FM26: Important Attributes for Every Role

In Football Manager 26, understanding the key attributes for each role is one of the most important parts of building a successful tactic. Every position demands a specific mix of technical, mental, and physical qualities, and knowing which ones really matter can give you a huge edge when signing, training, or developing players.

This guide lists the Key, Preferred, and Unnecessary attributes for every role in the game, helping you identify what to focus on when scouting or improving your squad.

 

[GK] GOALKEEPER

In Possession

Goalkeeper

Key:

• Aerial Reach
• Command of Area
• Communication
• Handling
• Reflexes
• Agility
• Concentration
• Positioning

Preferred:

• Kicking
• One on Ones
• Throwing
• Anticipation
• Decisions

Unnecessary:

• Eccentricity

Ball-Playing Goalkeeper

Key:

• Aerial Reach
• Command of Area
• Communication
• Handling
• Kicking
• Reflexes
• Agility
• Concentration
• Positioning

Preferred:

• Eccentricity
• One on Ones
• Throwing
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Decisions
• Passing

No-Nonsense Goalkeeper

Key:

• Aerial Reach
• Command of Area
• Communication
• Handling
• Reflexes
• Agility
• Concentration
• Positioning

Preferred:

• One on Ones
• Anticipation
• Decisions

Unnecessary:

• Eccentricity
• Passing

Out of Possession

Line-Holding Keeper

Key:

• Positioning
• Concentration

Sweeper Keeper

Key:

• Rushing Out
• Anticipation
• Decisions

[D] Defender Centre

In Possession

Centre-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Pace

Unnecessary:

• Passing

Ball-Playing Centre-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Passing
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Positioning
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Technique
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Vision
• Pace

No-Nonsense Centre-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• Aggression
• Bravery
• Concentration
• Pace

Unnecessary:

• Passing
• Composure

Wide Centre-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Unnecessary:

• Passing

Advanced Centre-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Passing
• Tackling
• Technique
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Decisions
• Positioning
• Team Work
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Concentration
• Vision
• Pace
• Stamina

Overlapping Centre-Back

Key:

• Crossing
• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Work Rate
• Jumping
• Pace
• Stamina
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Technique
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Acceleration
• Agility

Out of Possession

Covering Centre-Back

Key:

• Anticipation
• Pace
• Marking

Stopping Centre-Back

Key:

• Aggression
• Tackling
• Strength

Covering Wide Centre-Back

Key:

• Anticipation
• Pace
• Marking

Stopping Wide Centre-Back

Key:

• Aggression
• Tackling
• Strength

[D] Defender Right/ Left

In Possession

Full-Back

Key:

• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Positioning
• Team Work
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Passing
• Technique
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Inside Full-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Jumping
• Pace
• Stamina

Out of Possession

Holding Full-Back

Key:

• Positioning
• Concentration
• Marking

Pressing Full-Back

Key:

• Aggression
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

[D/ WB] Defender/ Wing-Back (Right/ Left)

In Possession

Inside Wing-Back

Key:

• Passing
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Decisions
• Positioning
• Team Work
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Marking
• Technique
• Concentration
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Playmaking Wing-Back

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Tackling
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Positioning
• Team Work
• Vision
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Marking
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Wing-Back

Key:

• Crossing
• Marking
• Tackling
• Team Work
• Work Rate
• Acceleration
• Pace
• Stamina

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Agility
• Balance

[WB] Wing-Back (Right/ Left)

In Possession

Advanced Wing-Back

Key:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Technique
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Work Rate
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Marking
• Passing
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Flair
• Positioning
• Balance

Out of Possession

Holding Wing-Back

Key:

• Positioning
• Concentration
• Marking

Pressing Wing-Back

Key:

• Aggression
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

[DM] Defensive Midfielder

In Possession

Defensive Midfielder

Key:

• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Positioning
• Team Work

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Marking
• Passing
• Aggression
• Composure
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Stamina
• Strength

Box-to-Box Midfielder

Key:

• Passing
• Tackling
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Finishing
• First Touch
• Long Shots
• Technique
• Aggression
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Decisions
• Positioning
• Acceleration
• Balance
• Pace
• Strength

Box-to-Box Playmaker

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Balance
• Pace

Deep-Lying Playmaker

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision

Preferred:

• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Work Rate
• Balance
• Stamina

Half-Back

Key:

• Heading
• Marking
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Concentration
• Positioning
• Team Work
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Out of Possession

Dropping Defensive Midfielder

Key:

• Positioning
• Decisions
• Anticipation

Pressing Defensive Midfielder

Key:

• Aggression
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

Screening Defensive Midfielder

Key:

• Positioning
• Concentration
• Marking

Wide Covering Defensive Midfielder

Key:

• Anticipation
• Pace
• Work Rate

[M] Midfielder (Centre)

