From virtual dugouts to real-life touchlines – meet
the gaffers who turned FM passion into a career.
Introduction
We’ve all been there – one more click, one more season, just one more regen wonderkid to sign. But for some, Football Manager isn’t just a time-sink; it’s a genuine pathway into real football.
Yes, believe it or not, several managers have gone from obsessing over FM databases and tactics to sitting in the real dugout, shaping clubs and players in the professional game. Some got jobs because of the game, others used it as a learning tool, but all of them prove one thing – FM isn’t just a game, it’s a football education.
Check our FM26 release window and FM26 women’s database reveal for context.
Here are the most famous stories of managers whose careers were shaped by Football Manager.
1. Vugar Huseynzade – The Student Who Became a Pro
The ultimate FM fairytale.
In 2012, at just 21 years old, Vugar
Huseynzade was appointed manager of FC Baku in the Azerbaijan
Premier League. His biggest qualification? A lifetime of playing Football
Manager.
With zero prior professional coaching experience, he convinced the club’s hierarchy that his tactical knowledge – honed through FM – was enough to take charge. While his tenure was short-lived, Huseynzade remains the poster boy for the idea that FM can literally land you a job.
2. Will Still – From FM Obsession to Southampton
If Huseynzade was the PR story, Will Still is the modern,
authentic FM success case.
As a teenager in Belgium, Still was addicted
to FM, which inspired him to pursue coaching badges and video analysis. Fast
forward to 2023 – he was leading Stade de Reims in Ligue 1,
going 19 games unbeaten despite not yet holding a UEFA Pro Licence (costing
the club €25k fines per match).
Today, Still is the manager of Southampton, tasked with leading the Saints back to the Premier League. He admits FM didn’t directly make him a tactician – but it sparked the obsession that shaped his career.
If you love left-field saves, here are our Journeyman Challenge rules.
3. André Villas-Boas – The CM Kid Who Made It Big
Before it was Football Manager, it was Championship Manager.
André Villas-Boas
was a huge fan of CM in the 1990s, and he has openly credited the game with
fuelling his passion for management. His obsession with tactics and databases
translated into real-life work, and he eventually became Porto, Chelsea, and
Spurs boss.
Villas-Boas is proof that CM/FM wasn’t just a distraction – it was an education.
More CM-FM nostalgia in our management guides.
4. José Mourinho – The Database Scout
The Special One might not be grinding saves in the lower leagues, but Mourinho
has admitted that he’s leaned on FM’s legendary database.
When scouting
young players or preparing for unknown opponents, the FM database often
provided reliable background info.
It didn’t make him a genius, but it gave him another edge.
Data-driven? Dive into our wonderkids hub that many of you scout from.
5. Ole Gunnar Solskjær – The FM Fan at Molde
While managing Molde, Solskjær confessed that he was a long-time FM player. He said he loved experimenting with tactics in the game, and that some of the thought processes carried over to his real-life coaching.
Did FM help him lead Manchester United? Maybe not directly, but he’s one of the few Premier League managers to openly admit to being a “gaffer on FM” before the dugout.
Try similar shapes with our tactics downloads.
6. Thomas Tuchel – Using FM for Analysis
Tuchel is known for his meticulous tactical work, and during his days at Mainz, he and his analysts would reportedly use FM to simulate formations and explore player strengths.
It wasn’t the foundation of his coaching career, but it shows how seriously professionals take FM’s data and tactical engine.
7. Roberto Martínez – The Long-Term Planner
The former Everton and Belgium boss has admitted he enjoyed FM/CM. For Martínez, the game wasn’t just fun – it was a way to understand long-term planning, contracts, and squad balance.
He often praised FM’s realism in off-pitch management, something he carried into his real career.
Planning a rebuild? Check our save ideas.
8. Brendan Rodgers – Scouting Through FM
Back in his early days at Reading, Rodgers reportedly leaned on FM’s database to check up on youth players across Europe. For a young manager without a big scouting network, FM was a shortcut to discovering talent.
Conclusion – More Than a Game
For some, FM is just a way to kill a weekend. For others, it’s a path into
real football.
From Huseynzade’s surreal appointment to Will Still’s rise
in France and England, Football Manager has shaped real-life football more
than any other video game in history.
So next time someone tells you “it’s just a game”, remind them: FM can take you from the sofa to the dugout.
FAQs
Can you really get a job as a football manager through FM?
Yes – the most famous case is Vugar Huseynzade, who became FC Baku
manager in 2012 after citing his FM experience.
Do professional clubs actually use Football Manager?
Absolutely. Clubs like Everton and many lower-league sides have
admitted to consulting the FM database for scouting purposes.
Which famous managers have played FM?
Will Still,
Solskjær, Villas-Boas, and Martínez are all known FM fans, while Mourinho and
Tuchel have used it as a data tool.
Is FM realistic enough for real management?
While no
game can fully replicate reality, FM’s database and tactical depth are widely
respected by scouts, analysts, and even top-level managers.
