Football Manager 2025 is set to launch its highly anticipated new edition in March 2025.
The simulation game focused on management is any avid football gamer/fan’s go-to for mind-stimulating procrastination (or so they would tell you). Whilst most console players prefer to run with EAFC’s series (previously licensed as FIFA), PC players prefer to opt for a more hands-on experience.
Previous generations are familiar with the simulation game as well, having grown up with Championship Manager. It has been an early driving force for inspiring managers like Will Still and André Villas-Boas to enter the elite game without a background in professional football.
The latest game in the franchise will be the first edition in its history to release outside of its typical November release.
Introduction of Women’s Football in FM 2025:
This year’s edition marks a significant milestone for women’s football fans. For the first time in the franchise’s history, players will have the opportunity to experience the women’s game.
The addition of women’s football is more than just a new gameplay feature—it is a crucial step in promoting equality and representation in the gaming world. Women’s sports, especially football, have long struggled for visibility and recognition outside of North America. This inclusion in a globally recognised platform like Sport Interactive’s Football Manager will undoubtedly amplify their presence.
For years, women in the virtual game were limited to backroom roles like staff members, with even these being hard to find without the aid of external modifications such as female staff shortlists. Now, women’s football has finally earned its rightful place at the forefront, making it accessible to audiences such as young girls and boys who want to immerse themselves in managing their female footballing heroes.
Criticism surrounding the delayed release has largely focused on the inclusion of the women’s game in the revamped edition. However, it would be unfair to label this innovative feature as the scapegoat, especially since its development was announced well before FM24 launched in 2023.
Realism and Gameplay Enhancements:
The game will also boast an entirely new engine this year, ushering in a new era for the series. This lines up perfectly with the developers’ ambitions to create a refreshed feel for the game, anchored by the inclusion of women’s football.
However, the new engine has come at the cost of the game not being ready in time for the originally slated release of 26 November. Instead, Sports Interactive released a statement in October to announce a drastic delay in the release of FM25.
Before that, Miles Jacobson, studio director at Sports Interactive, emphasised the focus on the authenticity of the women’s game on the Football Manager website:
“We’ve been laser-focused on introducing Women’s Football to FM in the most authentic way possible. We’ve applied that thinking to everything we’ve done, as we generally do with all areas of design and development. From a gameplay perspective, being able to move seamlessly between managing men’s and women’s clubs and vice versa in one world, one ecosystem was the number one priority.”
This seamless transition between managing men’s and women’s teams ensures that the experience is unified, not bifurcated into separate realms. It follows EAFC’s attempt at doing so last year, by merging men and women footballers into the same universe with Ultimate Team, which is the most popular gameplay in the franchise. As a result of this decision, managing a women’s team feels as integral and dynamic as managing a men’s team, echoing real-life transitions like Phil Neville’s move from men’s to women’s football in recent years.
Jacobson also highlighted another critical change:
“As such, we can now share a change we’ve made to all FM25 player profiles: a player’s weight will no longer be visible. Through the creation of our Women’s Football database, we discovered that while the weight of male athletes can change a bit month to month, women’s body types are very different from men’s and their weight fluctuates a lot more, often weekly.”
This change ensures fairness and avoids over-emphasising physical traits that may unintentionally skew gameplay statistics, such as strength, which has traditionally been more beneficial to male players. This thoughtful adjustment enhances the game’s realism and respect for women’s football, helping prevent the women’s side from feeling inferior or too simplified.
Licensing and Gameface Downloads:
Another major advancement in Football Manager 2025 is the multi-year partnership with the Premier League. For the first time, all 20 clubs will be integrated with full licensing, including player faces, logos, kits and stadiums. This long-awaited move brings even more realism to the game, especially for fans of the English league.
However, it remains unclear which women’s football licenses have been secured. Gamers are eager for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women’s Super League (WSL) to be included, but no formal announcements have been made. Given the fact that women’s football is now a permanent feature, securing more comprehensive licenses is inevitable for future editions at least.
For players wanting an even more realistic experience, external packs – featuring enhanced logos, player faces, and tactical options – will still be available for download, as in previous years. These customisations allow for an enhanced in-game experience. It is anticipated that packs for women’s football will be released on these websites closer to the launch.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a complete newbie to Football Manager, choosing the right team to manage is one of the game’s biggest draws. It can sometimes take hours to decide this. In FM25, everyone will be navigating the women’s football landscape for the first time simultaneously.
Teams to Manage:
Here are three teams worth considering for your maiden managerial journey:
1. FC Barcelona Femení
· Country: Spain
· League: Liga F
FC Barcelona Femení are one of the most dominant teams in Europe, boasting world-class players like Alexia Putellas and a possessional style of play. With an array of talent, managing Barça offers a chance to dominate domestically and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. As with any Barcelona team, their youth academy is also a goldmine for future stars if you are after a long-term project.
· Goal:
Win everything. Dominate the Spanish scene, whilst reaching the very latter stages of the Champions League. Remember to uphold the club’s vision of promoting youngsters.
2. San Diego Wave
· Country: USA
· League: National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
San Diego Wave is one of the newer NWSL teams, quickly rising to become a competitive force in the league. Soccer legend Alex Morgan may have retired, but if you fancy a challenge to lead the team to superstardom in their next era, this could be the team for you. The NWSL’s unpredictable nature makes it a challenging team to guide to back-to-back success. The league’s unique structure, which includes salary caps and drafts, adds complexity to football management that is not all too familiar for European football fans.
· Goal:
Win the NWSL Championship and build a dynasty in a highly competitive league. Managing international stars while developing talent (and trading picks) is essential to achieving long-term success with the So-Cal club.
3. Fulham Women
· Country: England
· League: FA Women’s National League (third tier)
Fulham Women are a third-tier English side with a rich history, having won the Premier League National Division (now known as WSL) in 2003 and the FA Women’s Cup on three occasions. This is a sleeping giant story where you’ll have to rely on smart recruitment, player development, tactical brilliance and patience to rise through the leagues.
· Goal:
Secure promotion to the Women’s Championship and push for promotion to the Women’s Super League. Most gratifying of all, doing it with a small budget will make the hours you spend on this save even more special.
Football Manager 2025 will be available to purchase globally from 26/11/2024.
Photo – https://www.footballmanager.com/news/how-were-introducing-womens-football-football-manager
