The news that Gennaro Gattuso has applied for the Oldham Athletic job – having been rejected by Scottish side Hamilton Academical in January – shows that sometimes having a big name in the footballing world, doesn’t guarantee the top jobs, or managerial success. There are plenty of former greats of the game whose reputation has been ignored by top flight chairmen, so found themselves trying to build from the lower leagues.
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Here are four of those names that started at, or near, the bottom of the managerial tree…
Paul Merson (Walsall)
Paul Merson’s potential was arguably never quite realised because of off-pitch issues. In the latter stages of his career, the former Arsenal midfielder was turning out for Division One side Walsall, when he was given the unenviable task of keeping the club up with a handful of games to go. He failed. The Saddlers came dangerously close to consecutive relegations the following season, but Merson kept his job. However, the next season’s struggles proved too much, and Merson was sacked with the team languishing in League One.
Edgar Davids (Barnet)
The former Netherlands international somehow ended his playing career, and started his managerial career with Barnet. However, the midfield great failed to spark the imagination with the London club, getting relegated out of the Football League in his first season. His second season was perhaps even more bizarre, as he decided he would wear the number one shirt, and refused to attend away fixtures where he would have to stay overnight. On the pitch, Davids was sent off three times in eight games. Unsurprisingly, Davids left the club soon after the third red.
Paul Gascoigne (Kettering Town)
Sadly, Gascoigne’s managerial career – all 39 days of it – mirrored his playing career. He signed for Conference North side Kettering Town, and promisingly made pledges to be a long-term appointment, before disappearing very abruptly into the managerial wilderness, leaving fans to wonder what might have been. Gazza was sacked little over a month into the job, with the board suggesting that the former England international had been drinking daily throughout his tenure.
Bobby Charlton (Preston North End)
One of English football’s greatest talents, along with one of the country’s most historic clubs should have become a story of a footballing phoenix rising back to achieve past glories. However, Bobby Charlton’s time at Preston was not that. The Manchester United legend could not prevent relegation to the Third Division in his first season, and he left the club a couple of years later, and never returned to the dugout as a manager.