The Football Manager Football Show

Ken McGuire & Shane O'Keeffe

Join Ken McGuire and Shane O'Keeffe every Friday as they take on the world one league at a time in The Football Manager Football Show, a podcast all about the world of Football Manager and gaming, sprinkled with some real-life football chat. read less

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E169: The Football Manager Football Show finale? Ndidi it is.

E169: The Football Manager Football Show finale? Ndidi it is.

After three years and 12 seasons, crossing from South America to England, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Scotland, France, South Africa, Portugal, Germany and back to England once again, it's time to bid farewell to The Football Manager Football Show.Like Arsenal's bid to become Premier League champions and Jurgen Klopp's reign at perennial contenders Liverpool, all good things must come to an end and having seen Shane secure a Premier League trophy - his first league title since Galatasary (if you don't count South Africa) - and Ken being crowned Champions League winner for the first time since his season 4 victory with Real Madrid, we're saying goodbye to the Troy Parrotts, Harvey Barnes, Fabio Silvas and more of this world.What started as a two-man journey through the world of Football Manager 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024 thanks to this iteration's ability to port a save and ultimately our universe, ends as a two-man journey that's come full circle in a way.In this episode, we're sharing a few moments, a few highlights, and signing off in good spirits as we pave the way for more podcast fun in the future.To all who've joined us on this adventure since January 2021, going from tens of downloads a week to hundreds and thousands, we hope you've enjoyed the craic, the games, the abuse, the insights, the mental torture, anguish and everything else that comes with this game we love. We're still playing, Shane's spending some time back in 2022, Ken's off to crack the MLS at long last and we'll cross paths again soon.To every listener, regular and one-off, thanks a million for fuelling our love of the game and here's to whatever the future brings for Football Manager.The blog will be getting an update shortly with more notes, standouts and musings, plus if you're new to the podcast, you've got THREE WHOLE YEARS of content to lend your ears to with different stories and adventures to take in, that collection's going nowhere.You can still email us - podcast@fmfshow - orFollow Ken @tacticalmanager with some new posts waiting in the wings over at thetacticalmanager.com. You'll also hear Ken weekly on the Ken On Food podcast with a new full season of interviews on the way.Follow Shane @sirsok1, and hear him on The Wrestling Fan Wrestling ShowFollow the podcast @fmfshowCheck the website, fmfshow.comUntil we cross paths again...X

Episodes

E169: The Football Manager Football Show finale? Ndidi it is.

E169: The Football Manager Football Show finale? Ndidi it is.

After three years and 12 seasons, crossing from South America to England, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Scotland, France, South Africa, Portugal, Germany and back to England once again, it's time to bid farewell to The Football Manager Football Show.Like Arsenal's bid to become Premier League champions and Jurgen Klopp's reign at perennial contenders Liverpool, all good things must come to an end and having seen Shane secure a Premier League trophy - his first league title since Galatasary (if you don't count South Africa) - and Ken being crowned Champions League winner for the first time since his season 4 victory with Real Madrid, we're saying goodbye to the Troy Parrotts, Harvey Barnes, Fabio Silvas and more of this world.What started as a two-man journey through the world of Football Manager 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024 thanks to this iteration's ability to port a save and ultimately our universe, ends as a two-man journey that's come full circle in a way.In this episode, we're sharing a few moments, a few highlights, and signing off in good spirits as we pave the way for more podcast fun in the future.To all who've joined us on this adventure since January 2021, going from tens of downloads a week to hundreds and thousands, we hope you've enjoyed the craic, the games, the abuse, the insights, the mental torture, anguish and everything else that comes with this game we love. We're still playing, Shane's spending some time back in 2022, Ken's off to crack the MLS at long last and we'll cross paths again soon.To every listener, regular and one-off, thanks a million for fuelling our love of the game and here's to whatever the future brings for Football Manager.The blog will be getting an update shortly with more notes, standouts and musings, plus if you're new to the podcast, you've got THREE WHOLE YEARS of content to lend your ears to with different stories and adventures to take in, that collection's going nowhere.You can still email us - podcast@fmfshow - orFollow Ken @tacticalmanager with some new posts waiting in the wings over at thetacticalmanager.com. You'll also hear Ken weekly on the Ken On Food podcast with a new full season of interviews on the way.Follow Shane @sirsok1, and hear him on The Wrestling Fan Wrestling ShowFollow the podcast @fmfshowCheck the website, fmfshow.comUntil we cross paths again...X

E168: Signing off season 12 with a very Football Manager Champions League Final and plotting our next adventure!

