FM 23 Best 5-Star Coaches List (March 2023)

This article offers tips on which coaches to start with when adding the best coaches to your team, meaning coaches with 5 stars covering every role, position and attribute in Football Manager 2023 (FM 23), and on what to base your choice on when signing these 5-star coaches.

Finding the best coaches in FM23 is always difficult, but adding these 5-star coaches to your team is vital. Without good coaches, your players never reach their potential, and even the best wonderkids can go to waste.

It will help you identify some of the best coaches for each role and also show you how to search for your ideal coaching team in the game itself.

What Coaches Are There in FM 23? What Are the Coach Types?

• Goalkeeping Coach (Shot Stopping)
• Goalkeeping Coach (Handling, Distribution)
• Defending Coach (Tactical)
• Defending Coach (Technical)
• Attacking Coach (Tactical)
• Attacking Coach (Technical)
• Possession Coach (Tactical)
• Possession Coach (Technical)
• Fitness Coach (Strength and Quickness)

Each coach takes on a specific role and trains a specific aspect of a player, so each of them is important in its own right.

Please note that some attributes can vary from save to save. Some coaches may not appear in the search, depending on the database size you chose at the start of your save.

What Attributes Should a 5-Star Coach Have in FM 23?

The "Working With Youngsters" attribute is always a plus for all coaches, whatever their role, and plays an important part in how they interact with the young players in your squad.

The Adaptability attribute matters for coaches moving to foreign leagues and is a factor in how quickly they adapt to their new environment.

Also, some are good in more than one role, but we will only mention them in their best roles. However, depending on the strength of your team, you can use them as you see fit.

1. Goalkeeping Coach (Shot Stopping)

The main attributes you look for in a goalkeeping coach (shot stopping) are Shot Stopping, Determination, Level of Discipline and Motivation.

To search for the best coaches available for this role, you can filter under "Staff Search" by highlighting these attributes. Some of the best coaches for this role are:

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Adriano Bonaiuti	54	Inter	ITA
Flávio Tênius	58	Free agent	BRA
Silvino Louro	63	Free agent	POR
Alessandro Nista	56	Free agent	ITA
Hugo Oliveira	43	Fulham	POR
Xavi Valero	49	West Ham	ESP
John Achterberg	50	Liverpool	NED
Arzul	50	Santos	BRA
José Ramón De la Fuente	51	FC Barcelona	ESP
Rogério Godoy	51	Palmeiras	BRA
Vincenzo Sicignano	47	Empoli	ITA
Antonello Brambilla	48	Free agent	ITA
Rui Correia	54	Free agent	POR
Filip De Wilde	57	Free agent	BEL
Teddy Richert	47	Free agent	FRA
Giuseppe Benatelli	46	AlbinoLeffe	ITA

2. Goalkeeping Coach (Handling, Distribution)

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Adriano Bonaiuti	54	Inter	ITA
Alessandro Nista	56	Free agent	ITA
Flávio Tênius	58	Free agent	BRA
Xavi Valero	49	West Ham	ESP
Hugo Oliveira	43	Fulham	POR
José Ramón De la Fuente	51	FC Barcelona	ESP
Pedro Jaro	59	Free agent	ESP
Valerio Fiori	53	Free agent	ITA
Michael Kraft	56	Free agent	GER
Vincenzo Sicignano	47	Empoli	ITA
John Achterberg	50	Liverpool	NED
Rogério Godoy	51	Palmeiras	BRA
Arzul	50	Santos	BRA

3. Defending Coach (Tactical)

The main attributes you look for in a Defending Coach (Tactical) are Defending, Tactical, Determination, Level of Discipline and Motivation.

