TheFootball Managerseries is enjoying a relatively uncontested spell as the sport’spremier management sim, following franchises likeFIFA ManagerandLMA Managerbeing discontinued. Sports Interactive hasn’t been resting on their laurels with the lack of competition, asFootball Manager 21was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its85 Metascore, which is impressive for amodern sports game.
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As is always the case with the PC iteration of the game, there are numerous mods available to download. To help people out who want to try some of the mods but are unsure where to start, here are some of the best options available.
Updated June 23, 2025, by Jack Pursey:The next entry inthe Football Managerseries, Football Manager 2022, is due to release next month. However, as any Football Manager fan knows, not all players will be making an instant leap to the next game. Many players opt to only buy FM entries sporadically, while others get too engrossed in a save file and are happy to stick with it for years to come.
So, for those who want to save their money and stick with Football Manager 21, we’ve updated this list to add a few new entries.
15Attacking 4-2-3-1 - Quicksta Gegenpress V2.0
As many people ascertained early on in theirFootball Manager 21career, gegenpress tactics are rather overpowered - so much so thatFootball Manager 22has made significant changes to the pressing systemto ensure that gegenpressing is more balanced.
For those sticking withFootball Manager 21,Quicksta’s 4-2-3-1 gegenpressing modoffers an excellent way to exploit the overpowered tactic.
14Counter Attacking 3412 for Underdogs
Although the aforementioned gegenpressing tactic is indeed overpowered, it certainly doesn’t guarantee success. This is particularly the case for weaker teams going into a match as the underdog, as they could be picked apart and annihilated by stronger sides.
Therefore, players with weaker teams should considerRosler71’s Counter Attacking 3412 for Underdogs, as it offers a defensively stable unit that can be devastating on the counter.
13Mike’s Best Ever Training Schedule v2
TheFootball Managerseries' training feature enjoyed an excellent overhaul in the 2019 iteration of the game, with tweaks being made in the two most recent entries. The overhaul was great news to fans of the series, who had been hoping for more in-depth training features to give them better control over their players' development.
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Although the increased complexity was welcome, it has made it too complicated for some people. Thankfully, there are mods that can provide players with a tried and tested schedule, andMike’s Best Ever Training Schedule v2is one of the best.
12Technique - Youth Training Schedule (Ajax TIPS MODEL)
Another excellent training schedule isTechnique - Youth Training Schedule(Ajax TIPS MODEL) by Passion4FM. As the name suggests, the mod takes inspiration from Ajax’s real-life routines. Ajax certainly isn’t a bad place to take inspiration from, as their academy has produced an incredible array of talent in recent years, including Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek.
Moreover, the team has produced legends of the game in the past, such as Johann Cruyff, Clarence Seedorf, and Edwin van der Sar.
11FM 2021 FLUT skin dark - Version 16.0
For a game that predominantly requires players to look at data and statistics, it’s safe to say that presentation is very important toFootball Managerplayers. The default presentation is, of course, very well put together - thoughFlut’s skinprovides an excellent alternative. Like any skin, personal preference plays a big part in which mod is the best, though Flut’sFootball Manager 21skin is certainly one of the best.
10Best Free Transfers - Over 500 Players!
Finding talented players for the grand price of nothing can be one of the most rewarding aspects of theFootball Managerseries. However, as the series' player base continues to grow, narrowing down the best players can be a nightmare. Thankfully,JamieKingFMhas a handy guide to help players out. The mod will highlight over 500 players into an easy-to-understand shortlist, helping managers find their next budget purchase.
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Along with JamieKingFM’s shortlist, WorkTheSpace also has a handy shortlist available on Steam.
9WorkTheSpace’s Best Wonderkids - Complete Collection
Speaking ofWorkTheSpace, their shortlist ofthe game’s best wonderkidsis a great mod for finding some ofFootball Manager 21’s best young talents. Much like securing talented free agents, obtained talented youngsters can be incredibly rewarding, especially when helping the player develop and reaping the rewards as they either lead the team to new heights or secure a huge transfer fee in the future.
Moreover, those who are willing to invest in youth are likely to see significant financial success in the long term thanks to them not having to continuously purchase expensive players in their prime to stay competitive.
8Championship Manager 2003-04 FM21 Database
Before teaming up with Sega to createFootball Manager 2005, Sports Interactive was working its magic on theChampionship Managerseries with Eidos Interactive. The 03/04 iteration of the game was one of the most memorable, which is why the modChampionship Manager 2003-04 FM21 Databaseis so great.
As well as featuring legendary players like Paul Scholes, Ronaldinho, and Paolo Maldini, the mod features one of the most infamous players that Sports Interactive ever implemented, Freddy Adu. The young American had incredibly high stats for such a young age, making people believe that he would one day be one of the world’s best players. Unfortunately, Adu is yet to reach anywhere near those heights.
7Football Manager 2021 Real Names Licence Fix
One of the most frustrating elements of theFootball Managerseries is itslack of licensing. Like thePro Evolution Soccerseries, now known aseFootball,theFootball Managergames lack a ton of licensing throughout many leagues. This lack of official licensing affects some teams, stadiums, competitions, and trophies.
TheFootball Manager 2021 Real Names Licence Fix by pr0does exactly what it says on the tin, replacing a plethora of fake names with the correct ones.
6Pep’s Barcelona
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona is considered one of the greatest teams in the entire history of the sport. The team featured an incredibly talented squad, led by all-time greats like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Carles Puyol.
Boroboy116has brought the legendary side back inFootball Manager 21thanks to theirPeps Barcelonamod that will help even the most inexperiencedFootball Managerplayer to enjoy significant success.