E168: Signing off season 12 with a very Football Manager Champions League Final and plotting our next adventure!

Our English Premier League journey, for the second time, finished last week with Manchester City crowned league champions, denying Liverpool what would have been an incredible three-in-a-row following a close-fought season.While City (and Shane) can celebrate a league title, there's the small matter of a Champions League final for Liverpool (and Ken) with this week seeing the Reds in action against Bayern in Paris.We'll get a feel for City's season, and sow the seeds for where we're off to next, but for one final time in Football Manager land, we're hanging with Liverpool in the hope that they can improve on their rollercoaster form of late and get something out of the last game in season 12. They think it's all over - it is now.Contains strong language.Follow@tacticalmanager on X (Ken)@sirsok1 on X (Shane)@fmfshow on X (the podcast)or email podcast@fmfshow.com to say hi.

E167: And with that, our Football Manager journey through the Premier League is at an end [Live Episode]

E167: And with that, our Football Manager journey through the Premier League is at an end [Live Episode]

It's finally over. Four months on since the release of Football Manager 2024, our Premier League adventures come to a close this week. The two-season arc is finished and the race for the title came all the way down to the final episode of the season. With a game in hand, can City make the extra points a possibility or will their poor run of form continue to haunt them with Liverpool - mathematically at least - still in the league?It's City v Spurs, Man United and Southampton, while Ken's Liverpool travel to Goodison Park to meet Everton for the final Merseyside derby of the podcast series before hosting Bournemouth on the last day of the season.Pride is at stake. The Premier League title is at stake. The plan for next season is at stake.Having ported the universe from Football Manager 2023, is it time to press reset and soak up FM24 for all its worth, or do we head on over to Mexico for our long-planned visit and try cause some carnage that side of the world for a few weeks.Whatever happens, it's been a long, winding, interesting season, but it all comes to a close this episode!Contains strong language.

E166: Under pressure? For Liverpool v Man City again? In Football Manager? [Live Episode]

E166: Under pressure? For Liverpool v Man City again? In Football Manager? [Live Episode]

For the second, third and final times in this Football Manager journey of ours, it's back to the Etihad we go this week as Ken's Liverpool make the trip to Shane's 'The Manchester' to settle the trilogy and close out the season.With a 5-1 aggregate lead from last week's Champions League semi-final, Ken reckons he has this one in the bag, until he realises that the Liverpool prodigy-in-the-making, Fred Kalenga, is going to have to make an appearance with Yunus Musah collecting a potential season-ending injury as soon as we click continue this week. He joins a list including Jude Bellingham, Luis Diaz and Curtis Jones with long-term injuries, while Barello and Roberton still have red cards to contend with. City are bruised but not beaten and they're going full Leeroy Jenkins to try claw a place in this year's Champions League final.While it seems a long shot, odds are a lot shorter when City and Liverpool have to meet for the final time in the Premier League. When it comes, the gap is only six points. City have a game in hand, with three to play. With likely one episode left for our Premier League adventure, is this the week the title finally goes to the blue half of Manchester, or will there be another twist in the tale that's been our longest season ever.It's all go, complete with added pressures, frustrations and everything else that Football Manager typically brings, so join us over a break where we get stuck into the run-in for our final stay in England.Contains strong language.On Twitter / X?Follow Ken @tacticalmanagerFollow Shane @sirsok1Follow the podcast@fmfshowOr email us podcast@fmfshow.com

E165: The biggest clash in our Football Manager journey is here… the Champions League semi-finals

