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Player Manager #1
Player Manager
Could a seemingly average Premier League fan oversee a football club better than a top manager? Max is starting to think so . . .
Max Best is not living his—ahem—best life. His job’s a drag, his home’s a shooting gallery, his hopes are nil, and lately, even his beloved game of football has devolved from a chaotic, ecstatic delight into a cold, calculating equation complete with stats, tech terms, and mindless lingo. But then Max rescues a mysterious old man from a mugging. “Nick” seems friendly enough . . . until he innocently asks his saviour, “Would you sell your soul to be a top football manager?"
Naturally, Max says yes, and in that instant, everything changes. Suddenly, whenever he watches a footie match, the skills and attributes of every player are visible to him within an eyes-only display. While he’s terrified at first, he quickly learns to appreciate his abilities—even embracing them to gain his own level-ups and experience. And he’s going to need them.
Because his otherworldly talent is about to have a massive effect on his real-world existence, catapulting him from small local matches to the insanity of top-tier football. But the more he succeeds, the more he’s torn between the simple, happy fanatic he once was and the master of the pitch he’s becoming. Soon Max will have to ask Is football really a matter of life or death? Or is there something more important worth fighting for?
The first volume of the hit progression-fantasy series—with more than 800,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Max Best is not living his—ahem—best life. His job’s a drag, his home’s a shooting gallery, his hopes are nil, and lately, even his beloved game of football has devolved from a chaotic, ecstatic delight into a cold, calculating equation complete with stats, tech terms, and mindless lingo. But then Max rescues a mysterious old man from a mugging. “Nick” seems friendly enough . . . until he innocently asks his saviour, “Would you sell your soul to be a top football manager?"
Naturally, Max says yes, and in that instant, everything changes. Suddenly, whenever he watches a footie match, the skills and attributes of every player are visible to him within an eyes-only display. While he’s terrified at first, he quickly learns to appreciate his abilities—even embracing them to gain his own level-ups and experience. And he’s going to need them.
Because his otherworldly talent is about to have a massive effect on his real-world existence, catapulting him from small local matches to the insanity of top-tier football. But the more he succeeds, the more he’s torn between the simple, happy fanatic he once was and the master of the pitch he’s becoming. Soon Max will have to ask Is football really a matter of life or death? Or is there something more important worth fighting for?
The first volume of the hit progression-fantasy series—with more than 800,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
540 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2023
124 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 10, 2024
I don't Iike reading much LitRPG. The writing is... uh, it lacks. A lot. Even the guys making 6/7 figures a year. In this genre, earings doesn't equal writing chops. Fact.
I'm not interested in spending time on something that reads like English Comp 101 (which is 98% of the genre).
I grew up reading Stephen King and Clive Barker. I need authors who know their craft. Know how to tell a story. Don't drag shit out because they're desperate for sales or have no clue how to finish something they started. The world has enough of that lame crap with Marvel movies and the Fast and Furious garbage.
For LitRPG, I've basically only found Matt Dinniman (a god among authors), Damien Hanson of "Buymort" fame (check it out, but warning, the narrator grows annoying after book 1), and now I've found a solid #2 behind Matt's "Dungeon Crawler Carl."
"Player Manager" by Ted Steel. This guy can write!
Yes, it's a sports-based LitRPG. But not all of us are dorks who hate "sportsball." Some of us were athletes and still enjoy the competition of sports.
This guy is funny. Clever. Has a great narrator. And it's football. Real football. Not Murican throwball.
I've devoured book 1 and bought the other three available books based on this listen.
Even if you're not a football (soccer) fan, check it out. Read the reviews if you don't believe me. Plenty of non-soccer fans enjoyed it, not just us "socialist anarchists," or whatever you Murican throwball haters are using to insult soccer fans now.
So glad to have found this series. I actually have something in the world to make me laugh while I wait on Matt's next audiobook to drop.
I'm not interested in spending time on something that reads like English Comp 101 (which is 98% of the genre).
I grew up reading Stephen King and Clive Barker. I need authors who know their craft. Know how to tell a story. Don't drag shit out because they're desperate for sales or have no clue how to finish something they started. The world has enough of that lame crap with Marvel movies and the Fast and Furious garbage.
For LitRPG, I've basically only found Matt Dinniman (a god among authors), Damien Hanson of "Buymort" fame (check it out, but warning, the narrator grows annoying after book 1), and now I've found a solid #2 behind Matt's "Dungeon Crawler Carl."
"Player Manager" by Ted Steel. This guy can write!
Yes, it's a sports-based LitRPG. But not all of us are dorks who hate "sportsball." Some of us were athletes and still enjoy the competition of sports.
