Meet The Man Who Went From Football Manager Addict To History-Making Real Life Manager

It is a journey that begins around a dinner table in Preston. The year is 1996 and after a long day at school, the latest edition of Championship Manager brings an argument to the home of Shadab Iftikhar. His brother has refused to let him play, so a well-timed tantrum is thrown and mum intervenes.

For the first time in his young life, eight-year-old Shadab has the virtual football world at his fingertips.

It was an early introduction to the dizzying highs and agonising lows of management but from that moment on, Shadab knew this is what he wanted to do more than anything in the world. "I was born to manage," he says with a big grin on his face. "It's as simple as that."

Those in the playground dreamt of becoming Premier League footballers - not Shadab.

In year 11 he was tasked with taking over the school team, although nothing compared to the experience of experimenting with tactics and spending millions in the transfer market from his bedroom. A thick notebook containing a detailed scout report for every team he played against on the game showcased his level of commitment.

When a fixture was right around the corner, Shadab was prepared for every possible outcome. "It probably sounds sad but that's how I did things," he says. "It went on to play a massive role in my future. The best apprenticeship you can possibly get is FM. I took it very seriously, too."

At 17, he produced a dossier on how to beat Pep Guardiola's Barcelona; one of the best teams in football history. Fast forward 14 years and Iftikhar has been appointed the first-team manager of Scottish Highland Football League side Fort William following several fascinating roles in football.

He has worked as a scout for Roberto Martinez's Belgium at the European