E165: The biggest clash in our Football Manager journey is here… the Champions League semi-finals

On paper, this might be the biggest clash of our Football Manager journey to date.While the race for the Premier League title has Man City clear of Liverpool by 6 points, the sides have been paired once again in Europe and this week we’ve got the first of our Champions League semi-finals along with some league action.Between this week and next, we’ll play each other on three occasions, twice in Europe and once in the league in a bid to settle our final English stint once and for all.With Liverpool having already seen off City in the Community Shield and the League Cup final this season, is there another sting in the tail or can City exact revenge and progress to the UEFA Champions League final?I guess we’re about to find out…

E164: The Football Manager Master Save Scummers of the Universe aka save your games!

E164: The Football Manager Master Save Scummers of the Universe aka save your games!

This week on The Football Manager Show, we're going back in time. You see, there may have been a mishap after last week's episode in that, well, when it was supposed to save, it didn't save. Or maybe Ken didn't save the game. Or maybe the laptop died, or something happened, but the save wasn't there and the backup wasn't there, so where we took off and played our Champions League quarter-finals against Benfica and Real Madrid with Ken winning 2-0 against his old club (while playing with nine men) and Shane going town 2-0 at home against the new age Galacticos, we've got to go again. Similarly, we go again against Leeds and Newcastle to bring the timeline up to date before we jump into where we should be. Oh you can feel the tension. You can smell the tension. One person in particular is not all that happy. But that's what happens in Football Manager land now and again, isn't it? Contains strong language, obviously enough.

E163: It's finally April, so can the gap at the top of the Premier League be closed?

E163: It's finally April, so can the gap at the top of the Premier League be closed?

It's finally April.We're into single figures remaining in the Premier League, while the Champions League hits the quarter-final stages.Can Ken's old boys Leicester cause an upset at Man City? Will Haaland have the edge over Real Madrid? Will Benfica come back to haunt Ken at Anfield and dent hopes of European success in our final season in England? So many questions, so many concerns!Let's get into it and start the countdown to the end of our Premier League stay.Contains strong language.

E162: Still hurting, it's the shortest episode of The Football Manager Football Show

E162: Still hurting, it's the shortest episode of The Football Manager Football Show

It's Friday. It's podcast day. We almost didn't make it, but we did. For the first time in 3 years, through a myriad of real-world events, it's taken us until late on release day to find 30 minutes together to unwind with some Football Manager.The gas thing, Shane's still hurting after last week's League Cup Final collapse. But it doesn't matter too much as Ken's Liverpool are just hurting full stop as injuries mount with the calendar turning into April.Games are shy, cup competition details are revealed and we're plotting a course for the penultimate month in our Premier League stay.Follow Ken, Shane and the Podcast on X. Contains strong language, but we don't bite.Get in touch - email podcast@fmfshow.com.

E161: It's the biggest game in Football Manager - The Caribbean Cup Final, and it's live!

E161: It's the biggest game in Football Manager - The Caribbean Cup Final, and it's live!

The Caribbean God versus the pretender to the throne.The current FA Cup holders versus the current Premier League holders.Good versus evil?For the first time ever in 161 episodes, we're going all-in on one game. Yes, this season has been a slog, but it's also been methodical to a point and as results mounted up, the path was paved to send Man City and Liverpool to this year's Carabao Cup final. Granted, it took a rub of the green for both along the way, but they made it and now, long acclaimed by Shane to be the only cup that matters, the Carabao Cup is up for grabs. Holders Leicester have been disposed of so whoever comes out on the right side of 90 minutes will make for a new home for the first chunk of domestic silverware on offer (Shane doesn't count Ken winning the Community Shield).We're putting the shout-outs to one side this week and concentrating on game day, all in the space of an hour.That means the meetings, the injuries, the pre-match press conference, the lineup, the tactical decisions in-game, the running commentary, the goal chances, near misses, exhilarating highs and chronic lows. Whether it comes in 90 minutes, extra time, or by way of a penalty shoot-out (mind your subs!), we're off to Wembley for what's likely to be the last time in podcast land, so we've got to make it count.Contains strong language, as usual.On X? Follow Ken @tacticalmanagerFollow Shane @sirsok1Follow the podcast @fmfshowor just email us - podcast@fmfshow.com, with the archive available online at fmfshow.com

