Ex Tottenham and Arsenal star Sol Campbell is enjoying his first stint in management.
Unlike Paul Scholes’ brief managerial stint this season, his ex-England teammate Sol Campbell is making an unlikely success of his first chance.
Ex Arsenal and Tottenham centre-back Campbell took a job at Macclesfield Town late last year, with the team tipped to be relegated straight to the National League.
Now they are on the brink of survival, needing a draw or win this weekend.
Campbell may have left Tottenham as a player in ugly circumstances, creating fury by joining bitter rivals Arsenal on a free transfer, but he has not forgotten a couple of figures at the club who have helped him.
He told ESPN: “I learned from Steve Perryman and Ozzie Ardiles when I was at Tottenham. They loved football and had a really good way about it. You have to be switched on and focussed yet you need banter and characters. I’m from an era that I need characters.”
He also talked up his ex Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, and George Graham, who he played under at Tottenham, adding: “I learned a lot from Arsene Wenger, especially his tactical systems and how to plan things game to game, week to week and month to month. I learned a lot of good and bad from George Graham, too.”
Perryman and Ardiles are still held in esteemed regard by the Tottenham faithful.
Campbell less so, with fans unwilling and unable to forgive his departure and switch to their rivals.
His subsequent success with Arsenal only made his departure more painful, with every medal.
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