For millions of fans around the world, Football Manager isn’t just a game—it’s a living, breathing simulation of global football.
Behind its incredible realism lies a vast network of researchers who ensure every player, club, and league feels authentic.
One of those researchers is the man responsible for shaping Nigeria’s presence in the game, the Head Researcher responsible for Nigerian football in Football Manager 2026, Mr Wolfgang Gasparik.
Speaking exclusively to Footballrover, the FIFA Licenced Agent revealed his journey, passion for African football, and the challenges of representing the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in Football Manager.
“Head Researchers oversee the heartbeat of Football Manager.”
To begin with, can you walk us through what HR (Head Researcher) means in Football Manager and what it entails?
Head Researchers—around a hundred of us worldwide—oversee the data research process for a specific country or region. Our job is to ensure that everything within Football Manager, from players to clubs, stadiums, and competitions, reflects real-life football as closely as possible.
That means coordinating assistant researchers—more than 1,500 globally—assigning clubs to contributors, and reviewing all data for accuracy and balance.
We focus on fairness in player attributes, aligning data with the game’s match engine, and updating performances each season. The work is constant throughout the year but intensifies around April, when we prepare the new edition for release.
“From Championship Manager to Nigeria—my Football Manager story.”
How did you first get involved with Football Manager, and what eventually led you to take charge of the Nigerian leagues?
I’ve been playing the game since 1992, back when it was still Championship Manager. Early on, I started editing data myself, which became a real passion.
Wolfgang Gasparik, MBA, M.Sc.
FIFA Licenced Agent, Head Researcher Nigeria, Austria; Co-HR Germany
In 2003, I joined the Austrian research team under Gregor Eigner, initially as an assistant. In 2007, when my predecessor stepped down, I took over as Head Researcher for Austria—armed with limited English but a lot of love for the game and football itself.
Over time, I completed scouting courses through PFSA and IPSO, which deepened my understanding of player evaluation. My first scouting trip to Nigeria came in 2019, and I was immediately captivated by the sheer level of talent.
During the COVID slowdown in 2021, I decided to rebuild the Nigerian database, which was quite limited at the time—and that marked the real beginning of my work with Nigerian football.
“The NPFL deserves accuracy and respect.”
What does your role as a researcher for the Nigerian League involve on a day-to-day and season-to-season basis?
At the moment, I’m both Head Researcher and the only active researcher for Nigeria, as my assistant is currently unavailable. That means I handle all twenty NPFL clubs myself.
The process starts with verifying squad lists and cross-checking information from multiple sources—X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Transfermarkt, Flashscore, and more. I then build an internal Excel database that I update weekly based on match reports.
Thanks to the growing Football Manager community and online creators, access to information is improving. But transparency in Nigerian football remains an issue, which makes verification a constant challenge.
“Building from scratch—four years of steady progress.”
How long have you been working on Nigerian data for Football Manager, and how has the project evolved over the years?
I began improving the Nigerian database in 2021. Back then, many players and even entire clubs were missing, so I had to build a solid foundation from scratch. Over the past four years, the quality has steadily increased as media coverage and online statistics have grown.
Today, the database is far more detailed, giving Nigerian players and clubs the representation they deserve.
“Nigeria’s talent is immense—but stability remains the key issue.”
With the amount of data at your disposal, how would you assess the Nigerian League in general?
If we’re talking about the real-life NPFL, I would rate it at a relatively modest standard right now. With only Rivers United still in CAF competition and other clubs exiting early, consistency remains elusive.
The NPFL often feels like a “hire-and-fire” league—many players have already represented five or more clubs. That lack of continuity makes long-term progress difficult and often ties back to contract or salary structures.
As soon as a player hits a bit of form, he’s recommended for a move abroad, usually to lower European leagues—a setback for everyone involved.
“Seeing players smile because their data is right—that’s priceless.”
What would you say is the most rewarding part of handling Nigerian League data – and what has been the most frustrating?
The most rewarding part is definitely seeing players and fans happy when they notice that their favourite club or player is portrayed accurately in the game. That joy is what keeps me going.
