David Seaman predicts former Arsenal teammate Sol Campbell will be a ‘great manager’ but warns Macclesfield job a ‘big gamble’
Ex-England goalkeeper wishes his former team-mate well following his appointment at Macclesfield Town
Arsenal legend David Seaman is confident Sol Campbell will prove to be a great manager following his first appointment in charge of Macclesfield Town.
The former Gunners, Tottenham and England defender was handed the reins of the League Two side on Tuesday.
He takes over a team which currently sits at the very bottom of the Football League pyramid - the Silkmen are 24th in the table having won just three of their 20 league games so far this season.
Seaman says Campbell 'suits management down to the ground' and has what it takes to revitalise the faltering side.
However, he admits – after a long wait for his first managerial job – his friend risks tainting his reputation as a manager before it really starts if he can’t make a success of his time with the League Two club.
Speaking on Wednesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former England goalkeeper said: “It’s a big gamble for Sol.
“People will think of Teddy [Sheringham] when he went at Stevenage, that didn’t work out and it didn’t work out for Tony [Adams] at Wycombe either.
“But with Sol, being a manager suits him down to the ground.
“He’s so articulate, he’s so focused, he knows exactly what he wants.
“He was very vocal in the dressing room, he can really get the lads going.”
Seaman also admitted he was surprised his former team-mate has chosen to start his coaching career at the very bottom of the Football League, especially seeing the likes of Frank Lampard at Derby County and Steven Gerrard at Rangers.
“That’s the sort of level I thought Sol would go into, I don’t know what’s happened,” the legendary former goalkeeper said.
“He’s always wanted to be in the management game but has never had the opportunity. He’s gone for a lot of interviews as well.
“I know his focus changed a little bit when he wanted to become mayor of London, but now his focus is on getting back into management.
“I just pray it goes well for him.
“He’s a good guy, I like Sol and I really want him to do well.
“The most important thing, I think, is that he gets somebody in as his number two who has worked in that league before, or worked at that level - it’s going to be hard for Sol with the standards he played at.”