Sol Campbell is right to double down on his self-belief

Sol Campbell lands Macclesfield job

Sol Campbell arrived for his introductory press conference slightly late having just finished taking charge of training. A quick apology was offered to the room of microphones and shutterbugs.

What was next, was far from apologetic,

“It’s been a long time coming,” he answered when asked about how it felt to have finally landed his first management job. And few could argue with his assessment.

The former Arsenal defender was under no illusion of the challenge standing before him. Macclesfield lie rock bottom of League Two with just three wins on the season and four points from safety.

“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. When you’re at this level you have to do everything really. Obviously I’m going to have to build a new team for training sessions and all that kind of stuff.”

The newly appointed Macclesfield Town manager has divided opinion on whether such a personality could ever get a squad of players to respond to him. An opinion based on nothing as Campbell had yet to be offered the chance to show how he would man manage.

Often slammed for being ‘weird’ on social media or blasted for having the confidence in his own ability, Campbell presented a typical ice cool demeanour as he fielded questions.

Yet the former Trinidad & Tobago assistant coach doubled down on comments which left social media awash with hot takes.

After being overlooked by Oxford United for their then vacant managerial position in February Campbell said,

“I can’t believe some people, I’m one of the greatest minds in football and I’m being wasted because of a lack of experience or ‘maybe he talks his mind too much’.”

The 44-year-old exuded the same confidence when outlining what he would bring to the Cheshire based club,

“I’ve studied a lot. I’m honoured to be here and I’ll work my socks off. I know football inside out.

“I know how to manage people and communicate. Macclesfield fans may say ‘what’s going on here?’ but you’ve got an international footballer who has been one of the best footballers in the world coming to your club.”

Campbell is right. At one time in his playing career he was regarded as one of the best on the planet, and perhaps the best at his centre-back position. Of his 504 league appearances, all but one came in the Premier League. During that time the former England defender lifted seven major trophies, including a pair of Premier League titles, the second of which came as a result of Arsenal’s famous ‘Invincibles’ season.

He also played and scored in a Champions League final, albeit in a losing effort in 2006 when Arsenal were defeated 2-1 by Barcelona.

The man who was questioned for his lack of experience, as well as his personality, also featured in three PFA team of the Year selections as well as the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2002 and the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2004. So, plenty of experience at the highest level, then.

Campbell is entering a profession where egos are part and parcel of the job. Even the most mild-mannered and less outspoken coaches have the most hardened self-belief. How could they succeed otherwise? And in that regard, how is Macclesfield’s new manager any different? A hint of his ego even poked through during his first press conference as a manager.

When quizzed about the task in front of him, he was wary of the stigma relegation may have,

“I don’t want to go down,” He said,  “I don’t want to have that on the CV. So I’m going to try really, really hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The microscope will be on Campbell not only for his skin colour, but due to the perception that he possesses a maverick personality. Until football has true equality, it will always be this way.

Campbell’s frustrations at repeatedly being shunned have been laid to rest for now, but the former Tottenham player was quick to hint that there is still not true equality in football management. When asked about if football is moving in the right direction in terms of giving more black managers a chance Campbell responded,

“For me it’s all about opportunities. I’m not going to go down that road and state the obvious.

“For me, I’ve got an opportunity and I’ve got to take it with both hands. I’m going to work my socks off and see how far I can go. You want the situation to become normal. You don’t see black or white you just see a football manager.

Campbell has been present with the chance to be seen as something other than a maverick, a ‘weirdo’ or an ‘arrogant’ and ‘deluded’ former player. Campbell has the chance to be seen as a football manager.