E160: It's like the Football Manager Football Show of old, ish, with an epic finish to boot

E160: It's like the Football Manager Football Show of old, ish, with an epic finish to boot

We're mixing things up a little this week.For the first time in a while, we've managed to get some games under our respective belts this week before we actually press record. Remember when we used to do this before season 12? Recognising that last week segued into all manner of discussion, we're getting into the action early this week as we navigate the last sixteen of the UEFA Champions League before getting in some Premier League action.We're wrapping up things up this week with two live games as Liverpool head to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest while Man City head to St. James' Park to meet fifth-placed Newcastle in a must-win clash if they're to preserve their 10-point lead at the top of the table.It'll be squeaky-bum time soon enough though as we approach the point of the final ten games of the season, our last ten games in English football's top flight and likely our last ten games in England before moving on to pastures new after two rather long seasons.Be warned though, next week we're going for a doozy of an episode, the first time we'll have done something like it. Get all the details this week.Contains strong language.Follow Ken, Shane or the podcast on X/Twitter. Get in touch by email, podcast@fmfshow.com or visit fmfshow.com for more.

E159: Is there cheating in Football Manager 2024? And how magic are Jack Grealish's calves?

E159: Is there cheating in Football Manager 2024? And how magic are Jack Grealish's calves?

It's been a busy week at FMFShow towers, and a crazy week in the world of Football Manager.Before it gets patched (presuming it gets patched anyway), we put the latest 'no money down' transfer moves into play to see if you really can lure some of the biggest players in the game to greener shores for little to no cash. We've got two must-win games in the Premier League, Ken's off to the Amex to take on Brighton in the FA Cup and we're cracking into the last 16 of the Champions League with a super-tasty draw made off the back of the competition's new format.And just how magical are Jack Grealish's calves? We'll find out in this week's episode of The Football Manager Football Show!Follow Ken on XFollow Shane on XFollow the podcast on XOr get in touch via email to podcast@fmfshow.comContains strong language.

E158: It's our last Premier League transfer window in Football Manager, but is it too little, too late in the title race?

E158: It's our last Premier League transfer window in Football Manager, but is it too little, too late in the title race?

This week seeks the January transfer window slam shut, Liverpool continue their FA Cup journey and February's league games start with trips to Sheffield United and Chelsea.With 13 games left in the league, every point counts and with our next league destination pretty much in the bag, it's time to throw caution to the wind at all costs meaning there's a bit of shuffling for our last Premier League transfer window.But are we talking big money moves, or shrewd loans to seal the cracks? Let's rock and roll for this week and start the countdown to the business end of the season.Contains strong language.Follow Ken @tacticalmanagerFollow Shane @sirsok1Follow the podcast on XEmail us - podcast@fmfshow.com or check out the website at any stage for all back episodes and blog posts, fmfshow.com.

E157: Year 4 begins and now it's Ken's turn to get proper Football Manager'd

E157: Year 4 begins and now it's Ken's turn to get proper Football Manager'd

With three years of weekly Football Manager podcasts behind us, year four begins with Liverpool and Man City arriving at the end of January, a crunch time for any Premier League duo.There's the small matter of needing to win in the last game in the Champions League new table stage to seal automatic progress to the knockouts. There's also the small matter of the January transfer window looming only, instead of it being in January, it's the second of February. Oh, and while Shane goes up against his old boys Wolves, Ken's off to London to take on Arsenal and they're intent on playing by their own rules.If you listen just hard enough, you may hear the sound of Ken's heart breaking as the realisation drops that the 2025/26 Premier League title may be heading to Manchester after all...Oh, and when you're done, there's also a new episode of the Wrestling Fan Wrestling Show streaming while Ken's got more from the Ken On Food podcast out every Sunday.Contains strong language.Ken's on X: @tacticalmanager / @kenmcguireShane's on X: @sirsok1The Podcast's on X: @fmfshowOr email us, podcast@fmfshow.com.

