FM26 Assistant Managers shortlist with live search, wage bands and a free agents filter. Copy names in one click and upgrade your backroom.
FM26 Assistant Managers ranked by role impact and wage - filter fast, copy
names in one click, fix your backroom properly
Stop hiring on reputation. This FM26 Assistant Managers shortlist is built to improve match prep, training and squad feedback - not to pad word counts. We list staff who can successfully perform the Assistant Manager role even if it is not their primary job at start. Only staff with 130+ Current Ability make the cut. Use live search, filter by wage band or toggle free agents, then copy names in one click straight into Football Manager. Fast, accurate, actionable.
What makes a great Assistant Manager in FM26
A top Assistant Manager supports your tactic and day-to-day workflow. Prioritise Judging Player Ability, Judging Player Potential, Tactical Knowledge, Man Management, Motivating, Discipline and Determination. Adaptability and languages help when you move countries. If you delegate training or team talks, their personality and tendencies matter. This list focuses on proven impact rather than famous names.
How this shortlist works
- Entry bar - only staff with 130+ CA appear.
- Live search - type name, team or nation to narrow instantly.
- Wage bands - realistic weekly wage filters to fit any budget.
- Free agents toggle - surface immediate hires with zero comp.
- Copy to clipboard - hit Copy next to any staff member, open FM search, press Ctrl + V.
Staff attribute words in FM26 - what they actually mean
FM26 shows words instead of raw numbers on staff attributes. Use this to benchmark quickly when comparing candidates from this list.
- Unsuited - 1 to 3
- Reasonable - 4 to 6
- Competent - 7 to 9
- Average - 10 to 11
- Good - 12 to 14
- Very Good - 15 to 17
- Outstanding - 18 to 19
- Elite - 20
Copy names into FM instantly
Click Copy next to any staff member, open FM search, press Ctrl + V. No typos, no faff.
FM26 Best Assistant Managers - Live Search
Type name, team or nation - e.g. "Real Madrid",
"Man Utd", "England", "Portugal". We recognise home-nation codes
(ENG/SCO/WAL/NIR)
and ISO codes (ES, FR, DE...). Use the wage filter to narrow the list. Click a
column header to sort - click again to reverse the order.
FM26 Best Assistant Managers
Tip: click a header (Name, Team, Age, Wage...) to sort. Click again to
reverse the order.
| Name | Team | Age | Nat | Wage |
|---|
FM26 Assistant Managers - FAQ
What exactly does an Assistant Manager do in FM26?
They glue your save together: opposition reports, training feedback, team
selection advice, media handling, match prep, and tactical suggestions. If
you delegate, they also run team talks and schedule training. A good AM
raises standards across the week, not just on matchday.
Which attributes matter most for an Assistant Manager?
Prioritise Judging Player Ability,
Judging Player Potential,
Tactical Knowledge, Man Management,
Motivating, Discipline and
Determination. If you delegate training or team talks,
personality and tendencies become critical.
What’s a good benchmark for quality?
As a rule of thumb, target staff with
130+ Current Ability and the key attributes reading at
least Good or Very Good in FM26’s wording scale. Our
shortlist only includes 130+ CA.
FM26 shows words instead of numbers - how do I read them?
Unsuited 1–3, Reasonable 4–6,
Competent 7–9, Average 10–11,
Good 12–14, Very Good 15–17,
Outstanding 18–19, Elite 20. Use this
when comparing candidates quickly.
How do I scout and shortlist Assistant Managers efficiently?
Filter by role and attributes, cross-check with this
page, and prioritise language fit and adaptability if moving countries.
For instant hires, toggle Free agents only and sort by
wage band that matches your budget.
AM vs DoF vs Head Coach - what’s the difference?
The Assistant Manager supports tactics, training feedback
and squad handling. The Director of Football focuses on
recruitment and contracts if delegated. A Head Coach (if
separate from Manager) runs training and matches within a broader club
structure. Hire for the tasks you actually delegate.
Should I delegate team talks and training to my Assistant Manager?
Delegate only if their Man Management,
Motivating and personality are strong. If not, keep team
talks yourself and use the AM for reports,
opposition analysis and weekly feedback.
How important are languages and Adaptability?
Very. Adaptability speeds settling, while shared
languages improve communication and development feedback. For locker rooms
with multiple languages, aim for an AM who covers your key groups.
Why does the nationality flag look different to my filter?
Many staff hold dual or triple nationalities. We surface first nationality
for flags, but your filter may match another passport. It matters for
registration and work permits.
Why do club names sometimes look odd?
Licensing. We normalise common aliases so Parthenope shows as Napoli, map
Brazilian three-letter tags to full clubs, and shorten long names on
mobile for readability.
What wage should I expect to pay?
Use our bands: Under £2k lower tiers,
£2k–£5k ambitious clubs, £5k–£10k top
flights, £10k+ giants. For tight budgets, add appearance
and seasonal bonuses rather than bloating basic wage.
How do staff contracts and compensation work?
Hiring from a club usually requires compensation. Free agents cost no fee.
Always check contract length and clauses, and time your move around season
turnover to reduce resistance.
Best personalities for an Assistant Manager?
Look for professional, resolute or model professional-type personalities.
Avoid volatile or mercenary types if you’ll delegate team talks and
discipline.
How do I use this page quickly during a save?
Type club or nation in live search, pick a wage band, toggle free agents,
then hit Copy beside the name. In FM open Staff Search
and press Ctrl + V. On mobile we hide the Copy button to
keep the table compact.
My AM’s advice is poor - is he useless?
Not necessarily. Advice quality is tied to attributes and how closely he
understands your tactical approach. If his
Tactical Knowledge and
Man Management are low, don’t delegate critical tasks to
him.
Can a coach or Head of Youth perform as an Assistant Manager?
Yes if the key attributes are there. Our list includes staff who can
successfully perform the AM role even if that’s not their
starting job title.
Do staff improve over time?
Gradually, depending on age, professionalism and opportunities. You’ll see
slower growth than with players, so start from a high base to avoid
bottlenecks.
Any red flags when hiring?
Low Man Management, poor Motivating,
clashing personality with your squad leaders, and language gaps in a
multinational dressing room. If you rely on them for media, also check
Media Handling.
Quick checklist before you offer a contract?
Key attributes at Good or better, 130+ CA, language fit,
personality aligned to your culture, wage inside band, and role
responsibilities matched to what you’ll delegate.
