Simon Grayson’s latest managerial chapter has taken him far from the familiar stadiums of England to the foothills of the Himalayas, where he’s now leading Nepal Super League champions Lalitpur City. At 55, and with over four decades of football experience under his belt, the former Sunderland, Leeds United, and Bradford City boss continues to chase fresh challenges—this time in a country where football is still carving out its identity.
“This wasn’t something I ever imagined,” Grayson admits. “But the idea of stepping out of my comfort zone, even if just for a couple of months, really appealed to me.” His team, made up largely of local players with a few international reinforcements, has shown real promise—remaining unbeaten and level on points at the top of the table. But for Grayson, it’s not just about results. “If I can help even one player or staff member improve by ten percent, then it’s worth it. And if I come out of this thirty or forty percent better, even more so.”
From nightly games across the road from his hotel to conversations with Reading fans in Kathmandu, Grayson’s time in Nepal has been anything but ordinary. Yet, it’s this very unpredictability that has reignited his love for the game.