E156: Three years on, in Football Manager, mocking is catching

E156: Three years on, in Football Manager, mocking is catching

Happy birthday to us.Three years on, working our way towards a million podcast streams, two Irish lads who love Football Manager are celebrating three years talking about just that... Football Manager.Sure, Covid has been and gone, work life has stepped up, live comedy is on the rise, we've had the launch of The Wrestling Fan Wrestling Show and Ken On Food, but there's still important business to attend to as we get back in the Champions League swing of things this week while Shane's been busy in the transfer market.The biggest takeaway this week, the one lesson that can be taken away from it all, is that mocking is catching. That, and once you think you have the game figured out, you're likely to get caught by surprise and done dirty. But that's life, and it's Football Manager.So, whether you've been with us for three years, you join us week to week for a few laughs and a chat about the greatest of games, or you're dropping in now and again to see how we're doing, thanks for joining us, thanks for listening, and thanks for keeping us going.Follow Ken on Twitter @tacticalmanager, Shane on Twitter @sirsok1 and the podcast at @fmfshow or, alternatively, email podcast@fmfshow.com

E155: From a good Football Manager comeback story to everyone heading to Saudi Arabia in 2026

E155: From a good Football Manager comeback story to everyone heading to Saudi Arabia in 2026

It's episode 155 of The Football Manager Football Show and this week we've got a mix of FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League drama to unfold while the January transfer window is very much open for business in 2026. So much so, that some of the Saudi Arabian heavy hitters are coming in strong for key names for both City and Liverpool, causing ructions in one dressing room in particular as the cracks look like they're beginning to show - or are they?As a pre-cursor, there is added soccer, wrestling and food talk this week before we settle in for some Football Manager action with spin off productions The Wrestling Fan Wrestling Show and Ken On Food now streaming. As we reach the middle of January, there's some Champions League business to plan for with the closing two games of the new group-stage format and January wouldn't be January without some incoming transfers. But when there's lots of money at play, why won't players just move?Hear all about it when you press play.Contains strong language.Follow Ken on X @tacticalmanager, Shane @sirsok1 and the podcast @fmfshow. You can also hear Shane every Sunday on the Wrestling Fan Wrestling Show with Ken hear on Ken On Food.

E154: The one were Ken finally gets properly Football Managered as we ring in 2026 in FM24 [Live episode]

E154: The one were Ken finally gets properly Football Managered as we ring in 2026 in FM24 [Live episode]

There are three things certain in this life.Death.Taxes.And if you play FM, getting properly Football Managered. If you've experienced it, you'll know exactly what we mean. Last-minute highlights, out of nowhere, breaking your heart, no chance to bounce back. It's a win that turns to a draw. It's a draw that turns into a hopeless defeat. It's taken a while, but it finally happens.This week on the podcast we've got two helpings of Premier League action plus the first round of our respective Carabao Cup semi-finals as the January transfer window opens for business with Saudi Arabia coming calling for everyone. With 10 games in all for both Liverpool and Man City to get through in January there will be exits, rotations and plenty of contracts coming up for renewal. Do we smell a revolt in Manchester? Will Salah and VVD walk from Anfield? Let's get stuck into this week's episode.Contains strong language. Follow the podcast, Ken and Shane on Twitter/X, and get new episodes every Friday wherever you do your podcast listening.

E153: Happy New Year to all Football Manager Fans, let's crack on with the last games of December

E153: Happy New Year to all Football Manager Fans, let's crack on with the last games of December

Happy New Year, Happy New Year, may we all have our hopes, our will to try, if we don't we might as well lay down and die. So say Abba, but there's no sense of laying down and dying this weather as we finally get to close out another calendar year of fixtures and brace ourselves for the ridiculous onslaught of January.This week, with the last of the Christmas holiday days upon us, we're recording on release day with Ken at home, Shane in the office and Liverpool and Man City still jockeying it out for top dog spot in the Premier League. To take us up to the end of the year, Shane's entertaining Forest, Newcastle and Wolves while Ken also gets a crack at Forest along with Fulham and Arsenal. Spolier alert from last week - the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Spurs did get played albeit only this morning.Liverpool are being hit by injuries and contract demands, City are still being hit by positional demands and may need reinforcements in the January window with Shane already busy scouting away.So for the first time this year, welcome to 2024, to another weekly helping of The Football Manager Football Show, and more madness from the world of Football Manager! Follow Ken, Shane and the podcast on X. Contains strong language. Email us at any stage too, it's podcast@fmfshowcom.

