I probably wouldnt be in football if it wasnt for this, no. I was so disillusioned with the game, says Tony McNally, as he reflects on how his life has changed in the last nine months.

At the start of the year, he was left jobless on the outside of a coaching world he had dedicated his entire adult life to. But now he has found a reprieve in the unlikeliest of places: Ytterhogdal, a picturesque Swedish town of 530 people where he trains a fourth-tier side that is unique in more ways than one.

Its a place where the nearest airport is a two-hour drive away, the snow can be six-foot deep and temperatures fluctuate between 38C and -38C. It is extremely isolated but on a street called Skolvagen, there is a British community. While there more out of necessity than choice, and harbouring desires to return home, its this community that is investing their lives into making a success of Ytterhogdals IK.

It is a place that...

Originally posted here:
From Clyde to Ytterhogdal - meet the Scottish coach spreading his wings in the Swedish fourth tier - The Athletic