This guy is funny. Clever. Has a great narrator. And it's football. Real football. Not Murican throwball.
I've devoured book 1 and bought the other three available books based on this listen.
Even if you're not a football (soccer) fan, check it out. Read the reviews if you don't believe me. Plenty of non-soccer fans enjoyed it, not just us "socialist anarchists," or whatever you Murican throwball haters are using to insult soccer fans now.
So glad to have found this series. I actually have something in the world to make me laugh while I wait on Matt's next audiobook to drop.
August 4, 2025
Popcorn, had een redactie kunnen gebruiken.
December 19, 2025
Guy secretly gets FIFA game powers in real life. It sounds terrible, but it’s actually great. I don’t even like sports.
Read for: A flawed but likable MC who routinely makes terrible decisions for basically good reasons
Avoid if: You can’t stand British accents/cultural references
Read for: A flawed but likable MC who routinely makes terrible decisions for basically good reasons
Avoid if: You can’t stand British accents/cultural references
September 28, 2025
Connor was right, it slaps.
Narration was great.
Narration was great.
December 23, 2023
If you like football (soccer), gamelit and slice of life stories, this book is a blast.
I have not heard about this book, but I highly recommend it recommend it. Had a blast reading it.
Mechanics are like Top Eleven/FIFA games, and they are done very well in relation to the story. Will be starting the second book right away.
I have not heard about this book, but I highly recommend it recommend it. Had a blast reading it.
Mechanics are like Top Eleven/FIFA games, and they are done very well in relation to the story. Will be starting the second book right away.
January 25, 2026
I think I like soccer now??
December 3, 2024
Audible edition review
I'm not a football fan but I really enjoyed this. The protagonist's perspective of football as a soap opera for men was both funny and touching. The characters just leapt off the page. I don't think there was a single character who felt two dimensional or a cardboard cutout. It's very difficult to write realistic characters and Ted Steel nails it. Even the antagonists are normal people with sensible motives and measured responses. Even if you aren't a football fan I would recommend this book for the character driven aspects.
The setting is northern England and the narrator of the audiobook really sells it. The author must come from that part of the country as it's as grounded as any setting could hope to be. The plot was great too. I continually envisioned a sudden time skip or leap forward but there was a slow, steady reasonable progression with highs and lows throughout.
Great book.
I'm not a football fan but I really enjoyed this. The protagonist's perspective of football as a soap opera for men was both funny and touching. The characters just leapt off the page. I don't think there was a single character who felt two dimensional or a cardboard cutout. It's very difficult to write realistic characters and Ted Steel nails it. Even the antagonists are normal people with sensible motives and measured responses. Even if you aren't a football fan I would recommend this book for the character driven aspects.
The setting is northern England and the narrator of the audiobook really sells it. The author must come from that part of the country as it's as grounded as any setting could hope to be. The plot was great too. I continually envisioned a sudden time skip or leap forward but there was a slow, steady reasonable progression with highs and lows throughout.
Great book.
December 31, 2025
I ran into Player Manager when I first discovered LitRPG at the end of 2024. I'd seen a few references to “football LitRPG” across various Reddit threads (man gets video game football manager stats thingies in brain), thought to myself “huh”, and moved on. Fast-forward nearly a year later, I was in a lull, so I picked it up… and I'm currently halfway through Book 4.
Player Manager is a book about football. Football as an art. Football as a science. Football as a philosophy. Football as a dance? Is that a bit much? Am I starting to sound like Max? I have no doubt that Ted Steele spent his whole life searching for an audience for his football musings. Max Best has given him that, and I'm here for it.
Yes, there's some backstory about how Max gets the whole fantasy interface in his head, but it doesn't really matter. If you're here solely for the magical elements, don't bother. If the magical elements are the one thing putting you off, please do bother. I promise you, that's not the point. And if you don't like either football or magic, well, I planned to say that maybe then this book isn't for you, but the folks on Reddit seem to disagree even with that.
Max Best is a fantastic narrator. I'm not entirely sure he's a convincing twenty-two year old, at least not based on the twenty-two year old men I've met, but I'll take it. He's aggressive, often childish, sometimes braggy, but simultaneously curious, often introspective, and funny enough to make up for it. Early on, Max runs into a women's team. I braced myself, expecting the usual chauvinism that arises whenever the words “women” and “football” are strung together, compounded by this genre's notorious handling of women characters, but it never came. Later on, an opportunity to manage a pan-disability team arises, and Max discovers he's not quite as open minded as he thought. But again, it's football. He learns to treat it as such, with the same level of passion and storytelling and drama. I could cry.
