Football Manager 2025 is set to revolutionise the series with women's football, a new interface, and a licensed Premier League. Here's our Wishlist.
FM25 promises groundbreaking changes, including women's football, a new UI, and a licensed Premier League. Here's what fans are hoping for.
As we move into September, the release of Football Manager 2025 is rapidly approaching, and excitement within the community is palpable. This year promises to be a monumental one for the series, with groundbreaking features already announced that are set to revolutionise how we play. From the long-awaited introduction of women's football to a completely redesigned user interface and, for the first time ever, a fully licensed Premier League, FM25 is shaping up to be something special.
Let's first take a look at some of the exciting new features confirmed for FM25, and then dive into our very own wishlist of features we’d love to see implemented.
For the first time in Football Manager’s history, women’s football will be included, a feature that has been years in the making. Sports Interactive have gone above and beyond to ensure that the women’s game is authentically represented, from the tactics and development of female players to the structure of the leagues and competitions.
Let's first take a look at some of the exciting new features confirmed for FM25, and then dive into our very own wishlist of features we’d love to see implemented.
Women's Football: A Historic Addition
For the first time in Football Manager’s history, women’s football will be included, a feature that has been years in the making. Sports Interactive have gone above and beyond to ensure that the women’s game is authentically represented, from the tactics and development of female players to the structure of the leagues and competitions.
The introduction of women’s football isn't just about adding another mode—it's about making sure the experience is fully integrated into the Football Manager universe, giving players the chance to manage women's teams with the same depth and realism as their male counterparts. For more details on how this feature is being implemented, check out the official announcement.
A New User Interface: Tile & Card System
FM25 will introduce a brand new user interface that’s set to change the way we navigate through the game. Say goodbye to the cluttered inbox and hello to a modern, tile-and-card-based system that is sleek, intuitive, and much more user-friendly. This redesign is aimed at providing managers with a more streamlined experience, making it easier to access key information without getting bogged down by endless emails and notifications.
This change has been long overdue, and players are excited to see how this new system will enhance their Football Manager experience. More about the UI overhaul can be found here.
Fully Licensed Premier League: A Long-Awaited Milestone
Perhaps one of the biggest announcements for FM25 is the inclusion of a fully licensed Premier League. For the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy the Premier League experience with official kits, badges, and player likenesses, adding a new level of authenticity to the game.
This is a game-changer for many players who have long hoped for a fully immersive Premier League experience. Now, that dream is finally coming true! You can read more about this exciting update here.
Sadly, We’ve Lost Some Features in FM25
Before we dive into our wishlist for Football Manager 2025, it's important to acknowledge that unfortunately, we’ve had to say goodbye to some beloved features. Due to the transition to a new engine, several features won’t make it into FM25.
Here’s a list of features so far not making the cut for FM25:
- Touchline Shouts
- Social Media Screen
- Data Chalkboard
- Create-A-Club
- Versus Mode
- Challenge Mode
- Fantasy Draft
- International Management
We’re particularly disappointed to lose International Management, a staple that allowed players to immerse themselves in the thrill of managing a national team. For more details on why these features were removed and what led to the delay in FM25’s release, you can read our in-depth article here.
FM25 Wishlist: What Players Want to See
While FM25 already promises a host of incredible features, there’s always room for more improvements and innovations. Below is a wishlist of what we, along with many other Football Manager players, hope to see in FM25.
1. Social Media Effects on Players
In today’s world, social media can make or break a player’s career. Including social media dynamics in FM25 could add an exciting layer of realism. Imagine a young star struggling with online criticism or being boosted by overwhelming fan support. This would make handling player morale and performance much more complex and engaging.
2. Pitch Invasions for Big Moments
What’s football without the thrill of a pitch invasion after winning the league or securing a last-minute promotion? Adding this feature would make those dramatic moments feel even more special. Whether you’ve just saved your club from relegation or claimed the title, watching the fans flood the pitch in jubilation would be an unforgettable moment.
3. Smarter Player Rotation Understanding
One of the long-standing frustrations in FM is players moaning about being rested. A feature where players show better understanding of squad rotation, particularly when tired or in the lead-up to a big game, would be a welcome change. After all, no real-life player would complain about sitting out a low-stakes match to stay fresh for an important fixture.
4. Inclusion of All Non-League Clubs in England
For those who love the romance of lower-league football, imagine if all non-league clubs in England were added to the game. The potential for creating a true underdog story, taking a club from the depths of the English football pyramid to Premier League glory, would be more immersive than ever.
5. A Director of Football Mode
Not every player enjoys handling every aspect of management. Introducing a Director of Football career path —where you focus solely on transfers, contracts, and scouting—would give players an alternative to the traditional manager role. For those who prefer the business side of football over matchday tactics, this could be a game-changer.
