Exploring Football Manager as an Esport
Football Manager has evolved over the years from its origins as Championship Manager in the 90s to becoming a beloved simulation game for football enthusiasts. The game allows players to take on the role of a football club manager, making strategic decisions about team selection, player transfers, and in-game tactics. Its popularity has soared, with the latest edition regularly featuring in the top 20 of Steam’s most played games. Sports Interactive, the studio behind Football Manager, has reported a significant increase in player numbers, with over 12 million players engaging with Football Manager 2024, a 97% year-on-year increase.
The Concept of Football Manager Esports
Despite its success, Football Manager is exploring new horizons, including the possibility of entering the esports arena. The main challenge lies in the game’s nature as a simulation, which introduces many variables that can affect outcomes unpredictably. This makes it difficult to determine the best Football Manager player objectively.
In an effort to address this, FIFAe hosted an experimental esports event, the FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager, in Liverpool. The event aimed to transform the simulation game into a competitive experience without losing its essence. It gathered 40 players from 19 nations, competing for a $100,000 prize pool. The competition was divided into two phases: the Group Stage and the Playoffs, showcasing Football Manager’s traditional career mode and its draft feature.
During the Group Stage, 20 managers were split into four groups, each representing a specific team. Managers played one offline season per day for three days, with points awarded based on their performance in the league, cups, and daily challenges. The manager with the most points at the end of the third season advanced to the playoffs. The winning managers also had the opportunity to visit the clubs they represented, chosen by FIFAe and Sports Interactive.
Community Involvement and Broadcasting
The use of Football Manager’s offline mode in the tournament was seen as a test, with the Group Stage becoming a community and creator-led affair. Fans could watch the action through FIFAe’s channels for unlisted streams, managers’ public streams, or co-streamers’ channels. One content creator, Zealand, created a ‘Red Zone’ style stream, providing live commentary and checking in on the action across different managers’ streams.
Despite the decentralized nature of broadcasting, FIFAe’s official channel featured daily press conferences where managers answered questions and updated audiences on their progress. The Playoffs, however, resembled a more traditional esports broadcast, complete with a studio, analyst desk, and crowd. The event featured special guests like football legend John Terry and English manager Sam Allardyce, who provided analysis during the broadcast.
Evaluating the Event’s Success
According to esports data platform Esports Charts, the event recorded a peak viewership of 25,000 and a total of 142,404 hours across its 52-hour airtime. While lower than previous FIFAe events, the tournament received positive feedback from the Football Manager community. The question remains whether Football Manager can become a legitimate esport, given its elements of chance and unpredictability.
Content creator Zealand argued that if people can compete in Excel spreadsheet competitions, they can certainly compete in a football simulation game. Comparisons to professional poker, which also combines skill and luck, were made by several commentators, including Football Manager YouTuber Kevin ‘Lollujo’ Chapman.
Future Prospects for Football Manager Esports
The long-term viability of Football Manager as an esport depends on the willingness of FIFAe and Sports Interactive to continue hosting similar events. Sports Interactive has indicated that they will evaluate the tournament’s outcomes before making any commitments. Meanwhile, smaller, streamer-focused competitions like the Streamer Showdown, created by content creator Doctor Benjy, have also contributed to the game’s esports presence.
FIFA has shown interest in developing football esports, including Football Manager, eFootball, and Rocket League, by incorporating them into the FIFA Statutes. This aims to provide a strong foundation for member associations to develop local football esports competitions.
The passionate Football Manager community was evident at the FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager, with around 100 virtual managers attending the finals in Liverpool. For many long-time players, seeing their favorite game receive the esports treatment was a rewarding experience in itself.
Conclusion
The FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager showcased the potential for Football Manager to be a competitive esport. While challenges remain due to the game’s inherent unpredictability, the event highlighted the game’s passionate community and provided a glimpse into what the future could hold for Football Manager esports. As
