Build a world-class youth system in FM26. Intake optimization, newgen scouting, development pathways and turning prospects into stars.
Youth development in Football Manager is the most cost-effective way to build a top squad. Get it right and you'll have a conveyor belt of talent. Get it wrong and you'll waste years developing average players.
**What Determines Intake Quality?** Youth Recruitment (staff), Youth Facilities, Youth Coaching, Junior Coaching, and your nation's youth rating all affect the quality of regens on intake day. You can't change your nation but you can improve everything else. Investing in youth infrastructure pays off within 3-5 seasons.
**How to Assess Intake Players** Your Head of Youth Development will email a report. Look for: - **Star rating**: Current and potential ability estimate - **Personality**: Driven, Ambitious, Resolute are excellent - **Attributes**: Check key attributes for their position - **Injury proneness**: Hidden but affects long-term value
Don't judge players purely on current ability. A 1-star current but 4-star potential player is gold. They need time but will develop into first-teamers.
**Signing Intake Players** Offer contracts to anyone with 3-star potential or above. Be cautious with 2.5-star players unless they have an exceptional personality or fill a position of need. Reject the rest to save wage budget.
**The Pathway to First Team** - **U18s**: Foundation phase, basic development - **U23s/Reserves**: Competitive matches, increased intensity - **First-team squad**: Cup games, substitute appearances - **First-team regular**: Consistent starts
Players need appropriate competition at each stage. Dominating U18s means they should move up to U23s. Struggling in U23s means they're not ready for the first team yet.
**Mentoring Groups** Pair youngsters with senior players who have Model Citizen, Professional, or Perfectionist personalities. The younger player's personality will gradually shift towards the mentor's. This is how you turn "Casual" regens into professionals.
**Individual Training** For players under 23, use individual training to develop specific attributes. Strikers need Finishing, Composure, and Off The Ball. Centre-backs need Marking, Positioning, and Tackling. Target weaknesses but don't ignore strengths entirely.
**Playing Time** Regular football is essential for development. If a youngster isn't getting first-team minutes, loan them to a lower league where they'll start. A season of regular Championship football develops players faster than sitting on the bench in the Premier League.
**Finding Hidden Gems** Every year, hundreds of talented regens appear in youth systems worldwide. Your scouts can find them. Set up scouting assignments in football-rich nations: Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Ivory Coast, Nigeria.
**What to Look For** - **Age 15-17**: Cheaper and easier to sign before reputation grows - **High potential ability**: 3.5-star potential or above - **Good personality**: Determined, Professional, Model Citizen - **Contract situation**: Players with under 12 months on contract are easier to sign
**Work Permits** If you're managing in England, work permit rules apply. Players need international caps or a high wage offer to qualify. Alternatively, loan them to a feeder club abroad until they qualify. Brexit rules in FM26 have tightened this further - plan ahead.
**Youth Facilities** The single biggest factor in youth development. Upgrading from Basic to Excellent youth facilities transforms intake quality. It's expensive but returns hundreds of millions in player value over a decade. Prioritise this in board requests.
**Youth Coaches** Hire coaches with high Working with Youngsters (15+), Determination (15+), and Discipline (13+). These attributes directly affect development speed. Personality matters too - you want coaches who instil good habits.
**Head of Youth Development** Your HoYD determines intake quality via their Judging Player Ability, Judging Player Potential, and Working with Youngsters. Don't cheap out here. A great HoYD can uncover future stars; a poor one will recommend signing mediocrity.
**Sending Players on Loan** Loan players who won't get first-team football. Prioritise clubs where they'll start regularly. Check their preferred formation and playing style - sending a technical winger to a long-ball team is counterproductive.
**Loan Clauses** - **Playing Time**: Demand regular starts - **Match Importance**: First team only, not reserves - **Recall**: Ability to recall in January if needed
**Affiliate Clubs** Establish feeder clubs in lower leagues to loan your youngsters. This guarantees playing time and lets you monitor progress more closely. Some clubs will even contribute wages.
**Overpromising Playing Time** Promising a 16-year-old regular first-team football is a recipe for disaster. They're not ready and you'll destroy their confidence. Be honest about pathways and timelines.
**Ignoring Personality** A talented but unprofessional player rarely fulfils their potential. Personality affects training, determination in matches, and response to setbacks. Sign good professionals, not just good players.
**Rushing Youngsters** Promoting a player too early stunts development. They get minimal minutes, low match ratings, and lose confidence. Let them dominate their current level before moving up.
**Failing to Track Progress** Use the Development Centre to monitor all your prospects. Check their attribute development monthly. If a player isn't improving, reassess training or loan them for game time.
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