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 As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.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.

FA Cup Fifth Round: Burnley vs. Crawley Town


The Crawley Town squad's bus carved through Lancashire's rolling hills, a four-hour trek from Crawley to Turf Moor, Burnley's storied Premier League fortress. 


A week after their gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Notts County, Niels' first defeat as manager, the squad's fire had been reignited by his raw, heart-baring rallying cry, their spirits now locked on the FA Cup Fifth Round.


The bus hummed with quiet tension, a mix of hope and nerves filling the air.


Max Simons stared out at the mist-covered fields, his steady leadership after Notts County a calming presence for the team.


Thiago's earbuds leaked a lively samba beat, making Korey Henry grin. "Thiago, save that rhythm for their defenders!"


Thiago laughed, "I dance, they fall!" breaking the tension with a spark of lightness.


Chapter 54 - Clash of Titans