And it's believable! Max doesn't just rock up to a Premier League manager and says “yo, I've got magic”. He starts getting into 5-a-side matches, quickly focusing his energy on non-league English clubs, showing that there's skill and drama and passion outside the one fancy league they show on TV. His progression is exciting! A dopamine hit, as we say on LitRPG Reddit. Sometimes I'll be out somewhere and I find myself thinking “I've got to get back to my video game!” and opening my book.
On a personal note, having not grown up in Britain, I never had much of an appreciation for small town clubs. I got introduced to English football through the Premier League, and then the WSL, and never bothered looking past that. Later on in the series, politics come into the picture, as well as discussions around the role of money in sport. I've been surprised for years now at how my predominantly gay, women's football teammates don't mind wearing shirts blasting “Visit Rwanda" and “Etihad Airways”. Is it no longer possible to support a football team without also backing an evil regime? Max Best has opened my eyes to the fact that it's possible to enjoy good, community-focused football. Again, I could cry.
Player Manager is a book about football. Football as an art. Football as a science. Football as a philosophy. Football as a dance? Is that a bit much? Am I starting to sound like Max? I have no doubt that Ted Steele spent his whole life searching for an audience for his football musings. Max Best has given him that, and I'm here for it.
Yes, there's some backstory about how Max gets the whole fantasy interface in his head, but it doesn't really matter. If you're here solely for the magical elements, don't bother. If the magical elements are the one thing putting you off, please do bother. I promise you, that's not the point. And if you don't like either football or magic, well, I planned to say that maybe then this book isn't for you, but the folks on Reddit seem to disagree even with that.
Max Best is a fantastic narrator. I'm not entirely sure he's a convincing twenty-two year old, at least not based on the twenty-two year old men I've met, but I'll take it. He's aggressive, often childish, sometimes braggy, but simultaneously curious, often introspective, and funny enough to make up for it. Early on, Max runs into a women's team. I braced myself, expecting the usual chauvinism that arises whenever the words “women” and “football” are strung together, compounded by this genre's notorious handling of women characters, but it never came. Later on, an opportunity to manage a pan-disability team arises, and Max discovers he's not quite as open minded as he thought. But again, it's football. He learns to treat it as such, with the same level of passion and storytelling and drama. I could cry.
And it's believable! Max doesn't just rock up to a Premier League manager and says “yo, I've got magic”. He starts getting into 5-a-side matches, quickly focusing his energy on non-league English clubs, showing that there's skill and drama and passion outside the one fancy league they show on TV. His progression is exciting! A dopamine hit, as we say on LitRPG Reddit. Sometimes I'll be out somewhere and I find myself thinking “I've got to get back to my video game!” and opening my book.
On a personal note, having not grown up in Britain, I never had much of an appreciation for small town clubs. I got introduced to English football through the Premier League, and then the WSL, and never bothered looking past that. Later on in the series, politics come into the picture, as well as discussions around the role of money in sport. I've been surprised for years now at how my predominantly gay, women's football teammates don't mind wearing shirts blasting “Visit Rwanda" and “Etihad Airways”. Is it no longer possible to support a football team without also backing an evil regime? Max Best has opened my eyes to the fact that it's possible to enjoy good, community-focused football. Again, I could cry.
December 13, 2025
I'm kind of embarrassed to even admit that I read this. Like, in its entirety. I got bad vibes from the get-go and still decided to finish it.
So, the writing is horrible. Conversations feel meaningless, characters are hard to follow, and the god damn misunderstanding trope happens like twice a chapter. Pick a lane, man. People around Max tell him incessantly that he's abrasive, that he's a good player, that he needs to take a moment to think, and there's never a single moment where he takes that advice.
The protagonist is not likeable. I understand that you want character flaws so they can become better in the future. This is not that. Max is hard to understand, an egotistical maniac, abrasive as fuck, gets triggered by the tiniest comments, and is a super misogynist. The way "Max" (the author) comments on women is flat-out gross. And the "solution" to Max's misogyny (where he's supposed to learn that women are more than a vagina) is coaching a women's football team where the captain met him, he was immediately a disgusting person to her, and then she slept with him multiple times? And in his first meeting with that team, he made a comment about a player's style that made her cry? After ALL THAT, the girls just said "yeah he should be our coach!" This shit is unrealistic as all get out. It's not justified by a difference in culture in the UK. I lived in Cambridge for 3 years, went to 15+ league two matches and 3 premier league matches. Not the best sample size, I know, but people just don't act like Max does.
The reasoning for his behavior, as established by the author, is simply that Max was even more secluded than most during COVID. What the fuck? The pandemic didn't alter our brain chemistry. Just say that he sucked before, too.
