Direct Answer
In Football Manager, player attributes directly determine how well actions are executed on the pitch. Technical, mental and physical attributes are constantly evaluated by the match engine, meaning that performance depends far more on attribute suitability than on star ratings or reputation.
How Attributes Affect Performance in Football Manager
If you’ve ever watched a four-star player drop a terrible performance while a less famous teammate dominates the match, you’ve already seen how attributes really work in Football Manager.
The game doesn’t care about reputation. Every decision, movement and action is calculated using raw attributes combined with context. This concept sits at the heart of how Football Manager works and is one of the pillars of the Football Manager Guides available on FootballManagerGuru.
Understanding attributes properly also helps explain many frustrations linked to tactics, player development and inconsistent results.
The Three Attribute Categories That Matter
Football Manager divides attributes into three main groups, and all of them matter more than most players realise.
Technical Attributes
Technical attributes define how well a player executes actions:
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Passing affects accuracy and weight of passes
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Finishing influences shot quality
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Tackling determines defensive success
Technical ability only works if the player is put in situations where those skills are actually used. A great passer in a role that rarely sees the ball will still underperform.
Mental Attributes
Mental attributes are often the real difference-maker:
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Decisions
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Anticipation
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Composure
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Off the Ball
These attributes control when and why actions happen. This is why intelligent players often outperform technically superior ones, especially in complex tactical systems.
If you’ve read our article on how the Football Manager match engine works, this is where many hidden calculations come into play.
Physical Attributes
Physical attributes affect consistency:
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Pace and acceleration
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Stamina
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Strength and balance
Late goals conceded, players disappearing after 60 minutes or defensive collapses are often linked to poor physical profiles rather than tactical flaws.
Why Star Ratings Are Misleading
Star ratings are relative. They change depending on:
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Squad quality
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Tactical role
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Staff evaluation
The match engine does not use star ratings. It evaluates attributes, role suitability and situational context.
This is why a three-star player perfectly suited to your system can consistently outperform a four-star player used out of position. It’s also why player development, as explained in how player potential really works in Football Manager, is tightly connected to attribute growth rather than reputation.
Attributes, Roles and Tactical Fit
Attributes never work in isolation. They interact with:
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Player roles
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Duties
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Team instructions
For example:
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A winger without pace will struggle in aggressive systems
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A playmaker with low decisions will slow down your build-up
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A defender with poor positioning will be exposed in high lines
Many tactical problems discussed in the Tactics section come down to attribute mismatches rather than formation choice.
Why Some Players Look Good but Perform Badly
This is one of the most common frustrations in Football Manager.
It usually happens when:
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Key mental attributes are missing
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The role doesn’t match the attribute profile
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Physical decline is ignored
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The player is overloaded tactically
The game is rarely “bugged”. It’s usually punishing poor attribute-role logic over time.
Common Mistakes Players Make
Some mistakes appear in almost every save:
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Trusting star ratings blindly
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Ignoring mental attributes
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Using players outside their natural strengths
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Overcomplicating roles and instructions
These errors create inconsistent performances and lead to constant tactical changes that never solve the real issue.
Practical Tips to Use Attributes Properly
To get better performances:
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Choose roles that match attributes, not reputation
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Prioritise decisions and anticipation in key positions
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Avoid extreme tactical demands for limited players
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Monitor physical decline closely
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Build systems around player strengths
These principles apply across all saves, from elite teams to long-term lower-league projects.
Conclusion
In Football Manager, attributes are the foundation of performance. When results don’t make sense, the answer is often hidden in the attribute profile rather than in tactics or luck.
Learning how attributes affect performance allows you to make smarter signings, build more stable systems and avoid many of the frustrations that players experience season after season. For a complete understanding of game mechanics, start from the homepage of FootballManagerGuru and explore the full Football Manager Guides section.