Discover every player role in FM26, including brand new additions like
Playmaking Wing-Backs and Half-Space Forwards
Every Player Role in FM26 Explained – With All the New Additions
You know that feeling when you're tinkering with tactics in Football Manager and stumble upon a role you've never seen before? Well, thanks to a keen-eyed member of the community, we just got a massive leak of every player role coming to FM26 – and yes, there are loads of brand-new roles you’ve never used before.
Credit goes to Smiteras on the SI Forums, who dug up this goldmine from a hidden translation file on the FMDB site. You can read his original post here.
So what’s the big deal?
The file lists every role in FM26, including descriptions for each – and there are many brand-new roles that weren’t in FM24.
In this post, I’ll walk you through all of them. I’ll highlight the new roles (the ones never seen before) and give you tips on how you might use them in your FM saves.
Let’s dive into the tactical treasure chest...
Goalkeeper Roles in Football Manager 2026
Goalkeeper
The Goalkeeper can distribute the ball in many ways depending on the team's playing strategy. They look to provide a measured balance between staying in goal and moving in an attempt to receive the ball.
Line-Holding Keeper (NEW)
The Line-Holding Keeper is a Goalkeeper who primarily looks to stay within the confines of their own box, leaving the job of defending higher up the pitch to their teammates.
No-Nonsense Goalkeeper (NEW)
The No-Nonsense Goalkeeper adopts a cautious approach, preferring to stay nearer to their goal and taking as few risks as possible with the ball at their feet when put under pressure.
Sweeper Keeper
The Sweeper Keeper is a proactive Goalkeeper, regularly looking to come off their line to intercept opposition passes or to engage opposition strikers early.
Ball Playing Goalkeeper
The Ball Playing Goalkeeper looks to play an active role in their team's build-up play, often moving out of their goal to be in a position to receive the ball. Requiring exceptional technical ability with the ball at their feet, the Ball Playing Goalkeeper looks to act as an additional outfield player at times in order to help their team play through an opposition press.
Centre-Back Roles in Football Manager 2026
Centre-Back
The main job of the Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. However, especially for more aggressive tactics, they must also possess the composure to be able to help the team maintain possession and lay off simple passes to more creative players.
No-Nonsense Centre-Back
The main job of the No-Nonsense Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. With the ball they look to keep things simple. When put under pressure they will try their best to avoid giving the ball away in a dangerous position, instead being more willing to clear their lines or play a safer pass.
Covering Centre-Back
As a Cover, the Centre-Back is asked to adopt a more cautious approach, holding their line and waiting to react to the opposition attacker's movements.
Stopping Centre-Back
As a Stopper, the Centre-Back is asked to be more willing to step out from their position in order to hassle and engage opposition attackers, in an attempt to cut out attacks at source.
Ball Playing Centre-Back
The main job of the Ball-Playing Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. However, unlike standard central defenders, the Ball-Playing Defender is also encouraged to play line-breaking passes and through balls from deep to progress the ball. They also look to carry the ball forward when they have the opportunity to do so.
Overlapping Centre-Back
The main job of the Overlapping Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. However, in possession they are instructed to be more adventurous in attack, often getting in to crossing positions by making overlapping runs in the final third.
Advanced Centre-Back (NEW)
The main job of the Advanced Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. However the Advanced Centre-Back is a specialist role, acting as a traditional central defender during deep build-up before then moving forward into a defensive midfield position as their team progresses play up the pitch. Because of this, the role requires exceptional technical and mental skills that you'd typically expect of a midfield player. It's also important to ensure the team has sufficient coverage at centre-back, typically through the use of an Inverted Full-Back.
Wide Centre-Back Roles in FM26
The main job of the Wide Centre-Back is to provide protection to the team, being in a position where they can be ready to react to attacking threats when the ball is turned over. However, unlike standard central defenders the Wide Centre-Back is encouraged to provide width in possession and support to their wide attacking teammates ahead of them, often offering a recycling passing option from deep.
