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 As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.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 Quarter-Final: West Ham United vs. Crawley Town


The squad's bus rolled out of Crawley at 4:00 p.m., the M25 a gray blur outside the windows. The two-hour ride to East London hung heavy with anticipation.


Max Simons, captain and striker, stared quietly at the passing streets. His thunderous header against Burton still glowed in his mind, a spark he carried forward.


Thiago's earbuds thumped with rhythm, his foot tapping to the beat. Across the bus aisle, Nate shot him a grin. "Hope you've saved some of that rhythm for West Ham, mate."


Thiago flashed a grin. "We dance, they try not to fall over." The mood on the bus lifted, tension giving way to laughter.


Luka Radev sat still, water bottle in hand, eyes sharp and focused. Every thought was on the pitch ahead.


Behind him, José Baxter muttered, "West Ham's wingers are rapid, lads. Proper lightning."


Chapter 65 - Dreams Under Pressure