Former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell says he will walk away from coaching as he feels he has not been given enough opportunities.
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Ex-defender frustrated over lack of opportunitiesWill not apply for any more managerial jobsArsenal legend wants to be involved in footballWHAT HAPPENED?
Since his retirement from the game in 2011, Campbell has attempted to get his managerial career up and running. However, he spent less than a year in charge of Macclesfield, avoiding relegation from League Two on the final day of the season. He was then appointed manager of League One side Southend United, but his job was made more difficult by financial issues and his team were relegated as they sat second bottom of the table when the season was stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Campbell's disappointing record as a manager comes despite his excellent experience as a defender. The former centre-back won two Premier League titles and four FA Cups during a glittering career that saw him represent the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, Portsmouth and Newcastle. He also made 73 appearances for the England national team.
Campbell has been vocal about his frustration due to the lack of high-profile job offers over the years, saying in 2018 that he is "one of the greatest minds in football".
WHAT SOL CAMPBELL SAID
Campbell has since decided that he will not be pursuing more managerial jobs, saying at the Web Summit in Lisbon: "For me, it is about getting opportunities to fail. Some of my peers have had jobs and it's not worked out and then they have had opportunities again straight away, they've always had a lifeline. That is a nice position to be in. I am not in that position, I would love to be, but those situations are not coming to me.
"I would love to be involved in football and have chances, but that is not happening. You have to look at football in a different way and that is what I am going to start doing and hopefully it will work out and I will be able to help players, just in a different way."
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SOL CAMPBELL?
The 49-year-old will likely look for other jobs within football other than head coaching roles. He added: "I love coaching, so I am going to go back into football in a meaningful way. I have had to go away, studied at Harvard. I want to be in football in a meaningful way. It won't be on the sideline."
