The most popular player roles in Football Manager (according to the data)

While most people are out enjoying the sunshine or catching up with friends and family, I’ve been deep-diving into one of life’s most important questions: what are the most-used player roles in Football Manager 2024?

To the average person, this might sound like an evening in hell. But to a Football Manager obsessive who spends days perfecting Moneyball saves? It’s a perfect way to lose a couple of hours.

So, how do you figure out which roles are most popular?

Simple. I sifted through hundreds (about 300) of the top-rated and most-downloaded tactics across FM community websites like FM-Arena, FMScout, and SortItOutSI. I analysed which player roles appear most frequently and where. The goal? To break down the current FM24 “meta” by position, from goalkeeper all the way up to striker. Here’s what I found.

Goalkeeper Roles

The Sweeper Keeper is easily the dominant choice in popular tactics. In fact, Sweeper Keepers feature in around 75% of elite downloads. Managers clearly favour them to sweep up behind high defensive lines and kick-start counterattacks.

The traditional Goalkeeper (Defend) role still crops up in around 25% of tactics, usually in more cautious systems or realistic recreations.

Goalkeeper Role	Estimated Use in Tactics
Sweeper Keeper (Sup/Def)	75% of tactics
Goalkeeper (Defend)	25% of tactics

Defensive Roles

Centre-Backs The Ball-Playing Defender is easily the go-to choice for centre-backs in FM24 tactics, showing up in around half of the top setups. The standard Central Defender isn’t far behind either, often used alongside a BPD to keep things solid at the back while still playing out. More specialised roles like the No-Nonsense Centre-Back, Libero, or Wide Centre-Back are rare, you’ll mostly only see them in three-at-the-back systems, and even then they’re few and far between.

Full-Backs & Wing-Backs
If you’re not using Wing-Backs, you’re in the minority. Around 90% of tactics feature Wing-Backs on support or attack. The more aggressive Complete Wing-Back (CWB) role appears in 20% of tactics, usually on one flank. Traditional Full-Backs are now rare (10%), and Inverted Wing-Backs (IWB) are barely used at all.

Defensive Role	Estimated Use in Tactics
Ball-Playing Defender	50%
Central Defender	40/50%
Wing-Back (Support/Attack)	90% (on at least one flank)
Complete Wing-Back	20%
Full-Back	10%
Wide Centre-Back	<5%

Takeaway: Wing-Backs are basically a requirement in modern FM tactics, and centre-backs are expected to do more than just hoof it clear.

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Midfield Roles

Midfield setups in top tactics typically pair a deep playmaker with an energetic runner or a ball-winner. Here’s the breakdown:

• Deep-Lying Playmaker (DLP) is one of the most used roles, appearing in around 50% of tactics. Whether in DM or CM.
• Box-to-Box Midfielder (BBM) shows up in about 30% of tactics, especially in two-man midfields.
• Advanced Playmaker roles, often used at CAM or CM, are present in 30% of tactics.
• Shadow Strikers (SS) are hugely popular in aggressive systems, featuring in 25–30% of tactics.
• Defensive Midfielder / Anchor roles are used in about 25%, especially in systems looking for balance.
• Mezzala shows up in 20%, usually in three-man midfields to add width and movement.
• Ball-Winning Midfielders (BWM) are less common – around 15% of people use BWM.
• Registas/Roaming Playmakers? Niche. Seen in about 10% of possession-heavy systems.

Midfield Role	Estimated Use In Tactics
Deep-Lying Playmaker	50%
Box-to-Box Midfielder	30%
Advanced Playmaker (AMC/CM)	30%
Shadow Striker (AMC)	25%
Defensive Midfielder / Anchor	25%
Mezzala	20%
Ball-Winning Midfielder	15%
Regista / Roaming Playmaker	10%

Takeaway: Playmakers dominate. Almost every top tactic features a creative passer, with most pairing them with a runner, presser, or ball-winner.

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Attacking Roles

Wingers & Inside Forwards
Inside Forwards on attack duty are the undisputed kings out wide. They appear in +60% of tactics, especially in 4-2-3-1s and 4-3-3s, cutting inside to score goals.

Classic Winger roles are only seen in about 15% of tactics, usually when you’ve got a pace merchant you want to unleash down the flank. Inverted Wingers are also used, but nowhere near as frequently as Inside Forwards.

Attacking Midfielders (Central)
Shadow Strikers are again the go-to for managers who want goals from midfield, used in around 25% of tactics. The Advanced Playmaker at CAM is also popular for teams looking for creativity between the lines.

Striker Roles
Three roles dominate:

1. Advanced Forward (AF) – the single most popular striker role, used in 50% of tactics. Pure goal machine.
2. Complete Forward (CF) – used in 30%. Great if you want your striker to do a bit of everything.
3. Pressing Forward (PF) – also around 30%, especially in high-pressing systems.

Other striker roles like Deep-Lying Forward, Poacher, or Target Man are rare (<10%). False Nines and Trequartistas barely show up at all.

Attacking Role	Estimated Use in Tactics
Inside Forward (Attack)	60%+
Advanced Forward (Attack)	50%
Complete Forward (Attack)	30%
Pressing Forward	30%
Shadow Striker	25%
Winger (Support/Attack)	15%
Other striker roles	<10%

Takeaway: High pressing and inside-forward overloads are key. And if your striker can run in behind, link play, and press? You’re golden.

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Final Thoughts

When you look at the most-downloaded FM24 tactics, there’s a clear pattern

• Sweeper Keepers are standard.
• Ball-Playing Defenders are preferred.
• Wing-Backs dominate the flanks.
• Playmakers (DLP/AP) are essential.
• Inside Forwards and Advanced Forwards rack up the goals.
• Shadow Strikers and Pressing Forwards thrive.

What this tells us is that the current FM24 meta favours front-foot, attacking football. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking discovery, but it’s interesting to see that the stats fully back it up.

So if you’re building a new tactic and want it to actually work, this data gives you a strong foundation. You don’t need to copy a meta tactic role for role, but if you understand the best roles, you’ll be better equipped to create a system that works.