The EA FC 26 reveal trailer was refreshing in the blandest way possible. It was built around a timid bait-and-switch, luring players into expecting a typical two minutes of cinematic shots and sweaty foreheads, before ultimately going over all the issues they’ve fixed. And amidst the compilation of gameplay refinements, I spotted an interesting feature that could finally inject new life into FC 26’s Manager Career Mode.
To EA’s credit, the trailer was marginally more convincing than what we’ve been seeing for the past few years. There was a clear emphasis on how community feedback is being used to address crucial problems. More importantly, they picked the best set of fixes to show off in the trailer, ranging from FC 25’s annoying bounce back issues to a much-needed overhaul of goalkeeper AI. While this approach managed to paint a tighter picture for FC 26’s gameplay, the trailer offered little for Career Mode enthusiasts.
Besides a glimpse at Manager Live Challenges, which mixes real-world scenarios and alternative storylines into the game mode, there wasn’t much on display for Manager Career fans in the trailer. With that being said, there was a split-second mention of a new feature that sounds very interesting on paper, and could potentially rejuvenate the mode.
Manager Market Could Be Exactly What FC 26’s Career Mode Needs
The feature in question is named Manager Market, and you can spot its mention at the 1:42 mark in the trailer. As described on EA FC 26’s official page, it’ll enable managerial movements for the first time in franchise history. This will result in team tactics changing over the course of the season, with clubs adopting the tactical model of whichever manager takes the helm.
In practice, this should help spice up every new season, with new gaffers taking charge of various clubs and implementing their own style of play and tactical identities. Paired with the FC IQ system, the new feature should elevate the importance of studying your opponent before games and applying changes to counter their playstyle. It could also introduce the very real concept of ‘new manager bounce,’ and see teams go on an unbeaten run to make seasons more engaging.
Imagine Jose Mourinho taking charge of Barcelona, thanks to Career Mode’s typically broken logic, and employing the nastiest low block Europe has ever seen. Or Pep Guardiola switching to AC Milan and proving that he doesn’t need a war chest to win silverware.
Of course, the feature’s success boils down to its execution. But in concept, it does spark some excitement within me. It’s worth mentioning that EA is yet to confirm if mid-season managerial changes are possible. If that ends up being the case, AI managers could potentially get the sack due to poor performance, causing the club to scramble for mid-season replacements. I can already picture hammering in the final nail that gets Mikel Arteta fired, and I’m sure many players wish for the same when it comes to their rival clubs.
EA could have a potential winner in the Manager Market feature, one that can finally make the Manager Career interesting again. But of course, we’ll have to hope they don’t botch its implementation in the final release. So, what do you make of the new feature? Is there anything else you’re hoping to see in FC 26’s Career Mode? Let us know in the comments.