Covering Wide Centre-Back
As a Cover, the Wide Centre-Back is asked to adopt a more cautious approach, holding their line and waiting to react to the opposition attacker's movements.
Stopping Wide Centre-Back
As a Stopper, the Wide Centre-Back is asked to be more willing to step out from their position in order to hassle and engage opposition attackers, in an attempt to cut out attacks at source.
Full-Back Roles in Football Manager 2026
The Full-Back is a key player in modern football, having to supplement their traditional defensive duties with overlapping runs down the wing to support forward play and help attacks overload the final third. Although primarily a defensive player, they must be prepared to get forward when the team needs extra width.
Holding Full-Back (NEW)
As a Holder, the Full-Back is asked to hold a deeper position while their team is defending higher up the pitch, in order to provide additional protection against direct attacks. As the team are pressing the opposition during the early phases of their attack, the player looks to remain in their position more, allowing their teammates to play more aggressively knowing there's protection behind them.
Inside Full-Back (NEW)
The Inside Full-Back is a specialist role that moves to become an extra central defender during the attack. Often used by teams to provide additional protection against counter-attacks, the Inside Full-Back will initially position as a traditional Full-Back would during early build-up, before tucking inside to act as an additional Centre-Back as their team progresses play up the pitch.
Inverted Full-Back
The Inverted Full-Back is a specialist role that moves to become an extra central defender during the attack. Often used by teams to provide additional protection against counter-attacks, the Inverted Full-Back will initially position as a traditional Full-Back would during early build-up, before tucking inside to act as an additional Centre-Back as their team progresses play up the pitch.
Pressing Full-Back (NEW)
As a Presser, the Full-Back is asked to actively engage opposition wide players high up the pitch to support the team's press. The player will often take up a higher starting position during early phases of the opposition attack in order to be in a better position to engage players ahead of them. Because of this higher positioning, it's important to ensure that there's enough defensive cover behind them from their teammates.
Wing-Back Roles in FM26
Wing-Back
The Wing-Back combines the responsibilities of a Full-Back and a Winger, providing width to the team throughout the attack. During deep build-up, the Wing-Back looks to position alongside the defence to offer a passing option. However as play progresses up the pitch they are expected to get forward to join the attack, often making supporting runs in the final third.
Holding Wing-Back (NEW)
As a Holder, the Wing-Back is asked to hold a deeper position while their team is defending higher up the pitch, in order to provide additional protection against direct attacks. As the team are pressing the opposition during the early phases of their attack, the player looks to form part of the backline more, allowing their teammates to play more aggressively knowing there's protection behind them.
Inside Wing-Back (NEW)
The Inside Wing-Back looks to move into central areas of the pitch as their team progresses the ball up the pitch to support central passing networks, as well as providing vital protection against central counter-attacks when the ball is turned over. Because of these central movements, the Inside Wing-Back will rarely be looking to make overlapping attacking runs or playing crosses in from near the byline. Instead looking to act more like a defensive midfield player.
Inverted Wing-Back
The Inverted Wing-Back looks to move into central areas of the pitch as their team progresses the ball up the pitch to support central passing networks, as well as providing vital protection against central counter-attacks when the ball is turned over. Because of these central movements, the Inverted Wing-Back will rarely be looking to make overlapping attacking runs or playing crosses in from near the byline. Instead looking to act more like a defensive midfield player.
Pressing Wing-Back (NEW)
As a Presser, the Wing-Back is asked to aggressively engage opposition wide players high up the pitch to support the team's press. The player will often take up a higher starting position during early phases of the opposition attack in order to be in a better position to engage players ahead of them. Because of this higher positioning, it's important to ensure that there's enough defensive cover behind them from their teammates.
Playmaking Wing-Back (NEW)
Similar to the Inverted Wing-Back, the Playmaking Wing-Back will look to move into central areas of the pitch to support central passing networks, as well as providing vital protection against central counter-attacks. However, the Playmaking Wing-Back is expected to act as a central hub of the team's passing play, playing progressive passes, through balls and dangerous crosses into the box. The Playmaking Wing-Back has much more empthasis to get on the ball and create chances, which means they require a very high level of technical ability in order to be effective in this role.
