Discover hidden Football Manager 2024 mechanics that can level up your
save
Let me tell you a quick story.
The FM community was shaken in the best possible way when creator Clayts shared a discovery that nobody saw coming—his regen Hudson had grown a beard. That's right. From a clean-shaven Porto star to a bearded brute at Corinthians, all within a few seasons. Clayts posted it on X, and the replies exploded with players chiming in:
"Wait, that's a thing?"
Turns out, yes it is. And that single post opened the floodgates. The FM community started sharing even more hidden or underrated features in FM24 that most managers completely miss.
That's where this list comes in.
We're rounding up the quirkiest, most useful, and game-changing FM24 mechanics that deserve way more attention than they get. If you want to elevate your save and get closer to your players than ever before—keep reading.
1. Regens Can Grow Facial Hair (Thanks, Clayts!)
Did you know your newgens could change their facial hair during an #FM24 save?
— Clayts (@claytsfm) April 22, 2025
My boy Hudson grew this mighty beard! pic.twitter.com/upYRYNIxVK
Yes, it's real. Your newgen wonderkid can literally grow up in front of your eyes—from baby-faced baller to full Viking mode. It's a tiny detail, but once you notice it, you can't unsee it. Clayts' tweet about his regen Hudson growing a mighty beard lit up the FM timeline.
Pro Tip: They don't just grow beards—some newgens also visually age throughout your save. That level of immersion is wild.
2. Praise and Criticism in Training Actually Works
A golden tip that surfaced in the replies: Praise players who score over 8.0 in training and criticise those under 6.5. It's a small weekly action that improves consistency over time.
Greg Bannan noted you can push that lower buffer up to 6.8 safely, while others pointed out that over-criticising can upset players who don't think they did that badly.
Pro Tip: Combine training praise/criticism with post-match talks for maximum morale management.
READ ALSO: 10 Best Coaches for Your Staff in FM24
3. Clicking Players Mid-Match Helps You Analyse Movement
This one's a gem for tactics nerds. During a match, click on a player, and their name will stay visible so you can track their movement. Even better—hold CTRL and click two players to track positional relationships, like your CB and DM.
Heads up: It resets at half-time or after key events.
Pro Tip: You can even click the entire team using this trick.
4. Finishing Doesn't Affect Penalties (Only Composure + Pens Do)
Daroshion posted this gem: your striker with 18 Finishing but 9 Penalties and 10 Composure will probably bottle it from the spot.
Forget Finishing—only Composure and Penalty Taking seem to matter for conversion rates. He tested it and confirmed what many of us suspected.
Pro Tip: Set your takers by those two attributes, not reputation or goal stats.
5. Newgens Can Have Sons
This was a jaw-dropper for me. One of my favourite newgens—who I followed across multiple clubs—had a son in the game. I only noticed it by digging into the Relationships tab. And no, he didn't inherit any of his dad's talent, but I signed him anyway. Loyalty runs deep.
Pro Tip: Regularly check the relationships tab of your long-term players—you never know who they've passed the torch to.
READ ALSO: How to Get a Son in Football Manager
6. Team Reports Are a Scouting Cheat Code
Need a quick scouting edge? Use Team Reports instead of traditional scouting. You'll get a whole club's player potential and role suitability without waiting weeks.
But remember—players under 21 often have misjudged potential. Don't discard a kid too soon just because your scout got lazy.
Pro Tip: Use this to scout entire leagues quickly—especially useful in South America and Eastern Europe.
7. Location Matters for Youth-Only Saves
Ash Goodyear dropped this wisdom: when doing a Youth Academy Challenge, avoid starting in densely populated football hubs. Big clubs will snipe your talents before they hit your first team.
Instead, go remote. Fewer competitors mean you get first dibs on the next hidden gem.
Pro Tip: Consider countries like Wales or regions far from top-flight clubs.
READ NEXT: The Most Annoying Player Demands in Football Manager
Final Thoughts
Clayts may have kickstarted this rabbit hole, but the FM community filled it with gold. From beards to sons, training mind games to obscure scouting hacks—FM24 is full of secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Got a tip of your own? Tag me or leave a comment. Let's keep this conversation going and make the FM world a smarter place—one regen beard at a time.
Happy managing!
