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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Football Manager 2005

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 49 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Sega Europe
Developer: Sports Interactive
Genre(s): Sports Management Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: November 2, 2004
Summary
(Also known as "WorldWide Soccer Manager 2005") Sports Interactive have crafted a superbly detailed masterpiece in Football Manager 2005. Manager Mind games: With Football Manager, mind games can play a key part in every game. Put your fellow managers under the strain with a few white lies and then turn the screw with a damning criticism of your rivals’ title chances. Just be wary of reaction and retaliation! Agents: Slicked back hair, mobile phones and a bad cockney accent! Bring on the agents - attempting to whittle you out of a few more million on a possible signing. You just have to decide whether they’re trying to flog you the next big thing or a complete donkey. The Back Room Boys: If you don’t want to don the tracksuit and sweat it out on the training field, then why not hire some help? From assistant managers to the best physios, they’ll do the legwork and keep you informed on your players, helping you sort the men from the boys. The Big Match: Tired of watching player’s use the same old moves that couldn’t take the ball round a lamppost? Football Manager 2005 has 30 extra fields for player data including ‘preferred moves’, allowing you to witness your stars perform their signature tricks. With feedback from the fans, Sports Interactive have further refined their award winning games engine to give you what you want from a management game. Football Today: Still have Smith playing for Leeds? That’s SO last season! With more leagues, players and championships than any other football management sim, Football Manager 2005 will also have the latest squads and transfers right up to the end of the summer transfer window, guaranteeing you’ll be on the ball. [Sports Interactive]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Championship Manager 4 Championship Manager: Season 01/02 Championship Manager: Season 03/04 Football Manager 2006
Also On The Web: EuroGamer Interview EuroGamer Preview Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Times Online
This sim certainly delivers the goods. Keeping an eye on the details involved in running a winning team is so engrossing that, once you accept your first management job, you can bid farewell to months of free time.
Read Full Review >IC-Games
FM2005 is a superb game in a stand alone capacity and will provide months of interest (years if you use the editor.) However a network game adds in the opportunity for winding your mates up in the process and stirring up the soup throwing tendencies in the best of us. Once perhaps viewed as a loner’s game, Football Manager 2005 is now the social event of the year.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
Slight irritations aside, Sports Interactive continues to be the pioneering force in making football management sims. So do yourself a favour; buy this game, stock up the fridge and don’t forget to feed the dog.
Read Full Review >GamerArchive
The addictive quality, and sheer joy to play that were very much there in abundance in the 97/98 and 01/02 iterations of the game has returned, and been incredibly well complemented by some tweaks, and fantastic additions to the overall package.
Read Full Review >PC Format
The role playing element is where this game comes into its own...You can engage in mind games with any other manager, striking up friendships and burn bridges, and your players will react to what they say about you too. The fun that cna be had by continually prodding a virtual Kevin Keegan to see what he'll do next...[Dec 2004, p.82]
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
But when you find yourself contesting an LDV Vans tie at six in the morning, you have to concede that they've got it right. Quite simply the most addictive thing I've ever tried. And I've tried the lot. [PC Zone]
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
It'll still have the piss ripped out of it for being a spreadsheet number crunching exercise, a game that reduces passion into numbers, but take no notice. It's an abstract extrapolation of emotions. A beautiful game of the beautiful game. Chaotically absorbing.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
Games like these succeed because they suck the player into a virtual world of their own creation and never let them go. Football manager does so in spectacular style. [Christmas 2004, p.104]
Read Full Review >Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Few developers have the ability to craft a virtual world with the amount of depth and realism that SI deliver here. For football fans, there is no better place to lose yourself than Football Manager's deep, stat-filled realm. [PC Gamer UK]
Read Full Review >Pelit (Finland)
The king is dead, long live the king. [Jan. 05]
GameBiz
It actually seems as though there aren’t too many features in FM 2005 that didn’t already make an appearance in CM 4, and the features that have been added are flawed or unnecessary.
Read Full Review >Gamers Europe
Yes it has its flaws and the lack of any real evolution from the original Champ Man series might disappoint some, but get past one or two minor flaws and this is as complete an experience as any other game from any other genre out there. A superb start to an exciting new adventure for SI.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
It's a bloody decent game, as could only be expected. If it were not for the battle with Eidos perhaps one would have expected SI to release this as an add-on or update to FM 2005, rather than pitch it as an entirely new game with all these 'amazing' new features.
Read Full Review >Total Video Games
Sure it’s still as maddeningly addictive as ever and detailed to the point of disappearing up your own arse in a fit of retentiveness. However it does slightly disappoint on the account that id does precious little when it comes to new ideas.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mike C. gave it a10:
This is the most fantastic football manager sim ever, sports interactive have created a stonker (if you want to destroy your hopes and ambitions in your life, because you will if play this game!).
R. Skells gave it a10:
This game will take over your life.
Ali C. gave it a10:
I almost gave this game zero, for the simple reason that this game does nothing to enhance your life (except giving you a curiously encyclopedic knowledge of obscure cheap football players): in fact it is very damaging to relationships, careers, your playing of other computer games...... (it kept me from Half Life 2 for months). It is THAT addictive. It should carry a health warning. Still, it's bloody brilliantly executed (if only it were a teeny bit faster).
Marko N. gave it a10:
Great game!
Maikel B. gave it a10:
Real F"cking good game.
Rushab I. gave it a10:
What a game!. Every year, I think it cant get better,but FM 2005 is it!
[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Best Managing Game Played.
