Manchester United fans unfamiliar with Cypriot football may have got a surprise when tuning into their Thursday night visit to Omonia Nicosia. While few of the players facing off against Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes would have been familiar, the home side’s manager was a recognisable face. Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon is the current incumbent at the club.
The Sportsman looks at how the Northern Irishman is getting on, and seeks out four other familiar faces managing at unexpected clubs.
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Neil Lennon - Omonia Nicosia
Lennon swapped Celtic for Cyprus after leaving the Hoops in 2021. The former Leicester City midfielder replaced another familiar face, Ex-United and Blackburn Rovers defender Henning Berg, in March of this year. It’s been a happy union so far, with Lennon leading Omonia to the Cypriot Cup, their first triumph in the competition for ten years. His next step will be looking to emulate the league title they won in 2020/21.
Alan Pardew - Aris
Once a sturdy fixture of English football’s managerial merry-go-round, ‘Pards’ is now dancing on the touchlines of the Greek Super League. This is actually Pardew’s third appointment abroad since leaving West Bromwich Albion in 2018.
His stint at ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie was cut short due to the season being cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic. The Londoner then took over at CSKA Sofia, initially as director of football. He soon found himself in the dugout though, winning one of his seven games in charge. It’s early days at Aris, with the ex-Newcastle United boss recording one win and one loss from his two games so far.
Aidy Boothroyd - Jamshedpur
Boothroyd has journeyed on the road less-travelled since his sole season as a Premier League manager with Watford in 2006/07. After poor spells in charge of Coventry City and Northampton Town, he would move on to manage the England age group teams, including a five year spell with the under-21s.
But rather than using his work with the Three Lions as a springboard to a domestic club role, Boothroyd took over at Indian champions Jamshedpur. He has a tough act to follow considering Owen Coyle led them to their first league title in their five year history.
Kevin Blackwell- Nakhonratchasima Mazda FC
The former Leeds United manager definitely wins the prize for managing the club with the coolest nickname on this list. ‘The Swat Cats’ are a Thai side who finished ninth in their domestic league last season. Blackwell also led them to the final of the Thai FA Cup for the first time in their history. The appointment is Blackwell’s first managerial post in almost a decade. He last managed Bury, who were relegated on his watch in 2013.
Steve Bould - Lommel SK
Arsene Wenger’s longtime right-hand man built enough of a reputation on these shores to find himself a job managing in the Football League. But the former England centre back has travelled to the Belgian second tier for his first head coach role. The club was purchased by City Football Group in May 2020, joining Manchester City, New York City and Palermo among the nine clubs in the portfolio.
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