Premier League cult hero ‘playing real life Football Manager’ with new job at Champions League giants

YOHAN CABAYE has come a long way from running the midfields of Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

The 38-year-old, who played in 175 Premier League matches, now has a new job as an Assistant Academy Director of Paris Saint-Germain, another club who the Frenchman starred for.

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However, he is using a tool some might consider unorthodox to help him with his job… a video game.

The three-time Ligue 1 champion reckons that in current role is just like the game, Football Manager, who Cabaye praises for having “amazing” detail which brings it close in line with reality.

Cabaye exclusively told Ladbrokes 1-2-Free: “I’ve always loved Football Manager, but now I have the chance to play it in real life!

“I have less time to play these days, with my new role as director of the academy at PSG.

“I love helping to develop young players and bring them to the top and educating. I joke but it really is like Football Manager in real life.

“The people working behind the scenes for that game have done such an amazing job over the years. You know, they’ve managed to create a game which is really close to reality.”

And Cabaye admits the game’s database – which has 474,251 real players – also has a crazy level of detail which helps him search for future stars.

“It’s unbelievable. What’s crazy is that the players’ qualities are so close to reality, too, in my opinion. That’s so impressive, how accurate they are.

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“I’m so curious; one day, I want to go into their offices, just to understand how they work, because it’s unbelievable.

“And, you know, even if you’re a club now without the financial capabilities to go and send scouts all over Europe… just play this game, and you’ll have an understanding of some players!

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“Honestly, just take a look at the game and, most of the time, those statistics and attributes are close to reality.

“It’s so funny, you know, there have been times where I’ve been playing the game, and I’ve come across players who I end up playing against in real life – it’s crazy.”

The latest edition of the game, Football Manager 2024, has seen a maximum of almost 90,000 concurrent players since its release.

And Cabaye knows it is a game that even footballers love to play.

He added: “Trust me, a lot of footballers play the game. Antoine Griezmann, obviously, is one.

“But I used to play with Gael Clichy, as well. In Euro 2012, we played together; we started a season while we were away with France!

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“I used to joke with my team-mates, because I’d always manage the team I was playing for in real life at the time, and so I’d always joke with my team-mates about how well – or not so well – they were doing for me in my game.

“I wasn’t bias towards myself, either, by the way. I’d sub myself if I needed to… whatever was best for my team! It’s a tough call but you’ve got to make them!

“I know Will Still is someone who has referenced the game in the past, and I also know someone who I used to play with at Lille – he used to coach in the second division in France, and he was also playing the game a lot, as well!”

But despite his high praise for the game, Cabaye does have some nagging questions he really wants to get off his chest and ask FM chiefs.

He said: “I’d really like to go to their offices one time… I’ve got a couple of questions for them. I love the design, and everything about the game is fantastic.

“But I just want to ask them if it would be possible for us to be able to build new stadiums the way we would want to, as players of the game.

“You know, so we can choose ticket prices, and all of that kind of thing. I want to be completely involved in all of that kind of thing, so I’d love to be able to speak to the creators of the game one day!”