Before its release, I wondered how Football Manager 2020 could possibly live up to its predecessor. It manages to do so by focusing on the details rather than the general aspects, although the highly successful addition of the training center shows that the franchise is also willing to thoroughly rethink some of its more tired features. Building on last year's revamped interface, this 2020 edition has chosen to tackle every detail, improving the clarity of the "responsibility" tab while consolidating staff-related information and offering more advice that, contrary to appearances, will prove useful not only to newcomers. This rich idea results in one of the most comprehensive and polished installments of the franchise... which, however, disappoint due to a reworked but still imperfect 3D engine, as well as press conferences that prove as tedious as in real life and therefore deserve a revamp as well. These two flaws will likely be quickly forgotten in light of the immense qualities of an episode that stands out more than ever as the ultimate football simulation.


Like other annualized franchises, the question inevitably arises with each new iteration: should one invest their time and money once again in a fresh episode of the Football Manager series? Without being definitive, the answer leans more towards the positive side, given how this new installment manages to enhance the formula offered by the already excellent 2019 edition.

Because a reminder is never redundant, last year, Football Manager 2019 introduced not only a brand-new visual design but also some good ideas regarding its tactical interface and training system. These strengths are still present, but this time they are accompanied by other new features that hit the mark.

The first one strengthens existing elements that were not expressed as clearly before. While short-term objectives and the club's philosophy system are still present, they are now integrated into a brand-new tab that also introduces new elements: the "club vision." This tab allows you to quickly understand the cultural aspects of the club to focus on (trading policy, youth development, star signings, etc.), and it also provides a general 5-year plan and season-specific objectives. With the use of color codes and letter grades, sometimes accompanied by a + or - (A+, C-, etc.), this new system is visually easy to comprehend and provides valuable support for both experienced players and newcomers who are already trying to absorb a lot of information. The rating system for your choices is divided between supporters and board members, enabling a better understanding of the expectations from the two main stakeholders who can exert pressure on the manager.

While this addition proves to be significant, other seemingly minor additions on paper come together to create a more polished experience than in recent years. One notable improvement is the increased clarity of the responsibilities screen, which allows you to receive more regular advice from staff members on all the elements you need to manage, provided you have chosen to activate the relevant options. A code of conduct is now present and can be defined in agreement with the players at the beginning of the season, which provides clear and pre-established sanctions in case of accumulated cards. This is also a good idea that saves you the mental strain of pondering how to discipline a player, wondering if it might negatively impact the team's morale. Lastly, I also appreciated the integration of the maximum number of staff allowed by the board into the staff tab. This choice may seem insignificant, but when combined with the aforementioned improvements, it demonstrates a genuine commitment to making navigation more enjoyable and intuitive.

The other significant and appreciable addition is the learning center system, which provides essential support to aspiring managers. It offers information on player potential and current levels, squad depth, and consolidates information on loaned players. Each section of this feature provides clear and crucial information to give you a precise understanding of the progress of your various squads. Moreover, it is accompanied by helpful advice (players to recall from loans, reserve or U19 team members ready for promotion) and visual elements such as a progression curve that greatly simplifies your tasks without diminishing your responsibilities. There is also a new staff job who can manage various aspects of the learning center and support the former. Another interesting advantage is the trialist youth system, which is similar to the previous installment. However, this time, you can get an early glimpse of the club's future young talents several months before their arrival through a report that highlights well-stocked positions and deficiencies in the upcoming generation. This is another great idea that allows you to be more proactive in managing your youth teams, knowing in advance which positions to offload during the winter transfer window, for example, to make room for new prospects.

I mentioned a few lines ago the introduction of a new role within the staff, and it's worth noting that a new statistic also makes its appearance: the "negotiation" rating now allows you to assess someone's ability to negotiate good deals. This is particularly important if you delegate transfer negotiations to a member of your staff, but it can also have a double-edged effect as it can make negotiations challenging when recruiting new staff members. Apart from that, this new FM retains its qualities, starting with a rich, accurate, and highly reliable database that provides comprehensive evaluations. It also strikes a good balance in terms of difficulty, offering a helping hand to newcomers without preventing seasoned players from enjoying meaningful challenges. The 3D models have also received a minor facelift, enhancing the appearance of created players and your manager.

Despite notable improvements, this 3D engine still retains the appearance of a title from a few decades ago rather than that of a modern football game. While it's not necessarily the aspect I expect the franchise to excel in, the outdated animations progress only at a subdued pace and have yet to provide the ideal match engine for a perfect football manager simulation. If there's one area where FM can still evolve, it's undoubtedly in this aspect. However, there is also room for improvement in the press conferences, which still struggle to find their place within the game. They can be time-consuming if you choose to engage in all of them, yet ultimately offer little usefulness. They fail to demonstrate their ludic interest amidst the other features, which are much more enjoyable to engage with.

The remaining flaws primarily concern forgettable or easily patchable elements rather than major issues. The still very pronounced effectiveness of certain cheat tactics - or even gegenpressing -, the slightly favorable outcomes in one-on-one situations for goalkeepers, the poor reactions of players who are repeatedly praised for their good training performances, or the calendar grouping matches of the first team, reserves, and youth teams when clicking on "arrange a friendly" - the points of criticism are not lacking. However, they struggle to overshadow an overall high-quality experience, a testament to a studio that listens to its community and has managed to deliver, for the second consecutive year, an installment rich in good ideas. Let's hope it continues.

