Player Manager 4: A Sports Progression Fantasy

Player Manager #4

by Ted Steel

Footie’s number-one fanatic continues his climb to become number-one manager in the fourth installment of this fast-paced, electrifying LitRPG series.

Football is a game of Quick steps. Trick steps. Even sneaky, slick steps. Whether you’re on or off the pitch, you best know your footing. And for Max Best, that’s no problem at all. He has the ability to read players to a T—thanks to the sentient stat-tracking display he received after saving an elderly man in the streets.

Now, as director of football for Chester FC, everything’s falling into place for Max. His team is climbing the ranks. He’s executing great transfers and hired a literal old hand for his brand-new women’s team. Plus, his no-holds-barred attitude and unorthodox way of working the league systems is making a serious impression. What could go wrong?

Well . . . everything actually. First, a top-notch prospect gets snaked out from under him. Then, an old adversary starts playing dirty behind the scenes so Max can’t play on the field. And his wheeling and dealing has landed him in the wrong kind of spotlight. But the worst part is that he’s beginning to suspect the one behind all the chaos is the increasingly devilish old fellow he rescued so long ago . . .

The fourth volume of the hit progression-fantasy series—with more than 800,000 views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

Genres: Litrpg, Fantasy, Sports, Fiction, Football

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Tim Jacobs]

Devoured this. Great book. What I like is, even though the main character has clear super powers that are completely unfair, he has his fair share of hardship that keeps the books interesting. It would get boring if it was just high note after high note.

The dialogue is spot on, the characters feel unique and fleshed out, the use of media to tell the story is top notch (storytelling through radio reports, podcasts, articles, matchday programs).

Seriously, this series has no business being this good, but it really is a well written piece of litrpg.

I just want to keep going. Luckily, there's at the moment of writing nineteen completed volumes. On we go!

[David]

Oke ben nu wel hooked

[Kimberley]

Would say a 4.3-4 stars

I am really liking Book 4’s experience so far ✌️ And I am done, wow what an ending. And after that we only get interviews and podcasts to get the story gah. I want to know who was it and what Max is feeeeeling. I am so excited for what comes next because everyone says it’s gonna be S tier level after book 4 ayyyy 🙌

——7/9/26—-
Hmm, what is going on with Jackie, he’s so mysterious? Like back then, MD needed a DoF and Jackie was this football legend who’s also a crazy good coach and also a good friend to MD. So why *isn’t* he with Chester? Why go work at FC United? Same with what he did with Max, why point Max to Chester? Maybe as a player? Hmm 🤔

Also, surprise hit of tears for me from Idk, loneliness from Max? At him realising that MD and Jackie are really close friends for a much longer time than with Max. I keep imagining that Max feels both jealous of them about the other, at the same time lol. Because I kept going back to that chat he had with Emma about wishing to have a best friend like her and Genma.

——
Okay, I’m not sure I like the many intertwining to 2 different scenes being told in parallel. There wasn’t any distinction of which scene the sentence is going to be about. Then we get to him talking about the Jackie podcast and it was so long I lost the original scene…

—8/9/26—
Dani does something surprising and amazing. Max trying to look calm and unbothered 😆:

>!I am a pebble on top of a mountain. I may stay for another million years, or I may fall. I am indifferent. I concentrate on being the best rock I can be.!<

Dani does something else cool, teammates shows skillz and Max responds harder:

>!I am a sunflower. I turn to the sun. I bask. I show no emotion.!<

>!My halftime speech focuses very heavily on the interconnectedness of all living things. At times I forget I’m a sunflower and lean into rock-based imagery.!<

Guys, I am smiling like no one’s business 😆

———
>!If she quits, I’ll be gutted. If she stays, I’ll wait a few weeks, and then find the next thing to fix.” I smiled. “I’m no expert but I think if she doesn’t hate me from time to time, I’m not pushing her hard enough.!<

