3 Simple Steps to Develop Any Young Player in FM24

Learn 3 simple steps to develop young players in FM24. Master training, mentoring, and game time to turn wonderkids into stars!

The Secret to Developing Young Players in FM24 (And Why You’re Probably Doing It Wrong)

Developing young players in Football Manager 2024 is one of the most rewarding challenges in the game. There’s nothing quite like taking a raw, unpolished talent and watching them evolve into a first-team superstar—or even a Ballon d’Or winner.

But let’s be honest, it’s not always as straightforward as it sounds. Training schedules, mentoring, game time—if you don’t get these right, your wonderkids might never reach their full potential.

Luckily, I’ve fine-tuned a simple 3-step strategy that works for any young player, regardless of whether you’re managing Barcelona or Barnet. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how I optimise training, mentoring, and match time to transform promising prospects into world-class players.

Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Set Up the Perfect Training Plan

This might sound obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen players underperform because their training wasn’t optimised.

Here’s what I do:

1. Pick Their Best Role
   Start by figuring out what role suits them best. Don’t try to make them a jack-of-all-trades—it rarely works.
   
   Example: I had a young winger who could also play as an attacking midfielder. While I could train both roles, I decided to focus on making him the best Inside Forward possible.
   
   Why? Because his physical stats were built for that role, and I knew he’d shine with a little polishing.
   
   
2. Focus on Key Attributes
   Once I’ve chosen the role, I fine-tune training to focus on the key attributes for that position.
   
   Example: For my Inside Forward, I prioritised finishing, dribbling, and off the ball movement. These are the attributes that win games.
   
   
3. Double Training Intensity
   Always, always set training intensity to Double for young players (unless they’re injury-prone). It’s the fastest way to boost their stats—just keep an eye on their condition.

READ ALSO: Mastering Training in Football Manager: A Complete Guide

Step 2: Use Mentoring to Maximise Their Potential

Here’s the truth: training only gets you so far. If you’re not mentoring your young players, you’re leaving huge gains on the table.

Here’s how I approach mentoring:

1. Select Mentors with Positive Personalities
   The personality of a mentor plays a huge role in influencing the development of younger players. Traits like Professional or Perfectionist not only boost attributes like Determination but also improve the youngster’s Professionalism and Ambition, which are crucial for long-term growth.
   
   Example: If you’ve got a youngster with a "Slack" personality, pairing them with a Perfectionist mentor can help them become more focused and improve their training habits. Over time, their personality can shift to something much more conducive to development.
   
   
2. Use Mentoring to Transfer Player Traits (PPMs)
   Mentoring also enables young players to learn Player Traits (e.g., "Places Shots" or "Cuts Inside From Both Wings") from senior players. This is invaluable because teaching these traits through training takes longer and can slow down attribute growth.
   
   Example: Imagine you have a promising striker who lacks the trait "Places Shots". If you add them to a group with an experienced striker who has that trait, they can learn it naturally over time—without interrupting other development focuses in training.
   
   
3. Keep the Group Balanced
   Mentoring works best in small, balanced groups. Ideally, you want one mentor for every 2-3 young players. Too many youngsters in one group dilutes the mentor's influence, reducing the chance of personality or trait improvements.

READ ALSO: Understanding Player Personalities in Football Manager

Step 3: Give Them Game Time (But Be Smart About It)

Training and mentoring are fantastic for building a young player’s foundation, but match experience is where the magic happens. Still, not all game time is created equal, so being strategic about how and when you give your youngsters minutes is crucial.

Here’s exactly how I approach it:

Start Slow

Throwing a young player straight into high-stakes matches is a recipe for disaster. Instead, ease them in gradually:

• [message]
• Example:
• I always give my youngsters their first taste of senior football in less pressured environments—cup matches against lower-league sides or as substitutes in games I’m comfortably leading. This builds their confidence without overwhelming them.
  

Confidence is everything for young players. A couple of good performances in low-pressure situations can do wonders for their morale and development trajectory.

Loan Smart, Not Lazy

Loans are one of the best ways to develop young players, but only if you’re strategic about it. Sending a player to the wrong club can stall their progress, so here’s what I look for:

1. Regular Game Time:

   • I only send players to teams where they’ll be key starters. No point in loaning them out if they’re just going to warm the bench.

2. Good Facilities:

   • A club with poor facilities can hamper a player’s physical and technical growth. I prioritise teams with at least decent training setups.

3. Tactical Fit:

• The loan club should use a formation or style of play that matches the youngster’s role. A poacher won’t thrive in a defensive, long-ball system.

• [message]
• Example:
• I once loaned out a promising midfielder to a second-tier team that played a possession-heavy 4-3-3. He got regular minutes in a system that mirrored my own tactics, and when he returned, he slotted seamlessly into my starting XI.

Track Their Development

Letting a player languish in an ineffective loan spell is a huge mistake. I check the Development Centre > Loans constantly to monitor their progress.

What to Watch For:

• Minutes Played: If a loanee isn’t getting enough game time, I’ll recall them and reassess.
• Attribute Growth: If their stats are stagnating, it might mean the loan club’s training isn’t up to scratch.
• Match Performances: Consistently low ratings might indicate they’re out of their depth, and it’s time to adjust their development plan.
  
  

Why Game Time Matters

Match experience accelerates a young player’s mental attributes—decision-making, composure, and anticipation—all of which are harder to develop through training alone. However, without careful planning, too much too soon can backfire, denting their confidence and hindering growth.

By being smart about game time, you’re giving your youngsters the best chance to succeed. Whether it’s carefully selecting loan destinations or choosing the perfect moments to introduce them to senior football, every decision adds up to a player ready to shine on the big stage.

READ NEXT: Top 8 Football Manager Mistakes to Avoid

Conclusion

Developing young players is both an art and a science, and Football Manager 2024 gives you all the tools you need to get it right. By setting up a tailored training plan, leveraging the power of mentoring, and carefully managing their game time, you can maximise the potential of every young player in your squad.

Whether you’re nurturing a future superstar or simply building squad depth, these three steps will give your players the platform they need to shine.

Now it’s over to you—try these strategies in your next save, and let me know how they work for you. With a little patience and the right approach, your wonderkids could become the legends of tomorrow!