FM26 Predicts the Next Everton Manager: A New Era at Goodison Park
David Moyes’ sudden departure from Everton has sent shockwaves through the blue half of Merseyside, leaving fans, pundits, and players wondering who will step into one of the Premier League’s most scrutinised hot seats. With speculation swirling, we turned to Football Manager 2026—the king of football simulators—to predict who the next Toffees boss could be and how their Goodison Park tenure might unfold. The results were both surprising and strangely believable.
According to FM26’s simulation, Everton wasted no time in appointing Rúben Amorim, fresh off a trophy-laden spell at Sporting CP. While many expected a safer, Premier League-proven pair of hands, the Everton board opted for the ambitious choice: a progressive, tactically daring manager whose stock has been steadily rising across Europe. The game’s algorithm recognised Amorim’s blend of youth development, high-tempo pressing, and shrewd recruitment as a perfect fit for a club desperate to re-establish an identity.
Upon his virtual arrival at Finch Farm, Amorim immediately made his mark. FM26 predicted a sweeping restructure of Everton’s training routines, with an emphasis on pressing triggers, transitional play, and building from the back. Senior players such as James Tarkowski and Abdoulaye Doucouré reportedly thrived under the new regime, while previously fringe talents were given a fresh chance to impress. The biggest beneficiaries were Everton’s young prospects: Lewis Dobbin, Tyler Onyango, and the highly rated academy midfielder Ellis Simms 2.0 (FM’s inevitable regenerated wonderkid). Under Amorim’s guidance, all three became integral members of the matchday squad.
The transfer window was equally eventful in FM26’s imagined universe. With a modest but workable budget, Amorim targeted hungry, tactically versatile players, bringing in a Portuguese-league double act: centre-midfield dynamo João Neves on loan, and the rapid winger Fábio Silva on a cut-price deal after a turbulent spell abroad. These signings added energy, flair, and much-needed creativity to an Everton side that had struggled for goals.
But the real question: how did Amorim perform?
In the simulated 2026/27 campaign, Everton experienced a roller-coaster season under their new coach. Despite a slow start—two draws and a narrow defeat—the team quickly adapted to Amorim’s philosophy. By Christmas, Everton sat comfortably in mid-table, playing their most attractive football in years. The highlight of the first half of the season came in a stunning 3–1 victory over Manchester United, where FM26’s match engine lavished praise on Everton’s cohesive press and fluid attacking movement.
The second half of the season was even more impressive. A late surge of form, powered by the breakout brilliance of Dobbin and a revitalised Dominic Calvert-Lewin, pushed Everton into an unexpected European race. FM26’s prediction ultimately had the Toffees finishing 7th, securing a Europa Conference League spot—an outcome that would feel like silverware to many Evertonians after years of instability.
The simulation concluded with the board “delighted” and fans “optimistic” as Everton finally rediscovered direction and identity.
If FM26’s prediction came true, Evertonians might indeed be stepping into a bold new era—one filled with ambition, youth, and a long-awaited return to excitement.
