Interview with FPL World Number 1 Manager Over Last 2 Seasons

Ever wondered how managers finish in those top spots? Or if their strategy is different from yours? Well, today, we had a chat with Keyuran Govender(@FPL_Keys), who is the FPL world number 1 manager over the last two seasons, he finished the 24/25 season with an overall rank of 13, and in the previous season, he finished 229th in the world. We will discuss how he approached the last two seasons, FPL decision-making process, luck vs skill debate, strategy for the upcoming season, and tips for fellow managers to finish with a good rank. Hope you learn something, and let’s get into it!

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!

Interview with FPL World Number 1 Manager

Hello Keyuran Govender! Congratulations on a stellar FPL season once again(OR:13) after achieving an overall rank of 229 in 23/34. How does it feel to be ranked the FPL World Number 1 Manager over the last two seasons?

FPL World Number 1 over the last two seasons — **From Fantasy Football Pundit All Time FPL Rank Tool**-> Check your Rank!

I honestly didn’t know that I was the number 1 ranked FPL manager in the world over the past 2 seasons until the end of July came around! The past two seasons have been unreal for me, and I have to say that I’m very grateful to have done so well. The stars truly aligned for me, and it couldn’t have gone better (well, unless I saved my triple captain chip for the Mo Salah DGW 24, or if I brought in Bowen instead of Saka for the final GW of last season!)

You have been playing FPL for a while(16/17 the first season). How did you start playing it?

I first started playing FPL in my university days! I didn’t get the hype around a fantasy game, but later found joy in testing my football knowledge in the realms of fantasy football. A game that started out as a bit of banter between friends became something I truly value in life – Ask my wife, she knows that I spend a lot of time on FPL!

What changes did you make to your FPL strategy in the last two seasons that led you to be very successful?

I think the main changes involved doing a lot more research! I followed many more pages on Twitter/X, started watching podcasts, and FPL videos. One of the other things that helped was making my final decisions at the last second of every deadline, so that I had every bit of information at my disposal! I also kept a keen eye on price changes and took risks where I felt I needed to.

What’s your favourite FPL memory over the last two seasons?

I can’t remember much about the season before last, but I think my favourite part of last season was nailing the Assistant Manager chip, where I soared from 400th in the world, to 69th, and then 4th – In three gameweeks! Honestly didn’t like the chip too much, but Glasner and his troops came through for me.

What is your thought process like before making a transfer?

I like to look at statistics (minutes, big chances, clean sheet potential, etc.), when or if the player’s price will change any time soon. There is always a timeline to making a transfer, so I try to read up and get as much as much info as possible – Sometimes I have made transfers at 1 am! I also think about how long I want to have them in my team and what they bring to the table.

Do you rely on stats, eye test, or stats and eye test to make decisions?

A bit of everything – But I have no time to watch games for the eye test component – That’s why I just watch videos or read articles compiled by those that I trust – Again, equip myself with all the information I need to make a well-informed decision.

How would you describe the style of play you adopt in FPL? Are you aggressive with transfers, or do you follow the template?

I think I choose my moments – If I feel like being template is the best move, then I will make the move without hesitation, however, if I sense opportunity, I’ll go that route! Last season, when Saka got injured in December, I think I was part of the few managers that brought Foden in for his brilliant run!

Captaincy plays a key role in FPL, How do you decide on captaincy each week?

Firstly, your captain has to play – So make sure their xMins are good! AllAboutFPL’s captaincy metrics is an extremely informative tool to aid in the selection of the most ideal captain based on critical parameters! I read all 38 captaincy matrix articles last season!

Where do you consume your FPL content? What are some of the Social Media Accounts/ Websites/ Podcasts/ Tools you recommend for other FPL managers?

I follow a number of accounts on X, but my top 3 are The FPL Wire Podcast (Pras, Pranil, and Zoph), AllAboutFPL, and BigManBakar!

You are on Twitter/X with a dedicated FPL account(@FPL_Keys), Does social media impact/influence your FPL decision making?

FPL World Number 1 over the last two seasons - Keyuran Govender

Yes, of course! Sometimes I just wait for a content creator to affirm a thought of mine to push me over the line in bringing a player in or taking one out! At the end of the day, all the information comes from social media in whatever form – So yes, a big influencing factor in my decision-making, but at the end of the day, I have to make the decision and nobody else!

Share some of your wisdom with fellow FPL Managers! What are some of the Tips you would give to FPL Managers reading this article to achieve a good rank in FPL?

I’m an avid golfer (not very good though!), but if I were to do my research and play golf every day, I am bound to get better at it to some degree, right? So, following the same principles, my advice is to give FPL more of your time (if this is possible – Please don’t tell your family that you are retiring from them/work to be better at FPL!). Do your research and make informed decisions, but always remember that even if you do this, it is still possible that your move may not work out, and that’s the luck side of the game.

What do you think of the changes made by FPL for the new season?

I like the changes, but I do feel that many will experience variance to a greater degree this season. More chips mean more fun, but also more planning!

What’s your thoughts on Luck vs Skill in FPL, do you think it’s all skill or all luck or a mix of both?

I think that FPL is a mix of luck and skill, almost 60% luck and 40% skill. You have to make good decisions to put yourself in a position to get lucky!

Being World No.1 FPL manager over the last two seasons is already a massive achievement. What’s your target for the 25/26 season?

I think I just want to finish in the top 10k this season, anything better would be great! I have had 2 great seasons in a row, and I don’t know how I might feel if there is a big drop in that! Mental health, when it comes to FPL, is a real thing, so I hope that I can manage that this season, if things don’t go as planned.

How’s your draft looking like currently for the 25/26 season?

I feel that my draft looks strong at the moment. I have the likes of Salah, Palmer, Virgil, Spurs defender etc. I do think that my thinking has shifted with the new rules of the game. I have paid more attention to defensive contributions and will choose some players based on that!

What’s your high-level strategy going into the 25/26 season?

High-level strategy involves a free hit within the first 6 game weeks and a Wildcard somewhere between GW7-13. Having this outlook at the beginning of the season narrows down the thought process in relation to chips, transfers, and captaincy decisions!

Which players do you think will do really well in FPL?

I think early on, Fullkrug is one to watch! He is a lock in my team and I am excited at the prospect of owning him as a GW 1 differential – The guy is a German monster with pedigree(3 goals in the last 3 pre-season games). Two others to watch out for include Arias of Wolves, after his heroics in the FIFA Club World Cup, and Milambo of Brentford. I played UCL Fantasy last season, and Milambo was a great enabler. If he is able to nail a spot down in that team, I think he could do very well too!

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2025/26 FPL Season

If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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