Football Reborn: The Manager from the future
Chapter 3 – Sunday League to Superstars
Darlington's training ground looked like a public park. Patches of dirt, uneven grass, and rusted goalposts. Ethan stepped onto the field as the players arrived, yawning, joking, most ignoring him entirely.
He gathered them in a circle.
"Morning," he began. "I'm Ethan Ray. I'm your new manager."
Some eyes rolled. A tall centre-back muttered, "Another one?"
"I know you've had four managers in two years. I'm not here to give you speeches. I'm here to make you win."
Still skeptical faces.
"Training starts now. New drills. No more long balls. We play fast, technical football."
Groans.
Ethan tapped the tablet inside his coat. The AI projected stats into his mind—conditioning, strengths, weak points. He pointed at the striker.
"Ben, your first touch is good. But you drift too wide. Stay central today. We're working on pressing and short build-ups."
Ben blinked. "How do you know that?"
"Because I watch football," Ethan said simply. "Not just the game. The players."
He began training with modern methods—rondos, positional play, vertical transitions. The players struggled at first. But after an hour, the tempo changed. Passes snapped quicker. Movement improved. Players stopped slacking.
Ethan paused. This… felt right.
Later that evening, he reviewed footage using the AI. He tagged two players for release and noted three youth prospects with high potential. He even uploaded Darlington's basic match footage for tactical breakdowns—things the club never had the tech to do before.
The assistant coach, Greg Tyson, approached, holding a flask of tea.
"Where'd you learn this stuff, boss? You coaching in Germany or something?"
"Something like that," Ethan replied.
Greg grinned. "Well, you've got them running. That's more than the last two managers could say."
Back in his room, Ethan opened the AI again. Rosario, Argentina. The Messi file blinked on screen. A frail boy with magic in his feet and a hormonal disorder that needed treatment. Ethan stared at the profile.
"Not yet," he whispered. "I need more time. A plan."
He switched to another file: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.
Age: 12.
Location: Madeira, Portugal.
Estimated scouting window: 2 years.
Ethan leaned back, a fire burning in his chest.
he could do this. he rrally could.