Macclesfield Town have confirmed that Sol Campbell has become their new manager after signing an 18-month deal.
The ex-Gunner has been on the lookout for a full-time first-team coaching opportunity for a couple of years since completing his UEFA pro licence with the Welsh FA.
He spent some time at London Colney undertaking his badges, but no job at Arsenal entailed. In the last 18 months, he’s spent time assisting the Trinidad & Tobago national team and most recently worked with England’s under-21s.
Drink anyone???? pic.twitter.com/vBRnExpXu4
— Macclesfield Town (@thesilkmen) November 27, 2018
In the aftermath of his 2011 retirement from football, he toyed with the idea of a life in politics but failed to make the Conservative party’s shortlist for their nomination for London Mayor in 2016. His focus soon returned to the beautiful game.
In 2014, Campbell labelled the Football Association ‘institutionally racist’ but has spoken more positively in recent days about the institution’s attempts to get more people of BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) backgrounds into football’s hierarchy. He becomes only the seventh black coach currently working across English football’s 92 professional teams.
For any readers of a Macclesfield Town persuasion, Sol had this to say last year on his playing-style preference, “Very defensive but amazing on the counterattack. Like Arsenal of old.”
He’s got his work cut out. Macclesfield are currently bottom of League Two with only 10 points from 19 games. Good luck to him.
While researching this story, we went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole looking up which other Wenger-era players have embarked on (and, in certain cases quickly, given up on) coaching careers.
Outside of those we hear about all the time (Vieira, Henry, etc), it’s a real mixed bag…
- Ian Wright spent a brief spell assisting Milton Keynes Dons
- Martin Keown coached Oxford University’s Blues
- Remi Garde is now at Montreal Impact
- Scott Marshall was a caretaker manager at Aston Villa
- Nicolas Anelka spent a few months as player-coach at Shanghai Shenhua
- Luis Boa Morte is heading things up at Portuguese side Sintrense
- Nelson Vivas was Diego Simeone’s assistant at Estudiantes, River Plate and San Lorenzo
- Omer Riza stepped in at Leyton Orient
- Oleg Luzhny is currently assistant at Dynamo Kiev
- Francis Jeffers is learning his trade at Everton’s academy
Tough task, Macclesfield look poor. Sol was a brilliant player, not been so convinced about him since ending his playing, but still wish him a lot of luck, hope he can keep them up.
Sol seems smart but a bit mental. That doesn’t mean he won’t be a successful manager.
Macclesfield’s stadium looks a bit bigger than I remember…
Macclesfield; Rooted at the bottom of the table, minus 22 goal difference, but looking at that table they can improve if they can concede less. They are scoring at the same rate as many of their relegation peers.
Good luck Sol, just above you is Northampton Town, you have previous with them.
Let’s see “one of the greatest minds in football” dig them out of this and I hope his stint lasts for longer than 45 minutes
Not Northampton Town
Nicholas Anelka was also a player manager for Mumbai City FC.
Random. I lived for a time in Macclesfield when I was in the UK.
Nice little club and good decent people there. Torrid season for them, Sol has his work cut out because the owners don’t exactly like to invest. What’s new eh?
Best of luck to the Silkmen!
Regarding the wenger-era players, one that I remember that wasn’t mentioned was Tony Adam’s short stint at Portsmouth. Was just before they went bankrupt and wasn’t a good time. Wonder what he’s doing now.. I’ll Google it..
He was in Azerbaijan for a while too and then managing in Spain where he kept getting laughed at because of his waist coat. Don’t remember which club but it was one of the smaller ones in La Liga like Levante or something. Not sure he even won any games there! No idea what he’s doing now.
i don’t recall him playing for us again in 2010 at all! anyone else?
Yeah I remember that. It was just after he went to Notts County and then left after like one game or something. He had to play at centre back alongside Silvestre for us that season. Urgh, Silvestre.
Good luck Macclesfield. Will be shocked if he lasts the season.
Congrats, Sol. Wishing you all the best.
Francis Jeffers learning his trade at Everton’s Academy? Bit late for that now!
Good luck Sol. It’s been a challenge for him to find work so I hope he can make the most of it.
Nelson Vivas is now an assistant at Atletico Madrid. He worked with Simeone at a few clubs before. He also managed for a bit in Argentina but I think may have been sacked after he went nuts and ripped his shirt off while ranting at the end of a game. He looked like the Hulk!