FootMan fan tries his luck

By Ellie Gibson Published 22 June, 2006

With Middlesborough FC.

Wouldn't it be good if all that gaming experience could get you a proper job? You know, a proper one, not just writing about World of Warcraft patches and Chopin's Trusty Bell all day.

Well, that seems to be the thinking of a chap called John Boileau, who's spent hours playing Championship Manager and Football Manager - and reckons that qualifies him to be a real life football manager.

Boileau, whose fictional management experience includes stints at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Doncaster, wrote to Middlesborough FC to apply for the manager's job.

In his covering letter, Boileau notes that "The tactical side of football has always been very important to me, which is demonstrated through my success on the game Football Manager 2005." Apparently he took Nuneaton to new heights of success and won the Swedish League with Kalmar FF - but got sacked from Chievo Verona.

Boileau has a degree in geography and archaeology, and observes: "I hear Mark Viduka has a significant and considerable interest in 12th century pottery which would be an excellent starting point."

He also has plenty of practical experience of real football management, having guided the St Paul's Under-11s squad through Nuneaton's 1999 Summer Playscheme Cup. The team won, with each player receiving a £10 Whiteman's Sporting Goods voucher for their efforts.

But sadly, despite offering to work for a very reasonable starting salary of £80,000, Boileau's application was rejected by Middlesborough chairman Steve Gibson, who wrote back: "You were of course the outstanding candidate but after careful consideration we decided against your appointment.

"Quite frankly we were of the opinion that your tenure with us would have been short lived, as your undoubted talent would result in one of the big European Clubs seeking your services."

A great shame, indeed. You can read the full correspondence over on Boileau's website.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (7) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darkedge #1 6 years ago

    hahaha I'll bet they thought he was excellent

  • IAmBatman #2 6 years ago

    "Middlesborough" should only have one "o".

  • Cuke #3 6 years ago

    have to say its really cool of Mr Gibson to enter into the spirit of things like that, I bet most clubs wouldnt even have replied, much less put the effort into playng along like that... top bloke by the sound of it! :D

  • myiagros #4 6 years ago

    brilliant, Steve Gibson FTW ;)

  • Collie #5 6 years ago

    Pah, Football Manager won't cut it. I, however, have won extensive trophies and competitions in Soccer Boss on the ZX Spectrum, the real benchmark for football management simulation. I therefore am a better candidate for the job and hence will be putting my CV into the post whenever there's another management vacancy going in the top flight of English football.

  • Have_to_Speak_Up #6 6 years ago

    My mate did this years ago with Everton after playing Championship Manager 2... got a very polite response back from the club too... what nice people football chairmen must be.

  • Collie #7 6 years ago

    Yes the chairmen might be nice, but I'm not convinced half of them have a footballing brain, which is why so many lose their money or send their clubs spiralling into oblivion.