Worst player roles in Football Manager

Some of these roles are on their way out in Football Manager 2025, and, let’s be honest, most of us won’t miss them. Yet, they’ve been around long enough to earn a place in FM history as the ‘worst’ roles – partly ineffective, partly iconic. Before they’re gone for good, let’s give them a farewell.

Enganche

Maybe it’s just my tactics, but the Enganche has never quite clicked. FM describes it as a “more stationary” role, which makes me picture someone who literally doesn’t move all game—a passenger in every sense of the word. It’s the role I stick my 33-year-old playmaker in when his acceleration drops to single digits. In real life, we’ve seen the death of playmakers like Ozil and James Rodriguez, and the Enganche feels like a luxury player’s last stand. With everyone gegenpressing around them, they’re basically fossils on the pitch.

Trequartista

The Trequartista suffers the same problem. FM practically admits it’s a “defensive liability,” saying, “the rest of the team needs to carry him when defending.” We’re in 2024; even Kylian Mbappe tracks back these days (unless you’re PSG and happen to have Lionel Messi). This would be okay if the Trequartista was jaw-dropping in attack, but spoiler alert: they aren’t. Running a Trequartista is practically begging for a 6.3 rating, whether you play them up top, on the wing, or as an AM.

False nine

False Nines are as tricky in FM as they are in real life. The role’s so specialist that only the best can make it look good—think Harry Kane, Messi, or the golden unicorn of League Two. Try it with anyone else, and you’re risking a tactical disaster (as Lee Carsley recently found out with England). If you don’t have a top-tier player or the luxury of experimentation, you’ll want to give this one a wide berth. It could be amazing if it worked, but the chances are just too slim.

Carrilero

Let’s be real, the Carrilero is the FM role equivalent of getting a meal deal with ready salted chips, a ham sandwich, and a bottle of water. It’s functional, it’s reliable, but it’s not exactly thrilling. No one’s winning Man of the Match as a Carrilero in a Champions League final. With exciting roles like the Mezzala and Half Back around, the Carrilero just feels a bit… beige.

Regista

This might sound boomer-ish, but a defensive midfielder who doesn’t tackle and focuses on “creativity”? Come on. When I think of the guy sitting behind my midfield, I picture someone “carrying the boats,” doing the gritty work so the creative players don’t have to. Using a Regista in FM feels like watching a counter-attack sail past your defensive midfielder who’s too busy “being creative.” Unless you’re Manchester City or have a Pirlo regen, do the classic Brexit move and bring in a proper Ball Winner or Half Back.

There is going to be a lot of disagreement with my choices, so let me know which ones you’d change in the comment section. Have you managed to make any of these work effectively?

About the Author

William Reid

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.