The leagues in Football Manager with the BEST registration rules

There’s nothing worse in Football Manager than picking a league, choosing a team you’re excited to manage, and then discovering the registration rules are absolutely horrific. Suddenly, you’re scrambling to field five homegrown players under 15 in your starting XI or trying to figure out how to thrive with only two foreign players.

Some leagues, like the MLS, practically require a PhD to decipher their rules. But fear not—I’ve done the hard work for you. Here’s a list of leagues with the best registration rules, where you can take a deep breath and sign whoever you want without breaking into a cold sweat.

Because, honestly, after a long day dealing with 9-to-5 stress, existential dread, and the state of the world, we don’t need to be worrying about homegrown quotas or nationality limits during our chill time. To keep it simple, I’ll focus on the top divisions in each country. Remember, if you’re also looking for more tips and tricks, we also have pieces on the best affordable strikers and even a list of staff members you absolutely need.

Germany – Bundesliga

The Bundesliga does have a few homegrown requirements, but they’re laughably easy to manage thanks to the absurd squad size limit of 99 players. Yes, 99!

All you need to do is sign eight mediocre German players, throw in some academy prospects, and you’re free to build the squad of your dreams. Want a starting XI entirely made up of South Americans? Go for it. Want to create an African powerhouse? Knock yourself out.

The Bundesliga is where dreams come true—except for beating Bayern in your first few seasons. That’s a nightmare no registration rule can solve.

Ireland – Irish Premier Division

The rules here? There are no rules.

That’s right, the Irish Premier Division has no squad registration rules whatsoever. Ireland might be a tax haven, but it’s also a haven for literally any player you fancy.

Sure, the league isn’t exactly Champions League material, but do we care? Absolutely not. You’re limited to just 25 players, but let’s be real: if you need more than 25 players, you’re just being greedy.

Hungary – Hungarian Division I

Another league with virtually no rules. The only restriction? A player can’t have played for more than two clubs in competitive matches during the same season—a universal rule across most leagues.

Hungary’s golden footballing era might be behind it, but if you want to restore the nation’s former glory, it couldn’t be easier. And since Hungary’s talent pool (apart from Dominik Szoboszlai) is a bit thin, the lack of restrictions is a blessing.

Austria – Austrian Premier Division

Having managed in Austria with Wolfsberger, I can confirm: the registration rules are a dream. Like the Bundesliga, you can have up to 99 players in your squad. If you need more than that, I’d suggest seeking professional help.

The only limitation is on loan signings—you’re allowed six per season. This forces you to be a bit strategic, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But if you’re someone like Zealand, who loves exploiting loan systems, this might cramp your style.

Netherlands – Eredivisie

The Eredivisie is refreshingly lenient, with just one small caveat: there’s a minimum wage for non-EU players, capped at £8,250 per week.

If you’re managing a lower-tier team, this could be a mild inconvenience, but for clubs like Ajax or Feyenoord—or any team gunning for Europe—it’s barely a hiccup.

From my experience managing in the Netherlands (where I quickly rose from relegation fodder to European contender because I’m basically the Pep Guardiola of Football Manager), the wage rule never became an issue.

England – Premier League

Admittedly, the Premier League has more rules than the other leagues on this list. You’ve got homegrown quotas, a 25-player squad limit, and restrictions on loans.

But here’s the kicker: the absurd amount of money sloshing around in the Premier League makes these rules almost irrelevant. TV revenue alone means you can easily navigate the requirements.

When in doubt, do what Manchester City did and sign backup homegrown goalkeepers like Scott Carson. Plus, England’s national talent pool is so deep that meeting homegrown quotas rarely feels like a burden.

Managing in Saudi Arabia recently taught me that homegrown quotas can be a nightmare when the local talent is… let’s just say “limited.” But in England, even quota-fillers like James Maddison can turn into match-winners.

What did I miss?

Are there any leagues or countries you think I’ve missed out that I should include? Let me know in the comments!

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.

Football Manager 2024

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