The most iconic staff members in Football Manager history

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Phil Cannon

Bryan Klug

Jens Lehmann

Paul McGuinness

Steve Rowley

Dennis Bergkamp

Erwin Vandenbergh

When you achieve something impressive in Football Manager, let’s face it—you take all the credit. Guide Crawley Town to a Champions League win? Of course, it’s down to your unparalleled tactical genius and flawless transfer decisions. But let’s be honest, we’d be nothing without the incredible backroom staff working tirelessly behind the scenes.

These are the folks who develop your players, discover your next Argentinian wonderkid, and occasionally save you from your own questionable decisions. You might have decided to nab the best striker or the underdog midfielder, but who really put them into shape?

Over the years, Football Manager has given us some truly iconic staff members—names that spark instant recognition and nostalgia. Let’s take a trip down staff memory lane and celebrate these legends.

Phil Cannon

When it comes to Heads of Youth Development, Phil Cannon is the gold standard. Just look at those attributes—absolutely flawless. He’s the guy who could take your youth intake from “decent prospects” to “future Ballon d’Or winners.” Even if your youth setup was mediocre, Phil had the magical ability to churn out regens who could rival Lionel Messi. If you had Phil on your team, you were winning—simple as that. God bless Phil.

Bryan Klug

Ah, Bryan Klug—the ultimate assistant manager. Like Phil Cannon, Bryan is the complete package. He’s not the type to point out that you’re being overrun in midfield—that’s amateur-level nonsense. Bryan operates on a higher plane, calmly pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Looking at his profile, it’s mind-boggling that he never tried his hand at being a manager. But hey, some people thrive in the shadows.

Jens Lehmann

Jens Lehmann is a legend for all the weirdest reasons. In real life and in-game, he’s famously stubborn—he refuses to take a goalkeeping coach role, even though his goalkeeping coaching attributes are top-tier. Naturally, this hasn’t stopped Football Manager players from hiring him as a regular coach and sneakily assigning him to goalkeeper training anyway. There’s something satisfying about seeing a player from your childhood become a behind-the-scenes icon in the game. Jens is solid, dependable, and yes—a very steady pair of hands.

Paul McGuinness

Weirdly, I can’t find a screenshot of Paul McGuinness’ profile on Football Manager. But if you’ve been playing Football Manager long enough, you’ve likely got his stats burned into your brain. Paul is the quintessential do-it-all coach, and his unassuming name only adds to his charm. You’d expect world-class staff members to have flashy, exotic names, but no—Paul McGuinness sounds like the bloke who hogs the pool table at your local pub. And yet, he’s a coaching legend.

Steve Rowley

Steve Rowley was the scouting GOAT in Football Manager. With a near-mythical combination of 20 Judging Ability and 20 Judging Potential, Steve could spot a world-class player before anyone else. Every report he delivered was like gospel. Tragically, Steve is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on in the memories of countless Football Manager saves. RIP, legend.

Dennis Bergkamp

Forget his real-life achievements—the Invincibles, that touch against Newcastle, all of it. In Football Manager, Dennis Bergkamp is the attacking coach. Need your wonderkid striker to fulfill their potential? Dennis is your man. Having a legend like him in your backroom staff isn’t just effective; it’s downright fun. He’s proof that great players can also become great coaches (sorry, Roy Keane).

Erwin Vandenbergh

Once again, I can’t find a screenshot of his Football Manager profile. However, even if screenshots of Erwin’s Football Manager profile might be elusive, his reputation speaks for itself. This scouting wizard seems to have knowledge of every country in Europe and comes at an absolute bargain of a wage. The only downside? His age—he often retires after just one season. But even if you only have Erwin for a short stint, he’s worth every penny. Quite possibly the greatest backroom staff member in the history of Football Manager.

So, there you have it—a tribute to some of the greatest staff members in Football Manager history. Did I miss anyone? Who’s your personal favourite?

About the Author

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.