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 As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.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

The morning after Niels made his decision, the skies over Crawley cleared, and the sun came out. By 9 a.m., Crawley Town FC had released a statement that spread quickly through the town: "Crawley Town FC is thrilled to confirm that Niels will remain as Head Coach for the 2010/11 season, with full control over tactics, transfers, and youth development. The journey continues. #NielsStaying" The short announcement sparked huge celebrations.


In 2010, Twitter was still raw and unfiltered, and it lit up with red heart emojis, photos of Broadfield Stadium under the lights, and shaky videos of Max's famous Wembley goal from their FA Cup run. Local radio was flooded with proud fans calling in, their voices full of emotion. Pubs joined the celebration with "Niels Night" specials, free pints for anyone holding a Crawley scarf, and "Sweet Caroline" playing loudly from jukeboxes.


Chapter 97 - One More Season