Man who has spent 8 per cent of his life playing Football Manager becomes boss of real team after double relegation

A FOOTBALL MANAGER addict has become a real-life boss aged just 27 – of a professional team relegated twice in a row.

Orri Thorisson claims he’s spent eight per cent of his life playing the computer game. 

And Icelandic fourth-tier side KV admit they’ve gone down a “different route” in appointing the rookie to their top job.

Chairman Auounn Orn Gylfason agrees Thorisson has no “magic wand”.

But he does have a wizard record on Football Manager.

Thorisson recently won his sixth successive Premier League crown with Leicester City – at least, on his keyboard and screen.

He saved 600 hours of playing time to achieve that feat… no doubt at the King Powered-up Stadium.

But it’s not all it seems – as until last year he was a gamer of two halves.

Thorisson shared his love for Football Manager online with almost equal playing time on the pitch.

But hip surgery ended his physically-active career, leaving him feeling he had “lost something in my life”.

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But incredibly Thorisson was quickly appointed head coach of sixth-tier Kria – thanks to his friends owning the local club.

He won instant promotion after 13 wins in 16 games, before agreeing to move to KV on a one-year contract.

Thorisson insists Football Manager has helped him in the dugout as well as tackling personal demons.

He told SportBible: “I genuinely believe it’s had a positive impact on my real-life management abilities.

“The game’s intricate mechanics, strategic decision-making and pressure-filled scenarios have allowed me to hone my analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

Thorisson also called the game a “therapeutic escape during harder periods in my life”.

He added: “I find solace and distraction from playing the game and it allows my mind to momentarily detach from real-world struggles.

“I know it sounds bad but when I’m doing good in the game, I feel like I’m doing good in life.

“For me, it’s the thrill of leading your favourite team to victory and the satisfaction of nurturing young talents.

The job could be a really good stepping stone… And to have some extra income for my family, including my pregnant girlfriend, is huge.

Orri Thorisson

“Oh, and the 4-2-3-1 formation I’ve used throughout my entire FM career? I’ll definitely play a form of that tactic in real life.”

Thorisson dreams of one day matching the levels he’s reached gaming with real-life achievements.

He said: “I took the job knowing it could be a really good stepping stone in my career.

“And to have some extra income to provide for my family, including my pregnant girlfriend, is huge.”

Club supremo Gylfason confessed: “We know success in Football Manager doesn’t just happen with the swing of a magic wand.

“You need to have a deep understanding of the game and now time will tell if he can meet up to our expectations in real life.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk