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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play Out Of Defence | S | Possession sides with technically secure defenders, and dragging a high pressing opponent out of shape. | Tells the back line and goalkeeper to build with short passes rather than launching it forward. |
| Pass Into Space | A | Quick forwards and wide players with strong Off The Ball, usually paired with a higher tempo. | Pushes players to hit the area ahead of a runner rather than into feet. |
| Counter | A | Squads with pace up front that lose the possession battle and need to win games in ten second bursts. | An In Transition instruction telling the side to break immediately on winning possession instead of resetting shape first. |
| Trigger Press | B | High energy squads with the Work Rate, Stamina and Aggression to sustain it for ninety minutes. | Sets how eagerly your players close down. |
| Drop Off | B | Slow centre-backs, and away matches where surrendering territory is an acceptable price. | One of the two instructions that replaced the old Offside Trap, alongside Hold the Line. |
S-Tier: Play Out Of Defence
Tells the back line and goalkeeper to build with short passes rather than launching it forward. It only survives contact if your centre-backs and keeper have the passing and composure to handle a press.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Possession sides with technically secure defenders, and dragging a high pressing opponent out of shape. |
| Key Mechanic | Squad Planner |
| Recommended Role | Sweeper Keeper |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Play Out Of Defence: Pairs naturally with Sweeper Keeper thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Pass Into Space
Pushes players to hit the area ahead of a runner rather than into feet. It raises turnovers and chance quality at the same time, so it is a trade rather than a free upgrade.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Quick forwards and wide players with strong Off The Ball, usually paired with a higher tempo. |
| Key Mechanic | Recruitment Focus |
| Recommended Role | Inverted Wing-Back |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Pass Into Space: Pairs naturally with Inverted Wing-Back thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Counter
An In Transition instruction telling the side to break immediately on winning possession instead of resetting shape first.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Squads with pace up front that lose the possession battle and need to win games in ten second bursts. |
| Key Mechanic | Supporter Confidence |
| Recommended Role | Mezzala |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Counter: Pairs naturally with Mezzala thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Trigger Press
Sets how eagerly your players close down. Combined with Line of Engagement it separates a real gegenpress from a side that simply runs itself into exhaustion.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | High energy squads with the Work Rate, Stamina and Aggression to sustain it for ninety minutes. |
| Key Mechanic | Mentality and team instructions |
| Recommended Role | Segundo Volante |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Trigger Press: Pairs naturally with Segundo Volante thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Drop Off
One of the two instructions that replaced the old Offside Trap, alongside Hold the Line. It tells the defensive line to retreat rather than step up, cutting off balls in behind.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Slow centre-backs, and away matches where surrendering territory is an acceptable price. |
| Key Mechanic | Role and duty familiarity |
| Recommended Role | Pressing Forward |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Drop Off: Pairs naturally with Pressing Forward thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear UEFA Champions League
- Pass Into Space → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Counter → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Play Out Of Defence → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Football Manager 2023 Guides
- Football Manager 2023 Football Manager 2023 Overview
- Football Manager 2023 Best Builds
- Football Manager 2023 Tier List
- Football Manager 2023 Walkthrough
- Football Manager 2023 Beginner's Guide
- Football Manager 2023 Tips & Tricks
- 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
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