Dang, what a piece of startling wisdom a bit out of nowhere. I was wondering a bit how his relationships with the kids he likes were going to go because if he’s nice all the time, eapecially with shy/insecure/“weak” type players, it gets a bit boring a stale or they might collapse won’t it? And how will they grow under him? I thought the growing will be done by other peopl and he is there to praise them over some hurdle. But this is so good. Kinda shocking emotional intelligence? Of hyperspecific EI that only works in the world of football for Max. Why am I even noting it down? Because it’s so rare to read something this nuanced and complex in webnovels that isn’t in a life or death situation 😂

———
We finally get the Max+Jackie post awkward talk. And guys. Guuuuys. What the heck. Max grew up, like what the heck. He seriously took his experiences that drove me nuts in the previous books and learnt from it. And gah! He’s like, so cool right now?? That hints of seriously cool x factor + genuine care + something vulnerable peaking out + maturity and growth to draw me in, I love it. I adore it. This scene is like everything that made me go huh, if this becomes something in the future, I would really love the story. Agdhfkglhhs.

———
One thing I definitely *do* have a bone to pick about this Book is the odd pacing. Some things are focused on but some are completely skipped in favour of Max describing what happened to someone else. It’s jarring sometimes. The back and forth at the first third with the women friendlies and Jackie’s debut and now this with the injury email from FA thing. It seems like something that would be interested to read as it happened and not as being told past tense to someone else. Mostly because without being in his gead, I have a less accurate guess on what led to what happened. I also would have liked to feel the satisfactory catharsis of what Max did. On the flip side, not going through wvery one of those high energy incidents did make this Book a very pleasant and calm experience and I actually really really like that. So give and take. Sigh.

——-
Hmmmm, a bit of a rant here, this whole deaf player in official non-disability sport instead of the disability sport. I am kinda wobbly on where I land. Maybe cause I watch zero real life football and only anime. I kind of support the ref’s decision for Dani? In theory? At that stadium match. And I feel the team and Max were being rather dramatic? As if they were completely the victim and in the right. But the rules are there in black and white no? And Dani is a deaf player with rules that does not accomodate for her. This is the truth. It is what it is.

So you’re gonna have to prepare steps to manage that yourself. You know, work within the established rules so she doesn’t get in trouble with the ref. Isn’t it obvious? Like Idk, hire someone to translate what the ref does at all times or something. And get them to stand at the sides. Maybe the subs to do Dani duty. Something like in baseball where someone will at third base yelling the runner wherher they should run or slide. Or someone at the stands with the audience holding flags or something. So the ref can just do their thing. So Max and team can just inform the ref that this is what they are doing for Dani.

I do feel a bit frustrated with Max. He alrd knows this is a likely to happen a lot but it doesn’t seem he planned anything about it and instead expects to convince every single ref to accomodate Dani. If Dani is accomodated, why not every other disability? Then might as well just change the game to be like the normal disability football right? Where does the line stop you know? It feels like Max is and Dani feels entitled to changes in the rules of the game because Dani is special, aka disabled. And that rubs me the wrong way just a little bit. What about other issues or mental issues? Should the ref accommodate someone with Idk, extreme bipolar disorder who’s in some depressive episode after a lost goal and was just dazed after she blew the whistle? Or someone so mad as losing they just couldn’t hear the whistle over the rage? I completely support everything within the club’s sphere of influence but the ref and their rulings, eh… And Max is comparing carding Dani to carding someone because they are black or foreign or something. I mean yeah, they should get walked out on because the colour of one’s skin doesn’t effect following the rules. But being deaf and not having the ability to follow the rule sounds more concrete. So it makes sense if she doesn’t follow if something happened. There’s a whole other disability football that exists for that. This whole thing feels like why there are women’s football and men’s football you know?

Dang, why am I thinking so much about this lol. I am probably missing something about the whole thing that would make the reaction make sense. Like how referees exist and work. Or how they get into games. Like why does Max keep going, no referee no game. But that is a massive rabbit hole I don’t want to go down so moving on!

Gah, the more I read the more I want to discuss this with someone and not move on 😂 I don’t want to read multiple wikipedia pages of how the whole thing works. Cause now Henri is talking with Max in the middle of the field about the event. Is Max’s reaction correct? Makes sense? Normal? Proportional to what happened? An ideal role model to follow? It seems he sometimes lets a foul pass to continue the game. Now I am puzzled on what a ref even does if they sometimes let things slide.