Surprisingly, I didn't feel like he went off the handle with the para-football match that Max coached. The moment Max walked onto the pitch and saw that it was mostly children with down syndrome or cerebral palsy, I thought, "jesus fucking christ this is gonna be a trainwreck." I'm happy to say this author isn't the worst of the worst. That is what a character flaw should be. Max had a preconceived notion from a poor judgement call in his youth, challenged that notion, and came out the other side a better person. The author just shouldn't have picked misogyny as one of Max's main character flaws. Because the author himself hasn't figured out how to overcome it.
I'll admit that the concept is really interesting. That's the only reason I stuck with this book to the end. I was pretty much praying that the horrible character choices were temporary and that Max would learn to act like a normal human being. Or the author would learn how to write a neat sentence.
So, the writing is horrible. Conversations feel meaningless, characters are hard to follow, and the god damn misunderstanding trope happens like twice a chapter. Pick a lane, man. People around Max tell him incessantly that he's abrasive, that he's a good player, that he needs to take a moment to think, and there's never a single moment where he takes that advice.
The protagonist is not likeable. I understand that you want character flaws so they can become better in the future. This is not that. Max is hard to understand, an egotistical maniac, abrasive as fuck, gets triggered by the tiniest comments, and is a super misogynist. The way "Max" (the author) comments on women is flat-out gross. And the "solution" to Max's misogyny (where he's supposed to learn that women are more than a vagina) is coaching a women's football team where the captain met him, he was immediately a disgusting person to her, and then she slept with him multiple times? And in his first meeting with that team, he made a comment about a player's style that made her cry? After ALL THAT, the girls just said "yeah he should be our coach!" This shit is unrealistic as all get out. It's not justified by a difference in culture in the UK. I lived in Cambridge for 3 years, went to 15+ league two matches and 3 premier league matches. Not the best sample size, I know, but people just don't act like Max does.
The reasoning for his behavior, as established by the author, is simply that Max was even more secluded than most during COVID. What the fuck? The pandemic didn't alter our brain chemistry. Just say that he sucked before, too.
Surprisingly, I didn't feel like he went off the handle with the para-football match that Max coached. The moment Max walked onto the pitch and saw that it was mostly children with down syndrome or cerebral palsy, I thought, "jesus fucking christ this is gonna be a trainwreck." I'm happy to say this author isn't the worst of the worst. That is what a character flaw should be. Max had a preconceived notion from a poor judgement call in his youth, challenged that notion, and came out the other side a better person. The author just shouldn't have picked misogyny as one of Max's main character flaws. Because the author himself hasn't figured out how to overcome it.
I'll admit that the concept is really interesting. That's the only reason I stuck with this book to the end. I was pretty much praying that the horrible character choices were temporary and that Max would learn to act like a normal human being. Or the author would learn how to write a neat sentence.
November 1, 2023
Must read character-driven novel with elements of LitRPG that revolves around the life of the protagonist, Max (Manchester United loving 20ish year old). Took 1-2 days to read.
"Player Manager" by Ted Steel is a captivating and unique exploration of a complex protagonist, Max, whose character is a rollercoaster of generosity, arrogance, insecurity, and cleverness. Max's compelling persona draws readers in, making them care deeply about his journey. The book excels as a character study, continually providing rich material to understand Max's intricacies.
The story weaves Max's life with a diverse and fascinating cast of characters, including Beth, Emre, Emma, James, Kisi, Jackie, Ziggy, Anna, Raffi, Ruth, Ian, MD, and the charismatic Henri Lyons. These characters enrich the narrative, adding depth and dimension to the story, making it even more engaging.
While "Player Manager" incorporates LitRPG elements, it uses them as a means to drive Max's actions and bestow him with just enough talent to match his self-perception. The progression in the story unfolds gradually and through hard work, a stark contrast to the instant gratification often seen in typical LitRPG novels. This approach aligns the book more with Magic Realism and dramedy, providing a refreshing twist to the genre. The System Max encounters within the story, though interesting, takes a backseat to the humor and drama, which are skillfully executed.
The book's backdrop of English football culture and gameplay, while not personally familiar to the reviewer, is portrayed with such passion and detail by Ted Steel that it becomes captivating. Even for those who might not be sports enthusiasts, the strong writing and well-crafted characters manage to draw the reader into the world of football, making them emotionally invested in the outcome of matches.
A must-read for those who enjoy character-driven narratives with a unique blend of LitRPG and Magic Realism. Ted Steel's storytelling prowess and the well-defined characters make this a compelling and immersive experience, even for those unacquainted with the world of English football. The book offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the genre, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next page-turning twist in Max's journey. Even got Mr Robot sort of vibes from it. Look forward to the second book in the series.
