How to play the Football Career Simulator — an illustrated guide

1. Birth

When you encounter this: Every time you start a new life — birth circumstances are random and cannot be chosen.

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   Talent stars show an estimated range evaluated by coaches (e.g. ★★★ estimate, range ★★½–★★★½), not a fixed value; your true ability becomes clearer as you grow. Below are your natural strengths, areas to train, family wealth, and parents' occupations.
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   Real-world context for your birth country (number of professional players + source links).
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   "Start life"

2. Childhood (0–11)

When you encounter this: From age 0 to 11. The simulation automatically advances at 4× speed.

Daily Routines

When: At ages 4, 7, 10 · Choose 2 routines; effects last 3 years (each card shows which skills it improves).

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   The confirm button activates once you select exactly 2 routines. Around the same time, a personality question will follow.

Childhood Main Screen

When: Main interface throughout childhood · Runs at 4× automatically · Bottom navigation bar (used throughout the whole game):

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   ▶ Play / ❚❚ Pause
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   Speed control: cycles 1× → 2× → 4× → 8× (if time moves too fast, switch to 1× or 2×)
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   "Decisions •N" — N = number of pending choices waiting for you
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   🔔 Notification history: last 20 alerts (re-read transient messages anytime)
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   ⋯ More menu
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   Status bar "⏸ Time paused · N decisions pending" — the game pauses automatically when action is needed (it's not frozen); tap "Decisions" or ▶ to continue.

Ask Your Parents

When: Found in "Decisions" during childhood.

• Ask your parents for a ball, boots, or football course up to 2 times per year. Each request shows success chance (%) and family cost — wealthier families offer higher success odds.

3. Age 12: Choose Position

When you encounter this screen: At age 12, when entering organized youth football.

• "Fit" percentage is calculated from skills accumulated during childhood · You can select any position, followed by a playing style.
• Position and style determine your key attributes (marked with ★) for training.

4. Main Player Screen

When you encounter this screen: Throughout your playing career (age 12 and beyond).

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   Sticky top HUD: Age · Week (1 year = 52 weeks) · OVR (Overall rating) · Available cash
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   Status: Level (e.g. Youth prospect, Professional, Semi-pro) and squad role
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   Alert banner: "Time paused · N decisions pending"
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   Tabs: Team / Life / Money / Journal
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   "Decisions •N" button

5. Decisions Panel (4 Categories)

When you encounter this screen: Time pauses while this panel is open · A •number dot on a tab indicates new pending matters in that category.

Decisions Overview

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   Career
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   Training
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   Image
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   Money & family

1. Career

Use when: Seeking a transfer or lacking playing time · Available during mid-year/annual transfer windows.

• "Who's watching you" box (interested clubs/scouts + requirements, e.g. maintain 7.0 match rating).
• "Agent search" for a new club (higher league / more playing time / target country).
• Change agent (top agents require high reputation).

2. Training

When: Planning training focus and fitness balance across the season.

• Seasonal training focus
• Life mode: Balanced / Ambitious / Look after yourself (affects development, fatigue, injury risk).
• Training courses & specialized staff (purchasable upgrades)

3. Image

When: Managing public profile and off-field sponsorships.

• Social media activity (Quiet / Moderate / Active… trades mental energy for reputation).
• Sponsors (unlocked when your reputation meets criteria).
• Style and lifestyle choices

4. Money & family

When: Managing finances, caring for family, and preparing for moves abroad.

• Shop
• Remit money home (0–50%)
• "Where does the money go?" detailed income and expense sheet
• Language lessons (settle in faster when moving abroad)
• Simulated side businesses

In-Game Shop

When: Accessed from Money & family or the ⋯ menu.

• Items in 3 price tiers; each item specifies effects (e.g. fatigue reduction) and annual upkeep costs.
• Purchased items display "0/1 → 1/1".

6. In-Game Events (Time Pauses Until Chosen)

When you encounter this screen: Occurs periodically during the season. Time remains paused until you make a choice.

Life Card

• Life card: each choice displays predicted outcomes (▲ increase ▼ decrease) and success rates — there are no wrong answers, only life choices.

Season Training Focus

• Start of season: choose your training focus for the year.
• Skills marked with ★ are key attributes for your position and style.

Handling Injuries

• Injuries: Follow doctor (slower but safe) / Rush return (high risk of re-injury) / Private specialist (costs money, recovers faster).

7. The decisive moment in big matches

In deciding league matches and cup finals, the game may pause for a decisive moment. Your options depend on your position: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or attacker.

• Choose a play and check its approximate ~% chance of success. This is the chance your play comes off, rather than your chance of winning the match.
• Tap a zone on the picture to choose a direction. Read the hint first: red means avoid that zone; green means cover that side.
• The safe option keeps the current score and adds no goal. Once you choose, the result appears immediately.

8. Challenge a friend to play the same character

On the result page, press “Play as this character — can you go further?” and share the link with a friend. They start with the same birth circumstances and make their own career choices. A comparison table appears at the end.

Challenge games are unranked, so their results do not count towards the rankings.

9. Transfers & Contracts

When you encounter this screen: During transfer windows or when entering the final year of your contract.

Transfer Offers

When: During transfer windows (beginning/middle of season), offers appear.

• Compare wages, squad role, contract years, and club philosophy (youth development/rotation) against your current team.
• View offer / Ask agent to search / Stay.

Final Contract Year

When: In the final year of your contract.

• Renew contract / Demand higher wages (risks club refusal) / Walk away on a free transfer.

10. Season Review & Stats

When you encounter this screen: At the end of each season or via the information tabs.

Season Recap

• Appears automatically at the end of each season (appearances, goals, rating, world rank, earnings, injuries, trophies).
• Option to tick "Don't show recap every year".
• Re-open anytime from the ⋯ menu.

Money Tab

• Net worth, annual wage, disposable cash, yearly savings.
• Remittance slider for family support.
• "Where does the money go?" detailed expense breakdown.
• Career goals ("Set goal").

Journal Tab

• Complete chronological record of your career events.
• Tap ☆ to pin up to 8 key moments to appear on your final career summary and share card.

11. Menu ⋯ & 🔔

When you encounter this screen: Tap ⋯ or 🔔 on the bottom bar at any time.

More Menu ⋯

• "Play until event" (advances automatically until an event occurs and pauses).
• Autoplay mode (bot chooses within 3 seconds with visible countdown, can override manually).
• How to play guide.
• Season recap.
• Shop.
• Change language.

Notification History 🔔

• Historical notification log: last 20 alerts with age and week (re-read transient messages anytime).

12. Career Ending

When you encounter this screen: When your playing career ends upon retirement.

• Life ends upon retirement.
• Score out of 1000 across 3 pillars: Journey / Honours / Money & life (grades A–D) + career moniker.
• "Share to Facebook"
• "Save result & view leaderboard" (compete on leaderboards)
• "Start a new life"