FM24 Guide: Starting Unemployed

Starting your save unemployed in Football Manager 2024 is one of the most immersive and rewarding ways to play. No club, no staff, no reputation—just you, your tactics, and a dream of making it to the top. It’s a true underdog story waiting to be written.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to set up an unemployed save: from building a realistic manager profile and choosing the right leagues, to finding your first job and starting your climb through the footballing world.

It’s also the perfect excuse to start documenting your journey. Share your story with the community over at sortitoutsi.net/careers—we’d love to follow along as you turn nothing into something.

Set Up the Right Database

The more options you give yourself, the better. Use a custom database setup and load:

• Multiple countries and divisions—especially those with active lower leagues.
• Large player database to increase depth in lower-tier teams.
• Prioritize nations like England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, and Scandinavia for job diversity.

Time Your Start Strategically

Choosing the right start date can significantly improve your chances of landing a job early. Instead of beginning in the traditional June pre-season window, consider letting the game run a few months while you’re unemployed. By August or September, the football calendar is underway, early-season results are in, and clubs are already sacking underperforming managers—creating real opportunities for someone like you.

A clever trick is to start your game in one continent while planning to manage in another. For example, starting your save in Brazil (where the season runs from January to December) means you’re entering a world where football is already in full swing, increasing the number of available jobs. Meanwhile, loading European leagues ensures that by the time their seasons begin, you’ll already be in the job market and ready to pounce on early vacancies. You can also reverse this—start in Europe but load Brazil and Argentina—so South American clubs are already playing when your save begins.

This approach gives you an active job market from day one, boosts your chances of landing a club quickly, and makes for a more dynamic and exciting start to your unemployed journey.

Create a Realistic Manager Profile

Your profile is the foundation of your story. Choose wisely:

• Past Experience: Opt for Sunday League Footballer or No Experience for maximum challenge.
• Coaching Badges: Start with no badges to match your background—or give yourself one if you want a slightly easier path.
• Nationality & Languages: Pick a nationality that aligns with lower-league football regions. Dual nationality and language fluency (e.g., Spanish and Portuguese) can open doors in multiple nations.

Tip: Add languages that match your desired destination—being fluent in Spanish, for example, opens up opportunities across o9South America and parts of Europe.

Be Proactive with Job Applications

Once the game begins:

• Head to the Job Centre and apply to everything. Even if you’re not a perfect fit, interviews build visibility.
• Check the Job Security screen to spot clubs where managers are under pressure and apply speculatively.
• Don’t get discouraged—it might take in-game weeks or months to land a job.

Choose Your First Job Wisely

You’ll eventually land a chance. Before accepting:

• Check the club’s finances, facilities, wage budget, and squad depth.
• Look for manageable board expectations—avoid “promotion or bust” scenarios early on.
• Consider club culture: some teams give you time to build; others demand instant results.

Tip: Sometimes, turning down a bad offer is smarter than accepting the wrong one.

Or Let the Game Search Your Job for You

If you’d rather leave things to fate—or just want to speed things up—you can let the game handle the job hunt by going on holiday with job-seeking preferences turned on.

Here’s how to do it:

• Click Home on the left-hand menu.
• At the top, select My Profile.
• Click Go on Holiday.
• Under the holiday options, tick Apply for managerial positions at any club, or set your preferences to target specific leagues or reputations.
• Choose how long to go on holiday indefinitely and let the game simulate.
• You will return automatically from holidays once a Job Offer appears
• You can proceed with that offer or just turn it down and go on holidays again

Make the Most of Your First Job

Once you finally land that first opportunity, it’s time to prove yourself—and fast. Success in your debut role is all about momentum:

• Start by building a simple, effective tactic that suits the players you have. Don’t overcomplicate it—especially in lower leagues, a solid defense, good organization, and a direct style of play can go a long way.
• Use the loan market, free agents, and trial days to strengthen your squad without breaking the budget. Focus on versatile, hardworking players who can fill multiple roles. Every signing matters at this level, so be smart and resourceful.
• Off the pitch, start building your reputation from day one. Request coaching badges as soon as the board allows it. Handle press conferences, team talks, and board meetings with care—every positive interaction helps shape your image. Consistent results and exceeding expectations will put you on the radar of bigger clubs.

Remember, this is just the beginning. Whether you’re fighting off relegation or pushing for a surprise promotion, treat every challenge as a stepping stone. Your goal isn’t to stay here forever—it’s to build a name, grow your skillset, and climb the ladder one club at a time.

An unemployed save in Football Manager 2024 is more than just a challenge—it’s a blank canvas. It forces you to think differently, adapt quickly, and earn every inch of success. There’s no star-studded squad to fall back on, no big budget to bail you out—just smart decisions, clever scouting, and a bit of luck.

It’s also one of the most rewarding ways to build long-term immersion. You’ll develop a stronger connection to the clubs you manage, the players you trust, and the journey you carve out along the way. Whether you become a lower-league specialist or a globe-trotting journeyman, the experience will be uniquely yours.

When you’re ready, take it one step further—document your story. Share your highs and lows, your tactics and transfers, your sackings and successes over at sortitoutsi.net/careers. There’s a whole community that loves a good football tale—and yours might just be the next one we all follow.