Advanced Wing-Back (NEW)
The Advanced Wing-Back positions more aggressively than a traditional Wing-Back, looking to play high and wide as much as possible. As their team are building play from deep, the Advanced Wing-Back doesn't drop back alongside their defenders, instead positioning higher up the pitch more like a wide midfielder. As play progresses up the pitch they are expected to get forward to join the attack, often making supporting runs in the final third.
Defensive Midfield Roles in Football Manager 2026
The Defensive Midfielder's main responsibility out of possession is position themselves in front of the team's defence and help protect them from attacking threats. In possession, the Defensive Midfielder aims to be the team's link between defence and attack, playing simple passes to help retain possession and to progress the play.
Dropping Defensive Midfielder (NEW)
As a Dropper, the Defensive Midfielder will look to move back into the defensive line as their team are pinned back into their own defensive third, acting as an additional Centre-Back. During the earlier phases of the opposition attack, the player will act as a more traditional Defensive Midfielder.
Screening Defensive Midfielder (NEW)
As a Screener, the Defensive Midfielder's main responsibility is to defend the space in front of their central defenders. They are less likely to leave their position to press the opposition, instead looking to protect their zone and block passing lanes.
Wide Covering Defensive Midfielder (NEW)
As a Wide Cover, the Defensive Midfielder is asked to provide defensive support in wide areas, moving across from their typical position to help their team defend against wide threats. This means that when the opposition attack the flanks on their side, instead of protecting central areas more like a traditional Defensive Midfielder, the player will look to shift across and support their Full-Back, often doubling up on the opposition's wide attacking threats.
Half-Back
The Half Back is a defensive midfielder who looks to drop into their team's defensive line during build-up play to help progress the ball forward and provide defensive stability. A Half Back is typically used by teams with two central defenders, in order to ensure that they have three players in front of the opposition press when playing out of defence. The idea being that this makes the team more press-resistant, particularly against teams that press with a front 2. When used centrally, the Half Back will drop between their central defenders. However when used in side defensive midfield positions, the Half Back will drop to the side of their central defenders as either a RCB or LCB.
Pressing Defensive Midfielder (NEW)
As a Presser, the Defensive Midfielder is tasked with stepping forward from their position to support the team's press high up the pitch. The player will often take up a higher starting position during early phases of the opposition attack in order to be in a better position to engage players ahead of them. Because of this higher positioning, it's important to ensure that there's enough defensive cover behind them from their teammates.
Deep-Lying Playmaker
The Deep-Lying Playmaker operates in the space between the defence and the midfield and aims to initiate attacking moves via pinpoint passes to players positioned higher up the pitch. Although primarily a creative player, the Deep-Lying Playmaker also has to be competent in the art of defence since they will often be one of the team's deepest midfield players when the ball is turned over in attack.
Central Midfield Roles in FM26
Wide Midfielder Roles in FM26
Attacking Midfielder Roles in FM26
Winger Roles in FM26
Forward Roles in FM26
Final Thoughts
Football Manager 2026 is shaping up to be an absolute tactical playground. With over 25 new roles, this isn’t just a small tweak to the role system – it’s a complete expansion of tactical depth.
If you’re a tactics nerd like me, you’re probably already thinking about your 3-4-3 with Advanced Wing-Backs and a Playmaking CB trio. Or maybe a classic 4-2-3-1 with Pressing Wingers and a Half-Back anchoring the midfield.
These new roles bring nuance, flexibility, and storytelling potential to your saves. So – what roles are you most excited to test out?
Drop a comment below and let me know. I’ll be testing out the Channel Forward and Free Role AM combo as soon as I get my hands on the beta.
Game on, gaffers.
READ NEXT: FM26 Release Window Confirmed by SEGA