FM23 Galatasaray Tactic: Okan Buruk's 4-2-3-1 and an Alternative 3-5-2

As our FM 23 tactics series continues, we're looking at how to set up the tactics used by the "big four" clubs in FM23 and what alternative formations and templates you could try instead.

We're kicking off our FM 23 "big four" tactics series with Galatasaray, the form team of recent weeks. Having beaten Başakşehir by a historic margin after the Beşiktaş derby, the yellow-and-reds have started earning positive feedback from the public after heavy criticism in the opening weeks.

While breaking down Okan Buruk's tactics in FM23, we'll also look at what alternatives could work.

A word to fans of other clubs, or players who don't play as Galatasaray: you can easily use the templates we're about to give with similar players. So there's no need to think this tactic only works with Galatasaray.

Ever since signing with Galatasaray, Okan Buruk has enjoyed making bold statements. In every interview he says they'll win the title, and after losses he's usually been the one facing the media, often pointing to the referees. Even when things were going badly, Okan Buruk hasn't shied away from speaking about the team, though he still doesn't much like discussing tactics with the press. Since we don't get to hear it straight from Okan Buruk's mouth, we have to piece things together by watching what actually happens on the pitch.

What Tactic Does Okan Buruk Actually Use in Real Life?

Okan Buruk regularly prefers to use a 4-2-3-1 with Galatasaray. He generally likes direct, vertical football and doesn't want the team playing sideways passes from the back, but if we set aside the recent Başakşehir game, he doesn't seem to have fully solved slow build-up play. With the team settling into attack late and passing traffic being slow, the lack of sudden pressing was often pointed to as the biggest reason the team wasn't creating more chances. I'm excluding the Başakşehir game from this, meaning I'm not counting it. When a title-contending team beats another team 7-0, the winning side has managed to execute pretty much everything, if not more, that they intended on the pitch that day. It was also clear from the high-effort performances in recent matches that players expecting minutes at the World Cup were specifically trying to peak their form by late November.

Okan Buruk, who in particular doesn't want to hold onto the ball for long spells of build-up from the back, is building a structure that favors getting into the opposition's half quickly with vertical balls. While the team wants to press aggressively high up the pitch when out of possession and get into scoring positions off turnovers, we should see more of this as the team's form improves. He likes keeping one winger hugging the touchline while using the other closer to the box, ideally as an inverted winger.

In the Beşiktaş match, Okan Buruk started with Barış Alper Yılmaz on the right and Rashica on the left wing, trying Rashica as an inverted winger, but after not getting much out of it during the match he moved Rashica back to the right and kept Barış Alper Yılmaz on the left. With a top-class left winger like Kerem available, Rashica's strong use of both feet and his success hugging the touchline helped the team's attack settle in a bit more. Unfortunately, Yunus doesn't look likely to get much playing time in this setup, because playing Yunus and Kerem together as a striker-and-support-striker pairing is very difficult. With both wanting the ball at their feet and both being productive from wide areas, Icardi's and Mertens' involvement would automatically drop. Once Rashica came into the picture, he started opening up more space for the other three (Mertens, Icardi and Kerem) and feeding them from the wing. Mertens and Icardi lifting their form and pressing hard up front helps the team stay more solid at the back. Rashica and Torreira also join the press up front, and with the full-backs supporting too, they look set to cause serious problems for opponents who like to build from the back.

How Do You Set Up Galatasaray's Tactic in FM 23?

Let's keep going through Galatasaray and Okan Buruk in FM23.

In particular, the two centre-backs, Abdülkerim and Nelsson, complement each other very well. Abdülkerim plays a safer, more distribution-focused role at the back, while Nelsson usually takes on the opponent's biggest threat one-on-one and manages to neutralize them with his success in the first challenge.

FM23 4-2-3-1 Galatasaray Okan Buruk Tactic

The yellow-and-reds generally start build-up through Abdülkerim, wanting to get forward quickly through the wings, and we usually see Torreira involved in the first moves through the middle. Alongside his effective pressing, Torreira also plays an important role in build-up, and if you want to use him in a more attacking role it won't cause you any trouble. Especially with Oliveira also alongside him, you could push him further forward and build play through Oliveira instead. If you ask me, using Oliveira further forward looks a lot more efficient, though keep in mind FM23 is a long marathon where you'll have to test different combinations.

Because of the 3-Turkish-player rule, left-back Kazımcan Karataş might look like a forced pick, but he's a player Football Manager games consistently show high potential for, and with regular game time he can comfortably move from being a squad necessity to a genuine first-choice player — make sure to try Kazımcan in the game. Give Sacha Boey instructions to get forward down the wing, and let him and Rashica turn the right flank into a highway. Give Torreira a more protective instruction that helps with build-up, while Sergio Oliveira can comfortably be used on all set pieces and in an attack-minded playmaker role. Position Kerem as an inside forward, use Icardi as an out-and-out striker, and I'd say Mertens should be chosen through trial and error depending on how the team is doing (he can comfortably play as a number 10, as a second striker, or as a playmaker). You can especially tweak Oliveira's and Mertens' instructions and keep testing until you find what works best for you.

If we want to play like Okan Buruk's Galatasaray, we absolutely need to play close to the opposition's half and press hard, including the opposing goalkeeper. We should adopt direct football and get to goal quickly off turnovers. So rather than build-up-focused tactics, we should build Galatasaray more around Klopp-style systems.

How Do You Build an Alternative Tactic for Galatasaray in FM 23? (3-5-2)

For those who don't want to play Okan Buruk's tactic, or who want to try something different, here's a completely different take on the GS squad. We'll build the tactic around a back-four logic set up as a back three, and we'll make Midtsjö the most important player in the system. I know that might come as a surprise, but variety always adds something positive to your game, and I think this is a tactic Okan Buruk himself should try, or that could come in handy at some point.

How Do You Build an FM 23 Galatasaray 3-5-2 That Looks Like a 4-1-4-1?

In this tactic, we set Abdülkerim as the ball-playing defender at the back, with Midtsjö and Nelsson as his supporting centre-backs, positioning most of the other players in attack. In particular, the wing-backs are always thinking forward and attacking, aiming to play with a general attacking emphasis out wide. Torreira is set up as the midfield anchor, while Oliveira again takes the attack-minded playmaker role. By placing Mertens as a false nine up front, we can have him create space for every midfielder arriving from deep by dragging defenders around.

If you season the attack with high tempo, sharp vision, passes into space, a preference for tight areas, and pull the team a bit more centrally so the full-backs can use the wings, I can already guarantee you'll be playing high-scoring, enjoyable matches.

More Football Manager 2023 News

Other Teams

To read our guide to playing Fenerbahçe with Jorge Jesus's tactic (which also includes an alternative tactic), just click the link!

To read our guide to playing Beşiktaş with Şenol Güneş's tactic (which also includes an alternative tactic), just click the link!

To read our guide to playing Trabzonspor with Abdullah Avcı's tactic (which also includes an alternative tactic), just click the link !