Football Manager 2021 is the Sports Interactive management game published by SEGA on 24 November 2020, covering more than 50 nations and 2,500 clubs from the top flight down through the pyramid. Its defining theme was body language: FM21 introduced Gestures, so you could put an arm on a shoulder, smile warmly, pound a fist or throw a water bottle, and the choice fed into how players and media read you. It also brought xG into the game properly through data supplied by SciSports, added a post match SIxG readout comparing your result against the chances you created, and gave you a Performance Analyst producing monthly reports modelled on what real managers receive. Note before you plan a save: FM21 has been delisted from the Steam store, so it is no longer purchasable there although existing owners keep it in their library. That, plus a squad database frozen at the 2020/21 season, is the real argument for or against starting a save here rather than on a later edition.
Combat in Football Manager 2021 rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works (and how they interact) is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. Gestures in conversations
FM21's headline addition let you pair a spoken line with a non verbal signal. Friendly options include Put Arm On Shoulder and Smile Warmly, while assertive ones run up to Pound Fist and Throw Water Bottle. The gesture is read alongside the words, so the same team talk lands differently depending on what your hands are doing, and repeated choices build a public picture of what kind of manager you are.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. SIxG and expected goals data
Expected goals arrived with data from SciSports, giving each shot a quality value and a likelihood of going in. You can read expected goals at half time and full time to see which players are over or under performing their chances. SIxG is Sports Interactive's own post match measure of how well you performed relative to the chances you created, which is what separates an unlucky loss from a bad one.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. Performance Analyst monthly reports
A new backroom role produces monthly data reports mirroring what real managers receive, alongside new graphs and data maps covering team strengths and opposition weaknesses. This is the year the series started expecting you to read data rather than watch every minute of every match. Hiring a strong analyst early is worth more than most coaching upgrades at smaller clubs.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. Recruitment meetings and agent approaches
Recruitment meetings put you and your scouting team on the same page about both immediate targets and longer term transfer strategy, so scouts stop returning reports on players you have no interest in. You can also approach agents directly to gauge whether a player is interested in joining before you commit to a bid. New backroom roles from Assistant through to Analyst round out the staff structure.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. The 2020/21 season database
FM21 is locked to the 2020/21 squads, which is the entire reason to pick it over a newer edition. That means Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund aged twenty, Jude Bellingham newly arrived at Dortmund at seventeen, Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain and Pedri in his first season at Barcelona. If you want to replay that specific transfer window, no later edition offers it without heavy editing.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
How These Mechanics Combine
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
Gestures in conversations + SIxG and expected goals data
FM21's headline addition let you pair a spoken line with a non verbal signal. When combined with SIxG and expected goals data, expected goals arrived with data from scisports, giving each shot a quality value and a likelihood of going in. This combination is the core of every effective build.
Performance Analyst monthly reports + Recruitment meetings and agent approaches
A new backroom role produces monthly data reports mirroring what real managers receive, alongside new graphs and data maps covering team strengths and opposition weaknesses. Paired with Recruitment meetings and agent approaches, recruitment meetings put you and your scouting team on the same page about both immediate targets and longer term transfer strategy, so scouts stop returning reports on players you have no interest in. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
The 2020/21 season database as a Multiplier
FM21 is locked to the 2020/21 squads, which is the entire reason to pick it over a newer edition. That means Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund aged twenty, Jude Bellingham newly arrived at Dortmund at seventeen, Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain and Pedri in his first season at Barcelona. If you want to replay that specific transfer window, no later edition offers it without heavy editing. This system amplifies everything else. The better your The 2020/21 season database optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Role
Each role approaches combat differently:
Gegenpress (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Inverted Wing-Back Primary mechanic: Gestures in conversations
Gegenpress offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Tiki-Taka (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Segundo Volante Primary mechanic: SIxG and expected goals data
Tiki-Taka offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Vertical Tiki-Taka (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Build patiently in your own half, then attack the moment a forward pass opens. It punishes deep blocks better than standard possession does. Key equipment: Mezzala Primary mechanic: Performance Analyst monthly reports
Possession football with the patience removed, keeping the short passing structure but hunting forward passes at every opportunity. Full setup in our builds guide.
Fluid Counter-Attack (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Ball Playing Defender Primary mechanic: Recruitment meetings and agent approaches
Fluid Counter-Attack offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Wing Play (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Complete Forward Primary mechanic: The 2020/21 season database
Wing Play offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your equipment to your role's stat priorities
- Exploit Gestures in conversations for maximum damage windows
- Chain SIxG and expected goals data and Performance Analyst monthly reports for combo damage
- Use Recruitment meetings and agent approaches to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- FM21 is delisted from the Steam store. You cannot buy it there any more, though owners keep it in their library, so check your account before planning a save around it.
- Position using Gestures in conversations to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness: Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression: One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation: Swap gear and equipment for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing: Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring SIxG and expected goals data: This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong equipment for the situation: Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths: Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting: Trading hits works in English football pyramid but will get you killed in Brazilian leagues.
More Football Manager 2021 Guides
- Football Manager 2021 Football Manager 2021 Overview
- Football Manager 2021 Best Builds
- Football Manager 2021 Tier List
- Football Manager 2021 Walkthrough
- Football Manager 2021 Beginner's Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Tips & Tricks
- Football Manager 2021 Weapons Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Boss Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Maps & Locations
- Football Manager 2021 Crafting Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Football Manager 2021, check out these related guides:
- Beat the Champions Combat Guide: sports game with similar mechanics
- Rocket League Combat Guide: sports game with similar mechanics
- Football Manager 2024 Combat Guide: sports game with similar mechanics
