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 As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.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

Chapter 75: The High Press at Underhill


Matchday 42: Barnet FC vs. Crawley Town


Niels stood in the car park outside Broadfield Stadium as the first light of dawn broke through the chilly April air. 


He pulled his jacket tighter, the Crawley Town badge glowing red against the early morning grey. There was a buzz around the town a quiet, growing excitement after Crawley's hard-fought 1–0 win over Shrewsbury. They were level with Bournemouth, just behind on goal difference.


Everyone was thinking about the big final against Chelsea, but before that came a tough challenge an away game at Underhill. It was a small, hostile ground, and the team waiting for them there was physical, compact, and determined to throw Crawley off their rhythm.


Then, the news broke: Bournemouth had lost 1–0 to Rochdale. The whole town seemed to come alive at once. 


The path to second place had just opened up. 


Chapter 75 - The High Press at Underhill