Some people take their Football Manager achievements too seriously. And then there is Andrew Ballantyne.
Over the last 20 years, this Englishman has applied for around 70 manager jobs, with CVs full of titles… in Football Manager and Fantasy Football.
Andrew is 41, works as a finance coordinator and, in his spare time, is a magician. He insists the applications are just a bit of fun to escape the routine. And he proudly keeps every rejection letter.
The peak: a Champions League final with Bristol City
He lives in Leeds and supports the city’s club, but the high point of his (virtual) career was elsewhere: a Champions League final with Bristol City, in CM2 94/95.
“It was in my sixth year. I played 4-3-3 with Wayne Allison, Leroy Rosenior and Jackie Dziekanowski, who scored goals for fun.”
That is exactly what he wrote when he applied to be Bristol City manager in 2010. In his letters he includes possible signings and the tactical systems he wants to implement.
It all started in 1999
“I had won the last two fantasy leagues and thought I would offer my services. As a joke, I applied to be Tottenham manager and, to my surprise, the club replied!”
Apart from the rejection from his boyhood club, his favorite letters are the two rejections for the England job and one from Celtic.
“Clubs don’t have to reply, but they do. I keep them all in a special envelope.”
Tottenham were short and to the point: “Thank you for your application.” Others were friendlier:
- AFC Wimbledon told him to keep watching Match of the Day, because one day he might be England manager;
- Sven-Göran Eriksson replied to him when he was director of football at Notts County;
- Barnsley wrote: “Don’t give up, keep trying.”
“I always get excited when I receive a letter. My friends find it hilarious when I show them.”
Only Huddersfield, Chelsea and Newcastle never replied. Andrew promises to keep going until he has heard back from all 92 English league clubs.
If it were you, which club would you send your FM CV to?
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Fonte: Yorkshire Evening Post