FM24 Guide: Player’s Attributes Explained

This guide delves into the four primary categories of Football Manager player’s attributes: Technical, Mental, Physical, and Goalkeeping, as well as additional attributes like footedness and the hidden attributes. By understanding the meaning of each attribute, you’ll gain the insight needed to make informed decisions on player recruitment, development, and tactical deployment. Whether you’re scouting for a playmaker with exceptional vision, a defender with robust tackling skills, or a goalkeeper who commands the penalty area, this breakdown will help you master the art of building a successful squad in Football Manager.

Technical Attributes

• Corners: how well the player takes a corner kick.
• Crossing: how well the player can cross the ball, predominantly but not exclusively from wide areas, into goalscoring positions.
• Dribbling: how well the player can run with the ball and manipulate it under close control. This is purely their proficiency at moving with the ball at their feet: Pace, Acceleration, Agility, and Balance all aid dribbling in different circumstances. A player with higher ratings here is also able to move in more directions more fluidly with the ball than someone with a lower rating.
• Finishing: how well the player can put the ball in the back of the net when presented with a chance. A high Finishing attribute puts the shot on target a majority of the time as a bare minimum and, compared to a player with poorer Finishing, finds the places where the goalkeeper can’t save it. This is purely the ability of the player to perform an accurate shot – Composure and Decisions also influence a player’s ability to score consistently.
• First Touch: how good a player’s first touch is when receiving the ball. A higher rating ensures that the player can control the ball quicker and put it in a useful position to then act upon. Players with lower ratings here struggle to control the ball as adeptly and may be prone to losing the ball if closed down quickly.
• Free Kick Taking: how good at taking free kicks the player is. It applies to both direct shots at goal (alongside Long Shots) and indirect free kicks (passes to teammates). The latter are governed by additional technical attributes like Crossing; for deep free kicks, it’s Passing.
• Heading: how competent a player is in aerial situations. Heading applies to all situations with the ball in the air and is only about the player’s ability to use their head well. Jumping Reach, Height, and to a lesser extent Strength all play a part in combination with heading to utilize the attribute to greater effect.
• Long Shots: how good the player is at shooting from distance, i.e. from outside the penalty area. It is largely a stand-alone attribute but pay attention to any traits the player may have that complement their Long Shots rating.
• Long Throws: how well the player to perform a long throw, which can be taken advantage of in attacking situations, or to help move the ball forward from defensive areas.
• Marking: how well players, mainly but not exclusively defensive types, defend an opponent. Marking alone sees them do a good job of identifying, tracking, reacting to and denying opponents if the attribute is high, but remember that other attributes – Strength, Positioning, Anticipation – plays a part in the effectiveness of the marking, as well as the comparable physical statures of the two players.
• Passing: how good the player is at passing the ball to a teammate. Vision dictates whether or not they see different types of passing opportunity. Technique affects the quality of their execution (for example, whether the pass lands perfectly for a player to collect in stride). Passing itself, in isolation, determines how successful the player is at producing consistent success over different types of passing opportunities.
• Penalty Taking: how well the player does from the penalty spot. Composure is also factored into whether a player is successful with the penalty, but the Penalty Taking attribute itself governs whether or not a penalty is likely to be scored or missed.
• Tackling: how successful the player is at winning tackles and not conceding fouls from such situations. Players with a high Tackling rating consistently win the ball cleanly and are more capable defensive players.
• Technique: a player with high Technique is more likely to pull off a tricky pass or a cross-field ball with greater ease than someone less technically able, or to use their preferred foot in situations where their weaker one would appear to be easier. This in turn affects technical attributes – poorer Technique will let a player down.

