Even the most dedicated Football Manager players will sometimes fall victim to a mental block, and the thought of starting a new save—or even returning to FM after some time off—feels as daunting as scaling Mount Everest.

You open up the game, and immediately an overwhelming wave of inertia hits you, and you end up closing the window, wondering if you’ve lost your passion for a game that has been a part of your life for so long.

If this sounds all too familiar, then worry not: you are not alone. With Football Manager usually being released in November, people often start to wind down their saves in October as they prepare for the upcoming version. But with FM25 delayed until March, there now seems to be a distinct feeling of being stuck in limbo.

There are multiple ways you can breathe new life into your save over the next few months. From databases and save challenges to creative ideas from the community, let’s take a look at how you can make your own FM24.5.

Database Updates

Many Football Manager fansites regularly release database updates with the latest transfers and league changes. So if your FM25 plans were to take on the challenge of rebuilding Bordeaux or managing Mbappé at Real Madrid, you can do so right now!

Custom Databases

There are a lot of talented database creators within the FM community, and if you want something a little different from the norm, there are plenty of options.

Maybe you want to manage your local English non-league team? @DanFMDatabases can take you all the way to level 20 with his Lower League Database. Two of my favourite and most popular saves have come from using his databases, and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a long-term save.

@MadScientistFM is your go-to if you want to take a step back in time and play a database from yesteryear. Imagine taking charge of Messi as a 20-year-old in the 2007/08 season. Will he still spend the next 14 years in Barcelona, or could you tempt him to the bright lights of Slough?

→ view more databases on sortitoutsi ←

Save Challenges

Sometimes leaving your comfort zone can be all that’s needed to give some much-needed freshness to FM. Playing in a nation you don’t usually load gives you the opportunity to sign different players and come up against teams with varying tactical styles. For example, managing in the MLS requires a completely different mentality, as their rules regarding salary caps and designated players can be quite complex and limit the signings you can make.

Back in FM22, I did a one-season save where I managed Ajax and gave myself strict rules. I could only sign and play players that rated highly in specific attributes and had to sell anyone currently in the team that didn’t fit within my criteria. This immediately gave me a clear focus on what I needed to do and achieve.

Attributeless saves are gaining more popularity within the FM scene, where you’re forced into making signings and deciding your starting XI based on playing stats and staff reports instead of going off the usual player attributes. Add an extra layer of difficulty by ticking the ‘Use Fake Players and Staff’ option while setting up your save.

Bottom at Christmas has been a staple of Football Manager save challenges for as long as I can remember. You holiday until Christmas Eve and then take over the team that currently lies at the bottom of your chosen league; your only objective is to save them from relegation.

→ view more challenges on FMInside ←

Create a Narrative

According to @WhyCallum_, the best way to get invested in a new save is to create a story for it. Develop some sort of narrative as to why you’re starting this particular journey. This might be:

  • A personal relationship to the club
  • A historical challenge you would want to recreate
  • A fictional scenario you’ve imagined

By giving your save a purpose beyond just winning matches, it’s going to make you more emotionally invested in the outcome.

Set Specific Challenges

@beardyrock says to give yourself some goals to work towards:

  • Win the Champions League in a certain number of seasons
  • Try to get a given player to win the Ballon d’Or.

Take a Break and Come Back Refreshed

A number of people commented on my recent X post, like @tholomew92 and @MancInMancland, feeling that sometimes the best way to rekindle your love for FM is to step away for a while. Play other games or find new hobbies, and you might find your enthusiasm has naturally rekindled when you return.

Start Small and Build Momentum

If you’re really struggling to get going, set up a save and advance a few days at a time. Focus on small tasks like hiring staff or scouting a player. Once you get flowing, you’ll most likely find it easy to keep going.

Revisit Old Saves, but with New Objectives

@Swebbatron suggests going back to an older save if the thought of starting new seems hard. Set new challenges for yourself within a familiar game world and try to achieve something you didn’t manage in your original run.

Try Unique Team Situations

@martin93849639 and @TheDevilsDNA suggested finding teams with interesting situations, such as starting a save with UD Melilla, a Spanish team in Morocco, or Athletic Bilbao who can only sign Basque players.

@SteersKieran recently started a save with IF Brommapojkarna, who are renowned for their youth academy—having the possibility of a Golden Generation coming through the ranks can put a bit more fun into a save.

Often the brilliance of Football Manager comes from deep within your saves, be it the stories that unfold, the difficulties you face, or simply just having enough time to play the game.

But the key takeaway from experiencing a mental block when it comes to FM is that you’re not obliged to force yourself to play. Taking a step back won’t hurt one bit, and when you feel that urge to return, Football Manager will still be there on the sidelines, patiently waiting to become part of your life again.

So, whenever you’re ready, restart your love affair. Choose your challenge, create your story, and get ready for a new adventure. In Football Manager, anything can happen, and the next great moment is just around the corner.