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In Football Manager 2024, success isn’t just about tactics and transfers — it’s also about managing people. Promises are a key part of keeping your squad happy, motivated, and loyal. Whether you’re trying to sign a star player, develop a young talent, or calm a frustrated veteran, the promises you make (and keep) can make or break your season.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about promises — how they work, what they mean, and how to use them to your advantage without losing control of your dressing room.
What Are Promises?
Promises are verbal agreements made between you and a player (or staff) during:
- Contract negotiations
- Transfer discussions
- One-on-one conversations (e.g. player comes to your office with a concern)
What Happens If You Break a Promise?
- Unhappiness or morale drops
- Negative dynamics in the dressing room
- Players asking to leave or turning against you
When Promises Are Made?
During Transfers
Players may agree to sign only if you:
- Strengthen a certain position
- Qualify for European competition
- Offer them a key role in the squad
During Contract Negotiations
The most common promises players might ask for are:
- Have specific Playing time present or future
- To play in preferred position and role
- To become a team leader (captain or vice-captain)
- To be sold after a season
- Improve staff or squad
- To win trophies
Player Conversations
Players can ask for things like:
- More playing time
- A loan move
- A new contract
- To play in their preferred position
Where Can I See All Promises Made to a Player?
Keeping track of promises is key to avoiding squad issues. Here’s how to check them easily:
- Go to the “Dynamics” tab on the left-hand sidebar.
- Click on the “Happiness” tab at the top of the screen.
- Look for the “Promises” column — it shows how many active promises each player has.
- Hover over the number in the column to see the details of each individual promise.
- You can also head to individual Player’s Overview > Happiness but won’t be as detailed as Dynamics view.
How Do I Keep the Promises I’ve Made?
Stay on top of your promises and keep your players onside might include:
- Monitor the “Happiness” Tab in a player’s profile regularly
- Schedule Training for position retraining
- Rotate the Squad to meet playing time expectations
- Use Transfer/Loan Market strategically to meet squad or personal promises
Tips to Handle Promises Smartly
- Be realistic: Don’t promise to sign a world-class winger if your budget is tight.
- Use vague timelines: “Over the season” gives you breathing room.
- Manage Expectations: Especially with young players or backups.
- Reject or Negotiate – You can refuse some promises outright or steer the convo.
- Back Up Your Words – If you promise to loan someone, actually list them for loan.
- Avoid Too Many Promises at Once – They can quickly snowball out of control.
- Use Notebook to keep track of Promises and their due dates
FAQ (Quick Answers)
- How Do I Fulfill Youth Development Promises?
- This promise is hard to fulfill and best avoided. Even if you play the U21 players regularly or loan them out, monitor their progress and provide good training, there’s no guaranteed formula to “complete” this promise.
- Can I Change or Cancel a Promise?
- Not directly. Once a promise is made, it stays active until it’s fulfilled or broken. You might talk to the player and try to explain your situation (may work depending on their personality) or offer a new contract to “reset” expectations in some cases.
- How Long Do Players Remember Broken promises?
- From a few months, to a year or more. Players with strong personalities or high ambition might never forget.
- Date Created
- 10 Apr 2025 11:22:55
- Date Updated
- 10 Apr 2025 11:38:09
- Last Comment
- 10 Apr 2025 11:22:55
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