"Player Manager" by Ted Steel is a captivating and unique exploration of a complex protagonist, Max, whose character is a rollercoaster of generosity, arrogance, insecurity, and cleverness. Max's compelling persona draws readers in, making them care deeply about his journey. The book excels as a character study, continually providing rich material to understand Max's intricacies.
The story weaves Max's life with a diverse and fascinating cast of characters, including Beth, Emre, Emma, James, Kisi, Jackie, Ziggy, Anna, Raffi, Ruth, Ian, MD, and the charismatic Henri Lyons. These characters enrich the narrative, adding depth and dimension to the story, making it even more engaging.
While "Player Manager" incorporates LitRPG elements, it uses them as a means to drive Max's actions and bestow him with just enough talent to match his self-perception. The progression in the story unfolds gradually and through hard work, a stark contrast to the instant gratification often seen in typical LitRPG novels. This approach aligns the book more with Magic Realism and dramedy, providing a refreshing twist to the genre. The System Max encounters within the story, though interesting, takes a backseat to the humor and drama, which are skillfully executed.
The book's backdrop of English football culture and gameplay, while not personally familiar to the reviewer, is portrayed with such passion and detail by Ted Steel that it becomes captivating. Even for those who might not be sports enthusiasts, the strong writing and well-crafted characters manage to draw the reader into the world of football, making them emotionally invested in the outcome of matches.
A must-read for those who enjoy character-driven narratives with a unique blend of LitRPG and Magic Realism. Ted Steel's storytelling prowess and the well-defined characters make this a compelling and immersive experience, even for those unacquainted with the world of English football. The book offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the genre, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next page-turning twist in Max's journey. Even got Mr Robot sort of vibes from it. Look forward to the second book in the series.
January 5, 2025
Read this book on recommendation by someone on the progression fantasy subreddit. Was pleasantly surprised!
I don't play soccer, don't know the terminology, and have only been to London once. This book was a lovely glance into conversations not specifically american and terminology foreign to me.
Pros: The rules, skills, and progression work well. The main character is likable in a douchey way, and watching him develop those skills and chase after his dreams really is interesting. The story moves along, both tangibly and with theoretical progression, and there are a bunch of history/player notes that ground the story in the present.
Cons: A few too many chapters end with 'if only I knew how much the next three minutes would change my life' style cliffhangers, which I don't particularly admire. While there are quite a few romantic teases, the main character has something like fifteen hookups in this book, none of which are given more than a few sentences- which may be cultural, but still struck me as strange, given that romance with certain characters seemed to be in the cards.
All in all, fun read and interesting avenue to learn about soccer through. Recommend to other progression fantasy fans, not so much to a random reader with no experience in the genre. Still a good book though.
Probably will not read again.
I don't play soccer, don't know the terminology, and have only been to London once. This book was a lovely glance into conversations not specifically american and terminology foreign to me.
Pros: The rules, skills, and progression work well. The main character is likable in a douchey way, and watching him develop those skills and chase after his dreams really is interesting. The story moves along, both tangibly and with theoretical progression, and there are a bunch of history/player notes that ground the story in the present.
Cons: A few too many chapters end with 'if only I knew how much the next three minutes would change my life' style cliffhangers, which I don't particularly admire. While there are quite a few romantic teases, the main character has something like fifteen hookups in this book, none of which are given more than a few sentences- which may be cultural, but still struck me as strange, given that romance with certain characters seemed to be in the cards.
All in all, fun read and interesting avenue to learn about soccer through. Recommend to other progression fantasy fans, not so much to a random reader with no experience in the genre. Still a good book though.
Probably will not read again.
July 15, 2025
Disclaimer:
Due to the nature of Goodreads’ aggregate review system, I only leave 5-star reviews. Please note that a 5-star rating does not mean the book is perfect; it simply means I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. I will try to specify in my review the type of reader who might enjoy the book.
Negative reviews are not something I typically write.
I primarily listen to audiobooks, so I’m not concerned with punctuation or minor editing errors. However, I may comment on the quality of the narration.
Review:
For me, the world of player management is as foreign, distant, and fantastical as any of the myriad fantasy novels I’ve read. I’m about as knowledgeable about soccer (as I would call it) as an 18th-century English farmer would have been about Africa. That is to say, entirely incorrect and full of stereotypes and misconceptions.