In Possession

Central Midfielder

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Tackling
• Decisions
• Team Work

Preferred:

• Technique
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Concentration
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Vision
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Advanced Playmaker

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Anticipation
• Flair
• Acceleration
• Agility

Midfield Playmaker

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Tackling
• Anticipation
• Flair
• Positioning
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Stamina

Wide Central Midfielder

Key:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Tackling
• Decisions
• Team Work

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Technique
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Concentration
• Off the Ball
• Positioning
• Vision
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Stamina

Out of Possession

Pressing Central Midfielder

Key:

• Aggression
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

Screening Central Midfielder

Key:

• Positioning
• Concentration
• Marking

Wide Covering Central Midfielder

Key:

• Anticipation
• Pace
• Work Rate

[M] Midfielder (Right/ Left)

In Possession

Wide Midfielder

Key:

• Crossing
• Passing
• Technique
• Team Work
• Work Rate
• Pace
• Stamina

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Vision
• Acceleration
• Agility

Out of Possession

Tracking Wide Midfielder

Key:

• Marking
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Wide Outlet Wide Midfielder

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Pace
• Anticipation

[M/ AM] Midfielder/ Attacking Midfielder (Right/ Left)

In Possession

Inside Winger

Key:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Technique
• Composure
• Team Work
• Acceleration
• Agility

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Long Shots
• Passing
• Anticipation
• Flair
• Off the Ball
• Vision
• Work Rate
• Balance
• Pace
• Stamina

Playmaking Winger

Key:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Anticipation
• Flair
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Winger

Key:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Technique
• Team Work
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Pace

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Passing
• Anticipation
• Flair
• Off the Ball
• Work Rate
• Balance
• Stamina

[M/ AM] Midfielder/ Attacking Midfielder (Centre)

In Possession

Attacking Midfielder

Key:

• First Touch
• Long Shots
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Flair
• Off the Ball

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Dribbling
• Finishing
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Vision
• Acceleration
• Agility

[AM] Attacking Midfielder (Centre)

In Possession

Channel Midfielder

Key:

• Crossing
• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Work Rate
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Long Shots
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Flair
• Vision
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Free Role

Key:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Long Shots
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Flair
• Off the Ball
• Vision

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Finishing
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Acceleration
• Agility

Second Striker

Key:

• Finishing
• First Touch
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Long Shots
• Passing
• Technique
• Concentration
• Decisions
• Work Rate
• Agility
• Pace
• Stamina

Out of Possession

Central Outlet Attacking Midfielder

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Decisions
• Anticipation

Splitting Outlet Attacking Midfielder

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Pace
• Anticipation

Tracking Attacking Midfielder

Key:

• Marking
• Work Rate
• Stamina

[AM] Attacking Midfielder (Right/ Left)

In Possession

Wide Forward

Key:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Technique
• Anticipation
• Off the Ball
• Acceleration
• Agility
• Pace

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Finishing
• Passing
• Composure
• Flair
• Work Rate
• Balance
• Stamina

Inside Forward

Key:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Technique
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Acceleration
• Agility

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Finishing
• Long Shots
• Passing
• Flair
• Vision
• Work Rate
• Balance
• Pace
• Stamina

Out of Possession

Inside Outlet Winger

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Decisions
• Anticipation

Tracking Winger

Key:

• Marking
• Work Rate
• Stamina

Wide Outlet Winger

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Pace
• Anticipation

[ST] Striker (Centre)

In Possession

Centre Forward

Key:

• Finishing
• First Touch
• Heading
• Technique
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Acceleration
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Passing
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Agility
• Balance
• Jumping
• Pace

Channel Forward

Key:

• Dribbling
• Finishing
• First Touch
• Technique
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Work Rate
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Crossing
• Heading
• Passing
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Agility
• Balance
• Pace
• Stamina

Deep-Lying Forward

Key:

• Finishing
• First Touch
• Technique
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Strength

Preferred:

• Dribbling
• Passing
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Team Work
• Vision
• Balance

False Nine

Key:

• Dribbling
• First Touch
• Passing
• Technique
• Composure
• Decisions
• Off the Ball
• Team Work
• Vision
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• Finishing
• Anticipation
• Flair
• Agility
• Balance

Poacher

Key:

• Finishing
• Heading
• Anticipation
• Composure
• Concentration
• Off the Ball
• Acceleration

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Technique
• Decisions
• Balance

Target Forward

Key:

• Finishing
• Heading
• Aggression
• Bravery
• Composure
• Off the Ball
• Balance
• Jumping
• Strength

Preferred:

• First Touch
• Anticipation
• Decisions
• Team Work

Out of Possession

Central Outlet Centre Forward

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Decisions
• Anticipation

Splitting Outlet Centre Forward

Key:

• Off the Ball
• Pace
• Anticipation

Tracking Centre Forward

Key:

• Marking
• Work Rate
• Stamina