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.”