How to play Kickoff Life
A free soccer career simulator you can finish in about five minutes.
Kickoff Life follows one player from a 16-year-old academy prospect to the day he retires. You don't control matches. You make the career decisions that real players face: which club to join, whether to fight for minutes or move somewhere you will start, how to handle injuries, and what to do in the last minute of a final. Every career is different, and the result card at the end sums up the whole story.
1. Create your player
Pick a name and shirt number, your country of birth (28 countries across five regions) and one of 12 positions, from striker to goalkeeper. Your personality is not chosen: two traits are rolled at random when you start, such as Competitor, Late Bloomer or Injury-Prone, and they change how your career unfolds.
2. Choose a pace
| Mode | You decide | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed | Every season | About 10 minutes |
| Standard | Every 2 seasons | About 5 minutes |
| Quick | Every 4 seasons | 2 to 3 minutes |
3. Make the calls
- Transfer windows. Usually three options: a bigger club (higher salary and elite training, but you may sit on the bench), a smaller club that guarantees you start, or staying where you are. Once you have made a name for yourself, big clubs start offering you a guaranteed starting spot.
- Events. A new manager with a different system, a tabloid scandal, a documentary crew, a tight hamstring before a big game. Each choice shifts your growth, playing time, fan support or locker-room standing.
- Breaking news. Some moments arrive without warning: a serious injury, a rival signed for your position, big clubs calling. How you respond carries into the next seasons.
- Clutch moments. In finals and title deciders you get five seconds to choose: a safe pass, a balanced shot or a risky chip. Take too long and the safest option is picked for you.
4. Pick your national team at 18
Many players qualify for more than one country: where they were born, where they grew up, or their parents' country. You choose once, and it lasts your whole career. Strong nations are harder to break into; smaller ones make you a starter sooner, but trophies are rarer.
5. Grow, peak and decline
Your rating (OVR) grows fastest as a teenager, when a big season can add 7 to 10 points. It levels off in your mid-twenties and declines after 30. Playing time matters: players who start every week grow faster. Serious injuries can cost you rating and force a pay cut at your next contract.
6. Retire and get your grade
When you hang up your boots you receive one of 12 grades, a career score and a result card you can save as an image. The score adds up team trophies, individual awards, your peak rating, match stats and international caps.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| Living Legend | A name that defined a generation. |
| World Class | Stood at the center of the biggest stage on earth. |
| Big-Club Cornerstone | A starter wherever he went. |
| National Team Stalwart | The national team shirt was the career. |
| Journeyman | Packed his bags everywhere. Loved everywhere. |
| League Star | Every fan in the league knows the name. |
| Trophy Hunter | Never flashy, but silverware followed him everywhere. |
| Big-Game Player | Calmest when the stakes were highest. |
| One-Club Legend | His name is the club's history. |
| Comeback Warrior | Knocked down again and again. Always came back. |
| Unfulfilled Talent | Huge potential that never fully bloomed. |
| Steady Pro | A long, quiet living made from football. |
7. Challenge a friend
Every career has a code. Send your challenge link and your friend starts with the same country, position and luck. Their personality is rolled again and the choices are theirs, so you can see who builds the better career from the same start.
Tips
- Early minutes matter more than early money. A teenager who starts every week grows much faster than one on a big club's bench.
- A guaranteed starting spot at a smaller club is often the fastest route to a big club later.
- Rushing back from injury gets you minutes now but raises the risk of getting hurt again.
- Team trophies make up a large share of the score, so a move to a title contender late in your career can pay off.
FAQ
Is it free? Yes. The game runs in your browser with no download or account.
Are the clubs real? No. All clubs, competitions and players are fictional, though club strength is inspired by real-world power rankings.
Is my progress saved? Your current career is saved in your browser, so you can close the tab and continue later on the same device.
How to play · Privacy · Terms · Kickoff Life is a work of fiction and is not affiliated with any club, league or federation.