The above is a question that only true fans of the football simulation will be able to answer. Some have described Football Manager as a glorified spreadsheet, as they don’t understand the appeal of a game where ‘You don’t actually play the games’ as one of my ex-girlfriends once opined.
Football Manager is there through everything
For me, a game is supposed to be a way of escaping whatever tragedy or bad events in your life are taking place. I have played the game in good, bad and quite frankly ugly times in my life.
While many people come and go in my life, Football Manager and its predecessor, Championship Manager, have always been there to offer entertainment, joy, and comfort.
It has been like a comfort blanket for life, even though it’s just a game, as some have stated. Some games mean more to us than others. They often take us back to our childhood, when we had fewer responsibilities and much simpler lives, even though the game has evolved alongside us.
I was even playing Football Manager when my partner first went into labour with my son. I am not a bad enough of an FM addict that I was playing while he was born. However, I will never forget that fact. My 12-year-old son is now an FM player, so it’s now a game for the generations of my family. It stands the test of time.
FM is addictive
It is hard to ignore the fact that Football Manager, like any popular game, can become highly addictive. I must admit that I sometimes feel like I’m addicted to the game. I can lose countless hours on it.
However, I don’t believe it is detrimental to my friends and family. Some people take this addiction too far. Those people often end up losing loved ones because of playing the game too much, which is insane.
This led to the creation of the book and later a short documentary entitled ‘Football Manager Stole My Life’. The book examines the highs and lows of the game. It highlights the fact that FM had been cited in 35 divorce cases at the time of print in 2012. I am not saying that says more about the game or the players, but either way, it is a crazy statistic.
I believe Football Manager is so popular amongst players because it may be the only game they play. They may not be gamers or may not be gamers anymore if life has got in the way of their gaming experience. This means that players become highly immersed in the game’s lore and the world it creates.
Football Manager is now the only game I play regularly, except the odd game of EA FC Sports when my son needs me to bail him out of a tricky situation online or in career mode.
However, I have a habit of playing the game relentlessly when it first comes out, and then forgetting about it for a few months. I find other things to do, and don’t really think about the game.
Then, at some point, I get bored and fire up my old save, and off I go on another month or so binge. This has been even more apt with FM24, as obviously the game has now been out a lot longer than previous editions due to the cancellation of FM25.
Due to the wait, I have had to set myself new challenges, like doing a 50-year save, which I achieved. I recently started a new save, which I have already clocked up 20-odd years on. I am hoping to make the 50-year mark with this one, too.
Why I will always love Football Manager?
As I say, there are times when I don’t touch the game, but I always come back to it eventually. It’s like the partner you cannot leave, even if you encounter numerous problems, i.e. the cancellation of FM25.
However, the hardcore players, who have been playing it since the Championship Manager days, will always be loyal to the game. They could be the ones who criticise online, but that’s because they genuinely care about the game. It is their game, and they treat it as such.
This is fine, as these players are the heartbeat of the FM community, posting on forums, creating mods, tactics and even websites. The Football Manager community is one of the most passionate online.
For me, I will always love Football Manager for the way it takes us away to an alternate universe where I can be a top-level Football Manager, and not just an up-and-coming grassroots coach.
That is the main attraction for me. I have actually used my time playing FM in some of my coaching sessions. I am not the only one who has used FM when talking about real-life coaching, though.
New Southampton boss Will Still has cited Football Manager as one of his favourite games growing up. It was his obsession with the game that inspired him to pursue a career in football in real life.
Unlike Mr Still, I don’t think I will be coaching at the top level of English football in the near future. Like many around the world, I will have to stick with playing Football Manager and coaching part-time in real life.
I still enjoy FM24, and will likely be playing it until the next edition, even if it means I have to entertain myself by creating side quests. It’s worth it, though, as Football Manager will likely always be part of my life, whether that’s for pleasure or work.
Why do you love Football Manager?
