> ## Knowledge Base Index > Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.footium.club/sitemap.xml > Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further. > Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash). # 👋 What is Footium? ![Club home overview in Footium](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/2/e/2/b/2e2b82b8fd97720/club-home-daily-fc-and-milesto_1chs5aj.png)![Matchday tactics screen](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/2/e/2/b/2e2b82b8fd97720/tactics-formation-and-lineup_zyb06o.png)Footium is a competitive, social football management game where you take charge of a football club, build a squad, set tactics, develop players, and compete against real managers in league matches. You do not need any special setup to start. Everyone can sign up, choose from a small selection of available clubs, and begin for free as a **Caretaker Manager**. That means you can learn the game, manage a team for a season, complete objectives, and decide later whether you want to become a permanent Club Owner. ## What do you actually do as a manager? Your job is to make the decisions that shape your club’s season. That includes: - Picking your starting line-up and substitutes - Choosing a formation that suits your squad - Selecting a captain - Managing player condition across the season - Training players to improve their ratings - Reacting during live matches with substitutions and tactical changes - Planning for promotion, relegation, rewards, and future seasons Footium is not just about picking the highest-rated eleven players. Players have positions, condition, stamina, leadership, potential, and development paths. A tired player might need resting. A young player might need minutes to unlock potential. A captain with high leadership can help your team perform better. A formation that looks strong on paper can still struggle if too many players are out of position. ## How leagues and seasons work Each Footium league contains **12 teams**. During a season, your club plays one match per day and faces every other club in the league twice, making **22 matches** in total. Matches are played live and usually last around 30 minutes. If you are online during your match, you can watch it unfold and make real-time decisions. You can make substitutions, adjust mentality, change formation, move players, and even change your captain. These decisions can help, but only if they are sensible. Over-managing a match can hurt you just as much as ignoring it. At the end of the season: - The top two clubs in each league are promoted, unless they are already in the top division - The bottom four clubs are relegated, unless they are in the bottom division - Top league positions can receive rewards, depending on eligibility and current reward rules Exact season dates, reward details, and special events are announced in-game and in the Footium Discord. ## Free play and ownership Footium has two main ways to play: **Caretaker Manager** is the free route. You manage a club for a season, learn the core game systems, complete objectives, and decide whether you want to continue. **Club Owner** is the permanent route. Owners keep long-term control of their club, unlock full progression, can access additional systems such as the academy and transfer market, and may become eligible for seasonal rewards if they meet the requirements. Current ownership options can change over time, so always check the in-game store for the latest bundles and details before buying. ## What makes Footium social? Footium is designed to be played with other managers. League rivals are real people, the transfer market is shaped by the community, and Discord is where many managers discuss tactics, player values, referrals, updates, and match stories. You can play quietly on your own, but the game becomes much richer when you follow league tables, scout opponents, join community discussions, and learn from other managers. ## Where to begin If you are new, start simple: 1. Create your account 2. Choose one of the available clubs 3. Set your first line-up 4. Check your fixtures 5. Claim your daily FC where available 6. Complete objectives and milestones 7. Watch a live match if you can Footium rewards planning, patience, and good decision-making. You can jump in quickly, but the deeper game is about building a club identity across matches, seasons, and squads.