If you are like me and you sometimes delegate tasks in FM24 to your staff, then those staff need to be up to the task. One key member of your backroom staff is your assistant manager. He is a figure who can make life a lot less overwhelming.
So, the importance of having an excellent right-hand man cannot be over-emphasised enough. Your assistant manager has to have good stats in the following:
- Judging Player Ability: This is vital as he will be the main member of staff giving you feedback on your players.
- Judging Player Potential: This one is big, too, as they give you advice on your players’ potential via your squad planner screen.
- People Management: If you use your AM to arrange training like I do a lot in my game for convenience, this is a vital stat.
- Tactical Knowledge: If you allow your assistant manager to take control of friendly games (which I never do), they must be tactically astute.
- Motivation: If you leave the team talks to your AM, then a good start in this particular facet could mean the difference between success and failure.
Here are six of my favourite assistant managers on FM24:
Philipp Laux (Dortmund)
Laux is actually a coach at the start of the game at Dortmund. However, he can be persuaded to move clubs if you are the right club. His attributes are almost ideally suited to the assistant manager role.
Not only does he have high stats in the facets of the job, but the former goalkeeper also has 20 in his mental stats, which is always a positive sign for any member of your backroom staff.
The only stat that is maybe slightly low is his people management. However, nobody is perfect, and his other stats are so impressive that they negate his weakness in that area.
- Judging Player Ability: 16
- Judging Player Potential: 16
- People Management: 19
- Tactical Knowledge: 13
- Motivation: 20
Nelson Vivas (Atletico Madrid)
The experienced Argentinian has been Diego Simeone’s right-man at Atletico Madrid since 2018, helping his compatriot to keep Los Colchoneros punching above their weight in La Liga at times.
His three-and-a-half-star reputation shows his status within the game. He has solid stats for an assistant manager and would undoubtedly be an excellent addition to most backroom teams.
There is a caveat in the fact that the former Arsenal defender can be hard to prize away from Atletico.
- Judging Player Ability: 15
- Judging Player Potential: 14
- People Management: 18
- Tactical Knowledge: 13
- Motivation: 13
Vitor Bruno (Porto)
At just 40, Vitor Bruno looks to be a rising star in the coaching world. He begins the game at that hotbed of coaching Porto. His stats are solid, and his two-and-a-half-star reputation belies his stats and ability to do the job.
Bruno certainly has the potential to improve his weaker areas, such as his tactical knowledge. He has been assistant manager at Porto since 2017 but is willing to move on if the right offer comes along.
- Judging Player Ability: 15
- Judging Player Potential: 14
- People Management: 17
- Tactical Knowledge: 10
- Motivation: 16
Daniel Barreira (Portugal Under 19’s)
Another from the seemingly flourishing Portuguese school of coaching, the 42-year-old is currently a coach with the Selecao’s Under-19s. However, he has the stats and potential to make a fine assistant manager.
Like his compatriot, Bruno, he has just a two-and-a-half-star rating. In coaching terms, he is still young and has the ability to improve. The promotion to AM is unlikely to be a step too far for the former Barcelona scout.
- Judging Player Ability: 17
- Judging Player Potential: 13
- People Management: 17
- Tactical Knowledge: 14
- Motivation: 15
Marco Ianni (Lazio)
Similar to Barreira, he starts the game as a coach, having joined Lazio in 2021. However, he has the stats and the potential to be an excellent assistant manager, as all the attributes the role requires are abundant.
The fact that Ianni has worked for the likes of Napoli, Chelsea and Juventus before his appointment at Lazio tells you all you need to know about his coaching credentials.
- Judging Player Ability: 16
- Judging Player Potential: 15
- People Management: 17
- Tactical Knowledge: 15
- Motivation: 14
Bruce Arena (unemployed)
The veteran American starts the game unemployed. He has vast managerial experience, and maybe the assistant manager role is a step down for him from being the main man.
However, I have seen Arena take the role of assistant manager at certain clubs, although I suspect it may have to be the right offer for him to take the position.
As you would expect from a man who has spent decades in football, his stats are strong in all the right places.
- Judging Player Ability: 16
- Judging Player Potential: 14
- People Management: 18
- Tactical Knowledge: 16
- Motivation: 12
Who are your favourite assistant managers on FM24?
