Football Manager 2021 for Mac: A Detailed Operation Guide

I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace

The interface of Football Manager 2021 (FM21) is a highly integrated information hub designed to let players efficiently manage every aspect of a football club. The Mac version’s interface is basically the same as the Windows version, with optimizations and adaptations made for the macOS system.

1.1 Composition of the Main Workspace

• Top Menu Bar: Located at the very top of the screen, it contains entry points to all game functions such as “File,” “Edit,” “View,” “Match,” and “World.”
• Navigation Sidebar: Located on the left side of the screen, it is the game’s core navigator. It clearly lists all key areas in a tree structure, such as “Club,” “Squad,” “Tactics,” “Scouting,” and “Matches.” Clicking any item displays the corresponding content in the main viewport.
• Main Viewport: The largest area in the center of the screen. Depending on what is selected in the sidebar, it displays detailed information such as player lists, the tactics board, the match screen, and the news inbox. All main operations are completed here.

II. Complete Workflow: From Starting a Save to Exporting Matches

The following workflow will guide you through the core operations of a complete season cycle.

2.1 Create/Load a Game Save

Location: After launching the game, select New Career or Load Game from the main menu.

1. Select a Club: On the “Select Management Career” screen, you can start with a club you love, or choose a specific objective through “Challenge” mode.
2. Configure Game Settings: On the details page, set the game start date, manageable league scope, database size, and more. Beginners are advised to choose a medium-to-large database and load major leagues as “manageable.”
3. Create Manager Profile: Set your name, nationality, and past experience (which affects your initial managerial reputation). Once done, click the Continue button in the bottom right corner, and the game will begin initializing.

2.2 Get Familiar with Your Club and Initial Setup

After the game starts, the first thing you’ll see is your inbox.

1. Process Your Inbox: Read and process all pending items (click on a message, then choose a processing option in the bottom right corner such as “Confirm” or make a decision). Pressing the Spacebar is the default shortcut for “Continue Game,” which will process your inbox item by item.
2. Review Squad Depth: Click on the left sidebar Squad -> Depth Chart. Here you can view all players, and use the top view dropdown menu to switch to “Assistant Coach Report” or “Squad Planner” to quickly understand the team’s strengths and weaknesses.
3. Set Tactics: Navigate to the Tactics page.
   • On the “Tactics Board,” drag players from the right panel to positions on the pitch.
   • Set your tactical ideas in “Team Instructions” and “Player Instructions.”
   • Save tactics: Click the dropdown arrow next to the “Tactic Name” at the top, select “Save As,” and enter a name.
4. Arrange Training: Navigate to the Training page. In the early stages, you can delegate training to the assistant coach, or arrange key training sessions yourself in the “Schedule.”

2.3 Playing Matches

When match day on the fixture list arrives:

1. Pre-Match Preparation: One day or a few hours before the match, a “Upcoming Match” message will appear in your inbox. Click to enter the “Match Preview” screen, where you can view the opponent report, select the match squad, and choose tactics.
2. Enter the Match: At the match start time, click the message in your inbox or the match entry on the schedule to enter the match screen.
3. Match Mode Selection: At the top of the match screen, you can choose the viewing mode: “Commentary Only,” “Key Highlights,” “Full Match,” etc. Beginners are advised to start with “Key Highlights.”
4. Sideline Management: At the bottom of the match screen, there are buttons for “Tactics,” “Substitutions,” “Shout,” etc. You can:
   • Adjust mentality (attacking, defensive, etc.).
   • Make substitutions: click the “Substitutions” button and drag substitute players onto the positions of on-pitch players.
   • Shout at the team or individual players.
5. End Match: After the match ends, click “Continue” to return to the main interface and view the match report and player ratings.

2.4 Mid-Season Management and End of Season

• Transfer Operations: Use the sidebar Scouting -> Player Search to find targets, or receive candidate shortlists from the board or scouts. Right-click on a player and select “Make Transfer Offer” or “Declare Interest.”
• Player Interaction: On a player’s profile page, click “Interact” to praise, criticize, warn, and have other conversations to manage player morale.
• Board Communication: In the sidebar Club -> Board, you can request facility upgrades, increased wage budget, etc.

2.5 Exporting Data and Continuing the Game

FM21 does not have a traditional “export” multimedia file feature, but you can export data and reports.

• Export Player/Team Data: On any list screen (such as the player list), click the “gear” icon (options) in the upper right corner, select “Export Data,” and you can export the statistical data of the current view as a CSV file.
• Saving the Game and Exiting: In the top menu bar, select File -> Save Game or use Command + S. To exit the game, select File -> Exit or use Command + Q.
• Continuing the Game Loop: The core of daily operations is handling the inbox (press Spacebar), making decisions, and advancing the calendar. The game will automatically guide you through the inbox to complete all necessary tasks.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

• Quick Player Filtering: On the “Player Search” or “Squad” page, right-click a column header (such as “Passing”) to set filter conditions (“greater than or equal to 15”) and quickly find players who meet your tactical requirements.
• Creating Custom Views: On any list page, right-click a column header and select “Select Columns,” and you can create and save a view that only displays the attributes you care about (such as “Passing,” “Vision,” “Decisions”), making horizontal comparisons easier.
• Use the “Continue Game” pause condition: Click the small arrow next to the “Continue Game” button in the bottom status bar to set conditions for the game to automatically pause, such as “any transfer offer received” or “player unhappy,” so you won’t miss important events.
• Quickly set individual player instructions: On the tactics board screen, right-click a player on the pitch and select “Player Instructions” to set them quickly. A more efficient method is: first set up a complete set of individual instructions for a certain role (such as “attacking full-back”), then right-click on other players and select “Copy instructions from” -> [that player’s name].
• Use the “Spacebar” and “Command+W” combination: Spacebar advances the game, and Command + W quickly closes the currently open window (such as a player profile page), allowing you to efficiently browse and process information without using a mouse.

IV. Common Problems and Solutions

• Problem 1: The game runs sluggishly, especially on match days or when processing large amounts of data.
  • Solution: In the game settings (Preferences -> Advanced), lower the match graphics quality, turn off “Use 3D players” and “Crowd detail”; reduce the number of loaded leagues; select a faster speed in “Processing Speed.”
• Issue 2: Player morale is generally low, and the team’s performance is poor.
  • Solution: Regularly check the “Squad” -> “Morale” page; use “Interactions” to give appropriate praise (when on a winning streak or when training ratings are high); hold team meetings after wins; ensure that first-team players have enough promised playing time.
• Issue 3: Tactical instructions are complicated, and it’s unclear where to start.
  • Solution: For beginners, it is recommended to choose a preset tactical style on the “Tactics” page (such as “Gegenpress” or “Tiki-taka”), and the game will automatically configure a basic set of team instructions. Fine-tuning on this basis is easier than starting from scratch.
• Issue 4: Unable to sign favored players during the transfer window.
  • Solution: Check whether the transfer budget and wage budget are sufficient; use “Scout Reports” to confirm whether the player is interested in joining your club; try loan-to-buy or installment payments; pay attention to players whose contracts are about to expire (add “Contract Expiring” in “Player Search”
• Issue 5: The game crashes unexpectedly or the save file is corrupted.
  • Solution: Always enable the game’s “Auto Save” feature (Preferences -> Save Interval), and choose “Three Rolling Saves.” If the main save is corrupted, you can load the auto-saved backup file.

V. Football Manager 2021 for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Summary

Note: Some shortcuts (such as switching interfaces) may vary depending on the game version or custom settings. Most operations can also be completed via mouse clicks.