Top 5: Strange Managerial Appointments

News broke on Monday morning from Swindon’s County Ground that chairman Lee Power had put himself in charge of the first team following the dismissal of manager Mark Cooper. Power, who is actually based in Geneva, has previously made no secret of the fact that he sees himself more of a director of football than a traditional chairman.

Believe it or not, this is not the first time that the owner of the Robins has taken on this slightly unusual change in role either. Power was chairman of Cambridge United back in 2006 and became manager on a temporary basis following the sacking of the then manager, Rob Newman, during the club’s time in the Conference.

He isn’t the first chairman to take control of the first-team affairs though. Ron Noades bought a majority stake of West London side Brentford and also subsequently instated himself as manager for the 1998-99 season.

Here are five more of the most bizarre appointments in footballing history.

Avram Grant – Chelsea

Grant watches sternly on from the Chelsea technical area.

It was always going to prove a difficult task as successor to ‘The Special One’, but fans were not at all happy when Avram Grant was revealed as Mourinho’s successor. It was a shock that instead of another big name in European football, the largely unknown Israeli and Director of Football at the club would take over the reigns.

Grant would not remain in charge of the London club long though. Defeat in both the Champions League final and the League Cup final as well as a second place finish in the Premier League was not enough to impress and is a prime example of the fine margins in the beautiful game.

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