Sol Campbell’s well-travelled journey to football management as 15 job applications led to Macclesfield Town

Newly appointed Macclesfield Town boss Sol Campbell claimed he should be an “ambassador for British Airways” having flown around the world in search of his first managerial job since retiring over six and a half years ago.

The former England centre-half was appointed as the new Silkmen manager on Tuesday on an 18-month contract, after receiving the call from Macclesfield whilst working with Aidy Boothroyd’s England under-21’s earlier this month.

However, despite holding a Uefa Pro License and boasting experience at the highest level on the field, the double Premier League champion has only just mustered his first managerial position.

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“I’d probably say I’ve had 12-15 applications or conversations with agents, and that is the situation, you just don’t know when it is going to come,” said the 44-year-old at his introductory press conference.

“You have a conversation with a chairman and then it goes quiet, and you start again. I think it is down to relationships and how you click with the owners.

“I’ve been abroad, I’ve been at home. I’ve even flown 10 hours away for an interview, so I’ve done a lot of miles. I should probably be an ambassador for British Airways.

“I can look back now and say that all those interviews, all those times watching training and games, and talking to managers, it all adds up to today.”

Yet, Campbell’s first managerial job looks the toughest of tasks, with his new employers currently at rock bottom of the Football League with just 13 points from 20 games this season.

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However, fortunes could be looking up. The Moss Rose men have now won two consecutive matches, their most recent coming away to Exeter City, which Campbell observed just hours after signing on.

“It’s nice to see them [the players],” he said. “It’s good for them to hear your voice first hand rather than from the TV or radio and shake their hands.

“I thought the lads were responsive, they are a good bunch. We had our first full training session today and I want to get into a routine from diet to training methods. Hopefully I can pick it up quickly so the whole ship runs smoothly.

“For me this season is all about getting them up to mid-table and getting them to safety in the division, but ultimately you are judged on results and that’s the environment managers are in.”

Macclesfield have been without a manager after Mark Yates was sacked in October, having failed to register a win in 90 minutes, after John Askey promoted the Silkmen from the National League in May.

After recently being sacked by Shrewsbury Town, Askey would have been a popular choice with some Macc fans yet chairman Mark Blower has opted for a fresh face to lead the League Two survival mission, faith which a thankful Campbell wants to repay.

He said: “I think you have got to start somewhere and I am prepared to start anywhere if the opportunity came about.

“For me this was the right place, right time, and the right club. There are fantastic people here from the tea lady to the owner, and I’m grateful for the opportunity here and I want to keep on working and working.

“The passion is still there, you can try and walk away from football but it just keeps on coming back. And for me now, where I am in life, I just want to get started.

“I like building teams and I want to run my own show, in the nicest possible way, to see how far I can go, starting with getting Macclesfield further up the table.

“Every time I have gotten into anything, I have wanted to do it well. I’ve always been like that as a young boy, every time I’ve wanted to go on that pitch. That’s me, and that will continue for sure.”