Player Roles in KAISER, an FM-Style Guide to Instructions

Player Roles are per-player instructions that fine-tune how each footballer behaves inside your shape. Where your formation sets where a player stands and your tactics set how the team plays, a role tells one player what job to do. A Target Man holds the ball up and attacks crosses; a False 9 drops in to overload midfield; an Anchor sits and shields the back four. Roles are free for everyone and fully deterministic, the same seed and the same roles always produce the same season.

How a role changes a player

Every role is a small trade-off: a buff and a debuff, netting out to roughly a one-to-two percent lift. An Attacking Full-Back gains attack but loses a little defence; a No-Nonsense centre-back is the reverse. The effect is deliberately subtle so it adds flavour and meaningful choice without warping the balance, an unset player behaves exactly as before.

Trait fit (the star)

If a player's playstyle trait matches the role, you get a bonus, shown with a star. Put a Poacher-trait striker on the Poacher role, a Playmaker in the Regista role, a rock-solid defender on Stopper, and they do the job better. Fitting the right man to the right role is where the depth lives.

Roles react to your tactics

This is the key layer. A role that suits your current tactics gets its upside amplified; a role that clashes gets it dampened, while the downside always applies in full. A Target Man loves Direct passing and Wing Overload (more crosses, more headers) but dislikes Tiki-Taka, feed him the wrong way and he still carries his cost without the reward. A False 9, by contrast, thrives in a patient, short-passing side and struggles going direct. Match your roles to your style and the whole team clicks.

Where to set roles

Open the Lineup screen and tap any player on the pitch to pick a role right there, or use the Roles tab for the full list with each role's job and description. The rating on each shirt updates live so you can see the effect, and a fits/clashes marker tells you whether the role suits your tactics. Everything saves with your Tactics preset, so you can reuse a full setup in one tap.

The role families

Each position has its own set. A quick tour:

• Goalkeeper, Sweeper Keeper (starts attacks behind a high line) or Shot-Stopper (safe, stays home).
• Centre-back, Ball-Playing Defender, Stopper, No-Nonsense CB or Libero.
• Full-back, Attacking (overlaps and crosses), Defensive (holds position) or Inverted (steps into midfield).
• Defensive midfield, Anchor (shields), Regista (deep creator) or Half-Back.
• Central midfield, Box-to-Box, Mezzala or Roaming Playmaker.
• Attacking midfield, Advanced Playmaker, Shadow Striker or Trequartista.
• Wide midfield / winger, Winger, Inside Forward, Wide Playmaker, Touchline or Inverted Winger, and a Defensive Winger to protect the flank.
• Striker, Target Man, Advanced Forward, False 9 or Poacher.

Getting the most out of roles

Build a coherent picture rather than stacking upsides. If you want width and crosses, pair Touchline Wingers and Attacking Full-Backs with a Target Man, and set Direct passing with Wing Overload so every role is amplified. If you want control, run a Regista, Roaming Playmaker and False 9 behind a patient, short-passing style. Remember the trade-offs stack too: two Attacking Full-Backs make you dangerous going forward but thin at the back, so balance the rest of the side. Start subtle, watch the ratings and the fits marker, and tune from there.

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