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 As an assistant at a struggling lower-league club, he begins to reshape the team from within challenging outdated tactics, unearthing hidden gems, and reigniting hope in the dressing room.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

Matchday 44: Crawley Town vs. Accrington Stanley


Rain hammered down as Niels stood under Broadfield's dripping awning, Crawley's red badge soaked on his jacket. The team had just climbed to 2nd in League Two after a 2-0 win at Barnet with Thiago's rocket and Max Simons' calm penalty. With Chelsea waiting in the FA Cup final, Crawley's dream was alive. But tonight, Accrington Stanley came to crash the party. Tough and dangerous on set pieces, they were ready for a fight. Niels had thought of taking a risk, resting Max and starting Korey Henry up front. With 6,000 fans roaring through the storm, Crawley had to prove they could win without their star.


Chapter 76 - The Gamble at Broadfield