Claudio Ranieri

/Leicester City 2015-16

The miracle Premier League title

Low block + direct counters + two players with real pace

Source: FBref / Sports Reference

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Style vector

Pressing IntensityLow

Compacting the block comes before pressing high

Defensive LineLow

Shuts off the space in behind at source

DirectnessVery High

Straight to the front line the instant the ball is won

Reliance on IndividualsHigh

Leans heavily on two players with real pace — Vardy and Mahrez

TempoHigh

They do not hold the ball long, but once they win it they go straight ahead — for a counter-attacking side, tempo is the speed of the transition, not the time spent waiting

WidthNarrow

Squeezes the middle to close the running lanes first

Players only move where their role tag says — it's not a match replay

4-4-2

Holds firm in its own half, then plays the shortest ball into the striker’s pace.

MentalityDefensive to CautiousBased on: Defensive Line Low · Pressing Intensity Low

StyleClosest to Direct Counter-AttackSet the instructions below by hand instead — picking this overwrites them with the preset's values · Based on: Attacking Transition Counter · Pressing Intensity Low · Defensive Line Low · Directness Very High

Line of EngagementLow BlockDiagram block: Low Block

Style axesPressing Intensity Low · Defensive Line Low · Directness Very High · Reliance on Individuals High · Tempo High · Width Narrow

In possessionPassing Directness More Direct · Attacking Transition Counter · Tempo Higher · Attacking Width Narrower · Creative Freedom Be More Expressive

Overlay with another manager

Identity

·Almost all the goals come from the striker running in behind — block that slot and there is little else
·Keeping the two banks tight is the first priority — with this budget the low block was the only way to survive
·The pacy wide players must be able to switch straight into the counter after tracking back

Position mapping

Shows where the same player moves to between in- and out-of-possession phases.

In possession	Out of possession
GKNo Nonsense Goalkeeper	GKLine-Holding Keeper
FB (L)Full-Back	FB (L)Holding Full-Back
CB (L)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (L)Covering Centre-Back
CB (R)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (R)Covering Centre-Back
FB (R)Full-Back	FB (R)Holding Full-Back
CM (L)Wide Midfielder	CM (L)Tracking Wide Midfielder
CM (C)Defensive Midfielder	CM (C)Defensive Midfielder
CM (C)Channel Midfielder	CM (C)Central Midfielder
CM (R)Wide Midfielder	CM (R)Tracking Wide Midfielder
ST 1Deep Lying Forward	ST 1Tracking Centre-Forward
ST 2Channel Forward	ST 2Centre-Forward

Team instructions

Most important first. Switch to in-game order when you copy it across.

Amber badges are the identity-defining instructions. We only set a value where the data gives a clear signal; where it does not, the FM default is left in place and shown faded — those are yours to adjust. Click an item to check it off.

In Possession

Out of Possession

Things FM's tactic settings cannot express

FM26 handles one in-possession shape, one out-of-possession shape, and the switch between them. The items below fall outside that — this card carries only what the game can take.

Chained rotations within a phase — Switching between the two shapes exists, but there is no setting for players swapping positions with each other depending on where the ball is.
Ball-position triggers — Conditional movement like "the right wing-back tucks in only when the ball is on the left" cannot be set.
Player-to-player rules — Roles are set per player and cannot reference each other — "when A pushes up, B covers" is not expressible.
Automatic changes by time or score — In-match tactical changes are manual; there is no way to pre-set a condition.

Players who defined this system

Not an appearance ranking — these players embodied the system’s roles.

N’Golo KantéThe midfielder who covers the whole front of the low block alone
Riyad MahrezCreativity cutting inside from the right
Jamie VardyThe counter finished by running in behind

Attribute profiles

Tap a position on the pitch and the attributes that spot needs appear right there.

Striker Running In Behind

Top priority

Channel forward in possession — responsible for the overwhelming majority of the goals

Required

Pace 17+Acceleration 16+Finishing 15+

Preferred

Composure 14+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Move Into Channels

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

Going through a season without cover here means an injury or a dip in form takes the whole season down with it

Wide Pace Outlet

Core

Wide Midfielder in possession — crosses and runs beyond on the counter

Required

Pace 16+Crossing 14+Technique 14+

Preferred

Stamina 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

In possession: Deep Lying Forward · Out of possession: Tracking Centre-Forward

Required

Passing 13+First Touch 13+Finishing 13+Stamina 13+

Preferred

Vision 12+Pace 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionHold Up Ball: Yes

Out of possessionTrigger Press: More Often

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

This is a well-founded starting point — the FM match engine is a separate system, so real match performance is not guaranteed.