This story, through a manic yet compelling main character, a cast of captivating supporting characters, an intriguing supernatural twist, impressive writing chops, and an obvious love for the game, has offered me a glimpse into a world I’d never known. I’m genuinely grateful for how it’s expanded my perspective in such an entertaining and engaging way.
If you’re even remotely curious, give it a shot. You might find yourself hooked on something you never expected to love.
Due to the nature of Goodreads’ aggregate review system, I only leave 5-star reviews. Please note that a 5-star rating does not mean the book is perfect; it simply means I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. I will try to specify in my review the type of reader who might enjoy the book.
Negative reviews are not something I typically write.
I primarily listen to audiobooks, so I’m not concerned with punctuation or minor editing errors. However, I may comment on the quality of the narration.
Review:
For me, the world of player management is as foreign, distant, and fantastical as any of the myriad fantasy novels I’ve read. I’m about as knowledgeable about soccer (as I would call it) as an 18th-century English farmer would have been about Africa. That is to say, entirely incorrect and full of stereotypes and misconceptions.
This story, through a manic yet compelling main character, a cast of captivating supporting characters, an intriguing supernatural twist, impressive writing chops, and an obvious love for the game, has offered me a glimpse into a world I’d never known. I’m genuinely grateful for how it’s expanded my perspective in such an entertaining and engaging way.
If you’re even remotely curious, give it a shot. You might find yourself hooked on something you never expected to love.
September 4, 2025
5* (read through bk 6)
Really enjoyed this strange litRPG lite series. If you’re looking for your next popcorn munching easy listen this is it.
After Dungeon Crawler Carl got me hooked on litRPG I’ve been constantly looking for the next DCC. As part of that search I ve read well over 100 titles and none really had the same magic as DCC… until Player Manager.
I loved the witty dialogue, really interesting side characters and the healthy dose of English Premier league football nuances. Clearly the author is a FB uber fan and I enjoyed watching YouTube videos and reading about events mentioned in the series.
I also loved the side characters, especially the people Max Best scouts as future football players. Each recruit felt unique and fully fleshed out and there was a constant feeling of freshness as players kept getting scouted and recruited.
MC was a mix of fun/witty and hypothetically annoying, I m not sure if that is by design or author somehow seems a difference between MC and the people he decides to dislike. Note: I did enjoy that there was a lot of character and relationship growth so some seemly bad people had redeeming qualities.
Really enjoyed this strange litRPG lite series. If you’re looking for your next popcorn munching easy listen this is it.
After Dungeon Crawler Carl got me hooked on litRPG I’ve been constantly looking for the next DCC. As part of that search I ve read well over 100 titles and none really had the same magic as DCC… until Player Manager.
I loved the witty dialogue, really interesting side characters and the healthy dose of English Premier league football nuances. Clearly the author is a FB uber fan and I enjoyed watching YouTube videos and reading about events mentioned in the series.
I also loved the side characters, especially the people Max Best scouts as future football players. Each recruit felt unique and fully fleshed out and there was a constant feeling of freshness as players kept getting scouted and recruited.
MC was a mix of fun/witty and hypothetically annoying, I m not sure if that is by design or author somehow seems a difference between MC and the people he decides to dislike. Note: I did enjoy that there was a lot of character and relationship growth so some seemly bad people had redeeming qualities.
October 29, 2024
I bought this book on a whim, because it was on sale and I thought it might be entertaining. It was much better than that.
I'm not a huge soccer fan, though I do follow sports, but this book made the game much more entertaining on the page than it is in person. The character writing is exceptional, presenting a protagonist who is definitely not a perfect person, but who has heart and compassion and whom you really want to succeed. And the plot, being a progression fantasy, is inherently a bit silly, but it's handled very well throughout, with excellent pacing, good suspense, and moments of strong emotion.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone with even the vaguest interest in sports; it's one of the best books I've read this year.
I'm not a huge soccer fan, though I do follow sports, but this book made the game much more entertaining on the page than it is in person. The character writing is exceptional, presenting a protagonist who is definitely not a perfect person, but who has heart and compassion and whom you really want to succeed. And the plot, being a progression fantasy, is inherently a bit silly, but it's handled very well throughout, with excellent pacing, good suspense, and moments of strong emotion.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone with even the vaguest interest in sports; it's one of the best books I've read this year.
February 4, 2026
This was a good read. I don't care much about soccer/football, but the author does a good job of making that. . not matter so much. I care because our main character cares. I understand because our main character understands and lays it out. I even understand some things now that I wouldn't have before. Sort of like Ted Lasso - don't need to enjoy soccer to enjoy the show (book).
Anyway, solid. It does get slow in a few places and drags in a few others. End sets up all sorts of things.
