Nicholas Marjan, known as Niels, was an Asian football-obsessed loner in the modern world. A master of FIFA Career Mode, addicted to YouTube tactics videos, and followed every twist of the transfer window like it was life or death, he lived the beautiful game from behind a screen.
Until the day he died.
And woke up in the late 2000s, in the body of a once-promising young player at a lower-league English club. A player whose career had been cut short by a brutal ACL injury. With his playing career over before it could truly begin, his second life offers no glory on the pitch.
But Niels still has one weapon: his mind.
Armed with future knowledge of football's evolution, and guided by a mysterious, almost cheat-like instinct for scouting raw talent, Niels steps into the world of coaching. As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.
His methods are unorthodox. His instincts, uncanny. And soon, whispers about the "young coach with a gift" begin to spread.
This isn’t the story of a player chasing glory. It’s about someone reborn to change the game from the sidelines. From forgotten training grounds to Europe’s biggest stages, Niels is on a mission, 
not just to win, but to rewrite what it means to lead.
He once dreamed of lifting trophies as a player.
Now, he'll do it as a coach.

Frost crusted the edges of Broadfield Stadium's training pitch, the January air sharp as Niels watched his Crawley Town squad gear up for tomorrow's League Two clash against Rochdale. 


The 1-0 win over Lincoln City two days ago, Matchday 25, Max Simons' volley sealing it had kept their fire alive, lifting them to seventh with 46 points.


The day began in the club's boardroom, a small room smelling of stale coffee and damp wool. Claire, the financial officer, stood by a whiteboard, her voice taut. 


"Lincoln's gate receipts brought £45,000, but Thiago's £200k transfer and Baxter's loan wages are bleeding us. Barnsley's TV deal could mean £100,000, but a loss at Rochdale could kill our momentum." 


Mr. Hargreaves, the chairman, leaned forward, his tie askew. "The team's behind you, Niels, but budgets don't bend for dreams. Rochdale's a must-win." Niels nodded, his chest tight. 


Chapter 36 - Steel in the Frost