To search for the best coaches available for this role, you can filter under "Staff Search" by highlighting these attributes. Some of the best coaches for this role are:

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Daniele Baldini	58	Free agent	ITA
Julian Gray	42	Arsenal	ENG
Adil Ramzi	44	PSV Eindhoven	MAR
Miguel D'Agostino	50	Free agent	ARG
Marco Ianni	40	Lazio	ITA
Giuseppe Irrera	60	Free agent	ITA
Paul Nevin	53	West Ham	ENG
Stefano Firicano	51	Fiorentina	ITA
Michele Cavalli	59	Free agent	ITA
Alberto Iglesias	48	Athletic Club	ESP
Donnie Nelson	59	Free agent	USA
Uwe Bindewald	53	Eintracht Frankfurt	GER
Régis Beunardeau	55	Paris Saint-Germain	FRA
Andoni Imaz	50	Free agent	ESP
Tobias Kurbjuweit	39	Free agent	GER
Kevin Ball	57	Free agent	ENG
Colin Cooper	55	Free agent	ENG
Andy Crosby	49	Port Vale	ENG
David Lowe	56	Blackburn	ENG
Alan Neilson	49	Norwich	WAL
Paul Brush	64	Cambridge United	ENG
Lee Cattermole	34	Middlesbrough	ENG
Ricardo Resende	41	Free agent	BRA
Renato Baldi	43	Free agent	ITA
Jon Errasti	34	Villarreal	ESP
Adrián Granado	18	Atlético de Madrid	ESP
Admir Adžem	49	Free agent	BIH
Patrick Müller	45	Servette	SUI
Stefano Nava	53	Free agent	ITA
John Versleeuwen	58	Free agent	NED

4. Defending Coach (Technical)

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Daniele Baldini	58	Free agent	ITA
Adil Ramzi	44	PSV Eindhoven	MAR
Paul Nevin	53	West Ham	ENG
Fabrice Favetto-Bon	53	Free agent	FRA
Melvin Boel	35	Feyenoord	NED
Alberto Iglesias	48	Athletic Club	ESP
Jairo Caballero	32	Sevilla	ESP
Hermann Dörner	26	Hertha BSC	GER
Daniel Rios	42	Borussia Dortmund	GER
Donnie Nelson	59	Free agent	USA
Chendo	60	Real Madrid	ESP
Andoni Imaz	50	Free agent	ESP
Tobias Kurbjuweit	39	Free agent	GER
David Lowe	56	Blackburn	ENG
João Antônio	56	Grêmio	BRA
Gilmey Aimberê	57	Palmeiras	BRA
André Penalva	55	Free agent	FRA
Luis Lúquez	61	San Lorenzo	ARG
Liam Bramley	34	Norwich	ENG
Jon Errasti	34	Villarreal	ESP
Adrián Granado	18	Atlético de Madrid	ESP

5. Attacking Coach (Tactical)

The main attributes you look for in an Attacking Coach (Tactical) are Attacking, Tactical, Determination, Level of Discipline and Motivation.

To search for the best coaches available for this role, you can filter under "Staff Search" by highlighting these attributes. Some of the best coaches for this role are:

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Fabio Micarelli	57	Free agent	ITA
Loris Beoni	63	Free agent	ITA
Fábio Matias	42	Bragantino	BRA
Michele Cavalli	59	Free agent	ITA
João Tralhão	41	Free agent	POR
David Lowe	56	Blackburn	ENG
David Platt	56	Free agent	ENG
Pedro Sallaberry	53	Free agent	ARG
Kim Hansen	62	Free agent	DEN
Robert Klauß	37	Free agent	GER
Damien Della Santa	32	OGC Nice	FRA

6. Attacking Coach (Technical)

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Stéphane Chapuisat	52	Young Boys	SUI
Fabio Micarelli	57	Free agent	ITA
Loris Beoni	63	Free agent	ITA
Kevin Keen	55	West Ham	ENG
Duncan Ferguson	50	Free agent	SCO
Travis Binnion	35	Man Utd	IRL
Fábio Matias	42	Bragantino	BRA
João Tralhão	41	Free agent	POR
Colin Little	49	Man Utd	ENG
David Lowe	56	Blackburn	ENG
David Platt	56	Free agent	ENG
Darren Ryan	49	Wolves	WAL
Kevin Sheedy	62	Free agent	IRL
Juan José Borrelli	51	Free agent	ARG
Stefano Melandri	58	Free agent	ITA
Valnei Pichite dos Santos	47	Free agent	BRA
Nicolas Jover	41	Arsenal	FRA
Damien Della Santa	32	OGC Nice	FRA
Maurice Graef	52	Free agent	NED
Rubén Rossi	48	San Lorenzo	ARG
Matías Delgado	39	Free agent	ARG
Pablo Aimar	42	Free agent	ARG
Mark Sale	50	Millwall	ENG

7. Possession Coach (Tactical)

The main attributes you look for in a Possession Coach (Tactical) are Mental, Tactical, Determination, Level of Discipline and Motivation.