Hints scattered in the book make me wonder if the author will develop things and continue to show the relationship with Championship manager (the game being utilized behind this I guess, I'd never heard of it) Just. . well thought out and intriguing.
Anyway, solid. It does get slow in a few places and drags in a few others. End sets up all sorts of things.
Hints scattered in the book make me wonder if the author will develop things and continue to show the relationship with Championship manager (the game being utilized behind this I guess, I'd never heard of it) Just. . well thought out and intriguing.
August 29, 2023
I am part of patreon that supports Ted and can say the community is fantastic. I gave this a 4 and I read book 1 awhile ago and have to say its pretty dang good. Everything about it and even for someone who doesnt know crap about soccer like myself thought it did a really good job. The only reason its not a 5 is cause the MC or main character. He is a dick with anger management problems and someone that pushes his friends and people to the limit with his attitude. Story itself is great but the reason so far I read only in small chunks in book 2 is cause of him. Trust me its pretty realistic with his attitude but also someone that has a hard time making friends even with the stats.
December 13, 2023
MC is confused. Hence reader is confused as well
MC is in confused state most of the time. Does he wants to become a manager Or player or a scout? First half of the book he says he wants to become scout but the stuff he does is of managers. His stats are equivalent to pro league players stats and author confuses us with whether he is making MC a player. MC also need to understand that Yes most of the time his assumptions are true but he misses a small thing. No one will give manager post to some no name 22 year old kid. The book is good but I skimmed some stuff because of all this confusion. Im hoping book 2 shines more light on what is happening.
MC is in confused state most of the time. Does he wants to become a manager Or player or a scout? First half of the book he says he wants to become scout but the stuff he does is of managers. His stats are equivalent to pro league players stats and author confuses us with whether he is making MC a player. MC also need to understand that Yes most of the time his assumptions are true but he misses a small thing. No one will give manager post to some no name 22 year old kid. The book is good but I skimmed some stuff because of all this confusion. Im hoping book 2 shines more light on what is happening.
May 28, 2024
Disclaimer: I hate watching football with a passion. And as german i cannot express my disgust that this is our national sport number one.
But - this is a book about people and relationships and yes it is about football too but it is about the organisational and team part and the sport mechanics and you don't have to watch 90 minutes of 0:0 boredom.
I had a blast and had to read part of it during work time because I couldn't put it away.
The MC and all other characters are refreshingly flawed and feel so wonderful real.
If you read a book and think that it would be great to have a pint of beer with the main characters just to have a fun evening you know you have a good one.
Love it!
But - this is a book about people and relationships and yes it is about football too but it is about the organisational and team part and the sport mechanics and you don't have to watch 90 minutes of 0:0 boredom.
I had a blast and had to read part of it during work time because I couldn't put it away.
The MC and all other characters are refreshingly flawed and feel so wonderful real.
If you read a book and think that it would be great to have a pint of beer with the main characters just to have a fun evening you know you have a good one.
Love it!
December 21, 2025
i saw a recommendation months ago on Reddit to try this series and i ignored it. how could anyone make a LitRPG about football be interesting and fun to read? i saw another recommendation for the same series this past week and i needed a new book so here we are.
i was wrong. Ted Steel’s Player Manager series is great. at least the first book is. the first 6 books are available on Kindle Unlimited and the first book is available in the Audible Plus library for free. go go go. you won’t regret reading/listening to this series. and while you don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy this book but it will help. it is all about football.
i was wrong. Ted Steel’s Player Manager series is great. at least the first book is. the first 6 books are available on Kindle Unlimited and the first book is available in the Audible Plus library for free. go go go. you won’t regret reading/listening to this series. and while you don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy this book but it will help. it is all about football.
January 27, 2026
A bit of a mixed bag. This has potential but could have used several rounds of edits. There’s so much rambling thought sequences during conversations that you can pretty much skip those paragraphs.
Max isn’t the most likable nor relatable guy. He’s overly pompous, self-centered, and is always right. Not to mention he can get any girl he wants. There’s definitely some author self-insert fantasy going on here. However, Max does have a bleeding heart and that makes him a bit endearing.
The bit about scouting Ukrainians and refugees for unknown players was really tone deaf. I can’t believe that made it into the book.
Max isn’t the most likable nor relatable guy. He’s overly pompous, self-centered, and is always right. Not to mention he can get any girl he wants. There’s definitely some author self-insert fantasy going on here. However, Max does have a bleeding heart and that makes him a bit endearing.
The bit about scouting Ukrainians and refugees for unknown players was really tone deaf. I can’t believe that made it into the book.
July 25, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, but won't continue.