6. Deeper Manager Backstories
Having more control over your manager’s backstory—including past playing careers or coaching achievements—would add a personal touch to the game. This could also tie into the media coverage, with headlines such as, "Former Manchester United Defender Faces Old Rival City," adding a layer of storytelling that would be highly immersive.
7. Interaction with Match Officials
While it might be a bit cheeky, being able to talk to the fourth official and risk getting booked would add some fun to touchline management. It’s these small details that could make matchday feel more alive, as you navigate the pressures of being on the sidelines.
READ ALSO: Football Manager: From Shed Beginnings to Global Phenomenon - An Interview with Miles Jacobson
A truly innovative feature would be the ability to watch games from the manager’s bench in VR or through a custom camera angle. It would allow players to immerse themselves in the role of the manager, offering a fresh perspective on matchday that would be unlike anything we’ve seen in the series before.
Many players want the financial side of the game to have more depth, from managing your personal finances as a manager to making decisions about the club’s marketing, ticket prices, and sponsorship deals. This would add another layer of realism to club management, making it feel more like you’re in charge of a real football institution.
Building and maintaining relationships with your backroom staff is a crucial part of management, yet it often feels underdeveloped in FM. We’d love to see more ways to improve your relationship with your assistant manager or head of youth development, with these relationships having a tangible impact on the success of your club.
One of the more frustrating aspects of FM is the transfer market, where AI clubs often give unrealistic offers. It’s time for this to be rebalanced, ensuring that transfers feel fairer for both buying and selling players. Additionally, giving managers more flexibility when hiring staff would remove some of the current limitations, making squad building more enjoyable.
Loan managers often feel like an afterthought in FM. In FM25, these roles could play a more significant part, helping to develop young talents and negotiate strategic loan deals. Having a well-functioning loan manager could be the difference between a prospect becoming a star or falling by the wayside.
Who hasn’t encountered a 15-year-old demanding £35,000 a week before they’ve even made their first-team debut? Balancing contract demands for youth players would make negotiations more realistic, particularly for young talents who haven’t yet proven themselves at the highest level.
The press conferences in FM can sometimes feel repetitive and scripted. Bringing in dynamic AI to generate unique questions and interactions would add more strategy to media relations, allowing managers to influence the narrative surrounding their teams and players.
Football Manager 2025 is already shaping up to be a landmark release, but with a few more of these wishlist items, it could truly become a masterpiece. As we countdown to the game’s launch, the excitement only continues to build.
To keep track of the latest updates and release dates for Football Manager 2025, be sure to bookmark our Football Manager 2025 Release Date and New Features dedicated page.
8. VR & Bench View for Matches
A truly innovative feature would be the ability to watch games from the manager’s bench in VR or through a custom camera angle. It would allow players to immerse themselves in the role of the manager, offering a fresh perspective on matchday that would be unlike anything we’ve seen in the series before.
9. A More In-Depth Economic System
Many players want the financial side of the game to have more depth, from managing your personal finances as a manager to making decisions about the club’s marketing, ticket prices, and sponsorship deals. This would add another layer of realism to club management, making it feel more like you’re in charge of a real football institution.
10. Improved Relationships with Staff
Building and maintaining relationships with your backroom staff is a crucial part of management, yet it often feels underdeveloped in FM. We’d love to see more ways to improve your relationship with your assistant manager or head of youth development, with these relationships having a tangible impact on the success of your club.
11. Realistic Transfer Bids & Staff Flexibility
One of the more frustrating aspects of FM is the transfer market, where AI clubs often give unrealistic offers. It’s time for this to be rebalanced, ensuring that transfers feel fairer for both buying and selling players. Additionally, giving managers more flexibility when hiring staff would remove some of the current limitations, making squad building more enjoyable.
12. More Impactful Loan Managers
Loan managers often feel like an afterthought in FM. In FM25, these roles could play a more significant part, helping to develop young talents and negotiate strategic loan deals. Having a well-functioning loan manager could be the difference between a prospect becoming a star or falling by the wayside.
13. More Realistic Contract Demands for Youth Players
Who hasn’t encountered a 15-year-old demanding £35,000 a week before they’ve even made their first-team debut? Balancing contract demands for youth players would make negotiations more realistic, particularly for young talents who haven’t yet proven themselves at the highest level.
14. Dynamic AI in Press Conferences
The press conferences in FM can sometimes feel repetitive and scripted. Bringing in dynamic AI to generate unique questions and interactions would add more strategy to media relations, allowing managers to influence the narrative surrounding their teams and players.
Conclusion
Football Manager 2025 is already shaping up to be a landmark release, but with a few more of these wishlist items, it could truly become a masterpiece. As we countdown to the game’s launch, the excitement only continues to build.
To keep track of the latest updates and release dates for Football Manager 2025, be sure to bookmark our Football Manager 2025 Release Date and New Features dedicated page.
