Ageing and retirement
How age_months works, the season rollover, and the decline curve.
ManageFC tracks player age in years and months. Every internal season the year counter increments by one, and the month counter resets to zero on the season rollover. That means a player listed as 22.7 today will be roughly 23.7 by the end of the current season's competitive cycle. Time matters, but it moves at a manageable pace — your squad doesn't age out of relevance overnight.
The decline curve
- 16–22 — rapid growth window. Mentoring and minutes produce the biggest attribute gains.
- 23–28 — peak years. Attributes are stable, small gains from training, very small drops from minor injuries.
- 29–32 — gradual decline in pace and physical first, then defending and dribbling. Passing and shooting hold longer.
- 33+ — steeper decline. Recovery slows, condition drains faster, injury risk climbs. Veterans can still contribute in low-tempo roles.
- 36+ — retirement risk increases each season; some players auto-retire at the season rollover.
Season rollover
On 1 January the season rolls over. Clubs, honours and historical records are preserved — nothing is wiped. Player ageing is applied, retirements are processed, and the calendar restarts: a new season begins immediately.
Planning around age
A healthy squad has a spread of ages. A common shape is two or three veterans for leadership and set-piece quality, a peak-age spine (centre-backs, defensive midfielder, striker), and several 19–23 prospects with growth potential. Avoid letting your entire spine hit 30+ in the same season — the cliff happens together.