They are excellent at resisting pressure in the middle of the park.
   
5. Segundo Volante:
   The Segundo Volante links defense and attack effectively with a box-to-box style of play. They contribute both defensively and offensively, making late arrivals into the opposition box to provide goals and assists.
   
6. Mezzala:
   The Mezzala operates in central areas but tends to drift wide or make runs into attacking positions. They provide creativity, goal-scoring threat, and support for the team’s attacks, adding versatility to the midfield.

Midfielder:

Read more: FM24 Formation 3-4-1-2 – Artistic Total Football Tactic for Versatile Squad

FM24 Player Roles – Wide Midfielders

1. Wide Midfielder:
   The Wide Midfielder provides width on the flanks by staying wide and delivering crosses into the box. They also contribute defensively when required, making them valuable assets in both offensive and defensive phases of the game.
   
2. Inverted Winger:
   The Inverted Winger cuts inside from wider areas, often operating as a secondary striker, to create goal-scoring opportunities for themselves or others with their dribbling skills and precise finishing. Their inward runs can pose significant challenges for the opposition’s defense.
   
3. Advanced Playmaker Wide:
   The Advanced Playmaker Wide operates from wider areas, providing creative passes, crosses, and goal-scoring opportunities for teammates while also contributing defensively when required. Their ability to influence play from the flanks can open up spaces for other attackers.
   
4. Defensive Winger: In Football Manager, the Defensive Winger combines the duties of a traditional winger with added defensive responsibilities. This role requires players to contribute to both attacking plays by providing width and crosses, and to defensive efforts by tracking back to support the full-backs. Ideal for players with good stamina, work rate, and tackling abilities, alongside their attacking skills.

Winger:

Read more: FM24 Marcelo Bielsa’s Tactical Blueprint: EL Loco’s 4-1-4-1! Expert Guide + Download

FM24 Player Roles – Attacking Midfielders

1. Trequartista:
   The Trequartista is a deep-lying forward who enjoys playing in the hole between the opposition’s defense and midfield. They possess vision, dribbling skills, and the ability to find gaps, making them dangerous creators and scorers in central areas.
   
2. Shadow Striker:
   The Shadow Striker operates just behind the main striker, making penetrating runs into space and taking advantage of loose balls. They are clinical finishers and can also drop deep into number 10 positions when needed, adding tactical flexibility to the team.
   
3. Advanced Playmaker Attack/Support:
   The Advanced Playmaker excels at creating chances through accurate passing, vision, and intelligent movement. The Attack version focuses more on offensive contributions, while the Support version balances offense and defense.
   
4. Raumdeuter:
   The Raumdeuter specializes in finding space between defensive lines or exploiting gaps on the flanks to create scoring chances. They can run onto through balls or cut inside to shoot or provide assists, making them unpredictable and challenging for opponents to mark.
   
5. Inside Forward:
   Inside Forwards cut inside from wide areas, sometimes operating as secondary strikers. They create goal-scoring opportunities for themselves and others with their dribbling skills and precise finishing, adding dynamism to the team’s attacking play.

FM24 Player Roles – Strikers

1. Target Man:
   A Target Man possesses high strength, power, and a remarkable aerial presence. They excel at holding up the ball, receiving aerial passes, and bringing teammates into play. This role suits teams looking to play more directly and focus on crossing into the box.
   
2. Poacher – Advanced Forward:
   This role is for strikers who capitalize on loose balls or defensive errors by getting into key positions inside the penalty area. They have exceptional instincts for goal-scoring opportunities and focus primarily on scoring goals with efficiency.
   
3. Complete Forward:
   The Complete Forward combines different attributes of various striker roles. They are capable of scoring goals, creating chances for others, dropping deep to link play, taking on defenders, and contributing to the team’s overall attacking play. This role provides versatility to the forward line.
   
4. Advanced Forward: The Advanced Forward in Football Manager is a goal-oriented striker, primarily focused on scoring. They exploit spaces behind the opposition’s defensive line, using their pace and off-the-ball movement. This role demands players with excellent finishing, acceleration, and anticipation, making them a constant threat to the opposition’s defense.
   
5. False Nine: The False Nine in Football Manager acts as a striker who frequently drops deep into midfield. This role blurs the lines between a striker and a playmaker, requiring high creativity, vision, and technical skills. Players in this role create space and opportunities by drawing defenders out of position and facilitating team attacks rather than solely focusing on scoring.
   
6. Pressing Forward: A Pressing Forward in a Football Manager is an attacking role that emphasizes disrupting the opponent’s defensive structure through constant pressure. Players in this role tirelessly chase down defenders, looking to force errors and regain possession high up the pitch. It requires high stamina, work rate, and aggression, making them key in a high-pressing tactical setup.
   
7. Deep Lying Forward: The Deep Lying Forward in Football Manager operates as a striker who drops deeper into the attacking midfield area. Their primary role is to link up play, hold up the ball, and create scoring opportunities for teammates. Players suitable for this role possess good passing, vision, and off-the-ball movement, making them pivotal in a possession-based or counter-attacking system.

Striker:

Read more: Crazy 2-7-2 Thiago Motta Football Formation

Conclusion

In Football Manager, football player positions play a significant role in shaping a team’s tactical setup and gameplay. By understanding each role’s specific instructions and behaviors, managers can tailor their tactics to suit the strengths of their players. It is essential to consider players’ attributes, playing style, and how they fit into the team’s overall strategy when assigning football player positions and roles. By doing so, managers can build a well-balanced team capable of achieving success on the virtual pitch.

Read more:

• FM24 Wonderkids: Football Manager 2024 Future Football Icons
• FM24 Bargains: Uncovering Hidden Gems in Football Manager – Guide + List

FM Football Player Positions and Roles – FAQ

Note: Football player positions and roles and positions can evolve over time, and different managers may deploy them in various roles depending on their tactical approach. The above examples represent players who have been known for excelling in the mentioned roles during specific periods in their careers.