Inside the Mind of the FM World Champion – A Tactical Masterclass with Ichsan Rahmat Taufiq

How do you find the best tactic in Football Manager? Simple. Host a massive, slightly unhinged World Cup, make players battle it out like it’s Gladiator, and then shamelessly copy—uh, I mean, analyze—the champion’s tactics. That’s exactly what happened when Indonesia’s Ichsan Rahmat Taufiq claimed the first-ever Football Manager World Cup title.

Zealand, the undisputed Football Manager content king, who we interviewed in the past, sat down with the champ in an awesome new video to break down the Holy Grail of FM tactics—the very strategy that steamrolled the competition. And trust me, this isn’t just your bog-standard 4-2-3-1. This is a surgically crafted, opposition-destroying machine—part tactical masterclass, part chaos engine.

So, what makes Taufiq’s tactic a world-beater? How can mere mortals like us learn from it? And, most importantly, will this finally stop our FM saves from imploding after a promising start? Let’s break it all down.

The Football Manager Tactical Blueprint

The first step towards becoming a tactical master is formation. Taufiq’s formation of choice? The 4-2-3-1—but this isn’t the kind you slap together with default settings and hope for the best. Every role, duty, and instruction is optimized to the nth degree.

Key Tactical Concepts

Double DM Support

Most FM players go with one deep-lying destroyer and one adventurous playmaker in midfield. Not Taufiq. Instead, he plays with two defensive midfielders on support, but with vastly different roles:

• One is a destroyer, a midfield enforcer designed to win the ball back and break legs (not literally, but close).
• The other is a passer, dictating tempo and feeding the attack.

This setup allows for aggressive overloads without turning the defense into Swiss cheese.

Ball-Playing Defenders on Defend

Two ball-playing defenders (BPDs) on defend? Risky. Both with Dribble More and Tackle Harder? Downright insane. But Taufiq has a plan—when all passing options are marked, these CBs can drive forward, dragging defenders out of position and creating space, much like a rogue deep-lying playmaker in disguise.

Fullbacks on Attack

Both fullbacks are given full license to attack, but with highly specific instructions:

• Stay wider → Stretches the pitch.
• Cross from byline → Reduces offsides, ensuring the striker is always in play.
• Cut inside with the ball → Forces defenders to make difficult decisions.
• Tackle harder → Because, why not?

Inside Forwards on Support

Instead of the usual inside forward on attack, Taufiq keeps both on support, instructing them to:

• Mark the opposition’s fullbacks—shutting down key attacking outlets.
• Hold up the ball—allowing the fullbacks to bomb forward before making a move.

This turns the fullbacks into primary attackers, catching defenders completely off guard.

Advanced Forward

The advanced forward is the system’s spearhead, but when things aren’t working, there’s a three-step escalation plan:

1. Activate roam from position → Makes the striker harder to mark.
2. Switch to a complete forward → More versatility, better link-up play.
3. Go full 4-2-4 → If all else fails, throw bodies forward and hope for the best.

Tackle Harder on EVERY Player – Maximum Chaos Mode

Yes, literally every outfield player has Tackle Harder enabled. Why? Because bookings happen anyway, so you might as well maximize the ball-winning potential before the referee gets involved.

The Philosophy Behind the Madness

Taufiq isn’t just blindly chucking instructions together—there’s method in the madness. While we often tell players how to nab the best wonderkids from obscure nations or how to perform an epic moneyball save, Taufiq’s plan is watertight.

Knowledge Is Power

When asked how to build a winning tactic, Taufiq responded with a single word: Knowledge. You don’t just copy a 4-2-3-1 off the internet and expect greatness. You study, tweak, adapt, and exploit the game’s mechanics.

Control the Opposition’s Fullbacks

Most teams use their fullbacks to escape pressing traps. Taufiq neutralizes this by having his inside forwards mark them, forcing play inside—right where his two aggressive DMs are lurking.

Win First, Adjust Later

Win First, Adjust Later

• If leading → Lower the tempo, increase time-wasting, and don’t overcomplicate things.
• If needing a goal → Free up the striker, switch him to a complete forward, or go all-in with 4-2-4.
• No panic, just controlled adjustments.

Does It Actually Work? (Spoiler: Yes, Absolutely)

To put the tactic to the test, Zealand ran a full-season simulation with Wolves—a team predicted to struggle in the Premier League’s relegation scrap.

The result? Wolves finished fifth, a ridiculous overachievement, and Jacob Strand Larsen won the Golden Boot, outscoring Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins.

Translation: This isn’t just an FM tactic that sounds clever—it dominates in practice.

Final Thoughts: What Can You Learn From a World Champion?

Taufiq’s success isn’t just about finding the right roles or copying a meta formation—it’s about understanding Football Manager on a deeper level. His philosophy is a mix of tactical adaptability, player-focused role selection, and in-game adjustments that don’t compromise his team’s identity. He doesn’t just react—he controls the game from the start.

So, if you’ve been smashing your desk in frustration because your star-studded squad keeps losing to Norwich, maybe take a page from Taufiq’s book. Don’t just download a tactic—understand why it works. Adapt your system, tweak roles based on your squad’s strengths, and trust your adjustments. Because at the end of the day, you don’t need the best players—you just need the best plan.