[Suggestion/Discussion] DoF Role and DoF Mode

[kandersson]

I know a DoF mode has already been suggested and dismissed in the past behind the reasoning that the game is called Football Manager and not Football Director though I think current implementation of DoF role needs a lot of work, which could also open the possibility of a DoF mode in the future.

The 'original sin' of DoF in this game is probably the british interpretation of the role of the manager, who traditionally has much more power and influence over most aspects than his counterparts in the rest of Europe (or even the world). Managers in England often handle directly wages and transfer budget (within the limits given by ownership) and decide specific players to sign or sell. I'm not sure they have the power to do all the things they can do in FM (including hiring/firing scouts, physios, youth managers and staff and even DoF) but their role is certainly more influential than in other countries. Which is why atm the manager/DoF balance is very unrealistic in most countries outside England.

In Italy for example even the highest rated managers at top clubs can't directly sign specific players (and in those rare instances they certainly don't have their say on transfer fees or wages). Managers like Conte or Mourinho have been known to press ownership and directors to sign a few specific players (e.g. Lukaku, Vidal for Conte and Jorge Mendes players for Mourinho) while also still complaining of quality or depth of the squad or even having to deal with players they didn't want (e.g. Conte vs Eriksen). Most managers even at biggest clubs will maybe suggest some players or type of players but in the end they do with the players they're given. It's not unusual in Italy that managers and DoF have difficult relationships with each other especially if the manager was chosen by owner and not by DoF, and the media will often blame one or the other during the season (e.g. manager is not able to use good players provided by DoF or DoF wasn't able to sign type of players needed by the manager). The manager have no power of hiring/firing scouts, DoF, HoYD, TD and youth staff. Managers will bring their own staff for the first team (typically an Assistant Manager, a couple of fitness coaches, a GK coach and some data analysts) and that's it. DoF and/or HoYD wil sign players and staff for first and youth teams. Most influential DoF's (known as Direttore Generale/DG i.e. general director) will decide any personnel hiring (players and staff) for both senior and youth teams. For example the idea that a newly hired manager at Fiorentina could fire a very influential DoF like Daniele Pradè is very unrealistic (the other way around seems way more likely!). This type of dynamics between manager and directors in non-british leagues are currently absent in the game, which is a pity as this could open new interesting and realistic ways of playing the game and having to adapt to different leagues.

Obviously the idea and possibility to be in charge of every task and decision at the club can also be very rewarding and entertaining and has always been a strength of FM: of course this feature should not be eliminated even outside England. What I suggest is to enable the choice of a 'Head Coach mode' where the manager can't directly buy/sell players or hire staff (outside his first team staff), and will have to trust/ask DoF for signings and squad building. Of course this would require a bit of a overhaul of the role of DoF (attributes, new staff traits, personality, tendencies) and interactions between manager and DoF. At that point with this 'Head Coach mode' available and a new revamped DoF role, I think it would make sense to also add a 'DoF mode' using the same dynamics but acting as DoF instead of manager/head coach. Would be fun to hire a manager with a specific playing style and preferred formation and build a squad for that system... and then fire the manager if he doesn't play the wonderkid we've just signed! We could even switch from one role to another during our career, after all Ralf Rangnick does it all the time 

Edited April 20, 2022 by kandersson

[Mars_Blackmon]

I second this. The option to only control transfers and contracts without having to currently do work arounds would be a good add. Would also be a nice option for players who struggle with the game tactically.

[Zachary Whyte]

Thanks for the request, we appreciate the detailed feedback. This is going to be reviewed and may yet be rejected or end up in a future FM.