———
That match together with Jackie, so good! This whole thing is suddenly coming together 😆 That scene with Yalley almost made me cry haha. This is what I want Max’s maxness for 😆 You guys weren’t kidding when you said Book 4 is so much better.

——-
>!Omaigosh!<, wait what’s happening, >!Jackie’s down???!<? No wait no way what???? >!This cannot be happening don’t do this to me I was looking forward to how they will work together?!!<

Uhhhh, what? Max’s reaction is wildly whiplashing. That >!switcheroo emotion!< was truly wild. So…is >!Jackie done for or not??!<? Because, dude, >!that freaked me out what the heck!!<

———
Uhhh, okay Max. I don’t know how about your coaching idea 😅 It sounds pretty cool if in a sports anime lol, but feels pretty random and out of nowhere. Like, was he even a person who listens to songs much? Not that I remember reading. So why combine it with football matches? But gonna wait for the practical its. Because it’s so weird lol. What if some of the players are tone deaf, would that affect the drill?

—-9/9/26—-
Oh wow, that was wild, that was so cool! It would be so fun to see that type of tactic live in a movie or something. 🙌

[Doug Sundseth]

This is a more plot-driven book than the previous books in the series. There is still good character development, but this book is more about trying to save Chester from relegation.

The relationship between Max and Satan(?) is becoming more complex, and we see more consistent (if indirect) interaction than previously.

Max is still a sympathetic protagonist, and his ties to his associates are becoming better developed.

I'm not a big fan of the conclusion of this volume, which seems a bit facile, but it does advance the storyline rapidly.

Not as good as the previous books, but still a very good read. The series is highly recommended.

[Damon Hudson]

What really struck me was that I had this book and I kind of enjoyed it. It kept me from leaving the run. It's become a little more interesting. The character has become better developed over a long time and just wants to make a little bit more sense. Honestly, this one had the best arc and the best ending so far. I'm still on the boat, but I struggle to recommend it because it's in unique niches for me, but the best one yet

[Abram Towle]

At times the erratic behavior of the Best in the business can be frustrating, but the fourth installment in the series had so much more development in terms of plot compared to the previous two (which were also excellent, to clarify). Character relationships deepen, making them more than just stats in a box.

[Yonder]

Humor and good characters continue

Continuous the nice mix of silliness and serious emotional beats. I also like the increased experimentation with the timeline, hoping back and forth over a few hours/days. I especially enjoyed the increased number of side character viewpoints, via the articles and radio interviews, fun to get the outside perspective more.

[Chris.claussnitzericloud.com]

Sigh

My only issue is that there isn't any more... When all the books are released, I bet £20 that the pacing will be awesome but for now it does feel a bit slow. Nevertheless, Max best is best Max.

[Ta]

This one had a lot more tension. At times it was not what I wanted (too stressful!), but it would be strange to complain about it. So much great stuff. So exciting. I am so happy to see Jackie. Love absolutely everything.

[Michael]

So Good!

Reading this series makes me want to play soccer. Or football as Max Best would call it.
Seriously, if you're thinking about it, stop. Just get the book.

[GaiusPrimus]

I'm up to book 9 on RR.

This is the reason I went back to that site.

As usual, tremendous voice acting.

[Paul Sating]

Another fun read. My second favorite litrpg, just behind Dungeon Crawler Carl.

[Daniel Jacobs]

I've now caught up to with the releases and have to wait for the next one aaaaah!
But I only have to wait a week thankfully!
Really enjoyed it but it went far too quick 🤣

[Travis Bryant]

This series continues to be phenomenal! Top tier in the genre no doubt. 👍🏽👍🏽

[Justin]

insane ending, was not expecting that, excited to see how it turns out

[RJ Penate]

3.5 stars didn’t expect the ending has me interested. I like the characters except the mc

[Vader]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

[Jon Zuckerman]

I am reading these faster than I can write a couple sentences about how much I enjoyed the previous book. It feels like we're locking in to this situation for the next several books and I hope there's 2000 pages of that sweet sweet progression