Mental Attributes

• Anticipation: how well a player can predict and react to an event. If a player has a high attribute here, they can read the game well and react to situations more quickly than others. It also has a significant effect on a player’s awareness and whether they identify space for themselves to play in, as well as whether they react to signs of danger created by the opponent.
• Bravery: how brave a player is. Braver players risk injury more in situations a more cautious player may shy away from. They compete more often in the air, contest more 50/50 or low-percentage challenges, both on the ground and in the air, and look to put their body on the line with blocks and last-ditch challenges.
• Composure: the player’s steadiness of mind and ability, particularly with the ball. When faced with a big goalscoring chance, or heavy pressure defensively, a player with high Composure is able to keep their head and more often than not get the opportunity to make a good decision that is beneficial to the team. In general play, they appear to have more time on the ball, make smarter and more successful decisions with it, and are generally more aware of their surroundings in all phases of play.
• Concentration: how well the player can focus mentally and pay attention to detail on an event-by-event basis. A high rating here means that the player is more consistent on a move-by-move basis during a match. They also react better under pressure, position themselves correctly in all phases of play, and make better judgment calls in tight situations, while players with lower concentration struggle more in these areas.
• Decisions: how often the player makes a correct choice the majority of the time. This attribute is important in every position and works with Composure to decide how likely a player is to feel under pressure at any given moment, and to make the best choice accordingly.
• Leadership: the player’s ability to affect other players. Players with high Leadership are influential on the pitch and teammates perform better when playing with them.
• Off the Ball: a player’s movement without the ball. Similar to Anticipation, this is how well players, particularly attacking ones, can assess a situation and then move off the ball, making themselves available to perform another action after making a pass themselves, or to move into a position to receive the ball from a teammate.
• Positioning: how well the player reads a situation and maneuvers themselves into the best possible location to deal with the unfolding events in defensive situations. It is not used in attacking situations; rather, it is used to determine how well a player identifies who to mark, when and how and where to mark them, and whether or not they’re in the best position within their current tactical setup.
• Teamwork: how well the player follows tactical instructions and works for and alongside their teammates. A team full of players with a high rating here works better as a unit. Players with lower ratings slack off and do not ‘buy in’ to the team ethos, becoming more individual, and not providing adequate support for their teammates. It is also used to help decide whether or not a player opts to use one of their Player Traits ahead of a tactical instruction.
• Vision: the player’s ability to see a potential opportunity, but not necessarily their ability to exploit it. A player might be able to see something to take advantage of, but they also require the technical proficiency to pull it off; this attribute governs how likely they are to visualize something developing or, in the case of a higher rating here, spot something that another player might not.
• Work Rate: the player’s mental drive to work to their full capacities. A high rating ensures a player wants to work their socks off from start to finish, but needs the necessary physical attributes to actually be able to pull it off. It does not merely represent a willingness to run – something that would be inappropriate in many positions – but rather the urgency with which a player gets to where they’re supposed to be in all situations.

Physical Attributes

• Acceleration: how quickly a player can reach top speed (pace) from a standing start. It therefore ties in very closely with the Pace attribute.
• Agility: how well a player can start, stop, and move in different directions at varying levels of speed (pace). It ties in with the Pace, Acceleration and Balance attributes as they work together in the match engine, especially when a player is Dribbling.
• Balance: how well a player can keep their balance in situations both with and without the ball. With the ball, it refers to how balanced they are when running and evading opponents; without it, it refers to balance when facing a player running at them, or stability when turning/jumping.
• Jumping Reach: how good a player is at reaching the ball in the air. It indicates the highest point an outfield player can reach with their head. It is not necessarily reflective of how tall a player is, but when considering jumping ability, it makes sense to consider the player’s height. For example, a player of 200+cm still possesses a high reach even if a poor jumper, and a player who measures in at 170cm struggles to compete at the same height due to the 30cm difference in height between the two.
• Pace: the player’s top speed. Whereas Acceleration reflects how quickly a player can attain their top speed, Pace is that top speed and, together with Stamina and Natural Fitness, controls how long they are able to maintain it, both in short bursts and over the course of a match. A player is naturally a shade quicker without the ball than with it.
• Stamina: the player’s ability to endure high-level physical activity for a long period of time. With the demands placed on a player over a full season, players with high attribute ratings for Stamina are able to perform at their top levels for longer. A player with less Stamina not only tires more quickly, but the quality of execution in all phases of play decreases the more tired they become. It also ties in directly with Natural Fitness.
• Strength: the player’s ability to exert their physical force on an opponent to gain an advantage.

