Sol Campbell is one of England’s all time great defenders.
A brilliant playing career, a glittering CV and yet when it comes to management his story is in stark contrast to his former England team mates.
Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were given big chances at Chelsea, Rangers and Derby while Campbell had to start his managerial career at Macclesfield and Southend.
If that was hard to understand, then the next chapter is even more baffling. Campbell, 46, has applied for 16 club jobs since Southend - and got just one interview which was at Sunderland and he did not get it.
Campbell was also sounded out for the England under-21s job which surely he must fit the bill as a legendary player, coaching experience and yet the expectation is he will not get it.
“I’m not going to lie,” said Campbell. “It hurts, don't get me wrong. It hurts when you don't even hear back from people. It just goes into a black hole, your CV.
“If I had the chances that some of my other friends, team mates I’ve played with, they’ve had three, four or five clubs, good clubs, Championship clubs who had a bit of money at the time.
"They’ve been backed, given them a go, it might not have worked out, but they had a go, they had a good 18 months or two years to see what they can do, that’s all I need. I’ve had two clubs with no budget and it’s not been the best start.”
At least Campbell did get a call regarding the under-21s job after Aidy Boothroyd was sacked. And after winning 73 caps and being part of the Golden Generation, he was surely a good fit.
“It was an honour for those guys, I think it was Nolan Partners, the headhunters, to seek me out and ask if I would like to apply,” said Campbell.
“It was fantastic to be involved in the whole process but I just wasn't what they were looking for. The process was great, I loved it. Good luck for them in the future. It’s a great organisation. It was nice to be a part of it.”
That is Campbell all over. Still respectful and still hopeful, despite the knock backs and despite deserving better. It was Cyrille Regis who said, 20 years ago, that there was a glass ceiling in football when it came to appointing black managers. So, has that changed?
“I like to think the glass is almost a thin pane of glass now, not a thick piece of glass, I feel there are movements in there but I feel that we can’t just see through it but there has to be some type of breakthrough so things can just flow now,” said Campbell.
“Everyone is trying to make it work, so everyone can see what the blockage is, why is it so difficult to get into the game and manage.
“Diversity is good. It’s proven to be good, open and people understand that. Talent should not be held by colour and it’s not held by colour and everyone has to understand that opportunities should be given. Talent that comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Campbell has definitely proved himself as a manager in difficult circumstances. At Macclesfield, Campbell saved them on the final day of the 2018/19 season after being, at one stage, seven points adrift, players were not being paid and the training ground was waterlogged for weeks.
Former Arsenal and England defender Campbell might have hoped for a better chance next time out but got the Southend job in October 2019, they were under a transfer embargo, he could not save them.
There were some crazy goings-on at both clubs and Campbell even recalls a story of keeper Nathan Bishop being called off the team bus on the way to a game to sign for Manchester United.
“I was asking: can I play him?” said Campbell. “I was told: ‘No, he’s a Man United player.’ Macclesfield was a difficult situation, players not knowing when they would be paid and trying to persuade them to play. I thought Southend was more stable, but it was tough.
“I just want to manage, I just want to get on and try to build a career in football. That's all. I probably say to myself that I would like an opportunity, I would love that and I feel like I’ve had a pretty good, decent, solid career internationally and domestically.”
Being Sol Campbell is broadcast this Thursday evening between 7-8 on TalkSPORT and also available visually at the same time on the TalkSPORT YouTube channel.
