Football Manager 26: Each Player Role, Explained

Football Manager 26 has just become a tactical battlefield with the revamped role system, and fans are loving it. When new roles for FM 26 were leaked, people were unsure of how things would play out in-game. But with 40 new roles being added, totaling 72 roles in the game at this point, it’s time to revisit the role system.

New roles aren’t the only new features, as FM 26 introduces the In-Possession (IP) and Out-of-Possession (OOP) system. Essentially, you need to select different roles for when your team has possession of the ball (usually on offense) and when they lose possession (usually on defense). But more on that later. For now, let’s take a look at all the roles we’ll see in Football Manager 26.

Goalkeeper Roles

Role	Description
Goalkeeper	Balanced role, distributes according to team strategy
Line-Holding Keeper (New)	Stays in the box, defending the goal. Defense is left up to the team, except within the box
No-Nonsense GK (New)	Plays safe, no risky plays
Sweeper Keeper	Aggressive, engages attackers, intercepts passes
Ball-Player GK	Engages with the team, is balanced, and is a playmaker

Centre-Back Roles

Role	Description
Centre-Back	Balanced defender who assists in gaining possession
No-Nonsense CB	Avoids risky plays, prefers to clear the ball, and plays defensively
Covering CB	Holds the defensive line, engages attackers
Stopping CB	Confronts attackers, stops plays early
Ball-Playing CB	Sends line-breaking passes, drives the ball forward
Overlapping CB	Aggressive, plays with attack, overlaps to wide areas
Advanced CB (New)	Breaks into the DM role in the build-up
Wide CB	Provides width and recycling options
Covering Wide CB	Holds line, plays defensively to support GK
Stopping Wide CB	Engages attackers early, plays aggressively on the wings

Full-Back Roles

Role	Description
Full-Back	Balanced role, supports attack with overlaps
Holding Full-Back (New)	Stays behind to cover counter-attacks
Inside Full-Back (New)	Tucked behind the CB line for build-up
Inverted Full-Back	Pushes forward to support the midfield
Pressing Full-Back (New)	Supports high up the pitch and assists with the press

Wing-Back Roles

Role	Description
Wing-Back	Combines Full-Back and Winger duties; overlaps and supports attacks
Holding Wing-Back (New)	Stays behind on the attack, covers the sides
Inside Wing-Back (New)	Shuttles between the center to support passing and counter-defend
Inverted Wing-Back	Defensive wing, but moves up to support the midfield
Pressing Wing-Back (New)	Presses the attack on the wing to mitigate playmaking
Playing Wing-Back (New)	Central hub of passing play; creates attacking chances with through balls and crosses
Advanced Wing-Back (New)	Springs high and wide; plays like a wide midfielder

Defensive Midfield Roles

Role	Description
Defensive Midfielder	Shields’ defense, strings play along with simple passes
Dropping DM (New)	Drops into the back line to support the defense
Screening DM (New)	Stands between midfield and defense, intercepting passes early
Wide Covering DM (New)	Shifts wide to assist fullbacks
Half-Back	Drops between CBs during build-up
Pressing DM (New)	Moves forward to assist with offense, aggressive
Deep-Laying Playmaker	Starts playmaking from behind, begins attacks deep with pinpoint passes

Central Midfield Roles

Role	Description
Central Midfielder	Balanced role, supports both defense and attack
Screening CM (New)	Blocks the central zone, intercepts passes for counter-attack
Wide-Covering CM (New)	Shifts wide to give defensive protection to flanks, defensive
Box-to-Box Midfielder	Covers the entire pitch, all-around player
Box-to-Box Playmaker (New)	Creative presence that drops deep and pushes forward both
Channel Midfielder (New)	Makes overlapping runs into wide channels
Midfield Playmaker (New)	Aggressive, sets up offensive playmaking to ST
Pressing CM (New)	Aggressive, helps build the offense

Wide Midfield Roles

Role	Description
Wide Midfielder	Plays deeper, delivers crosses from wide
Tracking Wide Midfielder (New)	Drops back to help with defense
Wide Central Midfielder (New)	Build up the play for the side, accompanied by the CM
Wide Outlet Midfielder (New)	Stays high while avoiding defensive duties, available for crosses or counter-attacks

Attacking Midfielder Roles

Role	Description
Attacking Midfielder	Works between lines, creates space
Tracking AM (New)	Drops back to help defend, stays in the opponent’s half, cuts plays early
Advanced Playmaker	Creates space in the central area near the box, opening the defensive line
Central Outlet AM (New)	Remains high while avoiding defensive duties, plays with wide outlet midfielders
Splitting Outlet AM (New)	Remains high and goes wide for counters
Free Role (New)	Roams wherever needed, creates disruption and confusion for the opponent

Winger Roles

Role	Description
Winger	Stretches play, delivers crosses
Half-Space Winger (New)	Moves inwards to help with attack, intercepts passes to keep possession
Inside Winger (New)	Similar to Half-Space Winger, but remains in the centre
Inverting Outlet Winger (New)	Stays high, moves inward for counter-attacks
Tracking Winger (New)	Tracks back for defensive help, remains available for attack
Wide Outlet Winger (New)	Stays high, does not engage in defense
Wide Playmaker (New)	Brings the ball inwards from the sides, creating space for the striker
Wide Forward (New)	A wide attacker who makes runs into the box
Inside Forward	Cuts inside to attack central spaces, receives crosses or through balls

Striker Roles

Roles	Description
False Nine	Moves deep towards the centre, creates plays, and opens the defensive line
Deep-Lying Forward	Connects midfield and attack, helps retain possession
Half-Space Forward (New)	A wide attacker who cuts in to score
Second Striker (New)	Drops deep in space early, looks for a through ball to score, and is prone to offside
Channel Forward (New)	High-energy runner into wide channels, allowing for deep crosses
Centre Forward	Classic No. 9, leads the line
Central Outlet CF (New)	Remains high, avoids defensive work
Splitting Outlet CF (New)	Stays deep into opposition, moves wide for counter-attacks
Tracking CF (New)	Plays backward to assist defense, looks for counter-attacks on intercepts
Target Forward	Physical presence, aerial threat to pressurize the opposing defense
Poacher	Remains in the centre, minimal movements, great finishing, and looks to score