Publisher EA is to take its football management series online with the news that PC title Football Manager 10 will for the first time include both online and LAN multiplayer.

Online functionality is just one of many enhancements on the way for the title. Deeper AI and player development options are promised, along with a brand new look, improved 3D player animations and resolution support for 1920x1200 monitors.

Also included are 40 international leagues, 3,600 clubs and 31,000 players.

“We’re incredibly pleased to be able to give fans what they’ve been asking for with the new online mode in EA Sports FIFA Manager 10,” lead designer Gerald Köhler stated.

“This is the first time that they will be able to compete against each other and really find out who’s the best manager. The online mode is free and you can play at least two seasons with up to eight players in one session.”

EA may have bossed the arcade football genre for quite some time, but its football management series has always languished behind Sega’s Football Manager franchise. The news of new online functionality suggests that EA wants to reverse its fortunes – though surely a console release would be the final piece in that puzzle.

FIFA Manager 10 is due out this autumn.