Johnny Manziel to play second season in Fan Managed Soccer, says conventional professional profession ‘in my eyes is over’

Johnny Manziel is returning for the second season of knowledgeable league referred to as Fan Managed Soccer, he informed ESPN.

The league, which performs a 7-on-7 format in an Atlanta indoor facility, is scheduled to renew video games April 16. It incorporates fan engagement in a mix of conventional and esports environments and is broadcast totally on Twitch.

Manziel informed ESPN that his formal soccer profession “in my eyes is over” however that the FCF is one thing “I wished to do for enjoyable.” He has friendships with a variety of the league’s celeb homeowners, together with comic/podcaster Bob Menery and rapper Quavo.

“It is a method to exit and compete and have enjoyable on a much smaller scale,” Manziel stated. “I haven’t got the drive to play soccer at a excessive degree anymore. I haven’t got a drive to be one of the best soccer participant anymore that I used to have in my life, and I am OK with that. I’ve come to phrases with what my soccer profession was, and what it’s, and now I am making an attempt to determine how I can keep entangled within the recreation, however from a unique place.

“[FCF] will not be making an attempt to construct this on my again and make me be the principle focus level. I really feel like I am merely there to assist convey somewhat little bit of magic and somewhat little bit of leisure, however on a manner completely different scale than the previous.”

Manziel, 29, gained the 2012 Heisman Trophy whereas enjoying at Texas A&M and was a first-round choose of the Cleveland Browns in 2014. His NFL profession lasted solely two years.

He stated in 2018 that he had been identified with bipolar dysfunction and had abused alcohol whereas residing with despair.

“I haven’t got the drive to play soccer at a excessive degree anymore. I haven’t got a drive to be one of the best soccer participant anymore that I used to have in my life, and I am OK with that.”

Johnny Manziel

Manziel hung out in 2018 with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, signed with the AAF’s Memphis Specific in 2019 and performed for the FCF’s Zappers in 2021.

“I had an ample quantity of alternatives to place my profession on a unique path, and for no matter motive it was, whether or not it was me being younger or simply not seeing life by the correct lens at that time limit, I squandered an excellent alternative,” Manziel stated. “The extra I look again on my life and proceed to mirror and attempt to bury some issues and put some issues prior to now, that is one factor that I made a decision to do, was to let [football] go and let that be what it’s. Life goes the best way it goes typically.”

In January, the FCF stated it secured a $40 million Collection A increase to play for the following two seasons. The league has expanded from 4 to eight groups for 2022. Its co-founder is entrepreneur Sohrob Farudi, and different celeb homeowners embrace NFL gamers Dalvin Cook, Austin Ekeler, Richard Sherman and retired Marshawn Lynch.