In the parallel universes of a boy king, Luke Littler has been sacked twice by Manchester United and paraded the holy grail in front of the Stretford end. Luke the Nuke conquered the world at 17 years and 347 days on the oche, but glory playing Football Manager on his games console has been a tougher nut to crack. As manager of his beloved United, Littler was fired by the Red Devils for being fifth in January one season and fifth in February in his second ‘reign’ at the Theatre of Dreams.
If the adage about life imitating art is true, Ruben Amorim is sailing dangerously close to the wind. But when His Nukeship begins the defence of his World Darts Championship title against Lithuanian slowcoach Darius Labanauskas on Thursday, the odds-on favourite will bear no mental scars from his misadventures on the Xbox. And the world No.1 fancies an encore after taking a lap of honour with the Sid Waddell Trophy at Old Trafford last January.
Littler prepared for his return to Alexandra Palace in typically unorthodox style - with a night out watching United’s 4-1 win against Wolves at Molineux after kit sponsors Adidas conjured up a spare ticket in the sold-out away end.
Football Manager’s simulated version of the real thing has brought him less joy, however.
He said: “I’ve always done (managed) United, but the new one that came out, I think I was fifth in January, got sacked. So I quit, made a brand new one.
“Fifth in February. Got sacked again. So, yeah - sacked twice. In January and February – and I was fifth both times.”
Real life has been kinder to Littler in 2025. Since destroying Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become the youngest world champion in history and join the pantheon of sport’s greatest teenage achievers, he has added the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, a second Grand Slam and Players Championship finals trophies to his collection.
But of all the pinch-me moments in his year as world champion, showing off that trophy to his adoring flock down Sir Matt Busby Way is still the definitive goosebumps freeze-frame.
“I think walking out on to Old Trafford, the middle of the pitch at half time, and to have the whole stadium, with the Stretford End, singing ‘There’s only one Luke Littler’ was it. That meant a lot to me,” he said.
“But I want to win back-to-back titles because it doesn’t happen very often and obviously everyone is wondering if I’m up for it, if I’m up to the task.
“The last time someone went back-to-back was 10 years ago (Gary Anderson), and that makes me even more up for it.”
Generations of United fans were brought up on Sir Alex Ferguson winning trophies and his relentless defence of them. “Oh, he did it plenty of times,” grinned the 18-year-old Fergie of darts.
“Well, I’m here to win titles. I’ve proved so many people wrong over the past two years.
“It’s going to be a very special moment when I am stood at the top of my walk-on and I’m announced as the reigning champion of the world, it’s going to be surreal for myself.
“But I’m going there to do one job, and that’s go back-to-back. That first night, it’s going to be a special one.
“There’s definitely going to be a lot of nerves, but I think I can overcome them better than I did against Ryan Meikle in my first match last year.”
Although Labanauskas is ranked No.95 in the world, he will not be a pushover. But Littler hopes his aura will give him a head start when his Pitbull anthem Greenlight puts the fancy dress legions in party mood, just as the sight of Van Gerwen’s lime-green shirt once made opponents weak at the knees.
“Do people crumble when they hear Greenlight? You’ll have to ask them,” said Littler. “But that’s what they have in their head when I walk on stage.”
That’s my boy. Let’s get this party started.