[h1]Short review[/h1] Before its release, I wondered how Football Manager 2020 could possibly live up to its predecessor. It manages to do so by focusing on the details rather than the general aspects, although the highly successful addition of the training center shows that the franchise is also willing to thoroughly rethink some of its more tired features. Building on last year's revamped interface, this 2020 edition has chosen to tackle every detail, improving the clarity of the "responsibility" tab while consolidating staff-related information and offering more advice that, contrary to appearances, will prove useful not only to newcomers. This rich idea results in one of the most comprehensive and polished installments of the franchise... which, however, disappoint due to a reworked but still imperfect 3D engine, as well as press conferences that prove as tedious as in real life and therefore deserve a revamp as well. These two flaws will likely be quickly forgotten in light of the immense qualities of an episode that stands out more than ever as the ultimate football simulation. [h1]Long review[/h1] Like other annualized franchises, the question inevitably arises with each new iteration: should one invest their time and money once again in a fresh episode of the Football Manager series? Without being definitive, the answer leans more towards the positive side, given how this new installment manages to enhance the formula offered by the already excellent 2019 edition. Because a reminder is never redundant, last year, Football Manager 2019 introduced not only a brand-new visual design but also some good ideas regarding its tactical interface and training system. These strengths are still present, but this time they are accompanied by other new features that hit the mark. The first one strengthens existing elements that were not expressed as clearly before. While short-term objectives and the club's philosophy system are still present, they are now integrated into a brand-new tab that also introduces new elements: the "club vision." This tab allows you to quickly understand the cultural aspects of the club to focus on (trading policy, youth development, star signings, etc.), and it also provides a general 5-year plan and season-specific objectives. With the use of color codes and letter grades, sometimes accompanied by a + or - (A+, C-, etc.), this new system is visually easy to comprehend and provides valuable support for both experienced players and newcomers who are already trying to absorb a lot of information. The rating system for your choices is divided between supporters and board members, enabling a better understanding of the expectations from the two main stakeholders who can exert pressure on the manager. While this addition proves to be significant, other seemingly minor additions on paper come together to create a more polished experience than in recent years. One notable improvement is the increased clarity of the responsibilities screen, which allows you to receive more regular advice from staff members on all the elements you need to manage, provided you have chosen to activate the relevant options. A code of conduct is now present and can be defined in agreement with the players at the beginning of the season, which provides clear and pre-established sanctions in case of accumulated cards. This is also a good idea that saves you the mental strain of pondering how to discipline a player, wondering if it might negatively impact the team's morale. Lastly, I also appreciated the integration of the maximum number of staff allowed by the board into the staff tab. This choice may seem insignificant, but when combined with the aforementioned improvements, it demonstrates a genuine commitment to making navigation more enjoyable and intuitive. The other significant and appreciable addition is the learning center system, which provides essential support to aspiring managers. It offers information on player potential and current levels, squad depth, and consolidates information on loaned players. Each section of this feature provides clear and crucial information to give you a precise understanding of the progress of your various squads. Moreover, it is accompanied by helpful advice (players to recall from loans, reserve or U19 team members ready for promotion) and visual elements such as a progression curve that greatly simplifies your tasks without diminishing your responsibilities. There is also a new staff job who can manage various aspects of the learning center and support the former. Another interesting advantage is the trialist youth system, which is similar to the previous installment. However, this time, you can get an early glimpse of the club's future young talents several months before their arrival through a report that highlights well-stocked positions and deficiencies in the upcoming generation. This is another great idea that allows you to be more proactive in managing your youth teams, knowing in advance which positions to offload during the winter transfer window, for example, to make room for new prospects. I mentioned a few lines ago the introduction of a new role within the staff, and it's worth noting that a new statistic also makes its appearance: the "negotiation" rating now allows you to assess someone's ability to negotiate good deals. This is particularly important if you delegate transfer negotiations to a member of your staff, but it can also have a double-edged effect as it can make negotiations challenging when recruiting new staff members. Apart from that, this new FM retains its qualities, starting with a rich, accurate, and highly reliable database that provides comprehensive evaluations. It also strikes a good balance in terms of difficulty, offering a helping hand to newcomers without preventing seasoned players from enjoying meaningful challenges. The 3D models have also received a minor facelift, enhancing the appearance of created players and your manager. Despite notable improvements, this 3D engine still retains the appearance of a title from a few decades ago rather than that of a modern football game. While it's not necessarily the aspect I expect the franchise to excel in, the outdated animations progress only at a subdued pace and have yet to provide the ideal match engine for a perfect football manager simulation. If there's one area where FM can still evolve, it's undoubtedly in this aspect. However, there is also room for improvement in the press conferences, which still struggle to find their place within the game. They can be time-consuming if you choose to engage in all of them, yet ultimately offer little usefulness. They fail to demonstrate their ludic interest amidst the other features, which are much more enjoyable to engage with. The remaining flaws primarily concern forgettable or easily patchable elements rather than major issues. The still very pronounced effectiveness of certain cheat tactics - or even gegenpressing -, the slightly favorable outcomes in one-on-one situations for goalkeepers, the poor reactions of players who are repeatedly praised for their good training performances, or the calendar grouping matches of the first team, reserves, and youth teams when clicking on "arrange a friendly" - the points of criticism are not lacking. However, they struggle to overshadow an overall high-quality experience, a testament to a studio that listens to its community and has managed to deliver, for the second consecutive year, an installment rich in good ideas. Let's hope it continues.