We’re prone to getting sucked into the virtual world of Football Manger as much as the next guy.
But Italian uber-fan Alessandro Colombini has taken his managerial duties to the next level by travelling the 5,000 kms from Tuscany to the Brandywell to watch the team he managed for three years.
Allesandro decided to take charge of Derry City on Football Manager after becoming interested in the county when he read a book about Bloody Sunday as a youngster.
The 19-year-old would have fallen deeper in love with Derry when he guided the team to the Champions League on his Mac and, last month, he got to meet some of his virtual players in real life when he attended Derry City’s home tie against Limerick.
“Paddy [McEleney] looked at me like I was an alien – he must have thought I was mad,” Alessandro told the Derry Journal.
“I wanted to meet Patrick after the game because I wanted to tell him how good of a player he is for me in Football Manager. I told him I was from Italy and that he was brilliant in the game. I don’t think he knew how to react but he gave me his autograph and we had a good laugh about it.”
https://twitter.com/carlovich78/status/633952628393811968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
He may always have Derry City in his heart but Allesandro has since moved on to bigger and better things which is just how Football Manager life works out.
“I’ve been managing Derry City in Football Manager for the last two or three years. I had my best season last year when I took Derry to the Champions League but AS Roma offered me the chance to come and manage them and as football fans know, when Roma ask, you must answer.”