The frustrating part comes when I find major inconsistencies in basic details like age or career data. That’s a deeper, structural issue within football record-keeping—but one that highlights why this research work is so important.
“The community’s help is crucial.”
How has the Nigerian Football Manager Community supported your work? And if the support has been limited, in what ways can they help?
During the Football Manager 24 cycle, I managed to gather a small but enthusiastic group on X, where we exchanged updates about the NPFL. That collaboration worked well—until the news broke that there would be no Football Manager 25, which unfortunately reduced engagement almost to zero.
What would really help now is collaboration. Sharing verified data, exchanging insights, and especially getting direct cooperation from clubs would make a massive difference. Clubs are the first and most reliable sources, and I’d love to work with them more closely.
“A playable NPFL would be a win for everyone.”
What are the major benefits of having the Nigerian League playable in Football Manager?
A properly researched NPFL would not only bring joy to local fans—imagine seeing your real-life striker score the title-winning goal in Football Manager—it would also introduce the league to a global audience.
Accurate data can even help real players gain visibility, as scouts and analysts often use the game as a research tool. It’s a win-win for the NPFL, the NFF, and Nigerian football as a whole.
“South Africa and Egypt paved the way—Nigeria could be next.”
Why are South Africa and Egypt currently the only playable African leagues in Football Manager, while Nigeria is not?
South Africa has been part of Football Manager for years and benefits from an experienced Head Researcher in Rob Delport. While I don’t have inside details, I believe its inclusion was largely due to the league’s structure and visibility at the time.
The recent addition of Egypt is a great step forward for African football representation in the game. Naturally, I hope Nigeria will follow—but that decision lies beyond my control and would require coordination at multiple levels.
“If you want to help—reach out.”
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to join the FM data team or contribute through local scouting?
Just go for it! The first step is to contact me so we can discuss how you can contribute.
Collaboration is key—we can work together toward the same goal and greatly improve the accuracy and depth of Nigerian football in Football Manager.
“Half a million changes—and counting.”
Have there been any rewards or recognition for all the work you have put into making sure Nigeria has one of the best data profiles in Football Manager?
Whether the Nigerian database is among the best is for others to judge, but I can say this: since 2021, more than half a million data updates have been made. That alone shows how much progress we’ve achieved.
My real reward comes from seeing players’ joy and receiving messages of thanks from people who feel represented in the game. Of course, more recognition from clubs or officials would be nice—but I’m already happy with simple acceptance.
“Partnerships can elevate everything.”
What kind of collaboration with clubs, coaches, journalists, or other stakeholders would help to improve the data of the Nigerian League in FM?
I’d be delighted to speak directly with club, league, or federation officials about partnership opportunities. Verified information is the foundation of good data, and journalists and local experts could play a vital role here. The more we cooperate, the better the results.
“The NFF and NPFL can play a big role.”
Do you believe the NFF or the NPFL authorities have a role to play in this process? If so, in what ways?
Absolutely. The NFF and NPFL could make a big difference in improving the database’s accuracy and visibility. How that cooperation might look is something to be discussed, but there are many possible approaches—even beyond the scope of Football Manager itself.
And my door is always open for conversation.
“Enjoy the game—especially with your darling team.”
If you could send one message to FM fans in Nigeria, what would it be?
Enjoy the game and especially enjoy playing with your “darling team”. That’s what Football Manager is about—love for football, pride in your club, and the joy of seeing your passion come alive on screen.
“Documentation is the key to reform.”
If you were given the chance to reform the NPFL outside of Football Manager, what are the first and most important changes you would make?
I would introduce a mandatory player identification card system for all players from the age of 15. Proper documentation would increase transparency, strengthen credibility, and bring consistency to the entire football ecosystem in Nigeria.
As the interview ends, one thing is clear: Football Manager’s Nigerian data isn’t just about numbers—it’s about representation, progress, and passion.
Behind every attribute and every name in the database stands someone working tirelessly to make sure Nigerian football gets the spotlight it deserves.
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