To search for the best coaches available for this role, you can filter under "Staff Search" by highlighting these attributes. Some of the best coaches for this role are:

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Daniele Baldini	58	Free agent	ITA
Antonio Gómez	48	Free agent	ESP
Fabio Micarelli	57	Free agent	ITA
Miguel D'Agostino	50	Free agent	ARG
Loris Beoni	63	Free agent	ITA
Warren Joyce	57	Nottm Forest	ENG
Nélson Caldeira	49	Free agent	POR
Michele Cavalli	59	Free agent	ITA
Lee Cattermole	34	Middlesbrough	ENG
Renato Baldi	43	Free agent	ITA
Saïd Aïgoun	38	Crystal Palace	FRA
Mark Chamberlain	60	Free agent	ENG

8. Possession Coach (Technical)

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Pepijn Lijnders	39	Liverpool	NED
Antonio Gómez	48	Free agent	ESP
Fabio Micarelli	57	Free agent	ITA
Loris Beoni	63	Free agent	ITA
Danilo Pierini	67	Free agent	ITA
Travis Binnion	35	Man Utd	IRL
Lee Skyrme	46	Southampton	WAL
Stefano Melandri	58	Free agent	ITA
Hamidou Msaidie	47	Free agent	FRA
Kristian Wilson	41	Crystal Palace	ENG
Mark Chamberlain	60	Free agent	ENG

9. Fitness Coach (Strength and Quickness)

Fitness coaches in the game are a bit different from the others. Whether it is strength or quickness, they create training templates for it. From fitness coaches, you only look for attributes on fitness and other physical qualities.

The main attributes you look for in a Fitness Coach are Fitness, Determination, Level of Discipline and Motivation.

To search for the best coaches available for this role, you can filter under "Staff Search" by highlighting these attributes. Some of the best coaches for this role are:

Name	Age	Club	Nation
Darlan Schneider	58	Free agent	BRA
Mário Monteiro	58	Free agent	POR
Anthony Colbert	59	Free agent	ENG
Edu Pons	51	FC Barcelona	ESP
Óscar Ortega	64	Atlético de Madrid	URU
Grégory Dupont	49	Strasbourg	FRA
Andrea Pertusio	44	Juventus	ITA
Jaume Bartrès	51	Deportivo Guadalajara	ESP
Dani Romero	52	FC Barcelona	ESP
Scott Piri	53	Free agent	USA
Andreas Kornmayer	47	Liverpool	GER
Andrea Scanavino	49	Free agent	ITA
Roberto Peressutti	55	Milan	ITA
Alberto Andorlini	60	Free agent	ITA
Roberto De Bellis	52	Free agent	ITA
Ismael Fernández	45	Free agent	ESP
Eduardo Freitas	39	Free agent	BRA
Marcelo Martins	47	Antalyaspor	BRA
Antonio Gómez	45	Free agent	ESP
Matt Allen	35	Tottenham	ENG
Massimo Catalano	47	Free agent	ITA
Gabriele Boccolini	36	Atalanta	ITA
José Alfonso Morcillo	51	Granada	ESP
Fernando Piñatares	51	Free agent	URU
Kai Braun	55	Free agent	GER
Raphaël Fèvre	47	Bordeaux	FRA
Alejandro Martínez	53	Free agent	URU
Fabrizio Tafani	53	Free agent	ITA
Toru Ota	40	FC Nantes	JPN

A small note: coaches can vary depending on the selected database, and the best technical coaches may change in every new career you play. Still, in many of your careers you can safely make use of our list of 5-star or near-level coaches from which you will get the highest return.