How to get the best youth intake in Football Manager

Youth intakes are one of the biggest enigmas in Football Manager. Getting a Golden Generation feels like finding the holy grail, e.g. it’s impossible. More often than not, your best player has 3* potential ability, and most of the candidates look like random people that your Head of Youth Development has recruited off the street.

I’ve done comprehensive research of all available literature (on the internet) to see what the secret is behind getting a five star youth intake. Is there anything we can do to ensure that your club’s academy can actually be a viable first team pipeline? Here’s what I found out.

Youth Recruitment is king

The most important thing when it comes to getting that golden generation youth intake we all crave is improving your youth recruitment. Having a good Head of Youth Development and good youth facilities are the two other most important things, but youth recruitment is crucial. Enhancing your club’s youth recruitment level broadens the geographical scope and quality of young talent scouted. A higher youth recruitment rating increases the likelihood of attracting top-tier prospects from a wider area, including nationally and internationally. Youth recruitment is especially important when you’re in a city with multiple clubs as obviously you’ll have way more competition for the pool of players.

Youth facilities are also fundamental

Top-tier youth facilities are essential for developing young players effectively. A good way of thinking about it is that youth recruitment and your head of youth development are the reason for your youth players potential ability, whilst their current ability is based on the youth facilities. They provide the environment necessary for nurturing talent and improving player attributes over time. Monitor your facilities’ status and advocate for upgrades to keep them at the highest standard. Youth recruitment is still king, but that five star potential regen you get is never going to reach their true highest potential if they’re training on a glorified car park.

Junior coaching

Junior coaching determines the quality of training your youth players receive before they appear in your intake. Upgrading junior coaching ensures that incoming players have better foundational skills and higher current ability on arrival. This is the least important of all of them compared to the other factors you should focus on. Still, always make sure you ask them to improve this if you see the option when putting in a board request.

Appoint an ideal Head of Youth Development (HOYD)

The HOYD plays a pivotal role in shaping the quality and characteristics of your youth intake. Consider the following when selecting a HOYD. They actually don’t impact the current ability/potential ability, and only impact their hidden attributes, so their personality should be prioritised over stats.

• Personality Traits – Aim for individuals with positive personalities, such as ‘Model Citizen’ or ‘Perfectionist,’ as these traits can influence the personalities of incoming youth players.
• Preferred Formation and Playing Style – Align the HoYD’s tactical preferences with your club’s philosophy to ensure a cohesive development pathway.
• Key Attributes – High ratings in ‘Working with Youngsters,’ ‘Judging Player Potential,’ and ‘Determination’ are crucial for effective youth development.

The Nation’s Youth Rating is the external factor that is most important

For a table of all of the youth ratings in Football Manager 2024, you can get it here. Certain elements beyond your direct control can impact youth intake quality:

• Nation’s Youth Rating – Countries with higher youth ratings, such as Brazil or Germany, naturally produce more talented youth players.
• Game Importance – Nations where football holds significant cultural importance tend to have better youth development systems.

While you can’t alter these factors, being aware of them can inform decisions about club location and scouting focus.

Enhance club and managerial reputation

A higher club reputation attracts better youth prospects. Success in domestic and international competitions boosts your club’s profile, making it more appealing to talented youngsters. Similarly, as a manager, achieving accolades and maintaining a strong track record enhances your ability to attract and develop top youth talent.

Utilise strategic affiliations

Forming affiliations with clubs renowned for youth development can provide access to a broader talent pool. These partnerships may allow you to recruit promising players from your affiliate’s region, enhancing your intake quality. For example, Bayern Munich’s collaboration with SpVgg Unterhaching aims to bolster regional youth development. But this is less about how you can maximise your youth intake, but more about how you can take advantage of other teams youth intakes.

How to maximise your player’s potential

Beyond initial intake, focus on the continuous development of youth players:

• Mentoring – Pair young players with experienced mentors to instill professionalism and improve mental attributes.
• Tailored Training – Customise training regimes to address individual weaknesses and enhance strengths.
• Competitive Loan Spells – Loan players to clubs where they will receive regular playing time, facilitating real-world experience and growth.

The most important thing when it comes to a youth intake is youth recruitment. The other areas are important but this takes precedence. But honestly, even when you’ve considered all these factors, you’re still not guaranteed to get a good youth intake.

Your best option is to look up to the Football Manager gods, get on your knees and pray. But that’s what makes Football Manager exciting isn’t it? The fact that you’re not guaranteed to get the best academy players all the time, the element of luck and randomness. It also means that when you do get that elusive golden youth intake, it’s going to feel like you’ve won the golden ticket to go to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.