Sol Campbell gives up on management – but pursues new career after going to Harvard
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell says he's "happy in a different space" after giving up hopes of a successful managerial career following a eye-opening stint at Havard University
Premier League icon Sol Campbell says he's turned his back on football management after going over three years without a job.
The former Arsenal and Tottenham defender had hoped to forge a successful career in the dugout after hanging up his boots over a decade ago, but has largely struggled to get jobs. Forgettable stints at crisis clubs Macclesfield and Southend are all he has on his CV, as well as a brief spell as Trinidad and Tobago assistant.
Campbell, 49, has spoken out in the past about a lack of opportunities that have come this way, but recently admitted he's no longer looking for work in management, despite wanting to remain involved in the sport.
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"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," he told PA at Web Summit in Lisbon. "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. I want to be in football in a meaningful way. It won't be on the sideline. I am not applying any more for jobs."
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Without detailing the precise nature of his new career path, Campbell revealing he'd been studying at Harvard Business School and admitted he was "happy to be in a different space". Continuing, he said: "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. I am not applying any more for jobs. I’m happy to be in a different space now and one I want to be in."
As a player, Campbell made over 600 Premier League appearances across spells with four different clubs. The Spurs academy graduate infamously turned himself into a pariah after running his contract down and joining the Gunners on a free transfer in 2001.
He went on to win five major honours at Highbury and played an integral part in the club's iconic Invincibles seasons in 2003/04. He later moved to Portsmouth and, briefly, to fourth-tier side Notts County, before wrapping his career up with a short spell back at Arsenal and then at Newcastle.
The ex-defender dabbled in politics after retiring and announced he would be standing for Mayor of London in 2016. However, he was never shortlisted, and he abandoned his political aspirations shortly thereafter.