E152: Westlife or Take That, the Ian Holloway Challenge and a happy Football Manager new year! [Live Episode]

E152: Westlife or Take That, the Ian Holloway Challenge and a happy Football Manager new year! [Live Episode]

On this week's podcast, we're winding out 2023 with a return to the Champions League, Premier League and the Carabao Cup as the January transfer window beckons.Shane's on air, Ken's still remote and on holiday and plans for the post-Premier League era begin to take shape as we wonder if there's a potential Football Manager challenge to be had by following the career paths of Ian Holloway, Dennis Wise, Joe Kinnear and the mysterious one himself, Alan Curbishly. Also, why is Sam Allardyce not in our Football Manager universe? Can Liverpool redeem themselves after last week's loss to Man City? With automatic knockout places up for grabs in the Champions League, can City redeem themselves against Lazio or will Ken's first return to Frankfurt since his season 10 departure make for a happy new year or further dampen Liverpool's European spirits?Find out in the latest of our live episodes, recorded on release day for Friday 29 December 2023.To all who've joined us on this year's adventure and with Christmas behind us, we say "happy new year", here's to 2024 and all that it brings! Hopefully, you're finding some time for FM over the holidays and we'll talk again next Friday!

E151: Merry Christmas, happy Football Manager holiday season, and it's Liverpool v Man City time

E151: Merry Christmas, happy Football Manager holiday season, and it's Liverpool v Man City time

It's tiiiiiiiiime.Recorded on release day (22 December), we're squeezing in an episode just in time for Christmas, that lovely time of year that we hope sees everyone get a proper rattle at FM24, or you get to drag your FM23 season kicking and screaming into the New Year.We've still got another episode to go this year but this week we've the important bit of business in Liverpool's hosting of Man City for the first league meeting of Ken and Shane this term. Shane gets a warmup in against 16th-placed Leeds while Ken has to navigate a 2nd-placed Newcastle at St. James Park while Leicester and Southampton make up the remainder of this week's games.Whether you've just joined us and this is your first episode, or you've hung in all year, or you've been with us since day one, we hope you've a great Christmas or holiday break and thanks for choosing to spend a bit of time with us this year. We hope you've enjoyed things as much as we have and the good news is that we've a long way to go yet!It's time to get stuck into this week's episode of The Football Manager Football Show.Contains strong language. Catch up on Twitter/X via @fmfshow, @tacticalmanager or @sirsok1. New episodes available every Friday wherever you do your podcast listening.

E150: Football Manager chills, they're multiplying, and I've got West Ham at home [Live Episode]

E150: Football Manager chills, they're multiplying, and I've got West Ham at home [Live Episode]

One minute you're cruising, the next you're running into obstacles at the most inopportune time.On this week's helping of The Football Manager Football Show we're back for some lunchtime FM action, rolling tape as Liverpool and Man City jet off to Europe to take on the mighty giants that are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Before that we've got some league action with Leicester, Bournemouth, Brentford and West Ham all rearing their heads, producing some mixed results and another mare in the goalkeeping department for the defending league champions.Of course, it's all in preparation for next week where we get the first league taste of host v host. If you're paying attention this week you'll have heard that we're experimenting with some cameras for the podcast. They're not a permanent fixture yet but keep an eye out for some clips on the socials - we'll tell you where and when in good time.If you've got an update to share at any stage or you'd like to get in touch, email podcast@fmfshow.com or follow us on Twitter/x here. Contains strong language.