Football Manager 2020 shipped on 18 November 2019 with a database frozen on the 2019/20 season, and that database is the main reason anyone still loads it: Erling Haaland starts at Red Bull Salzburg, and every squad predates the pandemic. FM20's own additions were the Development Centre, Club Vision and the Playing Time Pathway, all of which behave differently from the systems that replaced them in later editions. Sports Interactive can only sell each edition while its club and player licences hold, so FM20 has been pulled from sale and cannot be bought new; the Stadia version died with Stadia in January 2023.
Football Manager 2020 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Premier League | Any experience level | Full licensing, deepest scouting coverage, the strongest transfer budgets in the game | Mezzala |
| 2 | German Bundesliga | Second save, once you understand Club Vision | Licensed German national team, strong youth intakes, competitive but affordable squads | Mezzala |
| 3 | Italian Serie A | Any, best for players who enjoy the transfer market | Undervalued young Italian talent, tactical variety, tighter budgets than England | Segundo Volante |
| 4 | English National League | Experienced managers; the tools are thinner at this level | Full promotion ladder to the Premier League, meaningful infrastructure objectives, free transfer market | Segundo Volante |
| 5 | Gibraltar National League | For players who have already done the standard saves | New to FM20, European qualification from a minimal league, extreme squad-building constraints | Segundo Volante |
English Premier League: Starting Area
Fully licensed in FM20 with the 2019/20 squads, which means Liverpool at their peak and a pre-pandemic transfer market with money still in it. The standard first save, and the one most FM20 community guides assume.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any experience level |
| Key Rewards | Full licensing, deepest scouting coverage, the strongest transfer budgets in the game |
| Recommended Role | Mezzala |
| Key Equipment | Development Centre hub |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Club Vision and the five-year plan. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to German Bundesliga.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
German Bundesliga: Early Game
The German national team returned to FM20 after being absent from previous editions. The league's youth development reputation pairs naturally with the new Development Centre, and squad rules around homegrown players shape recruitment.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Second save, once you understand Club Vision |
| Key Rewards | Licensed German national team, strong youth intakes, competitive but affordable squads |
| Recommended Role | Mezzala |
| Key Equipment | Development Centre hub |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering The Development Centre. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Development Centre hub if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Italian Serie A.
Italian Serie A: Mid Game
The 2019/20 Serie A database is the reason to come here: Sandro Tonali at Brescia and Dejan Kulusevski in his breakout season are both available at prices that never appeared again in a later edition.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any, best for players who enjoy the transfer market |
| Key Rewards | Undervalued young Italian talent, tactical variety, tighter budgets than England |
| Recommended Role | Segundo Volante |
| Key Equipment | Development Centre hub |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Club Vision board objectives becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Playing Time Pathway for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
English National League: Late Game
The fifth tier and the traditional starting point for a promotion challenge save. FM20's Club Vision is at its most interesting here because the five-year plan and infrastructure targets actually constrain what you can do.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Experienced managers; the tools are thinner at this level |
| Key Rewards | Full promotion ladder to the Premier League, meaningful infrastructure objectives, free transfer market |
| Recommended Role | Segundo Volante |
| Key Equipment | Club Vision board objectives |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Club Vision board objectives should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Tactical styles and player roles mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Gibraltar National League.
Gibraltar National League: Endgame
Gibraltar made its Football Manager debut in FM20, which makes it one of the few things in this edition that later versions did not simply improve on. A tiny league with European qualification attached is a specific kind of save.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | For players who have already done the standard saves |
| Key Rewards | New to FM20, European qualification from a minimal league, extreme squad-building constraints |
| Recommended Role | Segundo Volante |
| Key Equipment | Club Vision board objectives |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Pressing Forward for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: English Premier League → German Bundesliga → Italian Serie A → English National League → Gibraltar National League. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Football Manager 2020 Guides
- Football Manager 2020 Football Manager 2020 Overview
- Football Manager 2020 Best Builds
- Football Manager 2020 Tier List
- Football Manager 2020 Walkthrough
- Football Manager 2020 Beginner's Guide
- Football Manager 2020 Tips & Tricks
- Football Manager 2020 Weapons Guide
- Football Manager 2020 Combat Guide
- Football Manager 2020 Boss Guide
- Football Manager 2020 Crafting Guide
- Football Manager 2020 Classes & Characters
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