While Alex McLeish struggles at Aston Villa, is it time to wonder about one of the quirks of the beautiful game ?
When you have a look through the history books and review the most successful managers in England, you might be searching a while to find one with ginger hair.
In fact, Everton’s David Moyes might be the only one, and even he has never won a trophy.
While they have had some success in the SPL – Neil Lennon for example- the English leagues have proved a tougher nut to crack.
Let’s have a look at other ginger haired managers who have tried their hand in management in England and struggled.
Gordon Strachan
Strachan managed Coventry City for five years between 1996 and 2001 but ended up getting them relegated. He went to Southampton where he spent three years, taking them to the FA Cup Final, but resigned in 2004. He went onto win three titles in Scotland with Celtic, but struggled when he came back for a brief stint at Middlesborough in 2009.
Gary Megson
Megson is a man who has failed to win over supporters at pretty much every club he has managed. His high point was taking Bolton to a draw with Bayern Munich in the Europa League, but Wanderers fans were less than enthused with his management style. He has also managed West Brom, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City for brief spells, and is currently at Sheffield Wednesday (where many think his days are numbered).
Alex McLeish
The jury is out on whether McLeish is successful or not. Yes, he won the Carling Cup with Birmingham last term, but that achievement was miniscule compared to the disaster he inflicted by getting the club relegated. He is currently struggling at Aston Villa. In Scotland, of course, while he won trophies, he is one of the only Old Firm managers in recent years not to have achieved a top three finish.
Alan Ball
World Cup winner, check. Everton legend, check. Successful manager, No. Sadly for Ball, who died in 2007, his management career did not live up to his playing days, with unsuccessful spells at Manchester City and Portsmouth his last jobs in football.
Stuart McCall
McCall spent two spells at Bradford, as caretaker player manager in 2000 and as full-time manager between 2007 and 2010. While the first was too brief to judge him on, he did not succeed in his desire to take the club back up the football ladder to enjoy the success he was once a part of in his playing days. He left the club by ‘mutual consent’ after a 2-1 defeat to lowly Torquay, and now manages Motherwell in Scotland.
Can you name a ginger haired manager who has been a success in England? Do you agree Moyes has been successful? Should Neil Lennon try his luck down south?
image: © nicksarebi
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