Football Manager 2023 launched on 8 November 2022 and was the first entry to carry official UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League branding, complete with the music, scoreboards and redrawn draws. Sports Interactive rebuilt recruitment around the Squad Planner and Recruitment Focus, and added Supporter Confidence, which splits your fanbase into Hardcore, Core, Family, Fair Weather, Corporate and Casual segments that judge you separately from the board. Match engine work went into goalkeeper distribution, spread blocks and aerial defending.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeper Keeper | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Inverted Wing-Back | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Mezzala | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Segundo Volante | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Pressing Forward | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Football Manager 2023 tier list.
A-Tier: Sweeper Keeper
Sweeper Keeper is a top-performing option in Football Manager 2023.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Play Out Of Defence | Tells the back line and goalkeeper to build with short passes rather than launching it forward. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Squad Planner | Ranks every player against your tactic by choice order, folds in your shortlist, and runs plans for the current season plus the next two. |
How to Play Sweeper Keeper
Sweeper Keeper focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Play Out Of Defence does the damage and Squad Planner keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Inverted Wing-Back
Inverted Wing-Back is a strong option in Football Manager 2023.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Pass Into Space | Pushes players to hit the area ahead of a runner rather than into feet. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Recruitment Focus | Replaces FM22's assignment system. |
How to Play Inverted Wing-Back
Inverted Wing-Back focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Pass Into Space with Recruitment Focus and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Mezzala
Mezzala is a strong option in Football Manager 2023.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Counter | An In Transition instruction telling the side to break immediately on winning possession instead of resetting shape first. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Supporter Confidence | Your fanbase divides into Hardcore, Core, Family, Fair Weather, Corporate and Casual segments, each judging Match Performance, Transfer Activity, Tactics and Squad separately from board objectives. |
How to Play Mezzala
Mezzala focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Supporter Confidence covers the gap Counter leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Segundo Volante
Segundo Volante is a specialized option in Football Manager 2023.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Trigger Press | Sets how eagerly your players close down. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Mentality and team instructions | Mentality sets your baseline risk and the instructions moderate it, grouped as In Possession, In Transition and Out of Possession. |
How to Play Segundo Volante
Segundo Volante focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Mentality and team instructions rather than raw numbers, and Trigger Press is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Pressing Forward
Pressing Forward is a specialized option in Football Manager 2023.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Drop Off | One of the two instructions that replaced the old Offside Trap, alongside Hold the Line. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Role and duty familiarity | Every player carries a familiarity rating for each role, and individual training set to their assigned role is what raises it. |
How to Play Pressing Forward
Pressing Forward focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Drop Off and Role and duty familiarity pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Inverted Wing-Back: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Sweeper Keeper once you understand core mechanics and have access to Play Out Of Defence
- Keep a Mezzala setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Pressing Forward for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Mentality is your baseline risk and roles, duties and instructions are the moderators. Stacking a much higher tempo, much more direct passing and an Attacking mentality does not produce an aggressive side, it produces an incoherent one.
- Individual training should match the role a player actually plays. Role familiarity climbs from that setting, and leaving it on a default caps both familiarity and attribute growth for the whole season without any warning.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Football Manager 2023 Guides
- Football Manager 2023 Football Manager 2023 Overview
- Football Manager 2023 Tier List
- Football Manager 2023 Walkthrough
- Football Manager 2023 Beginner's Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Tips & Tricks
- Football Manager 2023 Weapons Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Combat Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Boss Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Maps & Locations
- Football Manager 2023 Crafting Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Football Manager 2023, check out these related guides:
- Beat the Champions Builds: sports game with similar mechanics
- Rocket League Builds: sports game with similar mechanics
- Football Manager 2024 Builds: sports game with similar mechanics
