Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions new managers ask most about FootieManager, the online football manager game. For a step-by-step introduction, see Getting Started.
About the game
What is FootieManager?
An online football (soccer) manager game that you play in your web browser. You take charge of a club in a game world shared with other managers from around the world: you pick the team and tactics, buy and sell players and run the club, and your results are decided against theirs.
Is FootieManager free?
Yes. You can play in the free game worlds for as long as you like. Premier game worlds cost a small amount per season, from about £3 a season, and give you more features.
Do I need to download anything?
No. FootieManager runs in your web browser, on a computer, tablet or phone.
Am I playing against real people?
Yes. Every club you play against in the league is managed by a real person or waiting for one, and the transfer market is shared with them too.
How long has FootieManager been running?
The idea came in 1999, early managers played the first prototypes, and it launched in 2001, which makes it one of the longest-running online football manager games.
Getting started
How do I start?
Sign up with your email address, Google or Facebook, then choose a club from the free positions in any game world and start picking your team. See Getting Started.
Can I manage more than one club?
You can manage a maximum of one club across all the free games, and a maximum of one club in each premier game, so you can play in several premier games at once.
What if a game has no clubs free?
Some games fill up. You can join a game's waiting list and choose a club when one becomes free, or pick another game: each game shows whether it has clubs free.
Do I have to start in the bottom division?
In some games, yes: new managers are offered clubs in the lower divisions and work their way up. Other games let you choose a club in any division.
Playing the game
How often are matches played?
Each game world plays at its own pace: some play a round of matches every day, others twice a week. A season is about 45 rounds, so it lasts from about six weeks to about five months.
Do I need to be online when my matches are played?
No. Each game plays all its matches at its set time. Pick your team beforehand, then read the match reports whenever you like.
What happens if I do not pick a team?
Your head coach picks one for you. You will usually do better picking your own, though. See Team Selection and Tactics.
What if I go on holiday?
Turn on holiday mode in your settings and your assistant will look after your team for up to two weeks. It switches off when you next log in.
How do transfers work?
Clubs list players on the transfer market, and other managers bid for them. The selling club decides whether to accept. A player who has just changed clubs cannot be transferred again for a few weeks. See Transfers.
Can I talk to other managers?
Yes. There is a noticeboard, a chat room and private messages, and each game has a newspaper written by its managers.
Free and premier games
What is a premier game?
Premier game worlds are for managers who want more: youth academies, advanced tactics, more transfer options, coaching staff, match weather and more statistics, with no adverts. See Premier Game.
How much does a premier game cost?
Some premier games cost £3 a season. In the others the price depends on the division, from £7.50 to £15 a season. You pay for a season at a time, and less if you join after the season has started.
Your account
My confirmation email has not arrived
It can take a while to arrive, so check your spam folder. If it still has not arrived, you can have it sent again.
I have forgotten my password
Click "Lost password?" under the login box and we will email you a link to set a new one.