21-year-old given manager’s job at FC Baku based on Football Manager experience

Those who have been ensconced in the unrelenting grasp of a Football Manager addiction will know that it can rob you of time, sustenance and all social interaction for extended periods of time. (But the feeling of winning the Europa League with Aldershot Town in a few seasons is totally worth it.)

Fans of the popular management simulation game will be pleased to hear that the man hours skills acquired while playing have finally been validated by some kind of real world application.

A 21-year-old named Vugar Guloglan oglu Huseynzade has been working in an advisory position with Azerbaijani Premier League side FC Baku since February. But with only Football Manager experience to his name, Huseynzade succeeded where other have failed by being awarded the manager's job. He told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet (quote via Eurosport):

According to globo.com, Huseynzade beat candidates such as 1991 European Footballer of the Year Jean-Pierre Papin to the job, even though the Frenchman has actually managed several real teams.

The youngster is aiming for Europa League qualification, but will have his work cut out for him with Baku teetering over the Azerbaijan Premier League relegation spots. And with actually having to talk to people and go outside.