Goalkeeping Attributes

• Aerial Reach: the goalkeeper’s physical ability in aerial situations. Taller goalkeepers typically have a higher rating here as they are naturally pre-disposed to being able to reach areas shorter goalkeepers cannot, but there are exceptions. This attribute works in connection with several other goalkeeping attributes in order to determine proficiency in dealing with the numerous aerial situations they encounter during a match.
• Command of Area: how well the goalkeeper takes charge of the penalty area and works with their defensive line. A goalkeeper who commands the entire box (i.e. has a high rating) is instinctive and looks to take charge of situations, especially coming for crosses (therefore working in tandem with Aerial Reach) or coming out for interceptions. Do note, however, that a high rating only determines whether or not they try, not that they succeed.
• Communication: how well a goalkeeper communicates with the defensive line and organizes the defensive side of the team. A higher rating is reflected in a defender’s comfort in possession near their own goal and whether or not they correctly leave the ball for the goalkeeper rather than trying to play it themselves.
• Handling: how securely the goalkeeper holds onto the ball when making a save or coming for a loose ball. Better Handling is beneficial in unfavorable weather conditions, but in general a goalkeeper who doesn’t give up rebounds is useful.
• Kicking: the capability of a goalkeeper to kick the ball – this defines the distance and accuracy with which they can kick from hand or from dead-ball restarts. Passing governs the goalkeeper’s ability to move the ball in open play.
• One on Ones: the ability of the goalkeeper to do well when faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation. Higher attributes see goalkeepers make better judgments of the opponent’s speed and likely decision and result in them being more likely to make a successful decision.
• Reflexes: how good the goalkeeper is at reacting to unpredictable events. If they have a high Reflexes rating, they have a quicker reaction time to make more difficult saves.
• Throwing: how likely a goalkeeper is to start moves, often counter-attacks, with quick throws from the ball in their hands.

Other Attributes

• Left Foot: the ability and comfort level when using their left foot to control, pass, or shoot the ball. A higher rating suggests they are skilled and reliable when using their left foot, a 20 rating determines that left is the preferred foot and that only the other foot impacts CA.
• Right Foot: the ability and comfort level when using their right foot to control, pass, or shoot the ball. A higher rating suggests they are skilled and reliable when using their right foot, a 20 rating determines that right is the preferred foot and that only the other foot impacts CA.

Hidden Player Attributes

Every player and goalkeeper is assigned a set of six hidden attributes that can significantly impact their performance and career trajectory. These attributes are not visible in the default player profile and can only be revealed through the in-game editor or external scouting tools. However, coaches and scouts often hint at the extremes of these attributes—whether very high or very low—in the pros and cons section of a player’s report.

• Consistency: determines a player’s ability to perform at a stable level (Technically and Mentally), avoiding fluctuations in form.
• Dirtiness: reflects a player’s tendency to bend or break the rules during a match, increasing the risk of yellow and red cards.
• Important Matches: how well a player handles high-pressure, high-stakes matches.
• Injury Proneness: a player’s likelihood of sustaining injuries. The higher the value, the greater the chance of getting injured.
• Versatility: how well a player can perform outside their preferred position or role and their ability to learn new ones. Crucial for Retrain Player’s Position.

While these hidden attributes aren’t immediately visible, they play a pivotal role in determining a player’s real-world value and suitability for your squad. Recognizing their significance and leveraging your scouting reports effectively can help you minimize risks and maximize the potential of your team.

Hidden Personal Attributes

• Adaptability: how well a player adjusts to new environments, such as moving to a new club or country.
• Ambition: reflects rhe extent to which a player is driven to achieve success, pursue ambitious goals, and continually push boundaries, reflecting their aspirations and determination both on and off the field.
• Controversy: reflects the extent to which a player exhibits boldness, assertiveness, or confrontational tendencies in their behavior and interactions.
• Loyalty: reflects the strength of a player’s dedication to their current club, including their willingness to prioritize the club’s interests over external opportunities or personal gain.
• Pressure: how well a player handles high-stakes situations and maintain composure, reflecting their mental and emotional resilience under demanding circumstances.
• Professionalism: reflects the level of a player’s dedication to their career, training, and overall development, demonstrated by their work ethic, discipline, and commitment to long-term improvement.
• Sportsmanship: reflects the degree to which a player adheres to ethical and respectful conduct, both during matches and in their interactions with teammates, opponents, and officials.
• Temperament: how well a player maintains self-control and composure when faced with setbacks, adversity, or frustration, both on and off the field.