So, You're Playing Football Manager 26 Anyway. Here's How to Not Get Fired.
The UI is a mess and the changes are... bold, but a new Football Manager is still a new Football Manager.
Let's be honest, Football Manager 26 has had a rough launch. The new UI is a controversial, pop-up-filled labyrinth, and many of us are just trying to figure out where the "continue" button is.
It's... a lot.
But look, you're here, I'm here. We're still going to sink 1,000 hours into it. If you're going to brave the new world, you might as well do it right. After spending my first few dozen hours learning the new systems, here are my essential tips to survive your first season and avoid that dreaded early-season sacking.
1. Your First 10 Minutes: The Save Setup
Before you even see your office, you have a huge choice to make.
Quick Start vs. Advanced Setup
Quick Start Career: This just loads the most relevant leagues for your club. It's fast, but it's limiting.
Advanced Setup Career: This is what you want. It gives you full control over the world's detail.
My "Must-Change" Setup Options
When you're in the Advanced Setup, I always make these changes for a better, more realistic (and less annoying) save:
Turn off the first transfer window: This keeps the real-life squads stable for a season and stops Man City from buying your entire team on day one.
Turn off Attribute Masking: This is a "cheat," but I don't care. It lets you see every player's stats without having to scout them for six months. I still scout them to learn their personality and hidden stats, but this saves so much time.
Use Real Fixtures: This just feels right. It's nice to compare your progress to the real-world season.
2. The First 10 Hours: Learn the UI (and Your Bookmarks)
The new UI is a pain. The old sidebar is gone, replaced by a "simplified" system that feels 10 times more complex.
You will be lost.
Spend your first few hours just clicking everything. Learn where your staff, tactics, and scouting menus have been hidden.
Then, use the Bookmark Bar. That row of icons at the top right of your screen is your new best friend. If you find yourself constantly digging for the "Training" or "Staff Responsibilities" screen, add it to your bookmarks. It's the only way to make the new UI bearable.
3. Your First Day: Become a Control Freak (or Don't)
Your first click should be Staff > Responsibilities.
This screen is where you decide what kind of manager you want to be. You can be a hands-off "Head Coach" who only deals with tactics and matches, delegating all contract negotiations, scouting, and training to your backroom team.
Or, you can be a micro-managing tyrant like me and take control of everything. This is the screen where you make that choice.
4. Tactics: Stop Trying to Be Pep Guardiola (For Now)
FM26 has split tactics into "In Possession" and "Out of Possession" phases. This is a massive, complex change.
My advice? Use your pre-season to figure it all out.
Don't download a "tactic" and plug it in. Look at your squad. Do you have two great strikers? Try a 4-4-2. Got speedy wingers? A 4-3-3 counter-attack is your friend.
Start simple. Build a tactic that fits your players, not the other way around. You can get fancy with "inverted wing-backs" and "box-to-box midfielders" in season two, after you've avoided relegation.
5. Transfers: How to Be a Shark
This is where the game is won. You need to be smart, cheap, and ruthless.
Master Recruitment Focuses
Go to Recruitment > Recruitment Focuses immediately. Set up scouts to do the work for you. Here are my go-to focuses:
Wonderkids: Search for players aged 15-23 with 4-star potential minimum.
Expiring Contracts: Find players in top leagues whose deals are up in 6-12 months.
Unhappy/Transfer-Listed: Look for 3-star (or better) players who are fighting with their managers.
Never Pay the Asking Price
This is my golden rule. A club asks for €30 million. You offer €15 million up front.
The other €15 million? You hide it. You spread it across three years of installments, throw in a "bonus after 50 league appearances," and a "20% of profit from next sale" clause. You'll save a fortune on your up-front budget.
6. The "Hidden Money" in Your Club
Want a quick cash injection? Go to Recruitment > Clauses.
Here, you'll find all the sell-on clauses your club has for players it sold years ago. Sometimes, the new club has negotiated a "buy-out" option for that clause.
I've found €5-10 million just sitting in this menu, waiting to be cashed in. It's free money for your transfer budget.
7. Communication Is Not a "Skip" Button
Your press conferences and team talks actually matter. You can't just click the same "calm" option every time.
Use your words to build morale. Praise your players in public when they do well. But always keep your criticism private, one-on-one. A happy dressing room will win you points. A moody one will get you sacked.
8. For God's Sake, Set Up Your Auto-Save
This is the last and most important tip. Go to Preferences and set up your auto-save.
Power cuts happen. Laptops die. The game crashes.
Set the game to auto-save every "fortnight" (two weeks) and use the "3 rolling files" option. This means you'll always have a recent backup if your main save gets corrupted. Don't be the person who loses a 10-hour, unbeaten run to a power surge.