Sol Campbell proving managerial credentials at Macclesfield after being snubbed for seven years
Sol Campbell’s appointment as the manager of Macclesfield Town just over two months ago was met with scepticism but also a degree of intrigue as to how well a man that had been repeatedly snubbed for a top job would fare at the bottom of the fourth tier.
It took the former Arsenal, Tottenham and England defender seven years after retiring as a player to land his first job as a manager, and while he spent some of that time doing his qualifications, gaining coaching experience and doing media work, he said he had also been rejected by around 15 clubs.
There may have been multiple reasons as to why he was not handed an opportunity sooner, with some questioning his personality and suggesting he has an over-inflated opinion of himself.
Campbell catching his break
The 44-year-old has not always helped himself either, having made the odd punditry gaffe – when asked who would win out of Brazil and Belgium at the World Cup last summer, he replied “France” – and his outspoken nature may have counted against him.
After missing out on the Oxford United job last year he infamously called himself “one of the greatest minds in football” and has also admitted he “came in late and didn’t have much time to prepare” for an unsuccessful interview with Grimbsy Town.
Nonetheless, he has repeatedly demonstrated his passion and desire to succeed as a manager and his willingness to do it at any level has been testament to that.
In fact, he had to go to the very depths of the English Football League (EFL) to get that opportunity, while fellow former England players of his generation have been handed more attractive opportunities.
Former team-mates getting top jobs
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard waltzed into managerial roles at ambitious Derby County and Old Firm giants Rangers respectively, while John Terry has gone straight into an assistant coach role at Aston Villa.
Gary Neville assisted Roy Hodgson for four years with the England first-team before getting the opportunity to manage Valencia, while his brother, Phil, is now the manager of the England Women’s team.
Alan Shearer managed at the top level with Newcastle, current England boss Gareth Southgate began at Middlesbrough, and now Paul Scholes is in line to become Oldham manager after growing frustrated with an “unfulfilling” pundit role.
Oldham may also be in League Two, but Scholes does not appear to have had to try as hard as Campbell did to get that chance, and at a club that are mid-table and looking up rather than battling relegation.
Lack of BAME bosses
It comes against the well-documented backdrop of few BAME bosses in the game. In the 92 professional clubs in England there are just four black managers, with Chris Houghton at Brighton, Darren Moore at West Brom and Chris Powell at Southend United the others.
Regardless of the tribulations that have afflicted Campbell along the way, he did eventually land an opportunity with the EFL’s bottom side.
Macclesfield were promoted from the National League last season, finishing 10 points clear at the top, but failed to win in any of their first 12 matches in League Two.
Campbell took charge with the side seven points from safety, having claimed just two wins from 19 games, but under his leadership they have revived hopes of survival.
Renewed hope
The 44-year-old has overseen four wins from his 11 league games in charge and the Silkmen have moved off the bottom of the table. Despite a 3-1 defeat to second-placed Mansfield on Saturday, they remain just two points from safety with ample time to complete a miracle escape.
Campbell admits that he has received a lot of abuse since taking over and recently called on the Football Association and EFL to do more to eradicate it at the lower, unchecked levels of the game.
The FA is currently investigating claims of homophobic abuse against him, but negative sentiment hasn’t deterred him from the job of overhauling a struggling side.
“I had to change nearly everything,” Campbell said of his new job. “At the beginning there was no anchor. They were drifting out to sea and not knowing where they’d end up. There were fallouts. Some people like it, some people don’t like it, but for me, I had to get the quickest way up the mountain.
“I haven’t proved anyone wrong. I haven’t proved anyone right. Until the end of the season I haven’t proved anything. But the main thing is that we stay up. I’m really fighting to make that happen.”
Whether Campbell has the potential to become a successful manager is too early to tell, but if he can keep underdogs Macclesfield in the Football League this season, others may at long last start to take note.