The author does a great job of making you invested in the hero's journey even if you aren't a sports fan. It's nice that the hero doesn't become story-breaking overpowered, and when he uses said powers, it's often still a struggle. If anything, it leans a little too far in the direction of powers being ineffectual for me, but that's personal preference.
I won't read further because the pace is too slow for me and I'm not confident in the direction of the series, but I was fully engaged in this one and burned through it in a few days.
The author does a great job of making you invested in the hero's journey even if you aren't a sports fan. It's nice that the hero doesn't become story-breaking overpowered, and when he uses said powers, it's often still a struggle. If anything, it leans a little too far in the direction of powers being ineffectual for me, but that's personal preference.
I won't read further because the pace is too slow for me and I'm not confident in the direction of the series, but I was fully engaged in this one and burned through it in a few days.
December 31, 2025
I don't care much for football, or soccer, or sports generally. I do like fully developed characters, a slice-of-life story, romance, workplace drama, and most of all progression. This story has all of those things and more.
I found it very consistently funny, and at times also touching and emotional. The actual sports bits were my least favorite parts, but the uncertainty of outcomes and the stakes (never terribly high, but easy to see how the characters would feel them) did work well.
Highly recommended for anyone who is willing to give a sports story a chance.
I found it very consistently funny, and at times also touching and emotional. The actual sports bits were my least favorite parts, but the uncertainty of outcomes and the stakes (never terribly high, but easy to see how the characters would feel them) did work well.
Highly recommended for anyone who is willing to give a sports story a chance.
September 16, 2025
This was a great book, If you like English Premiership Football and progressive LitRPG then you will love this book.
The strory is great, Alex gets give a gift to see player attributes, But he also is give the attributes of a gifted lower tier player.
The charecter Development is great, the humor is terific.
Being set just after covid all the footbal talk is still easily recognisable and very topical.
I loved this book.
It would be the first book i would give a 6 out of 5
The strory is great, Alex gets give a gift to see player attributes, But he also is give the attributes of a gifted lower tier player.
The charecter Development is great, the humor is terific.
Being set just after covid all the footbal talk is still easily recognisable and very topical.
I loved this book.
It would be the first book i would give a 6 out of 5
August 22, 2023
Sports, an integration of a system into real life, personal growth, literary skill, intriguing / amazing / frustrating characters, tons of humor, and a really moving exploration of what it means to create and be a part of a community. One of my favorite books of the year and the first LitRPG I've read that is good enough that I know I will read it over and over again.
September 9, 2023
Absolutely gem of the book five stars
Just love the book everything is written in a sample way the interactions with with staff with everyone is everything has a point everything was done and thought about it this true the great deal of thought in to this book and I enjoyed every single second of it really want book to now five stars
Just love the book everything is written in a sample way the interactions with with staff with everyone is everything has a point everything was done and thought about it this true the great deal of thought in to this book and I enjoyed every single second of it really want book to now five stars
August 12, 2025
after a while, I have gotten a bit tired of the typical fantasy litrpgs and this is a breath of fresh air. it's not perfect by any means, but an enjoyable read even if you aren't a soccer super fan
A bit misogynistic, but in the way that it seems like the main character will have a redemption arc. if not I'll update my rating to be lower.
A bit misogynistic, but in the way that it seems like the main character will have a redemption arc. if not I'll update my rating to be lower.
January 3, 2026
A book essentially tailor made for me, combining football and progression fantasy. More or less the plot is a regular guy getting "cursed" with the ability to see football as though its Football Manager. Its written well to have good side characters as the guy tackles whether he wants to use his new powers as a footballer, agent, scout or manager
February 12, 2026
I don’t think about football/soccer but love Max Best and this book
It was recommended. I added it to the queue. When it was up, I listened to it and then I switched to reading it because I wanted to know. I am charmed by it. I feel like I am learning about the sport and life and having an adventure.
It was recommended. I added it to the queue. When it was up, I listened to it and then I switched to reading it because I wanted to know. I am charmed by it. I feel like I am learning about the sport and life and having an adventure.
August 22, 2023
Winner
Picked this up right around World Cup time. Got me back into following football. Great characters and great dialogue, just lovely stuff! Really enjoy the English colloquialisms
Picked this up right around World Cup time. Got me back into following football. Great characters and great dialogue, just lovely stuff! Really enjoy the English colloquialisms
November 7, 2024
great book
very entertaining. The main character exhibits great intelligence that he pairs with his video game like abilities and the author has done an excellent job at keeping me turning the pages non stop.
very entertaining. The main character exhibits great intelligence that he pairs with his video game like abilities and the author has done an excellent job at keeping me turning the pages non stop.
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