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.
Football Manager 2021 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 football pyramid | Non league through to the Premier League | The longest continuous promotion ladder and the largest scouted player pool | Tiki-Taka |
| 2 | Spanish leagues | Top flight and second tier | A 2020/21 Barcelona squad that no later Football Manager can reproduce | Tiki-Taka |
| 3 | Italian leagues | Top flight and second tier | Cheap experienced players and a market where reputation moves faster than money | Gegenpress |
| 4 | German leagues | Top flight and second tier | The best concentration of affordable young talent in the starting database | Gegenpress |
| 5 | Brazilian leagues | Playable top flight, primarily a recruitment market | High volume of cheap wonderkids for clubs that cannot compete in Europe | Gegenpress |
English football pyramid: Starting Area
The deepest playable structure in the game, running from the Premier League down through the Vanarama National League. It is where the classic lower league journeyman save lives, because you can climb every division without ever leaving the country.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Non league through to the Premier League |
| Key Rewards | The longest continuous promotion ladder and the largest scouted player pool |
| Recommended Role | Tiki-Taka |
| Key Equipment | Segundo Volante |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Gestures in conversations. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Spanish leagues.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Spanish leagues: Early Game
The database that includes Lionel Messi still at Barcelona and Pedri in his first season there, which is the single strongest argument for playing FM21 specifically rather than a later edition.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Top flight and second tier |
| Key Rewards | A 2020/21 Barcelona squad that no later Football Manager can reproduce |
| Recommended Role | Tiki-Taka |
| Key Equipment | Segundo Volante |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering SIxG and expected goals data. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Segundo Volante if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Italian leagues.
Italian leagues: Mid Game
The 2020/21 snapshot puts Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, which reshapes the whole division's transfer market. Wage structures are tighter than England's, so squad building here rewards free transfers and loans.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Top flight and second tier |
| Key Rewards | Cheap experienced players and a market where reputation moves faster than money |
| Recommended Role | Gegenpress |
| Key Equipment | Segundo Volante |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Inverted Wing-Back becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Performance Analyst monthly reports for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
German leagues: Late Game
The most productive youth environment in the FM21 database, with Erling Haaland aged twenty and Jude Bellingham aged seventeen both at Borussia Dortmund at the start of the save. Selling clubs and buying clubs are unusually well separated here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Top flight and second tier |
| Key Rewards | The best concentration of affordable young talent in the starting database |
| Recommended Role | Gegenpress |
| Key Equipment | Inverted Wing-Back |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Inverted Wing-Back should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- The 2020/21 season database mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Brazilian leagues.
Brazilian leagues: Endgame
A scouting destination as much as a management one. The calendar and the transfer rules work differently from Europe, and the volume of teenage talent means an established scouting network here pays for itself in two seasons.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Playable top flight, primarily a recruitment market |
| Key Rewards | High volume of cheap wonderkids for clubs that cannot compete in Europe |
| Recommended Role | Gegenpress |
| Key Equipment | Inverted Wing-Back |
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 Wing Play for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: English football pyramid → Spanish leagues → Italian leagues → German leagues → Brazilian leagues. 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 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 Combat Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Boss Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Crafting Guide
- Football Manager 2021 Classes & Characters
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