As the shadow of the Football Manager 2025 launch finally passes and the first rays of FM26 peek over the horizon, fans around the world are remembering something important — when done right, Football Manager can be one of the greatest games ever made.
Sure, it’s not always perfect, but now’s not the time to dwell on the missteps. Instead, let’s bask in that renewed optimism and take a nostalgic stroll through the series’ glory days. Here are the best Football Manager games of all time — the ones that remind us all why we fell in love with the series in the first place.
5. Football Manager 2005
- Release Date: 5 November 2004
Why we chose Football Manager 2005
Football Manager 2005, also known as Worldwide Soccer Manager 2005 in North America, was the first in the series to adopt the "Football Manager" title, following issues that arose between Sports Interactive and publisher Eidos Interactive during the development of Championship Manager 4. What emerged from this was one of the best in the series, although not recognized at the time, and the genesis of greatness.
It built on the Championship Manager legacy with the same core code, just enhanced for smoother performance and next-level depth. The game featured 51 countries, 158 divisions, and over 5,300 playable teams, plus it introduced media interactions and realistic injury data to make it as accurate a simulation as possible at the time.
It became addictive in its gameplay, aided by an intuitive interface, and was the first to officially introduce an online multiplayer mode. So, in hindsight, the rebrand worked, with FM 2005 the true rebirth of the football management simulation.
4. Football Manager 2024
- Release Date: 6 November 2023
Why we chose Football Manager 2024
The Football Manager series probably gets more hate than ever these days. In some instances, it's called for, but the hate can also make you forget just how good Football Manager 2024 was when it launched, and still is to this day.
It's definitely the most in-depth entry in the series, though whether that's a good thing or not kind of depends on the type of player you are. Playing through one season is definitely more of a slog in this one, but FM24 is also the game that introduced some truly great new features.
Not only could you port over your favorite save from FM23, but FM24 gave us new player roles, such as Inverted Full-Backs, transfer intermediaries, and my personal favorite addition in Original, Real World, and Your World save start modes.
Sure, it's not perfect, but it was a brilliant step forward for the franchise at the time, and it should be remembered as such, despite all the controversy around FM25.
3. Football Manager 2014
- Release Date: 30 October 2013
Why we chose Football Manager 2014
Speaking from personal experience, Football Manager 2014 is the entry in the series I have sunk the most playtime into, almost doubling the hours of any other FM games in my Steam library. There are a few reasons for this, the main one being its a very, very good game.
It refined rather than reinvented, with improvements including more streamlined menus, making backroom advice instantly actionable, and improved transfers with realistic clauses and personalities. The enhanced tactics system was also a highlight, bringing with it more modern roles like the Trequartista and False Nine, while the improved 3D match engine brought matches closer to real football than ever before.
For me, FM14 struck gold with its balance of depth and accessibility, making it endlessly addictive and one of the series’ most engrossing instalments.
2. Championship Manager: Season 01/02
- Release Date: 12 October 2001
Why we chose Championship Manager: Season 01/02
Although I didn't get the chance to play Championship Manager: Season 01/02 when it came out, I know from second-hand experience as well as the collective wisdom of Reddit that it's widely regarded as one of the best games ever. Okay, it's not technically a "Football Manager", but it's still developed by Sports Interactive, so the general lineage is there.
In a thread about 'Why is CM 01/02 so beloved?' on the r/footballmanagergames subreddit, players have described it as "tactically deep enough and it wasn't cumbersome in any way," and "perfect in every way."
While part of that perfection is down to nostalgia about a more care-free, fun period in football, the game did take a leap forward in realism with more detailed profiles and histories of more than 100,000 players, the ability to appeal against bans, and the option of sending players for surgery when injured. Plus, it introduced a new scouting feature, which has become paramount to how FM is played today.
1. Football Manager 2012
- Release Date: 20 October 2011
Why we chose Football Manager 2012
On the r/footballmanagergames subreddit, once again, Football Manager 2012 has been voted as one of the best football management games ever, and we're inclined to agree. It's certainly not perfect, but it is definitely one of the most fun, addictive entries the series has ever received.
Part of the appeal of FM 2012 is its smarter scouting and its cleaner, information-rich interface, plus the much-improved 3D match engine that made games feel more like real football than any game had in the past. While we might rag on the 3D match engine these days, at the time, FM 2012 did feel more immersive and realistic.
Tactical flexibility remained a hallmark of the series, and to put it simply, you felt more like a real-life football manager playing FM 2012 than any game in the series had really achieved before it. It's a legendary game that should go down in the history books as one of the best Football Manager entries of all time.
Final Thoughts
From the early days of CM01/02 to the modern complexities of FM24, the series has given us unforgettable highs, crushing lows, and countless “just one more match” moments. Let's just hope Football Manager returns to its best come 2026!