The REAL Managers and Players obsessed with Football Manager

There are two possible reasons why Football Manager is such a hit among real-life football managers and players. First, the game is so addictive that, even when they’re supposed to be taking a break from the beautiful game, they’re compelled to fire it up for “just one quick term.” Second, these people are so obsessed with football that they feel the need to cram it into every single second of their day. It’s probably a mix of both.

One thing’s certain, though: Football Manager is just as popular with those deeply involved in the sport as it is with casual fans. While we spend hours figuring out the game’s hidden attributes and trying to haggle a great transfer deal for an unknown wonderkid, it turns out that some of the greatest stars we’re trying to jam into our team are also doing the same thing.

Inspired by West Ham player Jarrod Bowen posting about playing FM 2010 game during his injury recovery, I decided to dive in and see which other players and managers can’t get enough of it. Here’s what I found:

Diogo Jota

There isn’t a single football-based video game that Diogo Jota isn’t obsessed with. At this point, it feels like his primary purpose in life is to be a gamer, and he’s forced to play professional football on the side to pay the bills.

He’s spoken many times about Football Manager, including gems like: “I happen to be training Telford United on Football Manager. I’m already in 2029.” Or this masterpiece: “In January 2031, I signed myself for Gondomar just in time for the most important campaign of the entire save. I scored the decisive penalty in the shootout to be crowned champions of Europe in May. What a moment!” This man is so obsessed with football, he’s running a parallel career in a virtual universe. Sensational.

Antoine Griezmann

Last year, Griezmann admitted: “Yes, I still play! Blackburn Rovers. I’m in the First Division, 6th place. The board are very happy—they want to renew my contract. I signed a young right-back from Liverpool. He’s Scottish!”

The idea of Antoine Griezmann—a World Cup winner who’s played for some of the biggest teams in sunny, glamorous locales—choosing Blackburn as his virtual stomping ground is absolutely brilliant. If anyone doubted whether he could do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke, they won’t anymore.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Cesar Azpilicueta famously used Football Manager to learn about English football before his move to Chelsea. Judging by his success, it worked. Amusingly, he also refused to play as a team with a reputation high enough to sign himself or his teammates.

I love this detail. Despite playing for the best teams in the world, virtual César wanted to start from the bottom and prove himself all over again.

Jose Mourinho

If anyone was going to be obsessed enough with football to manage teams in their downtime, it would be José Mourinho. Eagle-eyed viewers of the All or Nothing documentary on Tottenham spotted the Football Manager 2020 logo on his computer.

I’d pay good money to glimpse Mourinho’s virtual world. Does he use the same tactics as in real life? What’s his dream XI in the game? There’s even a conspiracy theory that he ran a secret Tottenham save where he sold Dele Alli and Danny Rose before doing it in real life. Honestly? I believe it.

Ousmane Dembele

At one point, there was a Football Manager craze sweeping the French national team dressing room. Ousmane Dembele prepped for the World Cup semi-final by managing Winchester FC. However, Antoine Griezmann accused him of foul play: “He gives himself money. He had £40 million in the third division.” If true, that’s scandalous behaviour. Any footballer who plays for PSG and gives themselves extra cash in Football Manager violates the sacred unwritten rules of the game. Unacceptable.

Pontus Wernbloom & Tobias Hysen

These two former Swedish internationals might not be household names, but they deserve a mention. Wernbloom and Hysén have played Football Manager every day for the last 20 years. They even host a Football Manager podcast called FM podden’ – where they discuss tactics, tips, and interview exciting guests. Why are they so devoted to the game? Wernbloom explained: “It’s what I do to relax. Before, it helped me escape the pressures of professional football. Now, it’s a great way to unwind. I have two kids, and life can be hard work. Sitting down with FM for an hour gives me back some much-needed energy.” Hard to argue with that.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

No manager has spoken more fondly of Football Manager than Ole. He once said: “It’s a fantastic game. I’ve learned so much about football, especially young talent.”

Ole’s tenure at Manchester United didn’t go to plan—but then again, whose has since Sir Alex Ferguson? Still, I’d bet his virtual managerial career went a lot smoother. With his passion for Football Manager, I’m rooting for him to bounce back and succeed in his next role.

Other players and managers that play Football Manager

• Ilkay Gundogan
• Adam Le Fondre
• Darren Bent
• Joe Lolley
• James Milner
• Scott Parker

Obviously, there’s a lot of footballer and managers that

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

• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
• Genre(s): Management, Soccer, Sports

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