Football Manager Secures Premier League License in Landmark Deal

The wait is finally over for devoted fans of the 20-year-old sports management simulation, Football Manager. The developers at Sports Interactive have successfully negotiated a four-year deal with the Premier League, signaling a major development for the franchise.

Previously, only a couple of top-tier English clubs were licensed in the FM series each season, with Manchester City and Brighton being the chosen ones in recent years. Now, the entire Premier League will be fully licensed, including official badges, player likenesses, and club kits.

“Since Football Manager’s inception, we have always wanted to work with the Premier League, and we’re delighted to announce that at last we are.” - Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive

The partnership isn’t just about the huge in-game benefits it’ll give our fans, but also the opportunities it provides us to help with the incredible things that the Premier League and their clubs do off the pitch. - Miles Jacobson

The deal is a significant milestone for both parties, with the Premier League gaining exposure to a massive gaming audience and Sports Interactive securing a major license to enhance their game.

“We are very grateful to the Premier League and their other partners in our space for allowing us to be an officially licensed product of the world’s most commercially successful football league.” - Miles Jacobson

The partnership is expected to expand the audience for both Football Manager and the Premier League, with the potential for further collaborations in the future.

In conjunction with this announcement, a new logo for Football Manager was unveiled, timed with the release of the new edition of the simulation this fall.

The sports management series is a football fixture in the UK, and access to the equally important Premier League helps expand the audience for both. And for publisher Sega, the multi-year deal could lead to a renewed, potentially longer deal down the line.

Everyone scores when sports games get to license real-world teams. When it comes to sports games, particularly football (or soccer, as it is in the states), deals like these can be rewarding for both the developer and the sports organization.

The Gatorade Team of the Week for the ninth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2024, brought to you by Kristian Jack and Oliver Platt.

The article will explore the implications of this deal and what it means for the future of Football Manager and the Premier League.